A loud knock on the door shattered the silence of the apartment. When Ira opened the door, a man in his 40s or 30s greeted her, dressed in a fitted dark brown suit. His dignified posture and refined manners gave off an aura of sophisticated business owner.
"I am Rok," he introduced himself. "I have received instructions from Sir Darsh to accompany you to the MS mansion."
"Sir Darsh?" Ira said.
"Yes, Ms." His eyes darted to his watch. "It is necessary for us to depart soon."
But wasn't the time? She looked at the wall and found it to be 5:45 AM. "Wasn't it 5:15 just now?"
"Manya, who's this guy?" Ira said.
"Hmm? Oh, him. Rok, can you please give us a minute?" Manya said.
He nodded, "Certainly," and closed the door on his way out.
Manya turned her attention back to Ira, whose eyes were seeking a response. Ira bombarded her with questions about Darsh and the necessity of visiting the mansion.
Don't know if it exists, but someday I'll surely receive a title of the biggest liar!
Manya finally decided on a story. "Darsh. He's a wealthy young man who owns the Japan firm," she explained. "You know Vicky, my mamu's friend? He introduced me to Darsh, and that's how I landed this fantastic job. I'm supposed to go to his mansion first, and then we'll head straight to the airport."
Manya put on her most convincing smile to strengthen her lie. Ira seemed hesitant, but insisted on joining her at the mansion.
"No!" Manya said. Ira shot a stern gaze. "I mean, you don't have to go."
"Reason?"
"So, that I don't feel sad. I hate…"
"I know you hate 'Farewells' and I don't care," Ira said, while dressing up.
"You can't come. I would break seeing you there, standing alone. And you will also feel bad, as your only friend is leaving you."
Ira went through Manya's closet. "This one." Ira said, holding a few options.
Manya pointed at the crisp white top and faded blue jeans. "I won't talk to you if you don't listen to me!"
"Who said I am not listening to you?" Ira threw the clothes at Manya and brought out the pumps.
Manya shook her head, "Sneakers." She rose to her feet and placed her hand on Ira's shoulder. "I won't repeat this again. You aren't going!"
"And I said I am listening!"
"You know what? I can't deal with this." With mumbled curses, Manya pulled sneakers out of her hand and tied them up. Ira packed all of Manya's necessities into her handbag. "Bring the moisturiser." As Ira entered the bathroom, Manya locked up the apartment and made a swift escape.
"Manya!!"
"Miss me!"
While running from her building, she kept her eyes fixed on all the entrances that led to her room. Her sigh of relief transformed into disbelief after spotting Rok beside an old junk of a car, forced out of retirement.
"Are you only planning to involve with this guy for business purposes?" Ira said. Surprised, Manya looked back and found Ira standing just inches away. "This Darsh guy could be your soulmate. You like saving money and he seems to be a master at that."
"Rok, is it possible to use force to stop her from coming with us?"
"Who, Ms?"
Manya glanced around but couldn't locate Ira. "Hey! They have lemon juice!" Ira spoke through the car's window.
Manya sighed. "Never mind, Rok."
Passersby flocked to the exhibition of an ancient junk and laughed while recording the unusual sight.
"Rok, thank you and your Sir Darsh for embarrassing us."
"Sorry, Ms., for causing you any kind of stress. It's forbidden to display the products of MS or other galactic firms to the natives of Earth," Rok said.
"They also build cars?" Manya said.
After recollecting their thought. "What do you mean, natives of Earth?" Both Manya and Ira said in unison.
"Sorry. I can't disclose more on this matter."
***
As they entered the less crowded path, an invisible pressure lifted both Manya and Ira a few inches above their seat. Regardless of their panic, they kept their screams under control. Their hands clasped together, fingers intertwining in a firm grip. The inside of the car was undergoing a transformation. It's not only interior! Every part of the car was transforming. They pinched each other multiple times, feeling the sharp jolts of pain confirming it to be real.
The strange experience ended in an instant, and they found themselves seated in the most luxurious and cushioned chairs. Each seat had a display function that could show texts on every part. The texted area wasn't smooth glass, but a rough, textured surface. Its fabric responded to her every movement and touch. The seatbelts stretched across both of them, securing them in place, and the car raced at an alarming rate.
"What are you? It's a dead end!!" Ira said.
Rok guided the car onto a restricted road nearing its end. In the back of the front seats, a video of a monkey trying on different outfits played, filling the car with laughter. But it only distracted her for a few fleeting moments. The wall was getting closer at an unimaginable speed.
"Rok!" Manya said. Right before closing her eyes, she witnessed an orange square materialised on the wall ahead. They all were lying when they said death is painful. If anything, it's exciting.
Cynical laughter filled the air. "Did I end up in hell?" Opening her eyes, she punched the video of the mischievous monkey. Monkey peeked out from her fist and vanished after a short victory laugh. Ira sulked in Manya's lap. Trembling.
Manya's gaze fell on the window. The outside view had stolen away her breath, an art made with clouds and highlighted by sunlight. "Beautiful." Clouds? Her eyes slowly widened at the tiny world below, peeking through the clouds. Her piercing scream alerted Ira.
"What?" Ira's eyes filled with concern as she sat back up. While trembling, Manya pointed at the window. "Woah!" Ira placed Manya's head on her chest. "It's just clouds, babe. Have you never been on a mountain trip? It's normal. But how did we end up in a mountain range?"
With a quiver in her voice, Manya said. "Loo… k down."
Ira let out a chuckle. "I didn't know you were afraid of heights. It may look scary from above, but being at the top of the mountain feels refreshing."
"God dammit! Just look down!!"
"What's wrong with you?" Ira looked out the window and glanced at what lay below. A scream escaped her, stronger than Manya's. "We are going to die!" Tears fell down her cheeks.
A few seconds later, their roles shifted. Manya caressed Ira's head. "Aw, I didn't know my baby was afraid of heights." Ira's fear overwhelmed her voice.
Moments ago, Manya was drowning in a sea of empty beer bottles in her apartment, and now she soared high above the breathtaking landscape below. And she saw no point in dismissing it all as an illusion, not when Ira's pinches in her lap were a constant reminder. "It's real!!" Manya pushed her away to the door.
"Are we really in a flying car?" Ira said.
With a pitiful smile, Manya nodded. While this was not the most bizarre experience for her, but the thrill of flying in a car still left her in awe. First, she had witnessed a fierce battle between her loved ones and the merciless creatures, and now, a flying car. She had to adapt and learn at a rapid pace to stay ahead in the upcoming world. This new world would challenge her to embrace a different version of herself. Would the gun she had brought be of any use?
"That's why you didn't want me to come! You bitch! I will never forgive you! And what in the world is happening right now, can you explain?" Ira said.
"It's not what it looks like," she smiled. "Well, it's exactly this, but it's not safe. However surreal or amazing it feels, the place where we headed is dangerous, and I never wanted you to suffer."
"Just what is going on with you?"
Stealing glances at Rok, she whispered in Ira's ear. "Remember, I told you about my mamu?"
"The one who's missing?"
Manya nodded. "Actually, he's kidnapped."
"Kidnapped?" Ira said. Manya poked her for being loud. "By who?"
"We have reached our destination," Rok said.
"I'll tell you later," Manya whispered.
As the car descended, Manya's and Ira's panic resurfaced, intensified by the sight of the vast, blue ocean and a well-maintained grassy field below. Rok continued past the field, following an exquisite stone path that appeared to stretch straight into the vast expanse of the ocean.
With a tight grip, she clutched the fabric of the front seat, trying to reassure herself that Rok wasn't a crazy person who would purposely drive them into the ocean. At the path's end, she grasped Ira's hand.
"Hey, is he insane? Stop!" Ira said. "Manya, tell him to stop!"
"Stop screaming in my ear and wait!"
Reaching the end of the path, they stumbled upon a hidden space veiled by a mysterious, translucent layer.
Manya's eyes widened in awe as she took in her surroundings. Lined up in queues at the sides were hundreds of perfectly dressed security personnel, each wearing rich brown suits and standing tall with a vigilant presence.
Rok opened the door for her. Stepping out of the car, the grandeur of the mansion grabbed her attention. No words can express the breathtaking beauty of such an architectural masterpiece. The mansion echoed with a powerful history, and the sight of the MS logo fill warmth in her heart. The logo's design differed from the one she had seen on the brown card Darsh gave him, but it matched the one at the pizza shop.
She stared up at a beautiful, artistic pattern of clouds adorning the sky, perhaps covering the entire area.
"Were we riding this?" Ira said.
Upon turning, Manya saw an otherworldly cognac brown car with a long exterior adorned with intricate black patterns and glass that exuded wealth and royalty. Yet, she couldn't shake her focus longer from the mansion before her, which stirred up emotions of pain, familiarity, and longing.
"Manya? Are you okay?"
"Yeah," she breathed.
"Then why are you crying and smiling at the same time?"
I am what? She could now taste the tears falling down her cheeks. "Since when?" she wiped away the tears.
Standing between two worlds, the one ahead seemed more familiar than her current one, with an irresistible force urging her to rush to the grand doors and uncover the mysteries beyond.
"Manya, just, who in the world kidnapped your mamu?" Ira said.