บท 25: Mysterious Encounter
East Village, Manhattan. In the small apartment:
Lucas was looking at himself in the mirror, then closed his eyes as he breathed and exhaled. He imagined being Aron Ralston.
Lucas didn't know why, but he felt his surroundings changed. He felt the wind brushing against his skin.
The wind sounds like a lone wolf wailing through the towering sandstone walls, echoing with a deep, primal sadness.
When Lucas sensed this, he felt something isn't right...
There's no way such a kind of wind, or with the wind with such a sound, existed in his apartment.
That can't be possible, so Lucas couldn't help but open his eyes in curiosity. However, his initially curious eyes turned shocked.
"What-what is happening!?" Lucas couldn't help but exclaim in shock.
Lucas was extremely shocked to find himself in a place he wasn't before, yet he felt the place was extremely familiar...
The area has narrow passages, towering red rock walls, and unique rock formations...
Lucas also noticed the chirps of insects and the distant cry of a lone hawk.
And also the scent of pine needles, the coolness of stone underfoot, the grit of sand in his teeth—this sensation was felt by Lucas extremely vividly.
"What is happening? Where am I?" Lucas was kind of nervous. He certainly didn't know where he was, and he could feel his chest heaving up and down in nervousness...
"Why are you nervous? Don't you want to act the role of Aron Ralston more effectively?"
Lucas heard a distant voice and shouted back, "Who are you? Where am I?"
Although Lucas was a transmigrator, he felt a bit nervous in the peculiar situation he currently found himself in.
Then, Lucas saw a figure walking towards him in the distance. As the figure got closer, Lucas looked closely and was shocked to discover that the figure looked exactly like him!
Or more accurately, the figure's face and body shape looked exactly like Lucas Knight!
Lucas saw the naked "Lucas Knight" in front of him smile faintly. The "Lucas Knight" said, "Are you surprised?"
"Who are you, really?" Lucas asked with a quivering voice.
The "Lucas Knight" simply introduced himself without much suspense.
"I am the real Lucas Knight."
Lucas was a bit surprised when he heard that, but he didn't doubt the "Lucas Knight" identity in front of him. Maybe it was just his instinct, but considering the appearance of the man in front of him was exactly the same as "Lucas Knight" and the peculiar situation he was in, Lucas didn't need to doubt the "Lucas Knight" in this current situation.
"You don't appear too shocked, I see?" The "Lucas Knight" said, seeing Lucas wasn't overly shocked.
"Why would I be? I am also a soul that mysteriously occupied your body..." Lucas said. Being a soul and being sent to the 2009 parallel world in another body, he felt that the universe is much more mysterious and stranger than fiction.
Then, Lucas said, "Did you bring me here to take back your body?" Although Lucas said that, an obvious reluctance could be detected in his eyes.
When everything was falling into place for him, his dream of becoming a great actor, the superstar in Hollywood, yet it was suddenly fading away in Lucas's grasp...
The "Lucas Knight" in front hurriedly shook his head and said, "No! How could I? I am already dead, and my soul is also gradually being pulled by a strange force, which means my soul is already being labeled as dead and couldn't attach to my physical body anymore..."
Lucas's eyes brightened ever so slightly, "Really?"
"Lucas Knight" saw that Lucas was pretty happy, he wryly smiled. He said with a regretful tone, "You look happy."
Lucas felt a bit bad. After all, the body he is occupying was not his, yet he was the one using it.
Then "Lucas Knight" sighed and said, "Well, I know it's not your fault that I died. In fact, I am grateful to God that after I died, your soul replacing mine in my body made it possible for my body to live. Instead of my body rotting in the apartment, it was better for someone like you with a purpose and goal in life to take over it."
Lucas was silent when he heard the monologue of "Lucas Knight" in front of him, and then he asked, "Then what is your purpose for bringing me here?"
The "Lucas Knight" seemed surprised when Lucas asked that. "Lucas Knight" shook his head and said, "No, I didn't bring you here. You brought yourself here."
Lucas was pretty confused and said, "What do you mean?"
The "Lucas Knight" explained, "This place is actually in the deep recesses of your consciousness."
Lucas appeared surprised when he heard that. He exclaimed, "In the deep recesses of my consciousness?"
The "Lucas Knight" nodded and said, "That is correct. This is also the place I found myself in after you occupied my body."
Lucas was a bit surprised when he heard that "Lucas Knight" was actually in his consciousness all the time.
The "Lucas Knight" observed Lucas's expression and said, "That's right. I was actually quietly observing your life this whole time."
Although Lucas felt uncomfortable, he chose to return to the topic. He said, "Then how am I able to bring myself to this place— I mean, this consciousness of mine?"
The "Lucas Knight" looked around the space, which is a narrow canopy. He then explained, "It's pretty simple to explain, actually. When you are truly immersed in the character of Aron Ralston, your consciousness recreates a place relevant to that character while you immerse yourself with the role."
When Lucas heard that, he was quite astonished, and as he surveyed the space, it seemed like what "Lucas Knight" had said made sense.
Now that he thought about it, the narrow canopy looked just like the area in Bluejohn Canyon.
Then Lucas questioned, "Then why didn't I have this experience when I was immersed in the character of Dylan?"
The "Lucas Knight" simply said, "It's because you are not challenged by the role of Dylan, hence, you are less passionate about the role compared to the main role of '127 Hours,' Aron Ralston."
Lucas nodded in understanding, and then he said, "I see... You seem to have an understanding of this place of consciousness of mine. Did you perhaps cause this strange phenomenon in my consciousness?"
The "Lucas Knight" shook his head and said, "No. Even I was mystified by how your consciousness works, and also, I just found myself within your consciousness unknowingly."
Lucas nodded and said, "Then, what do you think of this place?" He looked around as he spoke.
The "Lucas Knight" shook his head wryly and said to Lucas,
"I am entirely unsure myself of the purpose of this strange phenomenon in your mind, but I feel that your consciousness or subconsciousness is actually trying to assist you in your acting."
Lucas was a bit astonished as he said, "You mean... This is my ability to enhance my acting in the roles I am deeply immersed in?"
The "Lucas Knight" nodded and said, "That seems to be the case. But I am unaware of many details about this ability of yours."
Lucas was filled with great excitement when he saw "Lucas Knight's" figure gradually fading away. He called out, "Lucas! You're fading!"
"Lucas Knight" felt a sense of complexity as he saw his body in Lucas's consciousness fading. He muttered, "I didn't expect that I'd be gone so soon."
Lucas couldn't help but asked, "What do you mean?"
"Lucas Knight" looked at Lucas deeply and said, "It's a great pity that I won't be able to witness your journey in reaching your dream, no, our dream. It can also be said to be my dream too..." He knew he would fade and be gone to the afterworld the moment Lucas became aware and explored his ability and consciousness, but he just didn't expect it to happen so soon.
Lucas caught onto something in "Lucas Knight's" words, and he said, "You..."
"Lucas Knight" nodded and said, "That's right. I'll be gone for good."
Lucas felt a bit complicated as he witnessed the original owner of the body gradually fading in his vision.
"Lucas Knight" looked at Lucas and said, "If you don't mind, I'll make a request."
Lucas just nodded and said, "Sure..."
"Lucas Knight" said,
"Please don't give up."
Lucas didn't expect such a request. Then he heard "Lucas Knight" say once more, "And please... Pretend to be me when you meet my family. Sigh, I hoped that I could see their reactions, especially my father, to see me so successful!"
Lucas couldn't help but smile wryly. He really didn't have a choice but to assume the identity of "Lucas Knight" anyway, since it was his current body. Also, he was satisfied with his current name, "Lucas Knight." Besides, how foolish would he be to reveal that he was actually a transmigrator, right?
"Lucas Knight's" figure almost became transparent until it turned into nothingness. His last words were,
"Farewell, Lucas."
Lucas observed with complicated expressions. After being silent for a while as a tribute to the real "Lucas Knight," Lucas examined the place.
There's no doubt about it. It was the Bluejohn Canyon.
Before Lucas could explore the place further, he felt a sudden and overwhelming exhaustion, and Lucas seemingly fainted in the spot.
The moment Lucas opened his eyes, he found himself still in his apartment.
Lucas felt drenched in sweat and was breathing heavily.
"Was that experience... Real?" Lucas couldn't help but mutter, his eyes reflecting deep shock.
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