This man is insane. Completely nuts. And Shannon needed to get out here immediately.

"I'm not the kind of help you need, dude. And I think I'll be going." She said dismissively, searching through her purse for money to pay for her food, giving up on the plan to distract William.

"You need to believe me, please, Shannon! The world is on its head, you're the only one who understands these sorts of things!" William reached for her arm in a desperate attempt to get her attention.

Suddenly, something really bizarre happened. The diner, the booth they'd been seated in, even the clothes Shannon was wearing changed for a moment. The only way to could describe it, is it was as though someone had layered two pictures on top of each other, and shown a light behind them so that you could see both at the same time. She was in two places at once, it seemed.

The tiny diner had transformed into a spacious library, with long rows of shelves filled with books, high pillars with intricate images carved into them, and a ceiling made of glass. She was seated at a table with various books strewn about, and had one particular book open before her.

And just like that, the diner was back in focus, all signs of the library disappearing.

"Shannon? D-did you see beyond?" William asked quietly, a hopeful smile creeping onto his lips.

"H-how do you know my name?" Shannon asked again, her voice cracking from strain.

This guy is bad news.

"We're friends. Or something like that. Did you just see beyond? Do you know what's happening?"

"See beyond? Look, I don't know about anything, but I think you should leave me alone. I'm not looking for any trouble."

Frustrated, William runs his hand through his hair, before reaching out once more.

And, once more, the diner went out of focus, with the image of that library taking center stage in Shannon's mind. This time, though, instead of a book open in front of her, there was a notebook. And on the page, written in her handwriting, are the words, 'Help William. Bring him back.'

She stood suddenly, anxiety creeping into her system. The chair she'd been sitting on clattered onto the floor behind her, which brought several glances her way from the people within earshot.

"What is it, Shannon?" A young man picked up the chair behind her before asking, "Are you seeing something?"

The diner came back into focus, the other layer in her vision disappearing. Shannon stood once more, taking deep breaths. She gathered her things, making sure to leave a twenty on the table to pay for her meal, and wordlessly rushed out of the diner.

Is insanity contagious?