The Boundless Journey

Leaving the alleyway, both Max and Echo, in his cat form, headed towards the city. The city didn't look much different from his previous world. There were vehicles like cars and buses, and the people didn't appear any different.

'I guess Arial did send me to a world similar to mine, but she did say there would be something different here,' thought Max.

"Hey Echo, do you see anything different here from my previous world?"

"Nope. From what I can see, this city is London and is exactly the same as your previous world."

"Wait, how did you know this was London?" Astonished by this discovery, Max asked.

"Well, it wasn't hard. I can see London's famous clocktower, Big Ben, and I must say it's quite amazing."

"Oh yeah, that's Big Ben. I've never seen it in person before—only heard about it in my studies and saw photos on social media."

Moving closer to the clocktower, both Max and Echo dashed towards it. The surroundings were filled with people taking photographs and posting them on social media.

The crowd was a mix of tourists and locals. Max had never traveled before, as he had to spend all the money he earned on food and other essentials. He didn't even have money to buy the things he loved, like manga and video games.

After spending some time admiring Big Ben, Max and Echo strolled through the streets, looking for anything out of the ordinary.

"We need to figure out what kind of world we're in right now. But before that, we need the most important thing of all," said Echo.

"What do we need?" asked Max nonchalantly.

"Food, of course. What else?"

It suddenly dawned on Max that this was a new world where he knew no one. He had no money, no family, and no place to stay. He was homeless in this world too.

As reality started to sink in, Max became more and more nervous about what the future held for him in this world. How would he survive without any connections or power? If this world was anything like his previous one, it would be full of dangers.

Max grabbed Echo and picked a direction with the least number of people, then ran for it.

"Hey Max, what are you doing? Why did you start running all of a sudden?"

Running like he had just robbed a store, Max found a dark alleyway similar to the one they had just left. Ducking behind a large garbage bin, he concealed himself from the outside crowd.

Taking a few seconds to catch his breath, Max waited. Echo, meanwhile, started to get worried. Why had Max just run? Had he seen something dangerous that could threaten them? All kinds of questions flooded Echo's mind.

"Th-this place… if it's anything like my previous world, being a 13-year-old all alone in a crowded place could get us kidnapped or worse," Max emphasized to Echo.

Listening to Max's concerns, Echo started to connect the dots to the problems they'd just walked into.

"You're right. We need to be careful with our surroundings. What do you suggest we do?"

"The best course of action is to avoid tourist spots where we might get caught up in something bad. We should also avoid drawing attention to ourselves. If people get suspicious, we might get caught by the police. Without identification, I don't even know what might happen to us. It's best to head to a suburban area where kids are playing—that might help us blend in."

"Hmm... That might be the best option for now. But we don't even know where the suburbs are. Also, having no money means we can't use public transportation."

"For the first problem, we can head to a train station or bus stop and ask a driver for directions. As for the second, we'll just have to beg the driver for a free ride."

"Man, we're really in a tough spot. This isn't turning out to be an easy world for you. No time to dwell on it—let's just go with the plan and figure things out as we go."

Max discreetly peeked out from behind the garbage bin, looking for a gap where he could make a run for it. Grabbing Echo, he dashed in the opposite direction of Big Ben. It was better to avoid that area.

After running a few hundred meters, Max spotted a bus heading away from the tourist spot. The bus looked crowded, making it easier to sneak in unnoticed. Thankfully, being 13 meant his height wouldn't draw attention.

Blending into the crowd, Max attempted to board the bus. However, luck wasn't on his side, as tickets had to be bought at the front before boarding. Max retreated, but before he could leave—

"Hey kid, do you want a ticket or not?" asked the driver.

"I do, but I don't have any money, so I'll just leave. Sorry for the trouble."

"Wait right there, kid. How old are you?" asked the driver.

"Um… I'm 13. But why does that matter, sir?"

Max was on guard. He didn't know if he was about to get into trouble for trying to ride the bus without paying.

"That's because public transport is free for kids under 18. Just get on the bus."

Hearing this, Max felt a wave of relief.

"Before I board, can you please tell me if this bus goes to the suburbs?" asked Max.

"Sure, this bus does go to the suburbs. But where exactly do you want to go?"

"Umm... truthfully, I don't know the name of the stop. Can I just get off when I see my stop?"

"That works. Just sit on the right side—the stops are easier to see from there."

Climbing onto the bus, Max quickly found an empty seat. As the bus filled with passengers buying tickets, he had a moment to relax.

The bus gradually entered the suburbs, leaving behind the crowded tourist areas. Max didn't know when to get off and let time slip by.

As darkness fell, the bus was almost empty. At the last stop, the driver called out to Max, "Hey kid, this is the last stop. If you still haven't found your stop, this might not be the area you're looking for. I'll take you to the police station—they'll help you find your home."

Hearing this, Max quickly got up. Before the driver could do anything, he dashed off the bus and ran in a random direction.

After a few minutes, Max hid behind a hedge, catching his breath. Peeking out, he confirmed the driver wasn't following him.

Relieved, Max walked back to the bus stop to check the area's name. The bus was long gone, but the stop sign read:

Privet Drive