The morning sun cast a warm glow over Mori Kiyoshi's bedroom, but he felt cold as he sat at his desk, staring at his laptop screen. The weight of his grandmother's revelations from breakfast hung over him like a thick fog, and the flickering cursor on the blank document seemed to mock his inability to articulate his thoughts. After learning about his mother's powers and the protective secrecy that surrounded them, he felt drawn to uncover the truth, but with that pull came an unsettling fear.
What else was out there?
He opened his browser, his fingers hovering above the keyboard. The term "Architects" had surfaced in some of the articles he had read the night before, but he had not delved into it fully. As he typed the word into the search bar, anxiety coursed through him, mingling with an insatiable curiosity. What were they?
The results populated quickly, leading him to various online forums where people exchanged tales of the supernatural, shared theories, and offered warnings. He clicked on a link titled "The Architects: Guardians or Executioners?" and felt a shiver run down his spine as he read.
The Architects. A name that echoed like a dark refrain. According to the posts, they were an enigmatic group tasked with maintaining the stability of reality. They monitored those with supernatural abilities, intervening when individuals like him threatened to disrupt the natural order. Some claimed the Architects controlled the very fabric of existence, ensuring that those who could manipulate reality were either contained or eliminated.
Eliminated. The word reverberated in his mind, sending a chill through his core.
He scrolled through the comments, reading firsthand accounts of individuals who had encountered the Architects. Stories of sudden disappearances, of people who had seemingly vanished without a trace after revealing their powers. Mori's heart raced as he read about a young woman whose ability to manipulate fire had led to her being hunted down. Her final post, a frantic message pleading for help, echoed the fear he felt.
What if I'm next?
With every story, his anxiety deepened. He had felt something lurking in the background during his first glitch, and now he was beginning to question whether it had been a mere coincidence. What if the Architects had seen him? What if they were watching me right now?
His thoughts spiraled, the implications of what he was reading becoming suffocating. What if I didn't just glitch? What if I drew attention? He felt the walls of his room closing in, and he forced himself to breathe, to push back against the rising tide of panic.
Focus, Mori.
He closed his eyes, letting the coolness of the air brush against his skin as he took another deep breath. This knowledge could empower me. Understanding the Architects might help me find a way to protect myself.
Determined to regain control, he opened his eyes and continued reading. The discussions grew more intense, filled with warnings about the Architects' methods—how they allegedly infiltrated communities, gathering intel, and monitoring those who exhibited unusual abilities. Some claimed they wore disguises, blending into ordinary society while keeping a close watch on potential threats.
Mori's heart raced again. Blend in? They could be anywhere.
He felt a sudden urge to escape the confines of his room, to seek some semblance of normalcy amid the chaos swirling in his mind. He grabbed his jacket, not fully aware of what he was hoping to accomplish, but needing to move, to breathe outside the walls that felt too restrictive.
YOU ARE READING
Ctrl + Alt + "Reality"
Научная фантастика------------------- Reality It's a funny thing, isn't it? Something so concrete and yet so fluid, so tangible and yet so malleable. I know this better than most. Why? Because I have the power to control alternate realities. ------------------- Mori...
