Chapter 02

As Tahir's admission became the talk of the town, the newfound fame of the University of Art & Science baffled the locals, prompting many to embark on futile online searches. The mysterious aura surrounding the institution deepened, leaving the community in suspense about the nature of Tahir's new academic venture.

On the day of Tahir's departure, anticipation and mixed emotions filled the air. Fully prepared, Tahir, accompanied by his family, made his way to the airport. The unique arrangement with the University of Art & Science ensured that all his expenses, from the flight to academy tuition, and even accommodations and meals, were to be covered. This generous offer added an extra layer of intrigue to the already mysterious journey ahead.

Despite Tahir's family not falling into the category of third-class citizens, the deal brought good news to them.

Tahir's flight took off from the station in his hometown. The journey was expected to last twenty hours, so Tahir prepared by putting on his Bluetooth headphones, immersing himself in cool soundtracks on his phone. He leaned back and closed his eyes.

Hours passed during the flight without any issues. Tahir was enjoying the tracks when he suddenly felt a shaking on the plane. He opened his eyes and took off his headphones.

In the dimness of the plane, Tahir used his phone's torchlight to inspect the nearby seat, which turned out to be empty. Puzzled, he rose to his feet and checked the seat in front of him, only to find it also unoccupied. To his surprise, the entire flight appeared to be deserted—he was the sole passenger on board.

Fear surged through Tahir as the realization of being alone in a once-crowded flight struck him. The enveloping darkness intensified his anxiety, causing his body to tremble uncontrollably. The eerie silence amplified his heartbeat, echoing in the empty cabin, and he felt an unsettling chill down his spine. Tahir's mind raced, grappling with the surreal situation, and he desperately tried to make sense of the inexplicable emptiness surrounding him.

Desperation fueled Tahir's actions as he rushed to the cockpit, banging on the locked door and pleading for help. The silence persisted, amplifying the haunting emptiness. In a frantic search for any signs of life, he checked the vacant seats and the desolate bathroom, finding no solace in the eerily abandoned surroundings. The reality of being completely alone in a once-bustling aircraft intensified his sense of isolation and confusion.

The isolation tightened its grip as Tahir desperately reached for his phone, a lifeline to his family. Yet, the cold reality hit him—no service bars, no connection. Even the wireless signal betrayed him, glitching and denying him any contact with the world he knew. The silent void surrounding him became increasingly ominous, heightening his sense of vulnerability in this mysterious and desolate space.

Peering through the small window, Tahir found himself suspended above a sea of clouds, the airplane steadfastly continuing its journey through the sky. The familiar sight, which should have been reassuring, now carried an eerie undertone. The clouds below seemed like a barrier between him and the world he knew, deepening the mystery of this peculiar flight.

The abrupt illumination revealed the interior of the plane, casting shadows that danced with the hum of the engines. Tahir, caught in the stark contrast between darkness and light, felt his pulse quicken. Every breath hung heavy in the illuminated cabin, as if the air itself was charged with anticipation. His eyes darted around, searching for answers in the illuminated space that had moments ago been cloaked in darkness.

The ringing echoed through the cabin, a peculiar and out-of-place sound in the confined space of the plane. Tahir's gaze fixated on the source, and as the elevator doors glided open, he stood in silent disbelief. An elevator, an incongruous addition to the aircraft, beckoned from where the control sector once held authority. The surreal nature of the situation unfolded before him, and uncertainty carved lines of bewilderment on his face.

The eerie melody emanating from the enigmatic elevator mixed with the heavy beats of Tahir's anxious heart. Suspicion lingered in the air as he took another step back, eyes darting between the mysterious contraption and the dimly lit surroundings. The instinct to flee fought with the curiosity clawing at his rational mind. The elevator, an inconceivable addition to an airborne vessel, stood as a cryptic invitation that demanded a choice. Tahir wrestled with uncertainty, caught in the surreal dance of the unknown.

The sudden yank propelled Tahir into the enigmatic confines of the elevator, where gravity seemed to defy its conventional rules. As he struggled to regain his footing, the metallic doors slid shut with an ominous finality, sealing him within the confines of the surreal capsule. The ambient music intensified, weaving an otherworldly symphony that mirrored the disarray in Tahir's mind. The descent into the unknown unfolded, an involuntary journey that blurred the lines between reality and the fantastical realm he had unwittingly entered.

Tahir's pleas reverberated within the metallic confines, echoing a desperate cry for aid,

"Heeeelp..." He shouts, in the surreal descent.

The resonance of his pounding heart matched the rhythm of his frantic pleas, as the enigmatic elevator continued its descent into the unknown, indifferent to his entreaties. The shadows within seemed to dance to the chaotic melody of his fear, amplifying the disconcerting nature of his unexpected plunge into this uncharted realm.

The abrupt cessation of the elevator's movement left Tahir suspended in anticipation. As the door creaked open, unveiling an expanse of untouched grassland, Tahir's eyes widened with disbelief. The contrast between the metallic confinement of the elevator and the vast, unspoiled landscape was stark.

Taking tentative steps forward, Tahir found himself standing on an unfamiliar terrain—an open canvas of endless greenery devoid of any geographical irregularities. The surreal nature of the scene intensified, leaving Tahir at a loss for words in this bewildering space.

Tahir's hesitant retreat from the enigmatic elevator led him onto the lush grassland. The transition from confinement to boundless freedom was both exhilarating and disconcerting. He stood there, contemplating the possibilities that lay ahead, uncertain of the nature of this unfamiliar realm that had replaced the confining walls of the elevator with an expansive field.

His astonishment echoed in a breathless gasp as Tahir surveyed the uncharted surroundings, his senses grappling with the sudden shift from the claustrophobic elevator to the vast openness of the grassy field,

"What in the...?" He whispered to himself,

A chilling realization gripped Tahir as he turned to find the once-present elevator vanished. Frozen in disbelief, his open-mouthed stare mirrored the bewilderment that now enveloped him.

When he turned back, his heart raced as he found himself face to face with a stranger, the sudden appearance sending him crashing down to the ground in a mix of fear and surprise,

"Are you Tahir?" Said the man,

Tahir lifted his head and saw the man's casual attire and brown curly hair contrasted with the mysterious surroundings. He held a piece of paper, adding an intriguing element to the unexpected encounter,

"Are you deaf?" Asked the man, "I asked you a question boy" he added,

"Y--Yes?" Stammerer Tahir,

The man exhaled, then started walking, "Come with me,"

The man's presence left Tahir bewildered, sprawled on the unfamiliar terrain, questioning the reality of the situation.

Tahir, realizing the man was moving away, struggled to stand on his feet.

The field beneath him, which was once a grassy plain, now paved with concrete interlocks,

"You do know you are late, right?" said the man, his tone impatient.

Tahir was speechless for a moment, then he spoke out, "What on earth is this place?" he asked.

"Not earth," answered the man.

"What?" Tahir asked, bewildered.

"I said, not earth. This is a different place from yours."

"What is this place, then? What is going on? Am I dreaming? What happened to—"

"How the hell do you expect me to answer all these questions?" the man interrupted as he stopped walking by a door. He knocked on the door, and it opened by itself.

"In you go," he said to Tahir.

Tahir wasn't sure, "why would I?"

The man took a deep breath, and shaked his head, then said, "do you want answers or not?"

Tahir wants answers of course, but he didn't trust the place, he doesn't even know the place to begin with.

"What is this place?" He asked,

"This, this is where your answers are," said the man, "now get in so that I can leave,"

Then Tahir steps into the door, slowly and steady.