Chapter 132: At The Barrier
As I spoke, the room fell silent, everyone absorbing my words with varying degrees of confusion and concern.
"Why do you think so?" Mrs. Hayes asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
"It’s hard to explain," I confessed, "But I have some information that suggests this universe is an experiment."
Their faces showed they were trying to understand.
"I want to escape from this made-up world," I went on urgently. "But I don’t want to leave you behind or force you to come with me. That’s why I’m asking now. Please, think about joining me."
"Max, are you sure about this? I mean, how do we know it’s not just some crazy idea?" Oliv was the first to speak up.
I sighed, understanding her skepticism. "I know it sounds unbelievable, but trust me, I’ve seen things that make me almost 100% sure this is true."
My mother, her expression a mix of worry and disbelief, interjected, "But what about our lives here? Our memories, our experiences... they all feel so real."
I nodded, acknowledging her valid point. "I know it’s hard to accept, but I truly believe that our connections to each other are real, even if everything else isn’t. To be exact, I think that the consciousness within us is real."
"What if you’re wrong, Max? What if we leave everything behind and it turns out to be a mistake?" Rick spoke up next.
I took a moment to consider his question before responding, "I can’t guarantee that it won’t be a mistake, Rick. But if it’s a mistake, at the moment, we don’t have much better of a choice. A war with the Zytherians is ongoing."