The Fog of Amber Street
Episode 4: The Dense Center
Determined to break the stasis, Julian picked up a loose cobblestone from the street and hurled it directly at the parlor window to shatter the glass and wake his alternate self. The stone struck the pane with full force, but made no sound and left no scratch on the glass, bouncing off the surface as if it were made of solid steel. The amber fog rushed forward, enveloping him completely and lifting his feet off the ground as the gravity of the street reversed itself, pulling him upward toward the dark sky.
Breaking the Seal
As he floated upward through the amber haze, Julian reached out and grabbed the decorative iron balcony railing of the third-floor window, anchoring his grip with all his strength. The fog pulled against his body like a powerful undertow, threatening to tear him away from the ironwork. With a final surge of will, he kicked his boots against the brick wall, shattering the window frame and tumbling headfirst through the glass into the warm, lighted interior of the townhouse parlor.