2

When I arrived in town, all I could see was buildings and trees, buses and cars, with people moving all over the place, making the streets seem like a constantly shifting maze.

I found a nice parking spot near a supermarket that is well-known in town; I have never seen it without customers. After getting out of my car and locking the door, I hoped not to get a parking ticket.

I walked quickly towards where we were supposed to meet, checking the time as our meeting period was approaching. I decided to take a shortcut through the mall, thinking it was the best choice of action. However, as I reached the middle of the mall, I realized that nobody was around; it was as if the place had been abandoned.

"This is pretty weird," I whispered. But the moment I said so, I heard a clacking of footsteps. Each step resounded like the striking of a clock, ticking away the seconds of solitude. I looked around in confusion, trying to pinpoint where the sound was coming from. I didn't see anyone, which made me a little frightened.

I tried to recall everything I learned from horror movies, wanted to move, and continue my day. But I have seen enough horror movies to know the doors might be locked, so it would be pointless to try. I also learned that it's best to always check your back, so I jumped and turned myself around, only to meet a hand smacking me on my forehead.

The hand appeared human, and its owner stood before me. He bore a striking resemblance to me, as I noticed from looking at my reflection in the mirror every day, but he was older.

The older version of myself spoke up and informed me, "I don't have much time. You need to return home now and hurry." The moment he stopped talking, he vanished into thin air like smoke in the wind. The environment suddenly changed, with people walking around me in the mall as if time had just skipped a scene.

"What the hell just happened?" I muttered, thoroughly confused. I couldn't help but ponder the information I was given by my older self.

​

(Why do I need to go back home?) I couldn't shake the feeling that I had forgotten something, and then it hit me, I realized I forgot to turn off the gas.

I couldn't believe what I had done; I felt disappointed in myself for forgetting to turn it off.