The Discovery of Manipo (Part 3)

The Dawn of the Multiverse

Details are sometimes necessary. Other times, they are best not provided, such as the situation at present. I know of Eden's location; no one else should be privy to such information. I've been stingy with specific details if you have not noticed already.

After waking from my dream, I felt rested enough to figure out what David was doing underneath the ground. However, when I thought about it, I would've given up on getting more rest either way. That diminutive space was fine when it was all I had, but now it just serves as a reminder of painful memories and a dream both frightening and fascinating.

The underground matched the appearance of my dream. I could see David standing in the distance. It was odd because his movements didn't stir up feelings of deja vu. Outside the moment, we locked eyes in my dream; his movements were slow-paced but never motionless. I wondered what made him stop.

Did he notice me? Did he have a power dissimilar to mine that could detect my presence, which shares no affinity with the past? Just what was his deal?

I decided to advance cautiously to get a closer look. As I pulled up beside him, I couldn't make heads or tails of his facial expression. He wore a garment covering the bottom half of his face and stared forward.

Just up ahead, I saw the spot that would've been the placeholder for whatever object David picked up in my dream. It was too dark to see anything. Plus, advancing further was out of the question. David and I and the mysterious object were separated by a vast opening stretching from one end of the cave to another. There was no bridge or any other means to crossover. We were stuck, and I wondered what David would do to solve the problem because I couldn't interact with the scenery. Would he use some unknown power to create a bridge? Would he fly over, or perhaps he was one of those inventory types? Would I get a chance to see some unique contraptions? I doubted it after I thought about it. David wasn't carrying anything big enough to house such an object. Although it could've started small and metamorphosized into something more significant, given the year I was in, I knew it'd be impossible. Technological advancements weren't as commonplace as in the 21st century.

It was at moments like these that using my powers would make things a lot simpler. However, I was too afraid. We were near the hallowed ground. Though hidden from the eye, the garden wasn't that far off, and the idea of angering Yahweh sent chills down my spine. So, I waited patiently for events to transpire.

They never did. At least not in the way I thought.

David did move eventually, turning around without a glance and advancing out of the cave the way he had fallen in. I followed, and when I rose to the surface, I watched him move forward into the distance until he was out of sight.

I was itching to see David come back, so I went to a safe spot and advanced time again. It did not seem that long before he reappeared with three other individuals. Though their faces were obscured in my late-night vision, I was pretty sure they were in my dream. The travel gear on there was new to me, though.

"Are you sure we're nearing the entrance to the garden?" I had heard one of them ask. Their question surprised me. How did they know about the garden?

"Yes. It is just up ahead," David responded, which also threw me for a loop. How did David know that he had stumbled upon the entrance to the garden? By my recollection, no one besides myself should be privy to such information.

David. I wondered just who in the heck he was.

As my curiosity and confusion rose, the guy who spoke before said, "Forgive my skepticism, but I still find it hard to believe that you stumbled upon such a lost paradise. According to the Bible, it should be guarded by cherubim, and unless my eyesight is deceiving me, there isn’t a single cherub in sight.”

David didn't respond. He just proceeded to the hole and descended.

I could see the skeptical looks of the three men who had somehow come to follow David. They exchanged nervous glances and silently resolved to proceed into the abyss.

I followed after.

Inside the cave again, I found myself locking eyes once more, this time with one of the three men. His eyes were brown and serene but void of recognition. Clearly, he couldn't see me, but that didn't erase the unease I felt.

Delving into the past on the main timeline always left me feeling exposed. I know that no one would ever know I was watching them, but I can never stop being so anxious. Plus, the incident with David under the clutches of sleep vision made it worse. I just could not shake the feeling that he had been looking right at me.

The walls of the cave were blank, just like in my dream, and did not seem all that interesting. Yet, the three gentlemen had started analyzing them. It was as if they were reading something that did not make any sense.

A few moments passed, and David asked, "Are you satisfied? Have you confirmed what I told you before to be true?” The three gentlemen shook their heads, confirming yes.

But I did not understand what was going on. What had he mentioned to them earlier? How did they confirm by simply looking at dolomite rock? Was there a hidden language I was unaware of? Could it be that it was only something they could see? Did Yahweh not want me to see?

My confusion was only exacerbated by what happened next. After the three men removed some of their travel gear, they advanced into the cave along with David. Their movement made it appear they hadn't noticed the giant hole separating them from the rest of the cave. That assumption was confirmed when they continued walking over the ledge.

"Wait!!!!" I shouted as if they could hear me. I even lunged forward as if I'd been able to do anything to stop them. I thought they may have been in a trance for a second, but that thought was negated when I saw they hadn't fallen. They just continued walking forward as if there was a floor beneath them.

I was at a complete loss for words, but at least the bizarre events came with a constellation prize. I wondered if David knew I was here, and that paranoia had finally been erased. He stopped advancing and turned around to face me, removing his garment and revealing an evil grin that paralyzed me with fear.