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After completing high school
in mid-June 2014, I found myself in a situation where I needed to find a
part-time job. At the same time, I was faced with the decision of whether to go
to community college for the Fall semester or not.
Rather than rushing into further education, I decided to take a step back and give myself some time to figure out my future ambitions and aspirations. I didn't have a clear goal in mind, and I wanted to make sure I made the right choice for my future path. Well, Life happens, and some things turn out differently than what expected.
A nagging feeling urged me to flee, yet I remained rooted to the spot. Suddenly, a peculiar whooshing, humming noise echoed from behind me, causing me to whirl around in alarm. Before me, a strange shimmering object materialized, startling me into a sudden jump.
As I took a step back, my eyes widened in
disbelief as an ominous black monolith emerged out of thin air right before me.
Time seemed to stand still as I found myself frozen in place, holding my breath
in anticipation of what would happen next.
“What the Fuck?” I muttered, as a
sudden whirlwind swooshed my hair back. The wind abruptly ceased, leaving me in
a state of bewilderment. I glanced around, hoping to find someone who had also
witnessed this inexplicable phenomenon. As I stood there, a mix of awe and
confusion washed over me. "What in the world," I thought.
Curiosity compelled me to approach the enigmatic object, cautiously running my
fingers along its smooth and icy surface. A sudden jolt of static electricity
coursed through me.
Looking at his attire, he was donning a brown pinstriped blazer over a white tee shirt, paired with denim jeans and black high-top sneakers. Initially, unaware of my presence, I hid behind the monolith and discreetly glanced around the corner. As he moved away from the monolith towards my intended direction, I debated whether to leave or follow him, ultimately, I succumbed to my curiosity and trailed him surreptitiously. Halting midway, he paused to survey his surroundings with hands in his pockets, letting out a sigh and shaking his head. Eventually, he pivoted to return to the monolith, our gazes locking as he appeared surprised, his eyes filled with curiosity.
“Wow,” he remarked, taking in my look. “Are
you from around here?” I simply gaped at him while he grinned back. I was
momentarily speechless, especially after catching the unmistakable British
accent in his tone. Gathering my thoughts, I mustered the courage to ask, “Who
are you?”
“Just call me Mr. Smith,” he
replied.
“How did you get here,” I
asked, my curiosity piqued. With a sly grin, he approached me and replied, "I
stumbled upon this place during my travels." His eyes sparkled with a mix of
curiosity and a hint of allure. I glanced at the monolith. As he spoke, I
couldn't help but take a step back, unsure of what to expect. Sensing my
hesitation, he reassured me, "If you're interested, I'll gladly show you,
come travel with me,” he paused. “But if not, feel free to leave." A lump
formed in my throat, causing me to hesitate. He moved closer, attempting to
hold my hand, but I instinctively pulled away.
"Don't worry," he assured me, his
voice soothing. "I'll ensure your safety and make sure you have an
interesting time." Gesturing towards the mysterious monolith, he insisted,
"Trust me, let me show you." Once again, he reached out for my hand,
and a warm sensation washed over me, making it impossible to resist. Despite my
apprehension and uncertainty, I found myself irresistibly drawn to this
enigmatic man who emerged from the monolith. His captivating eyes, charming
smile, and the aura surrounding him had me completely mesmerized, along with
the enigmatic monolith itself. As his touch enveloped me, all thoughts of my
past vanished, and I became completely entranced, until he finally asked,
"What's your name?"
I hesitantly said, “I'm Remi,” my voice barely above a
whisper. His smile shifted into a playful smirk, his gaze slowly taking in
every detail of me.
As I moved closer
to the massive structure, I spotted someone standing on the hills nearby,
clearly just as puzzled by its sudden emergence. I couldn't make out his
clothing, but I had a feeling it was a man.
"Come on," he beckoned, gesturing towards the monolith with a flirtatious smile and a playful wink. Confused, I glanced at the monolith’s surface, devoid of any inscriptions, its sleek black surface chilling to the touch, just as I had mentioned earlier. With a sudden jolt, the door slid open, causing me to instinctively recoil. With unwavering confidence, he took a bold stride into it, and I hesitantly mirrored his actions. However, as I crossed the threshold, a wave of disbelief washed over me, causing my mouth to fall open and my eyes to widen in astonishment.
The sheer magnitude of what lay before me left me breathless, and I couldn't suppress a gasp that escaped my lips. In that moment, he couldn't contain his excitement and proudly declared, "Welcome to my humble abode," relishing the astonishment that was etched across my face.
"This is a Time Dimensional Spacecraft, or TDSC for
short," he announced. Looking around, I suddenly realized that I was
situated within an otherworldly spacecraft. My eyes wandered around the room,
absorbing the sleek, jet-black design with mesmerizing geometric patterns.
The two control panels on either wall and the sleek floor
reflecting the ceiling drew my attention. "Hold on a
second," I exclaimed as I stepped out of the craft and circled it, taking
in the bizarre design while a sense of confusion enveloped me.
He chuckled, clearly pleased with my reaction. "I had
a feeling you'd be amazed," he said, with a smug grin on his face. My
heart raced, and I couldn't tear my gaze away from the mesmerizing interior.
"Would you like
to embark on an adventure with me?" he asked. My heart skipped a beat, and
I took a deep breath, my eyes brimming with astonishment. I was at a loss for
words.
"Your eyes are captivating," he
remarked, gazing at me intently, as if weighing a decision. His deep brown eyes
roamed over me in a suggestive manner, causing me to
blush and look away.
A tense silence enveloped us briefly, before I broke it with a question: “Am I being abducted?” I hesitated, inching toward the door that was hidden from the outside but clear from within. He stepped closer, his presence both imposing and calming.
Feeling a mix of nerves and anticipation, I
couldn't help but nervously smile back at him. "I believe the person you
saw earlier is nearing the TDSC and may be contacting others soon." A soft
smile graced his lips as he looked directly at me, his eyes filled with
anticipation.
It was evident that he was eagerly awaiting my response, silently pleading for a positive answer. The way he gazed at me spoke volumes, conveying his desire for me to agree to whatever he was proposing.
"If you decide to accompany me, we can journey to any destination of your choosing, and I'll ensure we return before dinner. I possess the ability to traverse time. The possibilities are endless," he said, enticing me further. Despite his kind offer, I still felt unsure.
"Don't worry, once you get to know me, you'll realize I’m
not such a bad guy,” he continued to persuade me. His words were accompanied by
a chuckle and a smile, sending a shiver down my spine.
As I nervously chortled, my eyes spotted a mysterious black pillar embellished with sparkling crystals in the center of the room. It truly captivated me. Setting my backpack down on the floor, I cautiously approached, drawn in by its enchanting allure.
"What is this?" I asked, circling around the
strange pillar with multicolored quartz crystals at the center, one of them
glowing brightly.
"No, don't touch it," he warned, causing me to
retract my hand.
"What are they?" I asked, intrigued.
"They control this ship," he explained. I
pondered over the offer he made earlier.
"I'll accept your offer, but..." I hesitated.
"But
what?" he asked.
"I hope
you'll bring me back before dinnertime or before 10pm," I nervously chuckled,
feeling a strange attraction towards him. Standing in front of each other,
the crystals casting a soft glow on my face, I couldn't help but question the
risks of joining this enigmatic being from another realm on an
adventure. "How old are you?” he asked, then added, “I don't want any
trouble for bringing a minor along on my,” he paused and said, “adventures,"
as he finger quoted.
Confusion washed over me as I glanced at him, prompting
me to contemplate my uneventful existence. I pondered, "I don’t have a
boyfriend right now and I clearly don’t have any plans.”
After a brief
pause, I mustered the courage to respond, "I'm twenty," I said, it
was a blatant lie though. Despite being only eighteen, I decided to withhold
this information from him. His inquisitive gaze persisted as he mulled over my
answer. "Well, okay,” he paused and added, “You do appear to be young,"
he delicately traced his fingers along the glowing crystals on the table on top
of the pillar.
“People often
assume that about me, but the truth is I'm only twenty, with my birthday just
four months away.” I lied again, feeling a lump in my throat. He stepped
closer, softly stroking my cheek before placing a tender kiss on my forehead.
Pondering his
words, I said, "If you truly have the power to time travel, I'd love to
visit the 1970s."
"Do you have a
specific year in mind?" he asked.
I casually shrugged
and grinned, replying, "1976, my grandma used to tell me fascinating
stories about that year." He chuckled, flashing a smile my way.
"Alright then, let's embark on this adventure,"
he exclaimed excitedly.
"Touch that
crystal," he instructed.
"But I thought
you didn't want me to touch the crystals?"
"I'm granting you the privilege," he smiled. He
then told me to focus on my grandma and the year 1976. With closed eyes, I
imagined the sensation of being transported to that era.
This book will be published under a different pen name. An audiobook will be available soon on GooglePlay.
A link to another Excerpt related to A Time Traveler's Companion
A Video of the interior of the Monolith
YouTube
