Na-Isekai Ako

Katherine stood frozen as the words left Zamir's lips, the weight of them pressing down on her chest. Her heart raced, and for a moment, she couldn't breathe. How did he know? She had been so careful, so determined to keep her secrets hidden. She had never spoken of her world, never even thought about it aloud, yet here was Zamir, looking at her with an unsettling certainty.

"I… I don't know what you mean," Katherine stammered, trying to maintain her composure. She took a small step back, her mind racing. "I'm just—"

Zamir's cold eyes narrowed, studying her with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. "You're not from this world. I can see it in your eyes. You don't belong here."

Katherine felt a lump form in her throat, the urge to defend herself bubbling up inside, but she couldn't find the words. She wanted to deny it, to tell him that he was wrong, but the truth was, she didn't even fully understand how she had ended up here.

The silence between them stretched on, and Katherine could feel the weight of Zamir's gaze. It wasn't just curiosity—it was something darker, something that hinted at a deeper knowledge, as if he had seen something in her that even she hadn't acknowledged.

"You're right," Katherine finally whispered, barely above a breath. "I'm not from here."

Zamir's expression didn't change, but Katherine could feel the tension in the air shift. For a moment, he said nothing, his gaze lingering on her. Then, with a small, almost imperceptible nod, he spoke again, his voice low and steady.

"Then you know that you can't stay."

Katherine's chest tightened. "What do you mean?"

Zamir tilted his head slightly, his eyes never leaving hers. "This world… it has a way of claiming things that don't belong. If you stay too long, if you continue to defy its laws, it will take what you've brought with you. And you will be lost."

Katherine felt her pulse quicken. "But I don't know how I got here. I don't know what's happening."

"You're not the first to be pulled into this world," Zamir said, his voice steady but carrying an edge of something darker. "And you won't be the last. There are others who have come before you, others who've tried to escape. But no one ever truly does."

Katherine shook her head, a surge of panic rising in her chest. "I can't be stuck here. I don't belong here. I just need to figure out how to get back to where I came from."

Zamir took a step forward, his expression unreadable. "You're already too deep into it. There's no easy way out. And even if there were, it might be too late by the time you find it."

"Too deep? I just got here today." Or... does sleeping for a week count?

The words echoed in Katherine's mind, but something else began to grow inside her—a thought that she couldn't ignore. She paused, swallowing hard as the unsettling truth began to take root.

What if she wasn't just lost? What if she was dead?

The thought hit her like a cold wave. She remembered it now, clearer than ever—her last moments.

She had been in the midst of a chaotic scene, her heart racing with the sound of gunfire echoing in the air. A child had been in the middle of it, terrified, helpless, and Katherine had acted without thinking. She had shielded the child with her own body, her arms around the small figure as she desperately tried to protect it from the danger surrounding them.

Then came the shot.

She remembered the searing pain as the bullet pierced her side, the world spinning around her as she fell to the ground. Her vision blurred, her chest constricting as the life slowly drained from her body. Her last thoughts were of the child, wondering if it would survive, if it would be safe.

And then… nothing.

There was no more pain, no more sound, no more fear. Just an endless darkness that swallowed her whole.

And then this. This strange new world.

Katherine's breath hitched in her throat as the pieces began to fall into place. She might have died. She had felt it—the final breath, the loss of her body, the weightlessness that followed. Had she died in that moment, in that terrible chaos? Was this world just some twisted afterlife?

She glanced down at her hands, the warmth of her skin not quite matching the cold dread that had settled in her chest. Her fingers trembled as she realized the impossible truth: if she was dead, what had become of her body? Was it still there, lying lifeless on the ground? Or had it vanished entirely, just like her consciousness had been pulled into this strange world?

"Zamir…" Katherine's voice shook as she spoke, the weight of her thoughts pressing on her. "What if… what if I'm dead? What if this is some sort of… afterlife?"

Zamir's gaze flickered for a brief moment, almost imperceptible. Then he answered, his voice soft but carrying an ominous edge. "I can't tell you what you truly are. But I can tell you that this world has a way of keeping people here. Once you're pulled into it, it doesn't let go easily."

Katherine's heart pounded in her chest. She didn't want to believe it. She didn't want to accept that she could be trapped forever in a world she didn't understand, with no way of returning. But the doubt was growing, consuming her. What if she couldn't go back? What if there was no escape?

"Do you think I was engkanto-ed?" Katherine asked.

Zamir looked at her, confused. "Engkanto...?"

"Like Spirited Away," Katherine said, realizing how strange it sounded. She quickly corrected herself, "Never mind."

But then, something else inside her began to settle. A quiet realization. If there's no way back, Katherine thought, then I'll adjust. I'll learn to live here. I'll make this world my home if I have to.

And yet, if there is a way back, I'll take it. I'll go back, but only if there's hope to be found. If there's a chance I could return to the life I knew… I'll find it.

She sighed deeply, accepting her current reality with a quiet resolve. "I can't just stay lost. If there's no way back, I'll accept it and live here, make a life. I'll adjust."

Zamir remained silent for a moment, observing her, his expression unreadable. Then, with a slight nod, he turned toward the shelves of his shop and began to organize the cluttered counter, as though he had said all he needed to. It was clear he had nothing more to add to the conversation.

"I'll be here if you need anything," he said simply, his voice returning to its usual cool tone.

Katherine stood for a moment longer, processing his words and the strange calmness she now felt. This world—no matter how confusing, no matter how strange—was where she was now. If she couldn't find her way back, then this would have to be her home.

"I really want to see my parents though," she thought.

Taking one last glance at Zamir, she turned and made her way toward the door. The questions would come later. For now, she had to find a way to adapt to this new world—one step at a time.