Elfie

“Okay, okay, slow down please…”

I’m wracking my brain over this woman right now… am I really getting it right. Just by looking at her my brain begins to throb, how is this at all possible.

“So you’re saying that you were just on a stroll before you ended up here?” I asked her, staring in anticipation for a no.

“That’s correct—“Augh!”
cutting her off It was impossible to comprehend anything right now! and I can’t even think! I mean, where is someone even suppose to start with this… perhaps I should report this to ‘Higher Society’— no I shouldn’t do that, who knows what would happen to her. They are a bit… hardcore when it comes to anything related to the past, history and time.

“So are you going to explain to me where I am exactly…”

I snapped out of my frantic thinking. Shit, I just realized I haven’t told her. I asked her for the date, yet I didn’t say what the actual date was right now.

“Well, it’s the exact same date you said earlier except… 4000 years later”

I visibly watched as her expression changed from confusion to terror, it wasn’t long before she dropped to the ground, mumbling ‘no’ over and over again before being replaced by the sound of sobbing. I didn’t know what to do. The situation screams 'what the hell do I do' all over.

“Listen—
“If this is 4000 years in the future you must have time travel right!”
Cutting me off with a now desperate expression, I had a feeling that question was coming.

“Unfortunately, anything related to time traveling was strictly forbidden. The risk outweighed every positive aspect of itself.”

That’s another one of the reasons my parents had their research chambers deep within the mountains, not just because it was safer for everyone else but because they just so happened to be delving into the singular topic that fell under the 'cataclysmic' category. If achieved could bring the collapse of the universe itself.

“Follow me, there’s something I want to show you.”

I’m not one hundred percent sure if it’ll make her feel any better but, since she’s come from the year 2000 it is possible to return, even if it’s limited in what’s possible.
…
“What is this place?…”
“It’s referred to as a Personal Cinema Chamber”

Or a ‘PCC’ an area readily available to the public, androids and humans alike, anything you want to experience, whether that be for a second time or for the very first, you can revisit your fifth birthday or the specific day where one confessed their love to another.

“See this”
Pointing towards a screen her expression looks shocked... don't understand why though. Tapping the screen, a hand template comes up, I signal for her to take over.

“Place your hand here, think about a location or a memory, along with a specific date, your mind will be transported there for no longer than one hour. Just a heads up though, you won’t be able to touch anything or say anything, you’ll be nothing but a spectator.”

In more simple words, you’re nothing more than a ghost of yourself, and all you can do is wander, after my mother and father's accident I went back to the last encounter I had with them. It was a weird feeling being forced to watch them leave the house on that dreadful day.

“What’s the point?” she asked.
“There might be a hint to how you came here.” I replied.

It makes no sense that someone could just vanish and warp through time by just going out on a stroll… because if that’s the case I wonder how many times that’s happened.

“Alright well I’ll just be waiting here, hopefully there’ll be some answers.”

Tapping her on the back I pull out a beanbag from the network, throwing the cube down in the corner of the room, sinking into it the second it materialized... And by the time I did that her hand was already placed on the screen, her physical form replaced by a hologram, only thing that remained completely unaffected were her clothes, most likely due to them being outdated by four millenniums… she may be freaking out right now but it’s not like she’ll be seen within that—

“Whoa! what kind of clothing is this?”
Who the hell are they? do they not know touching isn’t allowed. And just when I was feeling relaxed.

“Can you get any more rude” I asked.
Guess it shows that curiosity isn’t entirely dead for humanity… I think that’s a good thing?? Not in this way— definitely not. What the hell am I thinking.

“Ah Taro, didn’t know you were here, you know this girl?”

I heard a voice from behind me, with only one glance I saw a face I’d never forget, Lien…

“And if she is?”
Man why did this guy have to show up right now, like? Is there a gathering going on right now.

“Well coming from your background it’s quite a shock seeing you with someone this pretty.”
Oh so this guys just a scumbag I assume, lacking in desire to create but overflowing in other areas.

“Use the screen next to us if that’s what you’re here for”

This person has done nothing but get in the way of other people, I heard one time he criticized someone so brutally they gave up on pursuing their dreams, another time he stole another's partner, honestly kind of good that it happened, don’t think anyone would want a partner like that.

“Seems like someone's finally got confidence, proud of ya.”

So he’s going for that technique eh, trying to egg me on so I start a fight, nothing good comes from fighting though, that kind of route is useless… not exactly the best situation for it either.

“Keep your feet moving—
“You really think you’re special?”
What is this guy going on about.

“I’m getting fed up with you—
“Seems like you come from a family of wannabe Creatives—

“What the hell did you just say!”
Yanking him by the collar we stare at each other face to face, there wasn’t a slither of fear on his expression, just a stupid, pathetic smile, I don’t think there’s anyone out there that’s close to as arrogant as him.

“Seems the pretty lady has returned”

Shoving Lien away from me I turn around, she was in fact, back to her original physical form, a holographic version no longer visible. Yet I couldn’t quite tell if the experience for her was good or bad.

“Let’s talk somewhere else”

Grabbing her by the arm I make my way outside the building, pulling up the network once again I select another object again, throwing the cube on the ground a hovering platform appears, enough to fit around four people.

“It’ll be best to sit down on it.”
I say to her before falling on top of it, laying there I watched her do the same, taking a glance up at the sky I place my left hand on the middle most part of the platform, that spot acted as a sort of directional circle, wherever my finger was that’s the direction it’ll go and how fast.

Sitting up I scan our surroundings… perhaps this is the time I should finally revisit my parents home. Since they passed I opted for the wandering life style, going from spot to spot, like I mentioned previously, but seeing as I got someone with me I can’t just tell them to sleep outside.

“This is absurd…” the girl said next to me.
“Did that experience help?” I replied back.

I could feel her gaze on me, but I didn’t get a response to that question, only silence as I continued guiding us through the cold night.

“My names Taro by the way”

Maybe I should just try and get to know her, give her someone to trust, if I were in that situation I’d be terrified, knowing that everyone you know was most likely long gone, with no one but yourself to rely on.

“It’s Elfie”

What a wonderful name…

“Well then Elfie, for now you can stay at my place, I’ll figure out a way to get you back home.”

“Thank you”

I couldn’t help but smile, the days come where I can finally be helpful to someone… now I don’t have a concrete plan because all I’m running off is the knowledge that my parents were researching ‘Time Warping’ so if I can find some old documents…

Perhaps. I could help.