Chapter 1 – The Mysterious Realm
Fahad’s sudden slumber left everyone baffled. Days turned into weeks, and his loved ones grew anxious. Some whispered, He’s gone, while others prayed fervently. But Fahad’s spirit had embarked on a journey to a realm beyond their understanding.
The Journey Begins
In this mystical world, Fahad found himself surrounded by ethereal beings. They spoke in a language he couldn’t grasp, uttering phrases like: ∆§∆=∆ Chrono-energies aligned. The air was filled with an otherworldly glow.
The Airtime Enigma
A figure approached Fahad, saying, Your airtime has expired. To return, you must replenish it. Fahad was perplexed. What airtime? he asked. The being explained, The fabric of time is woven with airtime. Without it, your essence cannot traverse realms.
The Lone Figure
Fahad remembered a lone figure who loaded the airtime. He wore a cloak with intricate symbols, Fahad recalled. As he worked, the airtime’s complexity unfolded: ∆§∆=∆.
The Return
With the airtime restored, Fahad felt an energy surge. The beings vanished, and he awakened in his bed, gasping for air.
The Message
As Fahad shared his tale, his listeners exchanged bewildered glances. What world were you in? they asked.
Fahad’s eyes sparkled. A realm where time is currency, and airtime is life. I saw wonders beyond your imagination.
His words left them with more questions than answers. Fahad’s parting message echoed:
Do good, even when it’s not required. Eat well, for every bite might be your last.
The End of Chapter 1
Chapter 2 – The Timekeeper’s Dilemma
Fahad’s return to the mortal world left him with an unsettling realization—he hadn’t come back the same. Each day he felt a faint pull, as if an invisible thread tugged at the fabric of his being, connecting him to that mysterious realm. He couldn’t shake the feeling that time, something he’d taken for granted his entire life, now held a deeper significance.
The Ripple of Time
One night, as he lay in bed, the air in his room began to shimmer. The walls dissolved into swirling colors, and Fahad found himself standing in the middle of a cosmic corridor. This was no dream. It was the same ethereal world where he’d first encountered the strange beings. A familiar voice echoed, You’ve returned too soon, Fahad. The balance has been disturbed.
He turned to see the cloaked figure again, the intricate symbols on the fabric glowing faintly. What do you mean? Fahad asked, his voice trembling. Your airtime is unstable, the figure replied, stepping forward. Your essence isn’t yet fully aligned with your world. It’s causing ripples through the threads of time.
The Timekeeper’s Warning
The figure revealed its true identity: the Timekeeper, guardian of the realm between life and death. Each soul is bound by the law of airtime, the Timekeeper explained. But your journey has left scars on the flow of existence. If these aren’t healed, you may find yourself trapped between worlds.
Fahad’s mind raced. How do I fix this?
The Timekeeper gazed at him with unreadable eyes. There is a price. You must retrieve something lost to time. A piece of yourself that you unknowingly left behind in the void.
Fahad felt a sinking sensation. And if I don’t?
You’ll cease to exist in both worlds, the Timekeeper said, fading into the shimmering haze.
The Search Begins
Waking with a jolt, Fahad knew his time was running out. He felt weaker, as if something vital was slipping away. The weight of the Timekeeper’s words hung heavy on his chest—he had to recover what he had lost.
But where did he begin to look for a piece of himself? How could he navigate a world where the rules of reality no longer applied?
The Guardians of the Threads
Days passed, and Fahad grew desperate. Until, one evening, he saw them. The Guardians. Shadowy figures that lurked at the edge of his vision, only visible in fleeting moments of twilight. He followed their trail through the city, guided by instinct more than reason.
They led him to a place forgotten by time—a crumbling temple, hidden from the eyes of the living. Inside, an ancient tapestry covered the walls. Its patterns reminded him of the symbols on the Timekeeper’s cloak, swirling and shifting as if alive.
In the center of the room stood a portal, pulsing with energy. The Guardians motioned him toward it, their intentions unclear.
The Final Choice
Fahad approached the portal cautiously. This was it—his only chance to find the lost piece of his soul. But a question lingered: What part of him had been left behind, and would retrieving it cost him more than he was willing to give?
Without a word, Fahad stepped through, feeling the weight of countless timelines pressing against him. The journey had only just begun.
End of Chapter 2
Chapter 3 – The Void of Forgotten Time
Fahad’s body tingled as he was pulled through the portal, his surroundings warping and twisting around him. For a moment, he felt weightless, floating in a space where the concept of time seemed to vanish. Then, with a sudden jolt, he landed in a cold, dark void.
The Void Revealed
This new realm felt different from the one he’d visited before. It was silent—oppressively so. Black, swirling mists floated around him, occasionally parting to reveal glimmers of distant memories—his memories—drifting through the darkness.
He stepped forward cautiously, his heartbeat echoing in his ears. He could sense it now—something was missing, a fragment of himself that had been left behind. But the more he wandered, the more uncertain he became. Each step seemed to stretch endlessly, as if time itself had been erased in this forsaken place.
Suddenly, a whisper broke through the silence. You’ve come for what’s lost, but do you even remember what it is?
Fahad turned, but saw no one. The whisper seemed to come from the very air around him. It continued, In the void of forgotten time, what is lost is often buried deep within the soul.
The Keeper of the Void
Out of the mist, a figure emerged, but this one was different from the Timekeeper. Cloaked in shadows, its form shifted and changed, never settling into one shape. Its voice was low, like a distant echo. I am the Keeper of the Void. What you seek is here, but retrieving it will not be so simple.
What have I lost? Fahad asked, his voice betraying his growing fear.
The Keeper chuckled softly. Not all things left behind are forgotten. Some are merely… hidden, waiting for the right moment to resurface.
Fahad felt a chill run down his spine. Tell me what it is. What part of me do I need to find?
The Keeper remained silent for a moment, then extended a hand. Look into the mist. What you seek is there.
The Search for the Lost Fragment
Fahad hesitated, then stepped toward the swirling mist. As he peered into it, visions began to form—images from his past, both familiar and strange. He saw himself as a child, running through fields of grass, laughing with friends. He saw moments of regret, times when he’d made choices he wished he could undo.
But then, deep within the mist, he saw something else—a memory that didn’t belong. It was a version of himself, but different. This Fahad stood alone, staring into the distance, eyes filled with a strange emptiness.
You left a part of yourself here, the Keeper whispered. When you crossed into the realm of airtime, a fragment of your essence was torn away. It’s been wandering this void ever since, waiting for you to reclaim it.
Fahad watched as the other version of himself turned and began walking into the darkness. Without thinking, he followed, the mists parting as he moved.
The Confrontation
The deeper he went, the more disorienting the void became. Time felt warped here, twisting and bending in unnatural ways. Every step seemed to stretch into eternity, yet Fahad knew he had to keep moving. He had to confront whatever this lost piece of himself was.
Finally, he reached the end of the path. The other Fahad stood before him, still staring into the void. Who are you? Fahad asked, though he already knew the answer.
I am you, the figure replied, its voice hollow. I am the part of you that was left behind. The part that hesitated. The part that feared.
Fahad took a step closer, his heart pounding. What do I have to do?
You must face the fear you left here, the figure said, turning to him. Its eyes were dark, filled with an emptiness that mirrored the void around them. Only then can you reclaim what was lost.
The Trial
Fahad’s mind raced. What fear had he left behind? What had he abandoned in the void? As the figure approached, memories flooded his mind—moments of doubt, of hesitation, of fear that had held him back throughout his life. He had always pushed those feelings aside, burying them deep, pretending they didn’t exist.
But here, in the void, there was no escaping them.
The figure raised a hand, and suddenly Fahad was surrounded by visions of his past failures—times when he’d given up, moments when fear had stopped him from taking action. The weight of those memories pressed down on him, threatening to crush him.
But then, something stirred inside him. He realized that this fear, this doubt—it was a part of him, but it didn’t define him. He had faced death itself and returned. He had navigated realms beyond imagination. He was stronger than this.
With a deep breath, Fahad stepped forward, embracing the figure. As he did, the dark void around them began to fade, replaced by a soft, glowing light. The lost fragment of himself merged with his essence, and for the first time, he felt whole.
The Keeper’s Farewell
The Keeper of the Void watched silently as Fahad reclaimed his lost self. You have done what few can, it said. But remember, this is only the beginning. The journey ahead will be filled with more trials.
Fahad nodded, feeling a new sense of clarity. I’m ready.
The Keeper smiled faintly. Perhaps. But beware—time is a fickle thing, and the void is always watching.
With those words, the void began to dissolve around him, and Fahad found himself back in his bed, his heart pounding in his chest. But this time, he knew he had brought something important back with him.
He wasn’t the same man who had left. End of Chapter 3
Airtime and Death by Fahad Ssegujja is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
This story was written by Fahad Ssegujja and it’s owned by Marketing2Advertising