Short Stories

Butterfly Effect

You walk down the street, and a swarm of holograms flash ads in your face. You see a few that say things like "Next left for a good game" that flash lasers at passers-by. A green laser connects to your chest, but you don't stop. You have a goal in mind, somewhere you need to be soon. A few more holos try to stop you for the next block, but after a while, they stop targeting you altogether.

You walk another block before you get to Old District. The holo's light dies out and the sound of old music flows out of doors. Stores with swinging signs out front glow from inside, giving the buildings a hundred yellow eyes. Not many people come this way, hidden behind the towering grandeur of New District it's easy to miss. But if you want the best travel agent it's the only place you can go.

Off the radar and off the regular restrictions, you can go anywhere in time in this one machine. Someone found it some years ago and sold it off at a steep cost, only the lucky few ever get to use it. And now it's your turn. You've been saving up for years, missing parties and gatherings in favour of working overtime and saving up slowly. But that doesn't matter now, you're here. Right out front of the store, looking in. Just like the stores before, there's a sign next to the door. This one reads;

Dream Maker's Portal

You've got a dream, we can help

Open 11 am-8 pm

0828 South Street, Old District

You step through the door and you hear a little bell chime above you. No robots rush to your aid, as this store is completely human-run. The room you step into is barren, with a single desk in front of you and two chairs on either side of the room for people to wait in. You walk to the desk, look over, and notice no one is there. You peek around the corner of the room and down a long hallway lined with doors. A few doors on the right are open a little, but the doors on the left are completely closed.

"May I help you?" you hear someone say from behind you. They startle you, and you drop your holo screen on the ground. The person behind you gasps and steps back a bit, looking a little sick suddenly.

"Sorry, I forgot those were still in use. Please, don't mind me. How can I help you?" They say after retreating back to their desk. It's a plain desk, with no photos or mugs. Just an old computer, keyboard, and mouse.

"You do run this place, right? I'm here to buy a trip." You say confidently.

"Well I don't own the machine, but I can serve you. Where are you thinking of going?"

You already know where you want to go, but it takes you a moment to recall its name. Something about the lack of detail or design in this building unnerves you. "1147, Anatolia. I plan on witnessing the second crusade."

The receptionist looks sceptical but plugs your information into the computer anyways. They ask a few more questions then they drag you back to one of the rooms on the right side of the hallway. The air shifts a little once you pass the third door, but you keep walking further and further. 8, 9, 10 doors then it's 20, 21, 22. Finally, they stop at the 25th door.

"Go ahead and change into the suit and clothes provided, then walk across the hallway and through the door. Do not go into any other door." And with that, they walk away.

You do as they say, sliding into the coarse clothing and then the tough exosuit. You pile your clothes into a drop box for when you come back. A green light turns on above the door, notifying you that the portal is ready.

Even through all your clothes the hall sends a shiver up your spine. Something about the emptiness of the building makes you uncomfortable, almost like the store itself is void and you're losing your sanity, slowly. The door adjacent starts humming, pulsing towards you at a steady pace. With a breath in, you step forwards and through the door.