"Begin transaction," Sunny said as he leaned back in his cabin chair, exhaling slowly. His gaze lingered on the glowing control screen while a storm of thoughts swirled in his mind.
> I don't know... but the pace I'm using to complete this mission feels too slow. Still, it's not just about finishing it... I want to save what's left of this civilization.
A sharp notification tone dragged him out of his thoughts.
> [Ding! Transaction completed. You now possess three AK-47s and one Saker blade.]
The system's cold, emotionless voice echoed in the cabin. Sunny looked over the items displayed in his inventory and pressed a button on the control panel.
"Dracula, come to the main control center," he said, then cut off the communication line.
A few minutes later, a knock echoed on the door. Sunny tapped another button, and the cabin door slid open with a soft hiss — revealing Dracula standing there with a mischievous grin plastered on his face.
"I knew it," Dracula said, spreading his arms wide. "You can't go five minutes without missing me."
Sunny's expression remained deadpan. "Try to hug me, and I'll break your ribs. I don't do that kind of love."
Dracula chuckled but saw from Sunny's look that it wasn't the time for jokes. He sighed and pulled a chair beside him. "Alright, what's on your mind, man?"
Lighting a cigarette, he took a long drag and passed one to Sunny, who accepted it wordlessly.
"It's about the Upside Down," Sunny began, his tone serious. "There are too many things that don't add up. I've gone over the data a hundred times, but every conclusion leads back to the same point — ground zero."
Dracula leaned back, smoke curling around his head. "Look, man, I may not be the smartest or the strongest. And yeah, our friendship's probably built on more fights than trust — but no matter what happens, you and Lilith aren't alone. You've got me, always."
Sunny glanced at him, silently grateful.
Dracula continued, "So, what exactly about the Upside Down confuses you? Maybe I can help. I used to read a lot of Webnovel stories before the apocalypse turned fiction into reality."
"The records say the Upside Down is a parallel world — that the Children of the Night conquered long ago," Sunny said, flicking ash into the tray. "But according to universal law, they shouldn't even be able to connect to this world. That kind of interference should be impossible... unless there's a glitch."
"Oh, you're talking about that hellish place that almost killed us?" Dracula asked, his brow furrowing. "The name does sound familiar though — reminds me of something I watched before all this… Stranger Things, I think it was called."
Sunny raised a brow. "Stranger Things?"
"Yeah," Dracula said, leaning forward. "A Netflix show from back then. The Upside Down in that series — it's basically a reflection of our world, twisted and rotten. Let me break it down how I remember it…"
He counted off on his fingers:
1. It Mirrors Our World:
"Everything in our world has a counterpart there — cities, forests, even people. But it's all decayed, dark, covered in fungal growths and webs. Time and space behave weirdly — distances shift, and sometimes it feels like the world itself is breathing."
2. A Hostile Ecosystem:
"The place is alive — literally. The air is toxic, the ground moves, and the creatures there feed on life and fear. We've seen a few of them — the Crawlers, the Creepers. They act like apex predators from a nightmare."
3. Psychic Connection:
"It's not just physical. The Upside Down connects psychically to the real world through weak points — portals, rifts, whatever you call them. Most humans shouldn't even sense it, but for some reason, it seems attracted to us. Maybe something about us draws it closer."
4. Corruption and Influence:
"It doesn't just exist separately — it bleeds into reality. Spores infect objects, portals leak energy, and the place can twist minds. The membrane that dragged us into it… that's proof enough. The longer a rift stays open, the stronger its pull."
5. Time Behavior:
"Time doesn't move right there. Sometimes it's frozen, other times it lags behind. You could spend hours inside and come out to find days have passed — or the other way around."
Dracula took another drag, exhaling slowly. "In short — the Upside Down is a decaying mirror of reality. A living corruption that reflects our world's fears. It's not evil by design, just... incompatible with life. But I don't get the part about the glitch you mentioned."
Sunny's expression hardened. "That's what worries me. If there's a glitch, it means the laws between both worlds are failing — merging."
Dracula watched him in silence. For the first time, Sunny saw a spark of genuine intelligence behind his usual grin.
> Seems I misjudged him… he's not just a loudmouth. When it matters, he's sharp.
"Can I let you in on something?" Sunny asked. His tone dropped low — serious.
"Shoot," Dracula said, sitting up.
Sunny told him everything — the creature with countless eyes that had appeared outside their door, how its gaze pierced straight into his mind, how it felt like the Upside Down itself was watching.
Dracula listened carefully, absorbing every detail, his expression darkening. "This... is worse than I thought," he muttered. "Let me think on it. Give me a few days — I'll run through some theories."
"No rush," Sunny replied, flicking the cigarette out the window. "By the way — have you chosen your group leaders yet? Anyone second-in-command?"
"Not yet," Dracula said, crushing the stub of his smoke in the ashtray. "I've divided the thugs into units, but picking a second can't be rushed. One wrong choice and the whole chain breaks."
"Fair," Sunny nodded. "Also, I've crafted three AK-47s, one Saker blade, and stocked a few extra snacks. I've shared access to the train's personal storage with you — you can collect them when you're free. I'll craft more once we mine enough ore."
Dracula stood, saluting lazily. "Man, you really do think of everything."
Sunny smirked slightly, closing his eyes and reclining in his chair. "Someone has to."
Dracula chuckled and exited the cabin, leaving Sunny alone once again.
The hum of the control panels filled the silence. Outside, the wind howled.
Inside, Sunny sat still — eyes closed — as the weight of two worlds pressed quietly on his mind.