Massimo's head throbbed as he lay on the bed, blinking up at the familiar ceiling of his bedroom. His clothes clung to his body, drenched with sweat, and the sheets beneath him were damp and tangled. He turned his head to see his wife, Elena, sitting beside him, her face etched with worry."Massimo, are you okay?" Elena's voice was soft but urgent, her eyes wide with concern. "You were thrashing around and calling out in your sleep, Are you okay?"Massimo struggled to sit up, his mind racing with the fragments of the surreal experience he had just gone through. He tried to piece it together, but the details seemed to slip through his fingers like sand. The last thing he remembered was the strange fantasy realm and the mysterious figure who had been about to reveal crucial information to him, and he was confused, given that he was back in his office and he didn't know how he ended up in his house."I... I don't know," he stammered, rubbing his temples. "It felt so real, Elena. I was in

" Elena, I am sorry that you have been waiting for me." Massimo stated as guilt gnawed at him as he fumbled for his keys, his hands trembling slightly. Elena was wearing her night lingerie and a gown, her eyes red and puffy from her tiredness."Massimo, where have you been and are you drunk? Do you know that I have been worried and sick?" Elena demanded, her voice breaking with emotion. Massimo opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out. His vision blurred, and he felt his knees buckle. He collapsed to the floor, the world around him fading to black." Massimo, please wake up, wake up...." Elena placed soft slaps on his chicks as he carried him upstairs. When he opened his eyes, he was no longer in his living room. The familiar surroundings of his home had been replaced by a surreal landscape, one that seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy. He found himself standing in a vast, open field, the grass a vibrant shade of green that seemed almost too bright to be real. The

" Step out of the car," a sharp voice stated from the other end."Hello?" he said, his voice tinged with curiosity and caution."Massimo, climb down from your vehicle, now." a gruff voice ordered on the other end, devoid of any pleasantries."Who is this and how do you know my name?" Massimo demanded, his heart rate picking up. But before he could get any answers, the line went dead. His instincts screamed at him to drive away, but something compelled him to comply.As soon as he opened his car door and stepped out after he found his tire, one down, a sharp blow struck the back of his head. The world spun, darkness closing in rapidly. He barely had time to register what was happening before everything went black.When he regained consciousness, he found himself in a small, dimly lit cabin. The rough jostling of the cabin told him it was moving, and the steady clop of hooves outside indicated it was being carried by a horse. He tried to move but realized his hands were tied behind his

The streets were quiet in the early afternoon as Massimo walked home, his mind still reeling from the events of the day. The loss of Detai weighed heavily on his heart, the pain fresh and raw. He barely noticed the people he passed, his thoughts a tangled web of grief and determination. His surroundings seemed muted, as though the world had lost some of its color.He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't notice the figure following him until it was too late. A strong hand suddenly clamped over his mouth, and he felt a piece of cloth being pressed against his nose and mouth. He struggled, panic surging through him, but the grip was too strong. A sickly sweet smell filled his nostrils, and darkness quickly overtook him.When Massimo regained consciousness, he was disoriented, his head throbbing. He tried to move, but his hands were bound tightly behind his back. The air was thick with the smell of dust and mildew, and the dim light cast eerie shadows on the walls. He was in a wareh

The morning sun streamed through the kitchen windows, casting a warm glow over the table where Massimo, Elena, and the Guardian sat, eating breakfast. The scent of freshly brewed coffee and pancakes filled the air, a comforting contrast to the tension that lingered from the previous night's revelations. As Massimo lifted his cup to take a sip, his phone buzzed on the table. He glanced at the screen and saw his boss's name flash across it."I need to take this," he said, standing up and moving toward the living room for privacy. Elena watched him go, a knot of anxiety tightening in her stomach. She turned to the Guardian, who sat across from her, his expression calm yet alert. Massimo answered the call, his heart already heavy with the foreboding tone in his boss's voice. "Hello, Mr. Stevenson.""Massimo," Mr. Stevenson's voice was flat and formal, lacking its usual warmth. "I hope I did not catch you at a bad time."" No, it's fine," Massimo replied, his eyes darting back to the kitc