10 Minute Tales

Jul 6 - Please Don't

He was staring at a screen when she opened the door and came in. The sound of the door closing caught his attention, and he looked over.

"Oh, you're here." he greeted her. The screen pinged slightly, making her look at it. It was a monochrome display, a tired green offsetting the black pixels.

"Yeah, I'm here. What's up?" She closed the door behind her, barely able to squeeze into the closet he called an office.

"I just wanted a break. Can you take over?" he got up, stretching with a yawn.

"W-wait, what?" she exclaimed in surprise. "I don't even know what it does!"

"Me neither." he shrugged, shuffling past her and opening the door again. "I'll see you around, yeah?"

"W-wait!" she objected, but the door swung shut without another word. She sighed, turning to look at the console. It was large and grey but sported only one large button. She nearly turned to leave there and then, but she saw a sign. At least one person must be present at the console at all times. "What the hell is this thing, anyway?" she turned to look at it, sitting in the seat heavily as she looked it over. Now her colleague had gone, she could see there was a lever labelled Reset. "Okay, that'll do the whole thing over." she mumbled, leaning to either side. No clues, just more metallic mystery. "So... what does it do?" she grumbled as she looked it over again. There were no clues. "Ugh..." she sat back, frustrated. There was nothing...! Well, nothing, except... she sat up a little, hand shaking slightly as she reached for it. It was as big as her outstretched hand and reflected the light overhead. A slender finger rested on it...

She pushed it.

The door clunked as something locked in place. Anklets slid out of the chair and grabbed her, holding her legs in place. She yelped and flinched, tugging her anklets in vain. "What the hell...?!" She was wriggling so desperately it took her a minute to realise there was now a switch on the console. It was the same red as the button and had a bulb beside it, powered off. There was a hammering on the door.

"Hello?" the colleague asked. "Are you in there?"

"Something's happening!" she exclaimed, leaning down and pulling at the anklets in vain.

"Did you press the button?"

"I, uh... m-maybe...!"

"Okay, just..." he sighs as he thinks about it. "Listen up, okay? This is very important."

"The lever?" she asked, looking at it.

"Shut up and listen!" he repeated, more insistent. She grew quiet. "Okay, uh, this button hasn't been pressed in a long time, I, I need to remember... What do you see?"

"The button, the lever, a switch's come up..."

"Do not flick that switch!" he suddenly exclaimed. "The restart lever is going to flip the whole system out, too, don't flick that."

"Screw it!" she yelled, slamming it down.

She walked through the door. He was sat in the chair.

"Oh, you're here." he greeted her again. She looked around, confused.

"What the hell...?"