THE MOMENT
Victor slowed his pace as he headed home. It was a nice cool evening and the sun had already set. The downtown sidewalk was bustling like every Friday night; but, this time someone stood out. He was close to home; but, he became acutely aware of a stranger rushing toward him. If the man's gaze locked onto him wasn't enough of a curiosity, the other man could also have been Victor's twin, if he had one. The hurried man glanced at his watch as he approached and Victor realized he wasn't sure he didn't have a twin.
"Oh wow, I'm glad I found you!" the identical stranger said. He slipped the bagged bundle he was carrying into his left hand and offered his right to Victor. "My name's Vinny and I could sure use your help," he said. "Do you live around here?"
Victor shook Vinny's hand out of habit; but, the question took him by surprise. He also realized Vinny's hand was cold and clammy; and, he looked deathly pale.
"...Why?" Victor asked. He didn't bother giving his name.
"Oh man, please be one of the ones that gets it...," Vinny mumbled to himself while avoiding Victor's eyes. "..so this might be hard to believe... I'm you from an alternate universe...," Vinny said. Victor was briefly relieved before confusion took over. He was glad his parents weren't hiding a sibling from him; and beyond that, he was mostly ready to believe Vinny. The fact that he was willing to believe him is what led to his confusion.
"I'll pretend to believe you for now...," Victor nodded. "...so.. why are you here? Why do you want to know where I live?" Vinny shook his head.
"I don't care where you live, I was just curious if you lived around here; I'm trying to find this address," he said. He handed Victor something rectangular that looked like a phone; but, it was as thin as a playing card. A red address was written on a white screen and Victor nodded.
"I know where that is.. why?" he asked again. "What's so important that you came from another universe?" Vinny glanced at his wrist again. This time, Victor realized Vinny wasn't wearing a watch. Instead, glowing blue numbers appeared on his wrist when he glanced at it.
"Is it close by? Can we walk and talk? It's important that I get there soon," he said. Something about the way he asked resonated with Victor. It was a tone he himself had used more than once. Vinny sounded sincere and almost desperate.
"Sure, it's in my building..," Victor nodded and led the way.
"Thanks!" Vinny grinned as he followed. As Victor tried to piece together everything that was happening, he considered the address again. He knew the tenant that lived in that apartment, everyone called her Grandma Mundo. As soon as he remembered her, Victor was reminded of the various bits of conversation he'd heard over the years. Grandma Mundo occasionally talked about other universes as if they were real. He wondered if that was subconsciously why he believed Vinny. If he was really there from a different universe to see Grandma Mundo, maybe he needed her help.
"Is the multiverse in danger?" Victor asked as he led Vinny to a street level elevator in an alley and pressed the call button. The elevator was built into the side of a single-story building.
"Ohhh, this is why I couldn't find it...," Vinny mumbled as he looked up and around for the rest of the building. Then, he realized the elevator was coming up to ground level. "Is it underground?" he asked. At that moment, he seemed to realize Victor asked a question.
"Is the multiverse in danger?" Vinny repeated the question as the elevator dinged and the doors slid open. "Yeah, probably," he nodded as he stepped into the elevator with Victor. The he thought about it, the more Victor realized why he believed Vinny so easily. He wanted the multiverse to be real. He wanted to see other realities, and even other versions of himself. And now that he had that, he learned there was danger.
"So, you need grandma Mundo's help?" Victor asked as the elevator descended. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Help with what?" Vinny asked. But, before Victor answered, the elevator stopped and the doors opened again. "Hold that thought!" he dashed out of the elevator now that he was on the right floor.
"Go left," Victor guided him when Vinny stopped to look at the numbered arrows. Vinny nodded and dashed to the left while Victor followed at a more leisurely pace. By the time he reached the apartment, Grandma Mundo was already accepting the bundle from Vinny. She turned and waved at Victor with a large smile.
"Nice to see you. Again," her gaze darted between Victor and Vinny with a giggle, then she slipped inside and closed the door.
"Thanks! You really helped me out," Vinny smiled at him as he threw a black card at the wall. It was the first time Victor noticed prominent fangs in Vinny's mouth. But, he had too many questions to deal with and sent that one to the back of his mind. The black card opened a door-sized black portal and Victor sensed that Vinny was leaving soon.
"Wait! What just happened!?" Victor raised his voice a few notches; but, he did not yell.
"You helped me find this address..?" Vinny asked as he tilted his head. "I'm done now."
"You said the multiverse was in danger!" Victor said.
"I said it probably was...," Vinny shrugged. "...it's a big place. There's always something going on."
"So.. why did you come from another universe to see Grandma Mundo? What's so important that you were rushing?"
"I showed you...," Vinny said as he offered the card-thin phone again. This time Victor looked at the whole screen instead of just the bottom part he read earlier. There was a red scissor logo and a name above the address. It read: 'Sharp Doordrop'. "...I was having trouble finding the place and her food was almost late."