Life has been extremely cruel to me. I have become so far away from my family, unbeknownst of my fate. I am just so poor, I believe I would die starving at this rate. And now, I am about to be used as scapegoat by some influential figure as of late. Drat. Was that rhyming just fine?
Sentenced to death by the judge in a theatrical trial in which, only the powerful gets to be acquitted, the innocent gets to be misled, and the bystander gets to be mistreated. I was flung into hopelessness knowing that it must be the end. My family cannot know, for I do not want them to be involved in my misfortune crossing the toes of those giants. I do not want them to try saving me knowing that I am innocent, since there would be no use. I wish to vanish like smoke gone in the wind.
Living my numbered days, I prayed. Though, the possibility of it not being true, I still prayed. Hopefully, that in my next life, I shall become a person. One who possess bravery and goodness in his heart. I do not wish for a reincarnation so grand, that heavens shall submit to me. I am a humble man, but that does not mean that I can take it, watching a person in front of me die. I was there, when that person pushed his clueless victim from the third floor of my apartment.
This must be karma.
My execution date came. While opening my cell, I heard the guard snicker. He revealed to me that none of my relatives came for me, to at least talk to me at my last moments. I do not know why, but it made me glad. Though, the snicker of the guard pesters me. I thought that my lawyer must have fulfilled his promise to me which is "not to involve my family."
But, it looks like, I do not even have to make effort. The powerful has their ways to make trials go smoother. This must be the case.
The guard cuffed my hands and blindfolded me. When the blindfold was removed, I was surprised. What I saw was not an electric chair for execution, but a coffin.
"Hey! The test subject is here" One man who's wearing a lab coat started to urge his colleagues realizing that there is job to do.
I just had a stereotype. Weren't they scientist? Lab coats, bunch of old men, scholastic temperaments, and the futuristic looking coffin. What? Futuristic? What is the use of that kind of coffin? The dead doesn't need comfort anymore, right? BECAUSE, they are DEAD!
"Okeydokey, test subject no. 123, please get in the pod. Fear not, there are 0.000000000001% chance you may live after this. If you were able to, you can have your life back, hehehe." One of the scientist said.
And then the guard added "Do not worry, your predecessors from test subject no. zero to 122 almost made it, just a little bit more, they would have endured." I am definitely sure, he did not said that to comfort me. He said it with malice after all.
This coffin must be the latest version of the electric chair.
"GET IN THE POD!" The oldest of the scientists urged. The guard led me to the pod. Pushed me on its straps, and then closed the door. Only with my prisoner's uniform as possession, I am now departing this earthly world.
Lying on the pod, I saw the door close with only darkness that remains. The zap came and I felt my world turn up-side down in a literal manner.
"Subject 123. Age: 19. Sex: Male. Name: Timothy Allen. Date: November 1 2019. Commencing time travel, vital signs still active! 10 years! 100 years! 1,000 years! 10,000 years! A 100, 000 years!" And the voice of the scientist that was monitoring the experiment faded.
So, this is time travel?
"UUuuuuuUuuoooooooOooough!" I was making incoherent and unintelligible sounds while I feel my flesh tearing, bones screeching and cells disintegrating. I wanted to die so much, I even thought, an electric chair must have felt so much more comfortable.
Maybe this is what others call a fate worse than death. I cannot even feel the possibility of death in this process of being slaughtered, but not getting killed. It is a misery without end. It is as if, I have reached hell, and was met with flames that would have you wish death. I felt that this would continue forever. Here in eternal darkness, plague with undying pain.
While on the other side of time. "Bring him back!" The oldest scientist ordered. "Yes sir!" And his subordinate scientist complied. Smashing the red button, he shouted with indignity "Nooooo!"
The oldest scientist anxiously asked "Why? What happened? The survival of the test subject takes precedence. He is the only lab rat who was able to actually travel on time! The other subjects cannot even last 2 seconds on entering warp state. This test subject is of significance. Retrieve him!"
"But sir, the time period was locked. The warp gate cannot be reversed!"
"Damn, we almost did it! Whose fault is this?" Then all of the disappointed scientist in the lab started to raise a clamour.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
"Damn, that was painful. I should be dead by now, wouldn't I?" Realizing that the pain has stopped, I thought to myself that my death has finally come. I can now rest at peace…
"Huh? What is this? I can still feel my limbs… Wait, Didn't one of those old guys said that I have a 0.000000000001% chance of surviving?" It bothered me that I can still feel my limbs, just that the response were so weak. I feel quite sore everywhere. My body must have been exhausted so much. What I have experienced must have been the newest torture method. Those scientist are freaks.
While ruminating on what has just happened, there came light. It must have been the moment to check if their torture method accidently killed me in the process. Well, I guess I should be happy that I get a chance to live, though as a crippled person.
I felt my weight being lifted, I feel my senses coming back at me. There are blurred images and someone touching my wrist, and it felt like they are checking my pulse. Though, I cannot move, my ears were working just fine…
"This guy, what happened to him?"
"Doctor, he was found this early morning by the guard in the hallway of the hospital. He looks like a prisoner"
"My god! A prisoner inside the hospital, take him to the basement. If people learn of this, it would be scandalous! That is bad for business."
"Doctor, should I call the guard and handcuff him?"
"Sure, sure, cuff him! He must be an escapee, and prisoners have not even able to escape to any prison built by the government since 500 years. I am pretty sure, this must be confidential. Also, strap him and put handcuffs to his foot too. He must be a dangerous character!"
"Yes doctor, how about his condition, he is in a grievous state and looks so pale. Like his blood was drained dry."
"Do what you can to save him, but do not heal him to his full condition, I'll go call the Police."
Darn, how did I became an escapee, I was just a murderer in death row a while ago!
Then, it all turned black and my consciousness faded.
The next moment I woke up, I felt still strapped. Additionally, I feel some numbness to my wrists, back and foot. I feel the cold metal obstructing my movements. I think these are cuffs.
It was dark as if I am in a chasm deprave of light. Then, I heard a voice…
"The police has come, open the door" a domineering voice made itself heard.
It felt like a woman's voice. I heard the door being opened. The lights were finally turned on. The sudden brightness blinded me. Little by little, my sight adjusted, I saw the white ceiling. Inspecting my surroundings, I noticed that I am in a basement. Turning to my left, I saw in my peripheral vision a glimpse of a police officer wearing a blue uniform, a doctor wearing his white coat and the stoic guard at the side.
The officer spoke "leave me here with the prisoner, I need to interrogate him." The other two left as per instructed. The officer walked towards me. I really cannot see her features, but from her voice alone, it felt like she was a beautiful person. I find her likable, especially her voice.
With an arrogant tone, she said "Humph! Finally awake! You prisoner scum! Tell me! How did you escaped the prison?"
I was mistaken, she is not likable, and she is rude… Though the two words is not in any way related.
"Excuse me officer, you do not have to be disgustingly aggressive, Look, I am as harmless as a rabbit! And I am tied like a dumpling!"
"Shut up! No excuses! And what dumpling? Was that the name of your acquaintance? Harmless as a rabbit? Rabbit have rabies! And you are not even as cute as them!"
"…"
"For such a repulsive vile scum, you still have the gut to talk back to me without even a shred of shame?"
"Correct, officer, I am shameless…"
"That is the way! Now, confess…"
First, she wanted me to speak, and then now tells me, I cannot talk back to her?
This officer is quite feisty unlike other police officers who always keep their professional poker face. She is like an open book! She is showing everything…
Ahem! Not that everything… For a second, I was stumped. I don't know how I should start.
Drat! I am the victim here, okay?
"…"
"…"
"How should I start, Miss Officer? "
"WHAT!? Are you f*cking kidding me!? Start with your name. Dumbass!"
"Ummmm… My name is [Timothy Allen]. I am 19 years old. I live somewhere in Asia in some forgotten Island…"
"WHAT!? Are you f*cking kidding me!? What forgotten Island?"
Oh heavens! What a rude mouth, she said the same phrase.
"It is true, it is truly a forgotten Island! The government has already abandoned that Island since the dispute of the rights of ownership of the island started to disrupt the world peace. The two countries fighting over it almost started a war. As a result, they decided to compromise. Instead of sharing, or the other side benefitting from it, they prefer both parties gaining nothing."
"That is one outrageous story telling ability, but why do I feel like it is true…"
"I swear, police officer… It is true! Believe me! It happened in Asia. Search the internet!
I assure you, it is true. If I remember correctly, it was about 3 years ago. The year was 2016! Yeah, check that, there must be a news about it in the month of----------" (That must have been Scarborough Shoal)
"Bull*hit! That is enough! You almost succeeded in your story telling. You are way too dumb! Are you on drugs?" And then again, the officer continued to abuse me with her cursing. As she was doing it, she looked at her wrist watch. It has quite a stylish design. It must be a phone watch or something. Futuristic, if described. She was swiping on it, then double clicked…
Burst of light came out of the watch, and something was projected on it just like the hologram seen on movies.
I gaped with my mouth wide open. I just thought to myself "Am I on drugs?"
The officer stopped cursing and walked in front of me. I see her grin as she look at me condescendingly. I see my own feet, and her at the end side of my bed. I should admit it, she is indeed beautiful, but I can appreciate this sight more if I were not restrained by this straps and cuffs.
The officer said "That Asia was no longer here, look, the news you were talking about was 100, 000 years ago. You are so dumb! The date today is November 1 of Gen A of the 19th year."
A sudden realization came to me…
Those damnable science freaks are doing quite a sci-fi experiment huh?
And like a dumb pig, I answered with lethargy written on my whole face…
"Oh… So, this is time travel…"