A Different World

This world was most certainly not the one that I came from. Though my memories of the place were limited to only what I saw in dreams, I could feel within me that that was the case. How could I even explain it? The air felt uncomfortable like I was a stranger, and it was giving me odd looks. I shook the feeling away and turned to view the city.

I had gotten accustomed to what so-called “modern cities” were like based on the conversations with the others, but I was woefully unprepared to see one in person. The lights and sounds, the metals and plastics, everything was overwhelming. So many people moved around, and vehicles ran up and down the streets like horses racing one another. It took a lot just to keep myself together.

Orrin had warned when we met that I should not simply jump into any bizarre world. I think I was beginning to understand what he meant. Had I found myself alone and stranded in a place like this, I would have been treated like I was mad, and I would have lost what little sanity remained not too long after. I shuddered at the thought. What might I have done if things were different?

“What are you doing, Kiko?” Orrin asked me. I hadn’t realized it, but I stopped walking while I was lost in thought.

“We need to hurry!” Pythagoras shouted from underneath his cloak. I could hardly tell he was a goblin with his getup, though perhaps that was the point. I saw only humans walking around the streets. No short creatures like Pythagoras, tall ones like Casey, or anything else out of the ordinary made up the population of this city. Whether the world lacked them or they lived somewhere else within it, I did not know.

I nodded to show I heard and started to walk along with the other two.

The streets were neatly laid out, and the stomping from the giant machine finally quieted as it got further and further away from us. Though, its head remained visible above the buildings, which were all shorter than the giant.

It was clear that Pythagoras wanted to follow the giant. I suspect he wanted to get close to take notes as I spotted a book and writing utensils for a brief moment.

Orrin, however, was focused on the task at hand. He led the way through the city, and we followed as well as we could.

We continued down the street and found our way to an odd building on the corner. A chime went off as doors slid open on their own.

“Welcome!” someone behind a counter said. Though they invited us in, I felt the person was not too excited to see us. Many questions echoed in my mind, but I didn’t have time to ask anything as Orrin made a wave to show we should charge in. Nevertheless, we did not break into a sprint.

The building was bright and filled with rows and rows of what I think was food wrapped in various plastics and papers. I eyed the many options, but our green leader seemed to have something else in mind.

Several cups were set out in the back of the store. It looked like their tops were sealed shut, and the whole thing was wrapped in clear plastic.

“Grab all you can!” Orrin said as he began to fill his arms with the cups. I picked one up and inspected the outside. Noodles were pictured on the front, but other than that, I was not sure what we were looking at or why the green-clad man thought it was worth coming to this world for. We followed Orrin's wish, and soon, the three of us carried all the cups we could to the counter.

The person sighed and began to use an oddly shaped tool with a light on each cup. There was a beep at every instance, and a screen number changed. When they were done, Orrin slapped something that I figured was cash on the counter, and we departed with bags of our cups.

“This is the best cup ramen in any world! You’ll love it!” the green man explained to me once we got out of earshot from the building’s occupants.

“Uh-huh” was all I could reply with. Orrin seemed to think I had an idea of what was going on, but that could not be further from the truth.

“Are we going back already?” Pythagoras grumbled. I think he wanted to get more out of our shopping trip.

“Yes!” Orrin replied in a chipper voice.

Before another word could be said, bells began to ring across the town. Some other people on the streets suddenly dropped everything and ran into the nearest building. This couldn’t be good.