(Two parts. 2000 words.)
One
Erwin stared at the mysterious world beyond the window.
Despite living in one place his entire life, he had never known that an actual window had been concealed behind the thin electronic screen, and he could never have truly imagined the dull scene outside his ancestral homestead. There were far more interesting places on Earth – oceans, jungles, and mountains to name a few – than a field of tall grass bordered by a standard assortment of trees.
“Stop your worrying,” his dad said from behind him. His words were marred by the sound of chewing. “The system will come back any second now. Any second. Guarantee it.”
“And if you’re wrong?” Erwin questioned. “It has been days. I haven’t seen a single supply drone.”
With a thunderous groan, his dad deployed a plump finger to raise the back of his leather chair. “My grandfather helped build the solar array – the best in the entire world. This is nothing but a glitch.” He stifled a yawn. “It’ll be back up. Any second now.”
Erwin sighed and reached deep into his bag of chips. His last bag. Ever cautious, he had ordered a variety of fresh bags to resupply … hours before the world had died. He had last checked the drone’s progress what seemed moments before the end had come. It had only been a quarter mile away.
Licking his lips, Erwin savored his final taste of the chip’s artificial seasoning. A second bag heavy with supplies rested on his lap. Luckily, he had been able to find a chair with actual wheels. He wasn’t confident it would get him all the way to his destination, but it would certainly help.
It had taken him hours to work up the courage to speak his plan aloud. “I … I think I’m going to go outside, dad. A food drone was on its way when this happened. I’m going to find it.”
“Outside?” His dad laughed. “You’ll die! Swarms of biting bugs looking to feast on your blood! Creatures with fangs and claws foaming at the mouth to tear out your insides!”
“It doesn’t look that dangerous. Humans used to go outside all the time.”
“Ah, but we learned our lesson! To save the world, we had to abandon it!”
Erwin pushed his chair back from the window and brought it to a stop beside his father. “Would you rather run out of food and die in here? I have to try.”
His dad eyed him for a long moment, a stern expression overtaking his round face. “I forbid it. Don’t make me have to stand up.”
It had the sounds of an empty threat, but Erwin couldn’t be certain.
“I’ll be back in no time,” he managed.
With an uncharacteristic surge of courage, Erwin sent his own chair rolling across the tile floor toward where he knew the door to be. His heart pounded in his chest as he worked to solve the manual locking mechanism, as his father slowly levered his way upright. Sweat sheathed his body by the time he finally discovered the right combination of twists and turns and swung the door open.
His father screeched as unfiltered air rushed into their home. Erwin took advantage, powering his chair over the threshold and pulling the door shut behind him.
Only as the chair spun about did Erwin realize what he had truly done.
An unfamiliar world stretched in every direction. A forest filled with lurid light and deafening birdsong. A blue sky spotted with ominous white clouds and circling aerial predators. Then, there was the sun. A massive ball of light that threatened to blind him the longer he stared into it.
I prepared for this! I must protect myself!
Erwin reached into his bag and retrieved a pair of light-dimming glasses. Once he had donned the visual protection, he forced down a bottle of flavored water to ensure he remained properly hydrated. Only then did he allow himself to further assess his surroundings.
Throughout his life, he had studied the area outside of his home via satellite image. Still, he was relieved upon locating the overgrown paved path leading toward the edge of the property. Using his legs to steer, Erwin glided down the uneven driveway … only to come to an abrupt stop.
Before him rose his next obstacle, a gate. One that hadn’t been opened in decades.
Erwin rolled to the near side of the gate and attempted to pry it open to no avail. He slowly worked his way to the far side only to be denied once again.
Fortunately, it wasn’t a tall gate.
Erwin managed to toss his supply bag over the gate on his second attempt. Then, wrapping his hands around the rusted bars, he climbed atop the seat of his chair and eventually managed to find balance. What he saw nearly took his breath away. A field of flowers emerging from a street of cracked stone, and in the distance, the supply drone.
Erwin grinned. It had been even closer than he thought.
Buoyed by the sight of his prize, Erwin positioned the chair beneath him to the brick wall beside the gate and somehow managed to lift himself over.
He hit the ground hard.
When he finally managed to rise, Erwin removed the cracked glasses from his face, shouldered his supply bag and stumbled blindly toward the fallen drone. Sunlight assailed him from every direction, burning his exposed face and stabbing at his unprotected eyes. He longed to race back to the safety of his home, to the comfort of his dark room.
I can’t give up! Not this close!
Erwin fell to his knees in exhaustion beside the drone what seemed hours later. Panting, he reached into his bag, retrieved a knife, and opened the slightly damaged crate. He cackled as he pulled open the first bag of chips and poured them into his mouth.
Nothing had ever tasted better.
Two
Erwin opened his eyes … uncertain where he was. With a start, he realized that he couldn’t breathe, that the air surrounding him was filled with spores of pollen and mold. Chills racked his body as the truth of his situation set in, as he began to remember what had transpired.
I’m … outside? His heart skipped a beat. I’m outside!
Bringing his knees to his chest, Erwin hesitantly studied his surroundings. A half-filled bag of chips rested within arm’s reach. He located another three bags near where his head had rested upon a pillow of sticky grass. He recalled seeing the drone and dragging his food and supplies to the shade of the nearest tree to escape the wrath of the overbearing sun. He had eaten to his heart’s content and then–
A chip coma.
A sublime combination of flavor and exhaustion that had driven him into a deep slumber on countless occasions. Only … all of those previous occurrences had happened in the safety of his home – not in the midst of a death trap! The words of his father swirled within his reeling mind. His dad had tried to warn him about the outdoors.
Dad! I left him all alone!
Erwin surged to his feet, a cloud of crumbs falling from his baggy clothing. The sudden movement caused the treacherous world to shift before him. Panting, he placed a hand against the nearest object to steady himself, to try and regain balance in order to make the dangerous return journey home.
Movement. A thousand tiny legs crawling upon his flesh.
Mortified, Erwin ripped his hand away from the trunk of tree. The alien creature sauntering across his colorless skin quickened its pace in response. The being observed him through a hundred pair of eyes, calculating the best way to kill him.
Erwin squeaked and desperately shook his hand, but the insect did not yield its position, did not abandon its desire to extract revenge. Hurriedly, Erwin reached into the nearby bag of open chips, removed one and used it to force the insect onto the sword-like grass.
The creature scurried away.
Erwin stared at the tree for a long moment before realizing the creature’s next move. It had identified an enemy and sought to summon its kin to destroy it. A human could sustain the appetite of a civilization of such small beings for years.
I have to get out of here!
Erwin made it only three steps before he turned in despair. The supply box taken from the drone rested precariously close to the possessed tree. He knew that if he didn’t retrieve now, it would be gone by the time he managed to regroup and leave the house again – if he was ever able to.
Maybe the system is back online, he reasoned. I can just order new chips.
Retrieving his personal screen from the heavy bag at his feet, Erwin pressed the power button and waited with bated breath. Nothing happened. He tried again only for the screen to slip out of his greasy fingers and crack against an upturned piece of concrete.
Erwin fell to his knees and began to sob.
This was how it ended. He knew that he should have listened to his father, that he never should have ventured outside, regardless of the reward. Certainly, there were measures in place to bring the system back online. His dad had been right. He had only needed to wait.
The distant howl of a wild creature resulted in a sudden burst of adrenaline.
Erwin’s focus returned. I can do this! I have to make it back inside!
He cautiously waddled toward the fortress of deadly insects and managed to drag the box of chips away from imminent danger. Once in position, Erwin raised the box of chips and set it on top of his supply bag, grabbed a handful of savory fuel, then worked to steady his labored breathing. With a savage cry, he attempted to lift both containers and race toward safety…
… only to fall onto the cracked pavement in defeat.
Exhausted, Erwin studied the sky overhead. The sun had thankfully lowered its intensity, however, looking directly at it still proved problematic. For a few moments, he focused on the winged predator circling overhead, the one that would pick the flesh from his bones if he failed.
Erwin knew it was impossible for him to lift both containers at the same time and travel all the way back to the gate. The probability was low that he would survive two laborious trips. The insects, the bird, and the mysterious howling creature were certainly closing in.
Think Erwin! Think!
The solution came as another howl pierced his chaotic surroundings. Erwin somehow returned to uncertain feet and found his way back to the gate to his ancestral home.
Erwin observed the complex structure in its entirety, remembering how it had defeated him once before. He tested each bar, then attempted to slip through the largest opening … all to no avail. Eventually, he discovered a rusted lever on the far side and lifted it free.
The gate loudly swung open.
Erwin retrieved the chair quickly, certain the noise had altered his many foes to his whereabouts. With uncanny precision, he piloted the chair across the fractured cement to where he had left both his supplies and his prize. Once there, he stood and, with the what remained of his strength, managed to lift his belongings onto the faded leather seat.
It was only as took a last look back at the tree that he saw the monster.
A beast of mangled golden hair and icy eyes emerged from the underbrush. Its matted fur was filled with briers, and a cloud of tiny insects swarmed around its imposing figure. The beast emitted a threatening growl, exposing deadly fangs.
Erwin threw his open bag of chips at the beast.
Then, he ran, pushing the chair ahead of him.
His entire life flashed before his eyes. His first class. His first friend. His first date. He wondered why he had ever wanted to go outside in the first place. He had never considered himself to be particularly daring, even in a virtual environment.
Of course, none of that mattered now. There was only survival. Run or die.
Erwin slammed the gate shut behind him, lowering the lever at the last instant.
The beast skidded to a stop. They stared at each other for a long moment. Finally, the golden-haired monster retreated.
Still in fear for his life, Erwin rushed the chair up the driveway.
The door opened as he neared. His father, round face concealed behind a mask, gestured to him frantically, wide eyes moving from side to side. “Hurry up, you idiot!”
Once inside, Erwin locked the door behind him and opened a fresh bag of chips, promising to never go outside again.