Chapter 29

Nightfall came and Uriel immediately fell asleep.

When his consciousness brought him to an inner world, he was still covered with darkness. The only one glowing around were himself and his younger self.

"You're me, aren't you?" He asked the little guy who looked very much untainted.

"We're the same person. I know, because I saw you with your family, spending time happily. That must've meant that they were my suppressed memories."

The little guy looked at him with a blank, innocent expression.

It's like he's looking at a new, unknown species that gradually piqued his interest – much like bugs and rocks he once collected outside.

Finally, the little boy stretched out a smile. "I don't know who you are, but I'm sure we're not the same person."

"No, you don't know what you're talking about! You wouldn't know, of course, since I'm the older you! I came from the future. You are me and I am you. Is that clear enough for you to understand?"

Little Uriel kept his smile on his face as he relaxed a bit, still staring at the person in front of him.

"Well, that may be true, brother. But you see, I can tell. Even if we're from the same body, we're not really the same person, right? I went through things and you went through a whole lot of different things. That makes a big amount of difference."

Uriel was startled with the child's response. "If you put it that way, maybe you're right. That does sound correct. Anyway, that's not important. You see, I forgot about you here. I lost all my memories, so I don't have the things you went through. Whatever you experience, I don't know any of those. You've got to give me a hand here."

Little Uriel tilted his head in confusion. "What could I possibly do when I'm living in the past? I can't go over there to tell you each and every story since I remember. Besides, even if we meet and I tell you everything, you'd just know about it, but you won't remember it."

Uriel knelt down to comfortably look at the kid and clutched both his shoulders. "We don't have to meet in the real world. You just have to tell me something. I need useful information. Can you at least tell me where you lived? How about the person I killed? What area or town were you in? On the weekend, we'll be going to the city. If only I knew where to go, I might have more chances of getting a lead there myself."

"You're asking the impossible, brother. You know I'm just a kid. Why would I bother knowing our exact address?"

"I guess you're right, but still-"

"Our yard is just in front of our house. We have chrysanthemum flowers and herbal plants neatly lined up. Mom's a really great gardener. She's the one who arranged and planted them."

Uriel recalled that dream where they're watering their flowers and plants in their front yard, talking about how they're similar to life and whatnot.

He took into account those things and tried soliciting more from the child.

In the end, just as Uriel expected, his past, little self could only give so much.

The information was vague and minimal, causing anxiety to shoot up throughout his body. He began overthinking about what might happen at their visit, since the worst scenario would be nothingness.

Going there, exploring around, enjoying city lights, and going home just like that.

It'll be the safest, yet scariest outcome to ever happen.

"What should I do?" He asked, whisperingly. "Should I just force myself to a doctor or to the police? What would I say? I ran away from the old woman? No, that's out of the question.

Should I go to the hospital? But without a legal guardian and money, I won't be accommodated. But I could just pretend to be terribly sick that I had to be immediately taken care of. Should I.. pretend to have a terribly upset stomach?"