A Land of Tales and Dreams

A sci-fi story

WEEK 93

Prompt:

You are in a typical awkward elevator ride with a group of other people. Suddenly, a man says "So I bet you're wondering why I've gathered you here" before hitting the emergency stop button.

*****

"Please don't tell me this has anything to do with the burning urban square."

"I promise you, this has nothing to do with the burning urban square."

"I thought he burnt down the urban square," an old woman butted in, pointing to a male teenager in a beanie. "He sure looks the part."

"Hey, if this is a prank, cut it out, I need to work today!" the teenager said, crossing his arms.

"Didn't anyone tell you how claustrophobic I am and that I hate elevators?" asked a woman glued to the elevator doors.

"Then you should've taken the stairs and spared us the extra room," a girl replied before turning back to her phone.

A tall man in a grey suit kept silent through the chaotic chatter.

"How nice of you to remind me. I really should've thought of taking the stairs up to the eleventh floor. Who knows, maybe I would've been there already," the woman replied sarcastically.

The man coughed to catch everyone's attention.

"As I was saying, I am Father Time and I made sure you were all on this elevator for a reason."

"Father time? What does that even mean? Is this story a sci-fi?" the girl asked.

"Well, I suppose I should explain myself, seeing as none of you incompetent twits seem to understand the situation," the man started.

"Honestly, I myself am starting to wonder why I gathered such idiots here."

The boy looked up, "I'll have you know that I have a GPA of 2.6, so watch who you call an idiot."

"Don't come closer or-"

"It's not what you think it is, I promise you that."

The girl pushed him so that he couldn't get any inch closer. He hit the old woman beside him and she collapsed. There was a small poof of dust and the old lady disappeared, only leaving behind her walker.

"Can we all just shut up and listen?" Another girl snapped.

"NO!" The boy yelled, "We just exploded an old lady!"

"Do any of you know what compassion is?" the woman asked while trying to open the elevator doors.

Father Time looked at her, "No, would you care to explain?"

"Oh god, we're doomed." the woman whispered while trying not to suffocate.

"Hey, you have my attention, now explain."

"Do you even have feelings?"

"I am the embodiment of Time, of course I don't."

"Then I can't do anything for you, Mr. Time thing."

"YOU DARE CALL ME, FATHER TIME, A THING?!?!" He roared.

The air was filled with the uncomfortable echo of the man's rage.

"This is an 18 square foot box, how is there an echo in here?" asked the boy.

"Hm, this is a sci-fi story afterall."

"How are you so sure?"

"Now listen," said an exasperated Father Time, "although this doesn't have anything to do with the burning urban square, it does have something to do with the person who caused it."

Suddenly, the elevator plummeted three floors and crashed into the ground. A person with a suspiciously empty jug of gasoline looked over the wreckage. The person grinned sinisterly and threw a match down the elevator shaft, setting it all ablaze. However, the flames died out as soon as it began.

The arsonist looked confused, right before a hulking bear ate him. The bear then turned into a homicidal pixie for an unknown, mysterious reason. The satisfied pixie swiftly flew into the wreckage, returning to Father Time's side. A bruised and battered Father Time crawled out of the crushed elevator and looked around him.

"Well, that teaches me to never gather anyone in an elevator again," he said to himself, contemplating his life decisions.

As he was thinking, the pixie got bored and started eating the people in the building.

"Take me, sweet death!"

And thus, the sci-fi story ended with Father Time leaving to gather another group of unsuspecting people, with the man-eating pixie by his side.

The End.