Garments with a history.
Piece by piece, he removed his own clothes and slipped into the unfamiliar ones.
They didn’t fit right. They didn’t feel like his.
They felt like someone else’s life.
He felt exhausted. Out of place. Like he had stepped into a stranger’s body.
Questions buzzed in his head like static:
Who wore this before me?
Where has it been?
Why me?
These questions rang in his ears, louder with every heartbeat.
“Leave your clothes here. You’ll return to this spot later.”
“I don’t get it… What is this, a changing room? Isn’t this a bit too weird?”
“Don’t worry,” the guide said calmly. “While you’re changing in this shelter, I’ll briefly explain the mission…
My name is Jahongir. As I mentioned before, I’m part of the Organization’s logistics division. And for this assignment—I’m your escort.”
Jahongir raised the lantern slightly, a faint smile on his face.
“I know. The place looks eerie. But trust me—what’s ahead is even more remarkable.
This… is a dream come true for any secret agency.”
Something inside the young man’s mind snapped like a fuse.
Only now did he truly begin to feel the atmosphere, the weight of it all.
Nothing felt like before—as if he had stepped into another world entirely.
Suddenly, he grabbed Jahongir by the collar and shoved him hard against the wall.
His voice was low, furious:
“Explain. Now. No riddles. What is this place? Give me a straight answer!”
Jahongir didn’t flinch. Still holding the lantern, his eyes remained fixed on the flame.
“Careful with the light. If it goes out… things might not go well.”
“Enough games! Talk! What do you call this place?!”
“This is the Platform of Time. The entry corridor. A neutral tunnel.”
“And where are we going from here?”
“We’re not going anywhere. The mission is here. At the very end of the corridor.”
“What am I retrieving? Where do I deliver it?”
The young man’s grip on his collar tightened. The tension was razor-sharp.
“If you let go,” Jahongir said calmly, “I’ll explain it in your terms. Breathe. I’m your living guarantee.
As long as I’m with you—you are protected.”
His gaze, lit by the flicker of the lantern, was so steady, so sure, that each word seemed to stand on solid ground.
Slowly, the young man loosened his grip, backed away, and dropped into a crouch.
It was as if his legs could no longer hold him.