IN VERSION

"On the year 2121, a phenomenal occurrence visited the Earth. It was without argument the most bizarre and memorable day for all denizens of the Earth. It was known as the 'Rip', and it altered mankind's concept of the world as they knew it."

YEAR: 2161

LOCATION: Lagos, Nigeria

"I'll save the world.... I promise..." An untellable character cried as the person stared at the body of a fair young lady. "I'll kill them all!" Rage overflowed as everything faded away.....

Darey woke up from his deep slumber. The sun shone through his window as he squinted from the sensation of his retinas being suddenly exposed to light. He tried standing up, when he felt a sharp pain surge through his body. His head pounded, his body felt like lead, his entire joints ached.

"Why?" He thought. He clearly remembered his body being fine when he went to bed the previous night after the usually loud feast at the dinner table with his adopted family... he clearly remembered.

"Wait.... something is wrong somewhere. This isn't..." before his sentence reached its completion a sharp surge came upon him as he shouted.

Memories of the centuries spent in the ruined world came rushing back. Drool dripped from his mouth as his brain tried to sort through the huge size of the information and process its contents. He suddenly stopped shouting, and tears began dripping from his bulging eyes. His face filled with a maniacal smile. His head was bowed facing his blue and white bedsheets.

He, a returner from the far future had finally gotten his chance to change everything and create a world different from what he knew. As he was still lost in thought, a young looking boy.... wearing glasses also in pajamas opened the door. He seemed to be saying intelligible things which Darey didn't even notice.

"Darey!!! Are u even listening to me?" He yelled, now visibly frustrated.

He further went and slapped Darey on the back and the stinging sensation was enough to jolt him from his subconscious state. He looked up, tears still visible, as he looked at the intruder....

"Oh wait, is that?" Darey mumbled and his eyes widened. It was Tenny, his brother. Overflowing with emotions he hugged his brother "Tennyy!!!!"

Tenny, at this point was at his wits end. He had heard Darey shout from his room and decided to check up on him while at the same time giving him the message his mom had told him to pass across to him. He had walked in seeing his brother on the bed, head slumped while muttering words he could not make out.

He initially spoke casually asking " Yo, bro... some of us are still trying to sleep! Nightmare?" But there was no response.

He said a couple of other things as well which also fell on deaf ears. After taking action and hitting him, his brother suddenly jumps on him hugging him and shouting his name. Totally confused, his natural reaction set in

"Bro, what the heck?" Tenny said as he escaped the embrace of his weird brother.

Darey came to himself and realized he needed to put all the overwhelming feelings aside.

"I'm sorry! I just had a nightmare is all" Darey eventually said, now with the same expressionless face that he had in the ruined world.

"Say, Tenny how many years ago did the 'Rip' occur?" Darey suddenly asked.

He had observed Tenny's appearance and the surrounding area. Tenny would be no more than 15 years of age, and since they were the same age, he would also be 15... but he had to be sure.

"Why are you asking out of the blue? Is it about your nightmare?" Tenny said, serious now... he took a chair by the study desk of Darey and placed it by the bedside.

He faced the chair in the opposite direction and sat on it... using the chair's top as his armrest. He fixed his head on this arms and with a puzzled expression, noticed how suddenly his brother's demeanor had changed.

"Something like that..." Darey said, hoping Tenny would stop his questions there and answer his own... he didn't want to keep lying to his brother.

"Well, it's been about 40 years since the Rip appeared" Tenny remarked.

"Good, that's good...." Darey mumbled to himself. It had turned out exactly how he had hoped.

He had been sent 10 years before the Harvest. He would like to think he had ample time to change the timeline, but he had a lot he needed to do, and so 10 years was the ideal time he would be able to achieve it.

"So, this is the year 2161 correct?" Darey looked at him at this point.

"Hey bro, do you remember you said you'd go to the firm today right? Could you ask mum something for me?" Tenny asked.

Darey couldn't recollect having that conversation. He was from the distant future and so he didn't remember.

"Oh yes.... so what do you want me to tell her?" Darey responded, a bit unsure.

Tenny's smile faded and he suddenly looked serious.

"We never had that conversation! .There was a homicide at the office yesterday and so she was going not going to the firm today, and you should have known that. I have been observing your strange demeanor for a while now and I can tell..." Tenny said in a confrontational manner.

Darey was already nervous, though he did not show it. Had his brother already realized the truth that he did not belong in this timeline?

"What are you implying?" Darey maintained his calm expression.

Tenny seemed flustered that he did not receive the reaction he wanted or expected, but he wouldn't let up now!

"Who are you? You're not the brother I know! Are you some sort of ability user who can shapeshift? Where did you keep my brother? Or maybe you transferred your consciousness to his body! Or you're mind controlling him! What do you want?" Tenny let out his suspicions with a passion which shook Darey.

He stayed silent for a while.... and then he couldn't control himself anymore.

"Hahahahhhahaha!" Darey burst out laughing. His calm and cold expression shattered as he just couldn't stop his amusement! His brother was always the conspiracy theorist, that was his trademark.

Tenny was already too confused at this point. He was also scared. Had he revealed his suspicions too soon? Maybe he should have stayed level headed and confirm his suspicions... or reported to his mother or the appropriate authorities. Was it too late now?

"Guess there's no helping it" Darey finally spoke.

Tenny began to tremble... "What? Are you going to kill me?" Tenny said, trying to be brave... but trembling within.

"Shit! What do I do now? If I hurry can I make it to the front door? No... Maybe I could hurry and get a phone, lock myself in my room and call for help.... but will he give me that chance?" Millions of thoughts were flying in his head as he was certain he was in danger!

Darey smirked, and Tenny even looked even more frightened...

"What's so funny punk? My Mom is a lawyer at the Special Abilities Division firm, if you do this... you won't get away with this!" Tenny hoped that would at least cause him to hesitate, which would buy him time to escape.

Darey stood up from the soft bed and began to move closer and closer to Tenny, whose heart was thumping as he, who was already on his feet lost all feelings in his legs and slumped on the ground, his buttocks hit the hard floor, but he did not have the luxury to notice the pain.

"You're thinking of ways to stall for time, or distract me... even with the slightest bit of hesitation and make a break for it. You'll probably try to run to the front door, no... too predictable. You would grab the phone that you've stashed at the third layer, second door of the kitchen cabinet and lock yourself up in your room, while you try to call for help" Darey said while closing the distance between the both of them even more.

Tenny was already paralyzed with fear at this point

"H...How?...." He muttered in surprise and fear.

Darey kept walking... slowly... "You're wondering why I know all this, something not even mom knows, only you and your beloved brother. You're trying to rationalize thinking I can probably access your brother's memories... but that can't be right. If I could, I probably wouldn't have failed your question, now would I? That's what you're thinking... right?"

Darey stood directly in front of him, and squatted so that their faces would be at equal proportions, or close enough.

"Well, don't think too far! You're always like this... taking stuff too far! It's me, Darey, your brother." He said as he knocked his silly brother's head and gave off a warm smile.

Tenny's face lit up, but he still had doubts

"But you, you're not... you're not like Darey at all. what's going on?" Tenny answered with suspicion.

Darey stopped squatting and stood upright. He walked toward the bed and sat on it, facing a tensed up Tenny.

"Come on, stop sitting on the floor and looking so tensed. It's me... I won't bite." Darey smiled sadly as he watched his brother slowly rise and sit on the study chair.

"I guess I should tell you then.... about that world, and what happens!"

TO BE CONTINUED.....