"…so, to confirm everything: you woke up in the cave with no memory of how you got there and proceeded to try to find a way out. By the way, using that trick with the smartphone was pretty smart."
The one-eyed officer, who had introduced himself as Torben Wöller, finished recapping my explanation. Meanwhile, I finished dressing myself in a set of clothes provided by the police department—a peace offering for my "misfortune" with Ulrich. In other words, they basically bribed me with an outfit so I wouldn't file an official complaint, which I never intended to do anyway. If I complained every time some idiot threatened me, I would never get anything done. That didn't mean I wouldn't get even with him, but that could wait.
"Thanks. I had no idea if it would work or not; thankfully, it did," I said, grateful that Torben didn't immediately act like Ulrich.
"No problem. Besides that, we confirmed with Deutsche Bahn that you were, in fact, on a train to Berlin. It appears you were still on board after it passed Hannover, but according to them, you simply disappeared during the rest of the trip. The only proof you were ever there was your ticket and baggage, which is currently en route to Winden with two members of the Bundespolizei who want to talk to you." He noted this down in his notebook. "And I think that's everything."
I smiled at the news that my baggage would be returned. While it didn't contain anything truly vital besides clothes, I still wasn't sure if my bank account was functioning. Even if my personal information existed in this world, I couldn't guarantee my finances did. For now, I only had a single five-hundred-euro bill hidden inside my phone case.
"Thank you, Officer Torben. I'm sorry to bother you, but could you tell me if there's a hotel in Winden? I'd rather not sleep on the streets," I joked.
Torben chuckled. "As a matter of fact, you're in luck. There's the Waldhotel. I'll leave a map of Winden at the reception desk for you." He quieted down for a moment. "Also, I would like to apologize for my colleague's behavior. I'm not expecting you to forgive him, but ever since his son disappeared, Ulrich has simply been spiraling."
It wasn't something I didn't already know. Torben had mentioned the missing children during questioning, and the fact that one of them belonged to the aggressive officer explained his hostility. It didn't excuse it, but it made it understandable.
"It's alright. Everyone has their own way of processing; he's simply lashing out."
Torben sighed and gave a nod before leaving. I went to the bathroom and checked my reflection. My hair was styled in the usual manner and my eyes were still red—nothing new there. My face, however, had become slightly paler. But the most concerning thing was the lack of my tattoos. The ravens that had been tattooed on my forearms were gone. It was another mystery to add to the growing list.
Humming to myself, I headed toward the reception desk to pick up the map. If I truly was no longer in my own timeline or world, I needed to find a way back—though that was easier said than done. I had a feeling this town held the answers.
When I arrived at the station, a nurse was on duty. "Hello, I believe Officer Torben left something for me here."
"Ah, right. He left a map for an Arthur Grimsen, which I assume is you?" I nodded, but she paused, looking at the corner of her desk. "I'm sorry, but are you sure you're only here for the map?"
I furrowed my brow. "Yes, to my knowledge. Why, is there a problem?"
The nurse shook her head and handed me the map before picking up a small package. "No, it's just that this morning, someone left a package for an Arthur Grimsen. Beyond the name, they gave a description that matches yours perfectly."
I was stunned. Who would send me a package? More importantly, how did they know I was at this hospital? This whole situation was already suspicious, but I had nothing to lose by taking it. Maybe whoever was responsible had left a clue.
"I'll take it," I said, giving her a disarming smile before leaving the hospital.
Checking the map, I saw a park a couple of minutes away. I found a bench, sat down, and stared at the package for a long minute before opening it. Inside was a notebook and a letter. The notebook featured a snake biting its own tail—an Ouroboros. Opening it, I found countless pages of text and drawings of strange places and figures. The text was written in something I hadn't seen in a long time: runes. I smiled, remembering how I had asked Grim to teach me how to write in runes years ago because I thought it would be cool.
The first page contained a single phrase. I was a little rusty, but I could still translate it.
"Let's see... 'They are mistaken. It's not infinity, nor a circle... instead, it's a coil.'" I raised an eyebrow. "Who are 'they,' and what are they mistaken about?"
The next page was dense with text; that would take some time to properly translate. But I felt this book was the key to why I was here. Then, I turned to the paper card. It was written in English:
Sic Mundus seeks to end the pain of the world by destroying the cause. Erit Lux seeks to protect by extending the never-ending cycle of stagnation. The White Devil found the truth and conducted the greatest play to achieve its goal of saving the one it cares for. All while the newborn raven watches everything from the prison it finds itself in and rages at fate.
It seemed there were three sides, and the third was manipulating the other two. The only outlier was the raven—an unwilling observer stuck in a prison. I felt like I was missing something. I flipped the card over and saw one final phrase:
"The trunk needs branches; it can't be pruned, for that way lies stagnation. Possibility is hope. The Time Eater laughs at the foolish players while it waits for its feast."
"Ominous" was the only way to describe it. It didn't answer any questions; it only added more.
Grumble.
I pressed a hand to my stomach in surprise. Answers would have to wait; first, I needed to eat.
Apparently, my bank account still worked, which was a massive relief. However, I now faced a new dilemma: I couldn't decide what to eat. My options were limited, but the local truck stop seemed to have a decent variety. Eventually, I settled on a sandwich and a Coke, picking up a pack of cigarettes on my way out.
After eating, I stepped away from the shop area to a quiet corner. I lit a cigarette and allowed myself to relax. While it was illegal to smoke or drink in the USA under the age of twenty-one, in Europe, you only needed to be eighteen.
"Sorry, could you lend me a light?"
I heard someone asking for my lighter from off to the side. I raised an eyebrow and passed it over.
"Sure thing... I want to say, 'Miss'?" I said hesitantly. While I had seen transgender individuals before, this was the first time I'd really spoken to one—unless this was just a guy with a very specific fashion sense.
The person—who was biologically male but clearly presenting otherwise—chuckled and took the lighter. "Thank you. And if you're curious, it's still 'Mr.,' but I'm already in the process of changing that," he said, taking a deep drag and releasing a cloud of smoke before handing the lighter back. "Most people don't even bother asking; they just assume. My name is Bernadette Wöller."
Wöller. Interesting. "My name is Arthur Grimsen. You aren't related to a police officer named Torben, are you?" I asked, curious.
Bernadette raised an eyebrow in surprise. "My, new in town and already caught by the police?" she said with a chuckle. "But yes, he is my brother. We don't talk much anymore, mostly due to my profession."
I wondered what kind of job would make her brother avoid her. "In case you're curious, I'm a prostitute."
Ah. That would do it. Having a prostitute for a sibling probably wasn't great for a police officer's career. "I see," was all I said. It wasn't my place to judge; everyone has the freedom to choose their own path.
"I've never seen you before, Arthur. So, tell me: are you just passing through or staying?" Bernadette asked.
"I'm stuck here for the time being," I said, stomping out my cigarette butt. "At least until I can figure out what brought me to this town in the first place."
"I see. Well, I wish you luck. And remember, if you ever feel... pent up... I have a cabin behind the truck stop," Bernadette said. I couldn't quite tell if she was being serious or just joking.
"Sorry, I don't swing that way," I replied with a shrug. "But if I find any potential customers, I'll send them your way."
With that, I turned and began the walk toward the hotel.
Walking up to the hotel, I wondered how old the building actually was. Judging by its appearance, it looked at least a century old, yet it retained a certain rustic charm. Perhaps it had originally belonged to a noble family before eventually being converted into a hotel.
As I entered through the front door, I stepped aside to let a bearded stranger pass. He looked at me with a flash of confusion before his face settled back into a neutral mask. I simply shrugged and headed toward the reception desk, where a woman was busy tucking a large package underneath the counter.
"Hello, welcome to the Waldhotel Winden. How may I help you?" she greeted me with a professional smile.
"Hello. I'd like to know if you have any rooms available?"
The woman's smile widened slightly. "Yes, we have several. For how long do you intend to stay with us?"
I took a moment to consider. I wasn't sure how long my baggage would take to arrive—hopefully no more than a few days—but I needed a semi-permanent base while I figured out what had happened to me. "I'm not entirely sure yet, but I'd like to book a room for at least one month."
"I see. For a stay of that duration, it will be a total of 7,000 euros."
I was surprised by the price. While it was a substantial amount, it was actually lower than I had expected for a month-long stay in a place like this.
"Is room and board included?"
The woman nodded.
"Alright. Do you take debit?" I asked. She produced a card reader, and I swiped. I had a significant amount of funds just sitting in my account; being a "cheap bastard" combined with the high salary of a corporate advisor meant I rarely spent more than a fraction of what I earned.
Once the transaction was confirmed, she handed me a key labeled with the number seven. "I almost forgot—my name is Regina Tiedemann. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to ask."
I nodded my thanks and headed toward my room.
Upon entering, I was once again pleasantly surprised by the accommodations. I decided to lie down and get some sleep. Tomorrow, I intended to visit the local library to begin translating the notebook while researching the history of this town. Just as I was about to close my eyes, the lights began to flicker. I wondered briefly if there was a power surge in town before exhaustion finally took over, and I fell into a deep sleep.