Chapter 6

Lisa's question reminded him of a dream long ago where he traveled to a dimension where he had ten brothers instead of sisters. In that dream, Lisa was responsible for what happened thanks to a magic watch.

Now, in the real life, Lisa was asking if he believed in parallel universes... And that was related to the subject she wanted to talk about.

Could it be…?

"I've seen many movies with that plot ... Personally, I think it's amazing, but too fictitious."

"Fictitious... Yes, you're right that sounds like mere fantasy. The possibility of traveling to other universes is contemplated within the genre of science fiction. But it's not something that is completely alienated from reality, Lincoln…"

"What do you mean, Lisa?"

Lisa pulled a remote from her pocket, which turned off the lights in the room and lowered a projection screen. After pressing another button, a projector was activated bringing a little light to the room and showing a photograph with several formulas and diagrams on the screen.

"Science fiction is the set of ideas that have not yet been demonstrated. Being able to fly, to communicate from one corner of the world to the other, to reach space, these are things that were considered impossible in the past... Similarly, traveling from one dimension to another is something that was believed impossible at this age, But I did it! I turned science fiction into a real science!"

The impetus with which his sister made her statement made Lincoln move back. Lisa could be very emotional at times, like a mad scientist.

Lincoln was certain that his sister was telling the truth, influenced in part by the dream he once had. But how was the journey between dimensions related to the way his sisters were treating him?

"That's fantastic, Lisa. You're a genius."

"Thank you, I'm aware of it... Now, let me tell you how this relates to you."

Lisa's expression became stoic again but not completely, there was still a strong emotion in her eyes, but it was not joy, but anguish this time.

"I developed these formulas two months ago. They are the basic laws behind the functionality of the 'Point of Order', the device that allows me to travel to dimensions where other Lisas that work on the same project exists, have they finished it or not…"

Lincoln was drawn to Lisa's mention that there were others versions of her, did it mean there were other versions of his other sisters? And other versions of him?... Perhaps there is a reality where he was a girl surrounded by ten brothers.

He shuddered at the thought.

"So this device is like a portal to other worlds? Does it carry risks?"

"Yeah, it does, Lincoln... Traveling between dimensions is not like going around the corner... In fact, I have not yet polished the details behind the law or the device."

"Then do not use it! No, wait... You've used it, right? Where is the device located? I can not let you be in danger any…"

Lisa walked towards Lincoln, taking him gently from her cheeks and looking directly into his eyes.

"I had to use it to retrieve the family's treasure."

"Treasure of the family? Do we have something like that?"

"I mean you, Lincoln... I used the 'Point of order' to bring you to this dimension."

The revelation was like a hard blow to the sides, it made Lincoln release all the air inside his lungs... Did that mean that this was not his world? This was not his house? Or they are not his real family?

"But... Why?" Lincoln managed to gasp.

Lisa's face darkened even more sadly.

"Those news on the television you just saw... You were among the casualties… You died."

Lincoln leaned back, letting go of Lisa's hands, which remained motionless and disconsolate at the look of fear on her brother's face.

"I am dead? What happened, Lisa? Explain yourself!"

"...Yes."

Lisa told him what had happened.

It all started two months ago, Aunt Shirley had sent a big cake to the family as a souvenir of her trip to Vienna, unfortunately for Lincoln, he had gone out to buy the newest number of Ace Savvy and came home just to smell the cake since they had left nothing to him (being Lynn responsible for having eaten his slice).

After a fight with all his sisters, Lincoln decided to go with Clyde and his parents to the McBride Lodge, but on the way, a passenger truck lost control and rammed the van in which they traveled. Along with eleven bus passengers, Lincoln and the McBride family were killed in the crash.

When he heard the truth, Lincoln felt he was about to faint, he tried to digest the news but they were too heavy. Lisa did not let him rest and continued the story.

"Our lives changed abruptly that day... We lost you, and the last moment we spent with you was a ridiculous fight. We all went into a deep depression: our parents were on the verge of a nervous breakdown and our sisters gradually abandoned their daily activities, Lori even had to end her emotional relationship with Bobby when he and Ronnie Ann moved with their mother to another state."

Lincoln's mind was a chaos, he was listening to Lisa's words while at the same time thinking of his own death and that of his best friend ... When he tried to call Clyde the day before, he received no reply from him, and now he knew the unpleasant reason behind that…

The name of Ronnie Anne was added to the equation, She moved to another place? Was it so much pain she felt that her mother had to take her away from Royal Woods?

"Leni, Luna, Luan and Lana lost their joy and often cried; Lola turned violent, broke many of their possessions and had to be treated with medicines, so did Lucy, who suffered from nightmares every night. But those who suffered most were Lynn and Lily... Lynn was the one who felt responsible for your death and even contemplated suicide, while Lily, despite her young age or perhaps for that very reason, entered a circle that was repeated daily where she searched for you after waking up and began to cry the rest of the day until she fell asleep due to not finding you... As for me, I obsessed to find a way to bring you back to life... To recover you."

Lisa's eyes had filled with tears as she explained the situation of her family, shattered by the accident two months ago.

Seeing his sister cry made Lincoln recover his senses. He got up and walked over to Lisa, removed her glasses and wiped her tears with his hand.

"Lisa…"

- None of my experiments were fruitful... I could not bring you to life, so in my desperation, I contemplated another idea... To find another dimension in which you were alive and bring you to this one, to fill that void that left your de… de…"

"Calm down, I know what you mean... You do not have to force yourself to say it, I do not like to hear that word either..."

Lisa nodded, asked Lincoln for the glasses and put them on... She wanted to continue watching him...

"Thank you. When I introduced the idea to the family, only Lynn supported me at first, but as I continued to advance in my experiments, the spirits of our sisters and our parents were renewed, the hope of having you by our side made them accept the plan and expect its success."

Lincoln stared at his genius sister... She looked like a normal four-year-old girl, a fragile girl who trembled as she explained the truth.

"Then, that person I met in the bunker..."

"It was Lynn. I sent her to your dimension using a protective suit and a bubble with which to transport you through the space between the dimensions... I also gave her a weapon with tranquilizing darts in case she had problems…"

"So I really saw that intruder! And it was Lynn!"

Lincoln remembered the pain he felt in his back before falling unconscious, he realized that Lynn had used the tranquilizing weapon on him, and that annoyed him.

"Lynn told me what she did... The method was unconventional, but we were willing to bring you even if we had to use a firm hand... It may sound like a kidnapping, but I assure you it is not…"

"Of course it's a kidnapping! What else could it be called? Ahhhhh" Lincoln let out a deep sigh, his anger turned into melancholy as he remembered why he was in that bunker, "But I think you did me a favor... I had no longer a place to call home…"

"I thought so, so they kicked you out, right? Then it was not a kidnapping, but a rescue."

"Then you admit that you planned to kidnap me?" Lincoln squinted his eyes in an accusatory way.

"Lincoln..." Lisa grabbed his shirt, "This may not be your original world but we are your family... And we will not abandon you for anything in the world!"

"Lisa, I…"

"We will not make you angry again, we will not bother you with our useless problems... We will do everything you like and we will strive to make you become the happiest child that may exist. But please... Stay here! Be my brother! I beg you…"

Lisa was using all her strength to hold Lincoln, and her pleading eyes had filled with tears again.

Faced with this dilemma, Lincoln did not know how to respond. On the one hand, he had recovered his family, but this world was not his and there were many changes when comparing them... Among them, the loss of his best friend and the girl he liked...

However, the state in which the Lisa was, imagining the suffering she had spent along with the rest of their sisters and parents made his heart ache. He remembered the scene in his dimension of finding his room empty, he had been thrown away; but a family from another world broke the laws of physics for him.

Did it matter that this was not his universe? Not at all.

Lincoln's lips formed a warm smile.

"I wi…"

But before he could give her an answer, the sound of an alarm interrupted him.

"Imposible! They really did it!" Lisa growled, moved away from Lincoln and headed for the door "Everyone! Come here fast! Especially you, Lynn! We have an emergency!"