System Restored by Adam Eccles

Author:Adam Eccles [Eccles, Adam]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Little Bit Strange Press
Published: 2022-02-24T00:00:00+00:00

I can’t help the grin that’s plastered on my face. I’m casually walking through history and all the people around me have no idea that I’m out of time, displaced from my reality, and proving or disproving all manner of physicists’ theories just by existing here. I mean, I didn’t just jump through time; I shifted about twenty miles north, too. I also gained physical objects and a jacket. If I could figure out exactly how this works, the potential is absolutely limitless, not only for personal gain but for the good of humanity and all that. Killing baby Hitler, stopping Chapman before he shot Lennon … the list goes on and on, yet here I am playing an elaborate adventure game instead. It seems a tad frivolous, now I think about it. The grin fades, but the situation is still incredible, no matter what the reason.

I consult the map as I reach an intersection and I’m going the right way. I turn left and meander off the High Street, onto a less busy and more grotty road where the Time Portal machine should be a few hundred yards away. There are no businesses shown on the map, however. No street-view I can tap and see exactly which building I need to go into. What if it’s someone’s house, or behind a locked door? I guess I will find out shortly.

As I near the X on the map, I peer into every likely doorway as I pass. Another café and a chip-shop. They had some arcade machines, but none were the Time Portal cabinet I know so well.

I keep walking, and suddenly it becomes obvious. I see a garish sign for an amusement arcade on the opposite side of the street to me. Watford Game-Junction.

I’m drawn to it like the magnet in my pocket and I almost get knocked down again as I run across the road.

The excitement is short-lived, however, as the arcade is closed. The sign on the door informs opening hours are ten ’til ten. I’m not sure exactly what the time is, but I check the countdown clock in my pocket. 19:47:20. I’ve used over four hours now. Wow, doesn’t time fly when you are having fun? In fairness to myself, I didn’t know what I was doing at first and I spent a lot of time wandering around aimlessly. If I had prepared, then I’d be a lot more efficient.

I peer through the window, but inside is dark and I can’t make out much. There are plenty of arcade machines, but I can’t see the titles. Everything is switched off.

I don’t have a watch on and I can’t see a clock on any of the buildings here. How do I find out the current time? A thought occurs to me — ask someone. What a ridiculous concept.

I turn around to face the street where I came from. A few folks dart around, doing their normal business, not expecting to have a time traveller ask them the time.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.