14th March, 1955

4PM

"You can come in." A man gestured to Denis and Grace who almost leapt inside. Finally they could see him. One of the greatest men in history. 

They both walked into the house and were welcomed by Einstein's broad smile. He looked younger in reality than in pictures. He had a very welcoming attitude and this made them feel at home.

He sat down on a wooden chair and cleared his throat inorder to voice audibly, "I heard that you young scientists are interested in the parallel universe research and have got proof."' he said with total expectancy. Denis could swear that he saw his ears twitch inorder to listen probably, and looking at his eyes, they held seriousness.

"Yes sir. We are from the future."

He smiled a little, "How do you expect me to believe that?"

His words hit them hard. Denis wondered if he was actually Einstein. He was expecting him to believe right away. Denis and Grace looked at each other before Grace signalled to talk. "We know you well enough. We know that you are going to die by April 1995, which is approximately one month from this time due to abdominal aortic aneurysm," Grace said with obvious sincerity.

"That's not possible, and how does it relate with the parallel universe?"

Denis smiled a little, "That is because, in our region, we have a blue sky not like the one here."

"Blue sky?" his eyes widened as if he was just hearing that. He stood up from his chair and waved his hands to them, signalling that they should follow his steps.

Albert Einstein walked through a corridor while the others trailed. He got to a very dark entrance and hesitated for a while, then unlocked the door which made a rough creaking sound.

He walked into the room and switched on the light.

"That is a parallel universe machine," he said pointing to them a large machine that was covered with a long thick black nylon.

"A parallel universe machine?" Denis questioned as he walked towards where it was placed. Einstein smiled a little and unveiled the machine. It was a large one, mainly made of wood. There were some connective wires and a large switch just on the short brown door. Dust filled the machine and it made little sounds after being unveiled. Denis itched to open the door of the machine, "Can we try it? Would it take you somewhere else?"

Einstein nodded vehemently, "No. That's not possible. I have only tested it on animals," he said in a hurry.

Denis folded his lips into a thin line, "Then, how do you know it leads to a parallel universe? Why... why don't you inform the remaining scientists?"

"It sounds weird. To tell others that I have opened a parallel world? That is almost impossible! Time machine isn't even real."

"Why can't we try it?" Denis suggested but he was hit by a heavy look on Grace. He knew what it meant. Don't even dare!

"It has some negative effects. The last time I tried it, it almost made this room collapse. Look at those new bricks..." he pointed to the walls behind them, "It was the machine's doing, we had to repair the walls and some other valuable things. Whenever it is switched on, it could blind your eyes because of the excessive heat and light. Like I mentioned, I only tested it on animals and they never come back. So I think, it isn't fit enough to be noticed."

Both of them nodded in response.

After a while, Einstein walked them out to where they were before. "Why don't you tell me about my upcoming death, you time travellers."

Grace interrupted, "Sir, we aren't time travellers. Our spacecraft exploded and we found ourselves here, in the world with an orange sky."

"Yes, who knows if we were swallowed by a black hole?" Denis teased while Grace frowned.

"We would have been dead, Denis." she rolled her eyes. "And also we can't find our other colleagues, we were six." she said facing Einstein.

"I understand. Parallel universe isn't the exact form of the real universe. Parallel universes might differ from environments, time, occurrences."

"Time? Just like we are in 1955 instead of 3056?" Grace questioned.

"Yes, you are right. Compared to the other universe, a parallel universe can work clockwise instead of anticlockwise."

Almost immediately, Denis and Grace exchanged glances, "Instead of anticlockwise?" they mentioned at the same time.

"Yes, why are you surprised?"

Denis took in a deep breath, " Clockwise is the proper way in which the clock works, not anticlockwise." he corrected.

"Oh really?" Einstein asked, confused. He pointed at a rectangular clock that was hanging a few metres from a yellow globe. 

Both of them stared at it and almost jotted off the chair. The second hand was moving backwards, just the same as the minute hand. "Does that mean, you guys are venturing into the past while we venture into the future?" Denis asked with a cocked brow.

"No. It's normal. Anticlockwise doesn't necessarily mean we venture into the past. By the way, you need to find your other colleagues. It is impossible you leave without them, because you all came to this universe together." Einstein finalised.

They both nodded.

"I will work on the machine, so you will all go back to your universe else you want to stay. And about my death, do we need to discuss it?"

"Of course not. We aren't sure again. It might be different like you said, it's just that Einstein in our universe died around this year." Denis stated.

In a sentence, the parallel universe exists! Denis thought as they both walked outside of his apartment.

They needed to find their colleagues and go back to their own universe.