I woke up confused and terrified... There had been fire and horrible creatures attacking, smoke and ashes, civilization destroyed. Our small group was the last survivors of the human race that I was aware of. There had been a bright flash... And then nothing.
So, where the hell am I? I looked around. It was pretty dark. I was in a bed that seemed oddly familiar. There were a few posters on the wall that I could dimly see and recognize, somewhere deep in the back of my mind. A small amount of light from the sun streamed in from a small window in the next room... A bathroom, I thought.
How do I know that? Why is this place so familiar even though I can barely see anything? I got out of bed and automatically reached for the light switch I somehow knew was there. After a moment of blindness from the bright light, I started in shock.
I DID know this place. But I hadn't seen it for at least twenty years. This was my bedroom! But not now; this was my bedroom in the past, somewhere around 1988, when I was still in high school!!
A thought came to me. Is this the afterlife? I was certain we were all about to die, just before that bright flash. On shaky legs, I walked into the other room.
To my right was a very old computer, looking as if it was brand new. The Atari logo stood out on the cream-and-dark-brown computer, with the words "1200XL" next to it. A small, old-fashioned television gleamed like new behind it. Above was a second TV with game cartridges on either side. A poster of a person carrying a laser pistol and stepping out of a portal as a demon loomed above them was on the wall, with the title "Ultima II: Revenge of the Enchantress".
The opposite wall had a worn but still serviceable cloth couch. Next to it was a stand with a small lamp. Wooden slats covered the large window. Rouladens, if I remember correctly.
I must be dead... I used the pull-chain for the slats, and they rose up. Looking out, I could see my parents' Peugeot 505 Turbo in the long driveway. Based on the amount of light, I guessed it was around six or so in the morning.
"Mark, you’re going to be late for the bus! Get up!" came a woman's voice from the door I knew led upstairs. Tears came to my eyes. Mom? I bolted to the door, throwing it open. Looking up the stairs, I saw a woman with reddish-blond hair, very short, maybe five feet tall...
Genre: Science Fiction
So, where the hell am I? I looked around. It was pretty dark. I was in a bed that seemed oddly familiar. There were a few posters on the wall that I could dimly see and recognize, somewhere deep in the back of my mind. A small amount of light from the sun streamed in from a small window in the next room... A bathroom, I thought.
How do I know that? Why is this place so familiar even though I can barely see anything? I got out of bed and automatically reached for the light switch I somehow knew was there. After a moment of blindness from the bright light, I started in shock.
I DID know this place. But I hadn't seen it for at least twenty years. This was my bedroom! But not now; this was my bedroom in the past, somewhere around 1988, when I was still in high school!!
A thought came to me. Is this the afterlife? I was certain we were all about to die, just before that bright flash. On shaky legs, I walked into the other room.
To my right was a very old computer, looking as if it was brand new. The Atari logo stood out on the cream-and-dark-brown computer, with the words "1200XL" next to it. A small, old-fashioned television gleamed like new behind it. Above was a second TV with game cartridges on either side. A poster of a person carrying a laser pistol and stepping out of a portal as a demon loomed above them was on the wall, with the title "Ultima II: Revenge of the Enchantress".
The opposite wall had a worn but still serviceable cloth couch. Next to it was a stand with a small lamp. Wooden slats covered the large window. Rouladens, if I remember correctly.
I must be dead... I used the pull-chain for the slats, and they rose up. Looking out, I could see my parents' Peugeot 505 Turbo in the long driveway. Based on the amount of light, I guessed it was around six or so in the morning.
"Mark, you’re going to be late for the bus! Get up!" came a woman's voice from the door I knew led upstairs. Tears came to my eyes. Mom? I bolted to the door, throwing it open. Looking up the stairs, I saw a woman with reddish-blond hair, very short, maybe five feet tall...
Genre: Science Fiction