Chapter 5

When he arrived, the building was even bigger than he even imagined.

Roy craned his neck, staring at the towering glass structure that reflected the sky like it owned it. People moved in and out without stopping, dressed neatly, talking quickly, living lives that did not involve counting crumbs.

Roy stepped forward confidently.

“Hey—stop right there.”

A security guard blocked his path, frowning. “Kid, where’s your parent?”

Roy looked up.

And immediately burst into tears.

Not gentle crying. Not shy sniffles.

He screamed.

“I WANT MY DAD!” he wailed, voice cracking painfully. “YOU CAN’T STOP ME!”

Heads turned instantly.

“Is that kid okay?”

“Why is he crying like that?”

Roy dropped to the floor dramatically, little fists pounding on the tiles.

“I’M HUNGRY! I’M LOST! YOU’RE BAD PEOPLE!”

The guard panicked. “Hey—don’t—don’t do that!”

Roy kicked his legs. Loud. Messy. Embarrassing.

People slowed down. Phones appeared.

Whispers spread.

“This is a company lobby…”

“Call someone.”

Roy escalated perfectly.

“My DAD WORKS HERE! YOU’RE KIDNAPPING ME!”

A manager rushed over, face pale. “What’s going on?”

“He won’t calm down!” someone said

Roy sobbed louder, hiccupping between screams.

“I WANT MY DAD! HE’S HERE! I KNOW HE IS!”

That sentence changed everything.

The manager stiffened. “Who did you say?”

Roy pointed vaguely upward. “Up there!”

That was enough.

Someone muttered urgently, “This is bad. Call upstairs. Now.”

Roy curled into himself, crying pathetically.

Inside, he was counting.

'Ten… nine… eight…'

Mike was already in a bad mood when the call came.

“A child?” he repeated flatly. “In the lobby?”

“Yes, sir. He’s… causing a disturbance.”

Mike sighed. “I’ll come down.”

He stepped out of the elevator moments later, irritation carefully in place. This was a waste of time. A misunderstanding. Security should handle it.

Then he saw the boy.

Mike stopped walking.

The child sat on the floor, face red from crying, hair messy, clutching his knees—

And staring straight at him.

Mike’s breath caught painfully.

It was impossible.

The eyes. The nose. The shape of the face.

It was him. Exactly him

Not like Leo that didn't look like him.

Mike’s heart slammed violently against his ribs. His feet moved without permission, knees bending as he lowered himself in front of the child.

The lobby went silent.

“What… is your name?” Mike asked hoarsely.

Roy sniffed, looking up at him with watery eyes.

“Roy,” he said softly.

Mike’s hands trembled. 'who was this child?

Why did he feel like the ground had shifted beneath his feet?'

Roy looked at him—and for the first time since waking up in this life, felt something loosen in his chest.

Not triumph.

Not relief.

Safety

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