Nathan slowly opened his eyes, his eyelids feeling heavy. It took him a few seconds to realize he was in a safe place—something he hadn't felt in a long time. Diana's house was warm and cozy, a stark contrast to the filthy, rundown places he usually used as hideouts.
He let out a deep breath, trying to process everything. It all felt like a strange dream. Just a day ago, he was fighting to survive against vampires, and now he was in a world that seemed peaceful, like before the disaster happened.
Nathan sat at the edge of the bed, rubbing his face. He still had no idea how or why he was here. Was this a dream? Had he died and been sent somewhere else? Or… was this really the past?
A soft knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts.
"Nathan? Are you awake?" Diana's gentle voice came from the other side.
"Yeah, I'm up," Nathan replied.
Diana opened the door and smiled. "You slept for quite a while. I figured you needed the rest after everything that happened yesterday. How are you feeling?"
Nathan stretched a little before nodding. "Much better. I think I need some fresh air, though. Maybe I'll take a walk outside."
Diana looked at him with slight concern. "Are you sure? I can come with you if you want. This town is safe, but… I don't want you getting lost or anything."
Nathan gave a small smile. "I wouldn't mind if you came along. Besides, I'm still trying to make sense of all this."
---
The two of them stepped outside and began walking through the town. Nathan couldn't hide the wave of nostalgia creeping up inside him. He recognized so many corners, old buildings, and even some small shops he used to pass by. Everything was still intact, still full of life.
Diana noticed his expression, as if he were reminiscing about something. "You recognize this place?" she asked.
Nathan nodded. "Yeah… I'm pretty sure this is the town where I grew up."
Diana looked at him with curiosity. "Then… what's different?"
Nathan sighed, scanning his surroundings with cautious eyes. "Everything. In my world, all of this is gone. There's no life like this anymore."
Diana didn't respond right away. She could see how serious he was.
They kept walking, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere. That was when they noticed a crowd gathering in the main square.
"What's going on there?" Nathan asked.
"Oh, it looks like the annual parade," Diana said. "Every year, the town holds a big celebration to honor the harvest and pay respects to the ancestors. It's pretty well-known among the locals."
Nathan glanced toward the crowd, his heart pounding slightly. He didn't remember much about this parade, but for some reason, he felt like he had to see it.
They joined the spectators at the side of the road, watching the procession pass by. The vibrant fabrics, cheerful music, and children's laughter made the atmosphere feel so alive.
Nathan observed everything carefully until his eyes suddenly locked onto something—something that made him freeze.
Across the street, a young boy walked through the crowd, holding his parents' hands.
Nathan's eyes widened. That was him.
Or rather, that was him as a child.
His whole body tensed. He could see his own face—the face of an innocent boy who had no idea of the horrors that awaited in the future. His parents were beside him, smiling and laughing like a happy family.
Nathan's heartbeat quickened.
Without thinking, he moved.
"Nathan, wait! Where are you going?" Diana called out, but he wasn't listening.
He pushed through the crowd, trying to chase his own shadow from the past. But the dense crowd made it difficult to move freely.
"Nathan!"
Diana's voice faded behind him, but he kept going. The more he tried to get closer, the farther the small boy seemed to drift away. Until, eventually, Nathan lost sight of him.
He stood there, breathless, his eyes frantically scanning the crowd—but there was nothing.
"Nathan!"
Diana finally caught up, her face filled with worry and frustration. "What the hell are you doing?! You just disappeared out of nowhere!"
Nathan was still trying to catch his breath. "I… I saw myself."
Diana frowned. "What do you mean?"
"I saw myself… as a kid. I was with my parents," Nathan said, still in shock.
Diana was silent for a moment before asking, "Are you sure?"
Nathan nodded. "I'm certain. That was me. And if I was still a kid here, then that means… this hasn't happened yet. The disaster hasn't happened yet."
They stared at each other, realizing what that meant.
Nathan ran a hand over his face, trying to make sense of it all. "If I really have traveled back to the past, that means there's still time. I can figure out what caused everything. I can stop it before it's too late."
Diana looked at him, a mix of confusion and fear in her eyes. "Nathan, this… this isn't something to take lightly. If you really are in the past, how do you plan to stop something when you don't even know what caused it?"
Nathan clenched his jaw. "I don't know… but I have to try. I can't just stand by knowing what's coming."
Diana let out a deep sigh. "Then… I'll help you."
Nathan looked at her, surprised. "You'd help me? Even though you don't even know if what I'm saying is true?"
Diana gave him a small smile. "I may not fully understand, but I can see it in your eyes—you believe this is real. And if there's even the slightest chance that you can stop something terrible from happening, then I can't let you do it alone."
Nathan stared at her in silence. For some reason, having Diana by his side made him feel a little less overwhelmed.
He nodded firmly. "Alright. Then we start with one thing… finding out who's behind all of this."
They stepped away from the parade, looking for a quieter place to talk. Nathan's heart was still racing from what he had just seen. He couldn't fully believe that he had just seen his younger self. But it felt so real. It wasn't an illusion. It wasn't a hallucination.
Diana led him to a small park at the edge of town, far from the bustling crowds. The place was quiet, with only a few people sitting on benches or taking slow walks. The evening breeze carried the scent of blooming flowers.
Nathan sat down on a wooden bench while Diana stood beside him, arms crossed.
"So…" Diana finally spoke. "What's your plan now?"
Nathan took a deep breath, staring at the cobblestone path in front of him. "I still don't know… But if this really is the past, then one thing is certain—I need to figure out when everything started to change."
Diana nodded slowly. "You said your world was destroyed by… vampires, right?"
"Yeah."
"And in this time, they haven't shown up yet?"
Nathan thought for a moment. As far as he remembered, the first vampire attack had come out of nowhere—one night, his village was attacked without warning. People turned into bloodthirsty creatures in an instant. There were no signs, no clues about where they came from.
"I'm not sure…" he muttered. "But if I'm here, maybe I can find out."
Diana looked at him with curiosity. "Then where do we start?"
Nathan thought for a moment before saying, "I need to see my family."
Diana's eyes widened. "Are you sure? What if they don't recognize you?"
Nathan chuckled softly. "Of course, they won't recognize me. To them, I'm just a kid."
Diana sighed. "So… what will you say to them?"
Nathan gazed at the sky, now painted in golden hues. "I don't know yet. But I need to see them—to make sure they're still here, still safe."
Diana stayed silent before finally nodding. "Alright. If that's what you want to do, I'll go with you."
Nathan turned to her. "Why are you so willing to help me?"
Diana smiled faintly. "Because I believe in you."
Nathan paused for a moment before finally smiling as well. "Thank you."
Diana shrugged. "Don't be too grateful just yet. We haven't even started anything."
Nathan let out a small laugh. For the first time in a long while, he felt a glimmer of hope. If he was truly given a chance to change everything, he wouldn't waste it.
Now, his first step was to return home—the place where it all began.