Chaos Installation

Part 3 ~ The Return.

      It is out of control. Not just my life, but the events of the world. Not to say that it was never this way before... It is the same, just a whole lot more confusing. I wonder... Are They just as confused as I am?

      "What do you mean?" I asked frantically.

      The man turned his side to me. "You've noticed, haven't you? Look around. Time has slowed down. Or rather --"

      "Or rather, we've sped up."

      "Well, there's a smart girl. Precisely." The man looked towards the entrance of the bus and took a step forward.

      "Anyways, I'd love to chat, but I kind of have something to do."

      Huh?

      "Seeya."

      "W-wait!"

      I hastily followed the man out. I noticed that the people on the bus were not the same as those who were here as I boarded at Mellenia. The bus differed in outer appearance as well, in a somewhat familiar fashion. Okay, something's up. This looks like that same bus.

      "Where are you going?" What should I do? Should I follow him? My actions precedes my thoughts; I automatically tailed him.

      "Oh, so you're coming with me, then?" He smirked. He was probably very aware of my current moment of helplessness. And pretending he wasn't. We ran past the frozen cars, and the man even jumped over a few. Cool skills, man.

      "Well, I know nothing of what is currently going on," I replied. "Additionally, I have nowhere else to go at the moment. What else am I to do?"

      "I guess you're right. Just stay close to me, then."

      "Mm." He quickened his pace, and I adjusted to the change of travel speed and followed behind.
      We barely walked a quarter of a mile. Suddenly, he stopped. I saw him pull out a gun, and I stepped back. He ensured I was out of the way and shot through a slightly open window of a small, rusted-red car. This driver's death is certain. So is his friend's.
      Am I back in my old world? There is hardly any way of knowing, but this man may be my only lead.

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      "Miani, Kaya's ping has vanished."

      "What!?" I couldn't believe it. I ran up to the locator board and searched the girl's name, but to no avail. No matches. Kaya's ping was indeed missing. "How can this be?"

      "My guess is she has found a way to escape Luxia." Zima put her hands on her hips. "It would seem as though she disappeared just as quickly and suddenly as she came."

      "Not good..." I shook my head. "The question is, how did she manage it?"

      "I think I may know." I looked up at her, and she continued.

      "Miani, I would guess that this was Viper's doing, though the details of how or why he did it are uncertain. I do know that many of his actions have caused ripples in our world."

      "You're right." This was not helping my headache. I glared at the floor for a moment and played with a loose pink hair. After thinking and receiving Zima's concerned stare, I said, "He is probably the sole person able to accomplish such a thing. No other worrisome fellow has done such a number."
      But why?

      "Zima, try locating Kaya in any of the existing worlds."

      "Right. On it."

      I searched through my tablet for information on any troublemakers residing in Luxia. Damn that Viper! He's always in the way! I swear, that man will be the end of me. I finally reached a file about Viper. I stared at it hatefully. My hands quivered a little, but I thought nothing of it.