One of my favourite topics for writing - and one that the new collection of stories I will be releasing in the summer focuses on - is the idea of time parallels and/or dimensions. A little bit surreal, a little bit dark. I quite liked how this one turned out.
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Energy Provider
She gazed out at the city from the rope
ladder. It was another existence in another bubble that had no clue. Like they
all did, they thought they were the only ones. She chuckled to herself.
“Adriana, what’re you laughing at?” Rufus
called down the ladder.
“Oh nothing, just their oblivion about
living in that gap between times.”
“There’s tons of them, come on, we’ve got
work to do.”
Adriana didn’t want to work; she liked hanging
out, literally, on the ladder. She liked daydreaming about all these worlds – this
one in particular - and the people in them: their societies, their rules, and their
ignorance. She wondered what they would think if they knew that they were just
a cog, a simple stop point that provided energy to another system of life.
She started up the ladder, admiring the
pretty decoration of ‘night sky’ that Radley had created for them to give them
more meaning and perspective. He was a real artist and she wished she had half
his skill.
When she reached the platform where Rufus
was waiting for her, she pulled herself up to standing.
“What’s the plan then?”
“Well they’re getting a bit feisty down
there. There’s been some talk about how their culling is imminent.”
“I didn’t think we needed to make those
decisions anymore, I thought they took care of themselves. There’s enough
killing going on.”
“No, not us culling, them culling. You
know, like the Aztecs and the Atlantians?”
“Oh god, that was a pain in the arse!”
“Exactly.”
“But I thought this lot had evolved past
that?”
“Seems not. Seems they’ve got themselves
stuck in a loop and can’t break out of it. Their thought processes are too
short. They’ve started down into a negative spiral, losing strength and
purpose.”
“But if we lose this lot, it’s going to put
strain on about twenty others!”
“Tell me about it.”
Adriana sighed. “Okay, so what are we going
to have to do?”
“A second coming.”
“A what?” Adriana wasn’t familiar with this
time loop’s history. “What’s that?”
“It’s what they call a ‘religion ’ thing.”
Rufus was preparing some equipment that had been brought to the platform: a
winch, a sling and some ropes.
“Religion? What that restrictive mindset
they use to control huge amounts of their people and stop them expanding into
higher thought processes?”
“That’s the one.”
“And if this is second there must have been
a first ...?”
“Yep. Jesus, remember him? He worked over
at dimension two.”
“Didn’t they end up crucifying him?”
“That’s right. But he was brought back up.
He’s fine, he’s over at section five now.”
“Nice. I’d love to go there.” Adriana had
heard about the sections and five was a good one to end up in. You reaped many
benefits there.
“Well you might get a chance then.” Rufus
handed her a rope.
“Me?! I thought you’d be the one going?”
“Nope, they reckon you are the one to pull
it off.”
“But their society won’t recognise me. You
know how prejudice they are against genders.”
“Yes, but you’re one of the two they
recognise, so it could work.”
“Could? What use is could? What’s the point
in doing it if it isn’t an absolute?”
“There are no absolutes, you know that –
even THEY know that! There’s an underground movement happening, a shift in
their society, your gender is on the up rise. It has to be you.” Rufus handed
her a device that looked like an earwig. “Put this in, and you’ll be guided.”
Adriana turned the device over in her hand.
“I don’t know if I am up to it.”
“Oh come on, you’ve been fantasising about
going there. You always linger over that place more than any other.”
“Maybe. But this is a big job, an important
job.” Adriana’s mind reeled at what was ahead of her.
“Exactly. Just think of section five, or
even six! Just imagine!” Rufus’s eyes sparkled. “This is your opportunity
Adriana, grab it with both hands.”
Adriana took a deep breath and placed the
device in her ear. He was right, it was and she knew she had to. She stepped
into the sling and prepared to bungy off the platform.
“You’ll go right into your life. It’ll
unfold for you. Okay?” Rufus stood at the winch.
Adriana gave him a thumbs up.
“You’re being placed in a special influential
position. You’ll know what to do.”
She nodded once, and leapt.
After
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