Otherworldly Sights: A Short Story Collection

The mirror-fog

The mirror-fog had returned again, as a result of the ever-increasing emissions of a certain reflective gas that was a byproduct in the making of the now-essential material known commonly as systex. Systex was lightweight, flexible, durable and could act as a comfortable replacement for just about any material. It had triggered the Third Industrial Revolution, and many people wondered what it couldn't do. 

But it had a downfall: the aforementioned mirror-fog. People, areas, entire cities in bad cases, would show up reflected in the sky. The streets would see a strange emptiness at such times, as not many people liked to see it; it was disorienting at best, ranging from there to vertigo-inducing, and on toward a level that prompted fainting.

The tourist industry made plenty of money from it, however. The view of it from hot-air balloons and such was certainly something to remember, especially at times like sunset. Crowds would flock to the lead systex-producing cities in the mornings and evenings, to wonder and marvel at the sight of a great city, reflected in the clouds.

As systex became ever more common, however, they weren't only reflected on the clouds, as there was no simple, reliable way to safely dispose of the reflective gas. Visibility decreased until you could see nothing but yourself when outside. The fog permanently enveloped all cities. Soon, people refrained from leaving the house at all, preferring to simply stay inside and waste away, always hiding from the fog.

At least they had systex, right?

A/N:

Wow. So, I know this is dark even for me, but, I don't know. It sort of just felt right.

Do you like it? Is it good, or too dark? Let me know what you think.

If you liked this chapter, I'd love a vote! 🌟 😊

Bub-bye,

-Tori 🏙