Beta-103

We are energies trapped up in human bodies. Some people refer to these energies as souls. They believe that it is a soul that truly lives. Whatever we feel, we experience or see is all stored in our souls. Our physical bodies are a mere medium to communicate in this universe. Which makes us wonder, what if our souls can escape the clutches of our physicality? What if they can leave our bodies? Will they be able to pass through time and space?

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“Do you remember the instructions Beta-103?”

“Yes”

“Can you repeat them?” 

For the fifteenth time. They’ve asked her to repeat the instructions more than any of the five specimens in the room. She was the first female chosen for this experiment. 

“… and I should not sleep at all or I won’t be able to return,” she repeated all the instructions robotically.

“Sir, I think we should inject her now.” The Junior researcher said to his Senior.

“Yes,” the Senior continued while looking at the girl lying in front of him, “It’s just going to make you sleep. We will continue the other procedures once you’re asleep. We will plug in the cords. You won’t even feel anything.”

The girl nodded. It was just a matter of 24 hours. The next thing she felt was a stinging pain in her heart. Did they say anything about where they are going to inject it? The burning sensation slowly faded and so, like the pain, everything around her.

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She opened her eyes. She was lying on the same marble counter. But there was no one around. No men walking in the lab coats, no wires or machines. The room was empty. Did the experiment fail? Did they leave me here sleeping? She sat down, and examined herself. She had the same body. She stood up and made her way out of the room.

What the hell! The door opened directly onto the street. Wasn’t this a double-story building? She came out on the street, barefooted. Everything was normal. Same high and low buildings. The cars were on the road. Lamp posts illuminating the alleys. Shops and restaurants filled up the corners. People were pacing on the footpaths. She continued walking and felt tiny raindrops falling from the sky. She looked up, and instantly the realization hit her. It was a success and she was in another universe all together for the sky was bright red. The rain was accompanied by thunder and lightning. However, she kept walking. Rain must not hinder her motives. There should be something else unusual here too. 

Without disrupting or interacting with anyone around her, she walked two more blocks. She looked here and there to keep records. As she was instructed “Do not interfere with the working of other universes and do not interact. Just observe and see as much as you can.” She remembered what the Senior researcher had told her. 

She stopped by a signal when suddenly a bolt of lightning from the red sky hit her. She saw her body light up. She couldn’t maintain her balance and she fell. Everything vanished into the dark.

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After a few moments, she opened her eyes. She was back in her experimentation room. She laid on the same counter. What is going on? She rose to her feet, and walked out of the room. “Your energy may get attached to other forms of energies. You can find yourself in different places whenever you encounter such a source,” the voice echoed through her ears. 

There were only two universes that were so far discovered by scientists other than our universe. There were only 10 people who were selected for this mission earlier. Now another batch of 5 people was selected which included her. They all discovered different versions of two universes. They all landed in different places, even different planets, some woke up in space, some on a treetop and some never woke up again. They all experienced the universes in different orders as well. It was their soul that roamed around, and their bodies laid there in the experimentation room of our universe. It was an operation of 24 Earthly Hours. 

As she opened the door, she expected a new sight but was left disappointed. It was the same view from the main door of the double-story science lab. As she stepped out on the footpath, a boy came rushing and held her hand, 

“I was looking all over for you,” and then he leaned into a kiss, “How many times have I told you not to go wandering about the streets, and wait for me outside my shop.”

She stood there like she saw a ghost. David!! How is this possible? He died 6 years ago. David took her hand and rushed her into his car. She sat there like someone who has been shot dead. She kept glancing at him. He returned her gaze, “Whatcha lookin’ at?” For a moment she forgot she was part of any mission. For a moment she thought this is the real world and David was back. However, she stayed silent as she remembered the instructions given to her. The view outside the window was all the places she remembered from her universe. It was the same world only David…

David parked the car outside the central park and they walked in. There she saw a basket, a bouquet, and a bottle of champagne placed on a picnic blanket.

“Do you like it?”

It was too real to be untrue. She just nodded and smiled. 

“Come here, place your head on my lap. You look exhausted from all the office work,” David said and adjusted himself on the blanket.

She couldn’t help but do as he said. She laid her head on his lap. David started running his fingers through her hair. His touch soothed her to the core. She wanted to forget her reality and dive into the possibilities of this new universe. She missed David so much after he died in a car accident two days before their engagement. He was back now. She could stay here forever. Everything was so perfect. She only needs to.. sleep. 

She let herself lose into the waves of David’s loving embrace. Soon she was asleep. His love was tempting enough to stay here forever. She already despised the world without David. 

She woke up and her eyes instantly met with David’s who was holding a cigarette between his lips. David was still here. I am going to stay here forever.

 “You were looking so peaceful,”

“Let me light the cigarette for you,” she took the electric lighter from his hand and held in front of his face like she used to.

“Ouch,”

“I’m sorry, you forgot? It gives off sparks, I need to buy a new one,”

She felt as if the fire lit up inside her instead of the lighter.

“No, No No!!!” She shouted, as her skin started to glow. She felt dizzy. Then everything slowly dimmed.

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She woke up in the same room, hurriedly got up and ran outside the door. A whole new world stood in front of her. How is this possible? There were only 2 universes. She stepped out, her feet sank into the sand. Is this some new world? Or a new place in the old one? She ran out hysterically. 

Shit shit shit I slept. Will I be able to go back? Am I stuck between these universes forever? Will I ever find my way back to David?

She felt something in her hand. 

The lighter.

She pressed her finger on its electric arc. The energies collided. Her body glowed. She fell. Everything faded.

She woke up in the same room again. she ran out and a new universe waited for her.