1126-1130

Chapter 1126: A Full House of Guests

Joyful, lighthearted, and carefree.

The atmosphere was harmonious.

This was Anson, who, with just a few words, could work magic and make everything wonderful and captivating, painting the night with vibrant colors.

However, this was just the beginning—

Anson maintained the plan for the night, with no special treatment or spotlight. Like any other attendee at the event, he joined the carnival, experiencing everything from arcade games to capsule machines one by one.

In the end, Anson and his group collected ten stamps in total.

Partying together. Celebrating together.

At the Chinese Theatre, the premiere of “Master and Commander” lasted for a full sixty minutes. It was an ordeal—dull, uneventful, and lacking any standout moments.

Sure, it was lively. But the entire event followed the typical playbook: polite exchanges, clinking glasses, and compliments mixed with applause that felt insincere.

Was it fake?

Maybe, maybe not.

After all, when Russell Crowe made his entrance, the cheers and screams were genuine. But the stage, bathed in spotlight, was repetitive. You could swap in any movie, any cast, and it would look the same.

Meanwhile, at the Wilshire Theatre, a different scene unfolded.

The premiere lasted two full hours, filled with laughter and fun.

There was no designated entry time, no scheduled interviews or photo ops. The director, actors, producers, and guests supporting the premiere mingled without exception, spread throughout the venue.

Chris Evans, accompanied by Jessica Biel, came to support Anson. James Franco and Kirsten Dunst were also present, and the surprise appearance of Ryan Gosling and Scarlett Johansson delighted everyone.

They were treated just like everyone else.

If photographers wanted shots, no problem—they snapped from within the crowd. If reporters wanted interviews, they were free to approach and chat while casually playing games.

Time flew by unnoticed.

Two hours felt like the blink of an eye. When the movie was ready to start, actors, guests, and regular attendees reluctantly made their way into the theater, still buzzing with excitement.

Even inside, the thrill and anticipation continued. Laughter and cheer filled the air, making the moments pass too quickly.

A small note: the Wilshire Theatre has a larger capacity than the Chinese Theatre.

The Chinese Theatre seats around 900 people. Though not large, its prime location makes it Hollywood’s most prestigious premiere venue.

Objectively, 900 seats are significant.

However, after accounting for cast members, invited guests, reporters, and critics, the space left for regular audiences is minimal.

Hence, the Chinese Theatre’s premieres are purely promotional.

The Wilshire Theatre, on the other hand, is different. Art and independent films often premiere there, with the focus on the movie itself—not the premiere event.

After all, most of these productions don’t have the budget for a grand premiere.

This 70-year-old venue still boasts one of the most spacious and inclusive auditoriums in Los Angeles, with a capacity of 1,900.

The viewing experience is the priority.

And so, this scene unfolded.

Outside the Wilshire Theatre, there was a crowd, though it lacked the frenzy one might expect. For those arriving straight from the Chinese Theatre’s premiere, their first impression was that this event paled in comparison.

But waves of attendees kept streaming in.

It resembled a whale gulping down shrimp: every time it seemed over, more people kept coming, with no end in sight.

The crowd surged and filled the Wilshire Theatre to capacity, buzzing with excitement. The atmosphere inside brimmed with warmth and energy.

Only when they realized that nearly 2,000 people had filled the venue did the scale sink in. It easily outshone the other premiere.

Was this even normal?

Yet, outside the Wilshire Theatre, the crowd continued to grow. People stared at the “Full House” sign with disbelief.

Eyes filled with confusion. Wasn’t the Wilshire Theatre supposed to seat nearly 2,000? Weren’t they told that half of Los Angeles would be focused on “Master and Commander,” leaving “The Butterfly Effect” a quieter choice?

Lost in the carnival games, they’d forgotten the time and hadn’t rushed to secure seats. How was it now full?

So, what now?

Total shock.

More surprising still was the steady stream of newcomers.

It was clear they’d come from the Chinese Theatre.

Looking at the crowd of 300 to 500 people and the sparse, bare venue with outdated arcade machines and phone booths, one could see how New Line Cinema’s reluctance to spend on a flashy premiere was evident. No stage, no red carpet, not even decent props—just second-hand equipment.

Compared to the grandeur of “Master and Commander,” it was pitiful.

They even brought a ship to Hollywood Boulevard. And here?

Stunned, tears nearly welled up in their eyes.

Had Anson really fallen this far?

This… couldn’t be.

Luckily, those who waited for “Master and Commander” to end had come to support “The Butterfly Effect” and cheer for Anson.

Hurrying over, they tried to comfort the bewildered crowd gathered outside.

“We’re here to support Anson too.”

“We’ll cheer loudly for him.”

“It’s only because it’s a weekday.”

The moment they spoke, sympathy and pity in their eyes evaporated as they saw the sign.

Full House?

What!

How?

If the Wilshire Theatre was full, who were these 300 to 500 people outside? And why did the scene look so chaotic, like a tornado had swept through?

Everyone was stunned.

Just moments ago, they believed “Master and Commander” had the night’s most powerful premiere, showcasing market dominance. They assumed “The Butterfly Effect”, under its shadow, would need support. But an unsettling thought crept in:

Was “The Butterfly Effect” just as impressive?

Did they miss something special by attending the formulaic “Master and Commander” premiere?

They couldn’t figure it out.

Would they also need to subscribe to TMZ like everyone else?

Damn!

This scene replayed itself over and over at the Wilshire Theatre entrance. More people arrived, staring at the “Full House” sign in shock, only to relive the same internal struggle, without any resolution.

The crowd of 300 to 500 soon swelled to 800.

The recently quiet intersection became lively once more.

It was, without a doubt, a sight to behold.

Meanwhile, those seated inside the Wilshire Theatre were unaware, too engrossed to worry about the unfortunate ones left outside—the movie was about to start.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 1127: The Butterfly Effect*

"A butterfly flapping its wings might create a hurricane on the other side of the world—Chaos Theory."  

Dark, chaotic, oppressive, thrilling.

The movie sets its tone immediately. In the shadowy night outside a stained-glass window, a hunched figure sneaks forward. Suddenly, the office door bursts open, and a disheveled, scruffy man stumbles in.

Close the door. Lock it.

He pushes a sofa against the main door, grabs a file box, and swiftly hides under the desk, his tall frame curling up tightly.

It’s unmistakably Anson.

Even in the dim light, with a scruffy beard and hospital gown, his distinctive aura shines through the sharp lines of his profile.

In just one moment, he seizes attention. Effortlessly, the audience is pulled into the movie’s heavy atmosphere, hearts clenched.

Anson crouches beneath the desk, grabbing pen and paper to leave a message. Amidst labored breathing and flickering flashlight beams, chaos and danger creep in, intensifying by the second.

The film has only been running for thirty seconds, yet it already has viewers hooked.

"If anyone finds this message, it means my plan failed... and I am dead."  

Outside, pursuers are closing in, banging on the office door, shouting “Evan!” and trying to confirm his presence.

But Evan doesn’t stop.

"If I could somehow return to where it all began, maybe I could save her."  

Evan!

*BANG BANG BANG!*

*“EVAN!”*

Shouts and pounding mingle with violent noises. The whole world seems to tremble, and Evan’s message begins to disintegrate, fragmenting on the page.

The torn pieces transform into butterflies, their wings fluttering as they dance in the darkness. Then, the image morphs into a brain scan, still faintly pulsating.

*"The Butterfly Effect."*

The title appears.

The opening establishes a chilling tone.

But then, the scene abruptly shifts. The blue, gray, and black hues dissolve, giving way to a world bathed in radiant gold—serene and beautiful.

Thirteen years earlier.

Just as Evan’s message suggested, everything rewinds to where it all began. No one expected it to rewind so far back.

On the screen, a young boy, about seven or eight years old, plays with a dog.

In the theater, Nicholas takes a deep breath, regaining composure—

So, what kind of movie is The Butterfly Effect?

Unlike the mysterious arrival of Elephant at Cannes, The Butterfly Effect has revealed glimpses of its style and themes during its promotional campaign.

"If you could change the past, what would you change?"  

"What price must you pay to save her?"  

"What is destiny?"  

Three trailers, three different styles, but all share one common feature:

Information about the movie’s plot is extremely limited.

In the trailers, Anson is always running—chased by someone or perhaps racing against time. Interspersed with his sprint are scenes of laughter, sunshine, and happiness, creating a stark contrast between the bright tones of joy and the dark, intense moments of his desperate race.

While viewers don’t fully understand the story, they know one thing for certain:

Anson is the absolute center of it all.

Thus, the impression created by the movie is clear: Anson is trying to alter fate, yet a looming shadow relentlessly follows him. A tragic yet powerful energy permeates the trailer.

But what exactly happens? What does the butterfly effect signify? What challenges does Anson face? Is it a sci-fi movie, a disaster film, or a love story?

None of these questions are answered. Despite the detailed imagery, the narrative thread remains elusive.

Nicholas had done his homework, rewatching the trailers for Master and Commander and The Butterfly Effect.

Master and Commander clearly conveys its plot and tone in the trailer. But The Butterfly Effect leaves no clues.

Nicholas believes this is intentional—to build suspense and intrigue.

It banks on Anson’s charisma to captivate audiences and draw them into the theater.

All bets are placed on Anson.

But then, the movie opens by jumping straight to his childhood?

Not good.

Nicholas knows the danger of failing to meet the audience's expectations, especially after the promotional buildup. If the film fails to reintroduce Anson or capture attention within ten minutes, viewers might lose interest.

Reflecting on this, Nicholas feels a tinge of regret.

But he’s not entirely surprised—

Anson is still young.

Although he understands marketing and has a unique eye for selecting projects, he’s still an inexperienced producer. Striking a balance between acting, promotion, production, and artistry is no easy feat—it’s a philosophical puzzle not easily solved.

Consider tonight’s premiere. From the trailer’s anticipation to the event’s design, everything revolves around Anson. The theater buzzes with chatter about him.

And yet, just one minute and thirty seconds into the movie, Anson vanishes?

Does this make sense? What did the filmmakers expect the audience to think?

Success depends on Anson, but failure might as well.

On the bright side, Nicholas thinks, Anson is only 21. This imperfection proves he’s still human.

With this in mind, Nicholas adjusts his expectations for the film.

The story begins with a fragmented family.

Andrea is a mother forced to play both parental roles because her husband, Jason, has been institutionalized for mental instability. She raises young Evan alone.

Maintaining normalcy isn’t easy. Things take a turn when Andrea learns that her seemingly well-behaved son has caused trouble at school.

When asked to draw what he wants to be when he grows up, Evan sketches two mutilated corpses with himself holding a knife, standing over them.

Even worse, when questioned, Evan claims to remember nothing.

This pushes Andrea to the brink—

Her husband exhibits similar symptoms. Fearing Evan has inherited the condition, she takes him to the hospital for tests.

Doctors conduct thorough examinations and recommend Evan keep a journal to document his daily life.

But things don’t improve immediately.

One day, while Andrea is at home, she finds Evan holding a knife in the kitchen—

*“Ah!”*

Gasps erupt in the theater, the unexpected moment akin to a horror movie jump scare.

The juxtaposition of Evan’s innocent face and his sinister glare creates a chilling effect that grips the audience.

Nicholas feels his pulse quicken, his mind racing.

Could it be? Is Anson playing... a killer?

(To be continued...)  

Chapter 1128: Fragmented Memories

Hush.

The entire theater instinctively held its breath, eyes fixed on the big screen. The mixture of innocence and malevolence created a powerful visual impact.

In just a moment, Evan snapped out of it, dropping the knife in panic, completely unaware of what had just happened.

The condition seemed to be worsening, becoming more severe.

Andrea needed to go to work, so she dropped Evan off at her friend George’s house. George had two kids, Keller and Tommy, who were Evan’s classmates and often played together. George was happy to help take care of Evan, which gave Andrea some relief.

George had bought a new video camera and planned to make a film starring Evan and Keller. This made Tommy furious, as he believed he should have been the star. However, George ignored him and told him to behave.

Then, another blackout.

Evan had no idea what had happened. A chunk of memory was gone, and when he came to, they were in the basement. His clothes were scattered on the floor, as were Keller’s. The two stood in front of the camera while George, reeking of alcohol, slurred his words as he operated it.

Evan looked down at himself, panic setting in. He glanced at Keller, who had tear-streaked cheeks and a vacant, dazed expression.

George shouted angrily, ordering compliance. In the corner, Tommy watched with a dark expression, twisting a doll’s head until it snapped.

The entire theater was silent: …

So dark?

The film’s imagery was suggestive without offering concrete details, leaving the audience’s minds racing with grim theories. Clearly, none of those theories were positive.

A moment of suffocating tension. Minds unsettled.

Nicholas realized that even though Anson had yet to appear on screen, the plot was gripping enough to hold attention.

The suspense and horror elements were masterfully done, demanding attention.

This realization barely lingered in Nicholas’s mind before the story pulled him back in.

The hospital tests came back clear, with no physical damage and no identifiable cause for Evan’s condition. The doctor speculated it could be related to the absence of a father figure in Evan’s life, leading to mental stress and episodic memory loss.

This same doctor was also Jason’s primary physician. He believed that, with medication, Jason could remain calm enough to meet with Evan.

Maybe this would fill the void in Evan’s life, relieving his mental strain.

Evan finally met his father:

Shackled, like a criminal, in a stark green room.

Their first meeting was a mix of joy and nerves as Evan eagerly studied his father, engaging in conversation with a mix of excitement, tension, and shyness.

But then, suddenly.

Evan found himself looking up at Jason’s twisted, furious face as his father’s hands squeezed his throat. He couldn’t breathe.

W-what’s happening?

“I’ll kill you!”

Andrea burst into the room, followed by hospital staff, trying to pull Jason off. But he threw them aside with frenzied strength.

“He has to die. It’s the only way.”

Andrea held Evan tight, backing away, trying to escape. Jason, now completely unhinged, charged at them. The orderlies couldn’t hold him back, and just as he was about to reach them, someone struck him on the back of the head with a heavy blow.

Jason fell into a pool of blood and didn’t get up again.

The scene shifted to a funeral.

Nicholas: …

He wanted to swear, but no sound came out. He was glued to his seat.

The entire theater was in shock.

No one was prepared for such intense scenes. The dramatic tension left question marks lingering, with the suspense and horror combining to make the theater feel colder.

As the story progressed, more puzzle pieces emerged, but answers remained elusive. The storm was building.

Events began to challenge Nicholas’s assumptions.

Ten minutes must have passed, yet Anson was still absent. Despite this, the audience showed no frustration. They were utterly absorbed, thoughts racing.

So, what was really going on with Evan at the start of the film? Was he hospitalized like Jason? Who was he trying to save, and why?

The story from when he was seven ended abruptly, drawing a line.

The tale at thirteen, six years later, maintained the same high stakes.

Evan, Keller, Tommy, and their schoolmate Lanny were still friends, continuing their mischievous antics.

Tommy discovered a hidden stick of dynamite in George’s basement and invited his friends to join in a prank, forcing Lanny to put it in the neighbor’s mailbox.

No one expected the prank to go so horribly wrong—

The neighbor came out to get the mail and was caught in the explosion.

Evan blacked out again. By the time he came to, they were in the woods, Lanny collapsed on the ground, Tommy screaming in rage, and Keller panicking.

Lanny was taken away in an ambulance, and the entire neighborhood was in chaos.

Evan still had no idea what had happened. He tried to document his fragmented memories in a journal, hoping it would help.

Mid-writing, his pen ran dry.

While searching the attic for a new one, Evan stumbled upon a locked metal toolbox hidden by Jason, filled with random items:

A stack of Polaroids, all depicting nonsensical scenes.

A death certificate—his grandfather’s—noting his death in a mental hospital.

Evan hastily packed everything back.

Andrea suggested hypnotic therapy to help Evan recall the events from the day of the explosion.

But that, too, turned into a disaster.

Evan didn’t recall much; instead, he started bleeding from his nose, writhing in agony. The doctor barely managed to stop the session. Once awake, Evan’s memory was blank.

He still didn’t know what had happened that day.

Lanny was still in the hospital, condition unknown.

While Evan, Keller, and Tommy were at the movies, Keller grew more anxious, and Tommy kept mocking him, driving Evan to finally demand answers.

Bam!

Small, scrawny Tommy, barely chest-high to Evan, glared with a murderous look and shoved Evan against the wall. His eyes were full of rage, as if he would devour Evan alive.

“Don’t ever bring that up again!”

“Ever!”

Every word was spat out through clenched teeth, Tommy’s eyes blazing with madness.

Things were spinning out of control; but Evan remained lost in a fog of confusion.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 1129: The Theatrical Whirlpool*

Bad instincts are often the ones that turn out to be true.

Tommy was losing control. While watching Se7en in the theater, he caused a ruckus, yelling and pointing at the big screen. His arrogant provocations enraged the audience members who tried to protest against his behavior.

The tension in the air was palpable, ready to explode at any moment.

Keller could no longer endure it and quietly left the theater.

Evan followed her, attempting to comfort her, only to discover that Keller had a shoulder injury. It turned out that George had blamed Keller for everything and severely beaten her. Keller herself felt she deserved it.

Clumsily but sincerely, Evan tried to console her and finally mustered the courage to confess his feelings.

"Do you really have no idea how beautiful you are?"

Under the tender moment’s spell, Keller's heart softened. Unable to resist, Evan and Keller shared their first kiss.

This scene, however, did not escape Tommy's eyes.

Tommy’s rage was uncontainable. He glared at Evan as if he were staring at a corpse. But before Tommy could act, a prankster tripped him, unintentionally sparing Evan—for the moment.

Tommy unleashed his fury on the prankster, mercilessly beating him until the boy lay unconscious, his face bloodied.

Theater security dragged Tommy out by force, but even as he was taken away, his crazed eyes remained fixed on Evan. They glimmered with madness.

The mailbox explosion’s aftermath cast a long shadow over the community. Andrea realized the negativity wouldn’t dissipate easily. After much deliberation, she decided to leave the small town.

This deeply saddened Evan.

His fledgling love had barely begun to bloom, yet now they were being torn apart.

Thankfully, Lanny was discharged from the hospital, giving Evan one more chance to see his friend before leaving.

Evan and Keller secretly visited Lanny. Once assured that Tommy wasn’t around, Lanny finally agreed to go out with them for some fresh air.

Unexpectedly, they discovered thick, unnatural smoke rising from the abandoned junkyard. The trio rushed over, fearing the worst.

They found Tommy stuffing Evan’s pet dog, Crockett, into a burlap sack and dousing it with gasoline. Nearby, a bonfire roared ominously.

Evan snapped, charging at Tommy in a blind fury, oblivious to the wooden stick Tommy swung at him.

Evan dodged instinctively, but Tommy's blow landed squarely on Keller instead.

Keller collapsed.

A flood of memories overwhelmed Evan, paralyzing him. Tommy, lost in his rage, blamed Evan for everything, knocking him down and beating him mercilessly.

Then, Tommy turned to the bonfire, pulling out a flaming branch, a devilish grin on his face.

Evan, beyond reason, got back up and lunged at Tommy.

Tommy swung the burning stick at Evan.

The scene—visceral and immersive—felt as though the fiery branch was coming straight at the audience.

Heh.

Nicholas found himself pinned to his seat, unable to retreat any further. He instinctively shut his eyes, his ears ringing with the sound of the impact.

More terrifying than the camera work was the story’s tension.

Nothing is more horrifying than watching children—barely 12 or 13—become monstrous, committing acts of cold-blooded violence. It’s a direct assault on moral boundaries.

This was precisely why The Omen caused such a stir upon its release. What if the devil wasn’t an adult but an innocent-looking child?

In the darkened theater, an eerie silence reigned.

Nicholas opened his eyes suddenly. On the big screen, Evan’s bloodied face looked lost and confused. He clearly had no idea what had just happened.

Another blackout.

Evan glanced around, disoriented. Tommy was gone. Keller sat bloodied on the ground, drowning in despair, while Lanny stood frozen, staring at the burned burlap sack on the floor—

Crockett.

Evan let out a heart-wrenching scream.

...

Eyes closed, then open again.

The screen shifted to a college classroom. A group of students was taking an exam.

At the center of the frame was a young man scribbling furiously. Finishing with a flourish, he confidently glanced around the room.

It was Anson.

Finally! Nearly 30 minutes into the film, Anson reappeared.

Nicholas thought the theater might erupt in cheers, given the number of diehard fans present.

But no one did.

The audience was still gripped by the plot’s relentless intensity. Though the repeated "memory blackout" device felt somewhat heavy-handed, the intricate web of hidden clues woven throughout ensured the tension never dissipated. Each viewer picked up on different details, unable to piece it all together just yet.

Now, as Anson finally appeared, what the audience saw wasn’t him—it was Evan. As expected—

Seven years later.

Evan had grown into a university student majoring in psychology. His thesis topic was society’s perception of memory.

Through dialogue, it was revealed that Evan hadn’t experienced any blackouts in seven years. He seemed to have escaped his father’s hereditary illness and resumed a normal life: studying hard and partying harder.

Life moved forward at last.

Yet traces of the past lingered. Evan was still searching for answers about his mind and the secrets behind his blackouts.

In fleeting moments, he recalled Keller, Lanny, and Tommy. Those friends were now scattered to the winds.

Even during a romantic night with a beautiful girl back at his dorm, Evan couldn’t help but lose focus. Keller’s face flickered through his mind.

He had promised her he’d come back.

But he hadn’t.

The girl snapped Evan out of his thoughts, pulling him back to the present. Evan took a deep breath, ready to enjoy the evening.

Unexpectedly, the girl found a notebook hidden under his bed. Intrigued to learn it was Evan’s childhood journal, she insisted he read her a passage.

Evan hesitated, staring at the journal in a daze.

Compelled by an unseen force, he opened it and began reading a random entry aloud.

Memories surged back like a tidal wave, dragging him to that fateful afternoon—

Crockett struggling in the sack, Tommy’s malevolent grin, the torch in his hand. Evan tried to stop him but found himself paralyzed.

It all felt too real, as if he were reliving it.

Living it again.

(To be continued…)

Chapter 1130: Truth and Illusion

Everything felt too real—

“Where am I?”

“What the hell happened?”

Evan was shocked, scrambling to his feet in a panic, trying to understand the situation.

But Tommy didn’t give him a chance. He swung the wooden stick in his hand upward, hitting Evan’s chin hard enough to send him flying.

Dazed, blood pouring down his face.

Tommy wasn’t finished; he kept punching and kicking Evan.

Lanny took the opportunity to run over and try to untie the burlap sack trapping Crocket.

But in his fear, he couldn’t undo the knots and began to cry out.

“I can’t untie it.”

Tommy heard him and, like a harbinger of doom, turned slowly to look.

“Let go. Or I’ll slit your mother’s throat while she sleeps.”

Lanny froze, stood up, and carefully backed away.

Although Evan, barely regaining some sense through the dizziness, clung to Tommy’s legs, trying to give Lanny a chance to save Crocket—

Tommy kept kicking Evan’s chest, breaking free from his grip. He stepped forward menacingly and grabbed a burning torch from the fire.

“Listen, Evan, you better hear this.”

“Out of all the women in the world, why did you have to choose my sister?”

Tommy’s face twisted as he pushed the flaming torch toward the struggling burlap sack.

“No!”

A cry from the depths of his soul, Evan jolted awake, his hands flailing to stop Tommy, only to grab at thin air.

He was back. He was twenty years old again.

But he was drenched in sweat, as if he had just been pulled from a lake.

Evan couldn’t understand what was happening. Though the girl he’d had a date with tonight talked about dreams—that it must have been a dream—sometimes dreams felt so vivid that it was hard to tell if they were real. Yet Evan remained skeptical.

The pain had been too real. He could still feel the throb in his head and chest, a heavy, suffocating ache.

Could pain be that real in a dream?

Evan decided he needed answers.

Seven years later, Evan returned to the small town and found Lanny.

Lanny—more withdrawn and silent than ever. He seemed to have never fully escaped the terror of those years.

So when Evan asked if he remembered that afternoon, the day Tommy killed Crocket, the normally quiet Lanny transformed, as if possessed by Tommy’s spirit, displaying a demonic intensity.

Word for word, Lanny repeated what Evan had heard in his “dream” the previous night. He even turned violent, grabbing Evan by the collar and shoving him against the wall, re-enacting Tommy’s actions from that fateful day.

Evan didn’t get any answers. Instead, he became even more confused.

Back at school, Evan pulled out a dusty box from under his bed and started flipping through his old journals.

He picked one at random. It was from the day they put the detonator in the mailbox. The memory of that afternoon flooded back as he read.

Then, something incredible happened—

Evan opened his eyes and found himself standing in the forest. Keller, Tommy, and Lanny were there, across from the neighbor’s house, waiting for the detonator to explode.

What was going on?

Evan glanced around, bewildered. His mind reeled. He was so shocked and confused that even the cigarette burning into his t-shirt didn’t register. He was just trying to make sense of it all:

Was this a dream? Was this what had happened during one of his memory gaps?

This time, Evan finally “saw” the mailbox explosion play out.

The detonator had delayed, seemingly malfunctioning. Just as Tommy shoved Lanny forward to check it, the neighbor’s wife drove up. Tommy yanked Lanny back.

The woman got out, lifted a baby from the car seat, and headed toward the house. But then she remembered the mail and turned back.

Evan only felt the searing pain when he realized the cigarette had burned through his shirt and left a mark on his skin.

But he had no time to react—across the street—

The woman with the baby opened the mailbox.

A hum.

The whole world was drowned in a roaring noise that seemed to stretch out over his eardrums.

Evan, Keller, and Tommy took off running, but Lanny was paralyzed, frozen in place as if his soul had left his body.

Gasp.

Evan woke up from the “dream” again, heart pounding uncontrollably.

His stomach churned.

Evan leaned over the bed and vomited violently, unable to tell if he was terrified or anxious, even retching up bile.

He didn’t understand.

Turning over, Evan lay back on the bed and lifted his shirt to look at his stomach—

A burn scar.

He was absolutely sure that scar hadn’t been there before.

But the real question was, Evan didn’t trust himself. Or rather, he didn’t trust his own memory.

But then, how could he explain this?

Evan tried calling Lanny again to confirm some details. But he was rejected.

Apparently, after Evan’s visit, Lanny had also been thrown into turmoil. His parents, after much distress, refused to let Evan contact him again.

After the call ended, Evan thought of another option: his mother.

He invited Andrea out for dinner and began to cautiously bring up his father.

From scattered details, Evan could tell that many of his symptoms were inherited from Jason.

Back then, Jason had also experienced memory gaps. But Jason was a smart man, an excellent student, so Evan wondered if he’d found a way to recover his memories.

Andrea hesitated, as if there was something from that time she didn’t want to discuss. She thought Jason had lost his mind because not long after, he was admitted to a mental institution. She could never tell if the memories were real events or just Jason’s imagination.

So she held back, swallowing the words she was about to say.

Evan kept pressing, but Andrea deflected by dragging him into a fortune-teller’s shop across the street from the restaurant.

At first, it was amusing because Evan didn’t believe any of it and joked around. Andrea’s laughter lit up her face. But soon, the fun disappeared.

“He has no soul.”

“He shouldn’t have been born.”

The fortune-teller’s words.

Andrea’s face turned pale, and she stormed out. Evan, baffled, quickly followed.

From a distance, Evan saw his mother—who had quit smoking long ago—asking a stranger for a cigarette, lighting it up, and taking deep drags.

Evan couldn’t understand. He didn’t believe in fortune-telling and thought they only used scare tactics to make money. Andrea didn’t need to let some nonsense ruin the entire day.

But he hadn’t expected Andrea to reveal a secret he’d never known.