Chapter 29

In a surreal environment, Carlyle found himself disoriented, surrounded by the echoes of a deep voice that resonated in the air.

"Where am I?" Carlyle questioned, glancing around the room that seemed both familiar and foreign.

"THIS IS YOUR PAST," boomed the deep voice, shrouding the room in an otherworldly aura. Carlyle's surroundings became apparent—a boy's room adorned with vibrant dinosaur decorations, and toys scattered across the floor.

Puzzled, Carlyle approached the bed tucked in the corner, seeking clarity. "What do you mean by that?" he inquired.

"THIS PLACE IS WHERE YOU WERE RAISED AS A BOY, AND YOU ARE IN YOUR MEMORY," explained the deep voice.

With a sweeping revelation, the door to the room swung open unexpectedly, revealing a young boy with fiery red hair and bright blue eyes. The child darted towards his toys, shouting gleefully, "Dad, come and play with me!"

A distant voice responded, "Just for a little bit, okay? Then I need to do work." The man who entered had white hair, hazel eyes, and a pair of gloves adorning his hands. Carlyle observed as the father and the little boy engaged in playful banter, sharing laughter and dinosaurs.

"When was this?" Carlyle asked, his eyes transitioning between his younger self and the man.

"THIS WAS YOU BEFORE VICTOR CAME," echoed the deep voice, offering a glimpse into Carlyle's past happiness.

"I was happy," Carlyle remarked with a smile, nostalgia touching his voice. "How did this man come to have me?"

"ENIXA THE PIXIE TOOK YOU AT BIRTH," elucidated the deep voice.

Curiosity piqued, Carlyle sought to understand the intricacies. "I know that, but how did he get me from Enixa?"

"HE WAS LOOKING FOR CLUES FOR THE MAN HE WORKED WITH," explained the deep voice. "WHEN HE SPOTTED ENIXA WITH A BABY, HE RAN TO HER AND GRABBED YOU."

The revelation unfolded — the man had inadvertently discovered Carlyle in the arms of Enixa, seizing an opportunity to claim him as his own.

As the memory played out, a ringing phone interrupted the idyllic scene. Answering the call, the man promised his son to return after finishing work. Carlyle watched as the man left, only to confront an unexpected visitor at the door.

"I told you I was coming," declared the familiar voice.

"I know you did, Emmet," replied the man named Emmet, the tension palpable.

The conversation revealed the presence of Victor, the ominous figure from Carlyle's memories. Victor expressed interest in the young Carlyle, referring to him as a "little bay birdie," while Emmet, Carlyle's adoptive father, confronted the impending threat.

"Daddy," the young Carlyle uttered, a note of fear in his voice.

With a mix of sorrow and reassurance, Emmet comforted his son, assuring him that everything would be fine. Victor, however, assured Emmet that Carlyle was one of the keys he needed.

Abruptly, darkness enveloped the room, and Carlyle found himself standing alone amid an empty space, devoid of toys and decorations, with only the bed remaining.

"What just happened?" Carlyle queried, perplexed by the sudden change.

"WHAT DO YOU LAST REMEMBER?" resonated the deep voice.

"Before this, all I remember is being in a room for four years," Carlyle recounted, standing up from the bed.

"VICTOR PUT YOU INTO A DEEP SLEEP FOR TWELVE YEARS," explained the deep voice. "AND WHEN YOU WOKE UP, YOU WERE IN THAT ROOM YOU REMEMBERED."

Concerned, Carlyle questioned the fate of Emmet, seeking answers about his past.

"VICTOR HAS HIM IN A DEEP SLEEP TOO, AND HE IS STILL IN IT," revealed the deep voice. "YOU NEED TO SAVE HIM TO UNLOCK THE REST OF YOUR MEMORIES."

Perplexed, Carlyle wondered how the voice possessed such intimate knowledge about his past and Emmet.

"BECAUSE I AM," proclaimed the deep voice. Before any further explanation, everything plunged into blackness.