New evidence and root cause the improved connection

At long last the truth comes out. In fact, it could be the first real evidence ever recorded. Ellis looks again. It’s definitely not the norm. In fact, this is unlike anything he’s ever seen. He stands and takes a step back. Then he summons the Sergeant and gives the instructions. Twenty four hours from now this place will be a memory. ***

***Friday 3:30 pm:

Skip Hansen is on a leisurely stroll inside the city. He feels fortunate. Not everyone is allowed in the city. He pauses and considers. Allowed is not the right word. Able to afford it, might be more accurate. Indeed, he paid a hefty sum for his afternoon pass. Now he is walking down Main street. It’s as beautiful as it is in the images online. In fact, since his childhood, that was the only way he ever walked inside the city.

However, he wasn’t alone in that scenario. If one didn’t live inside the city limits, one paid to visit. Furthermore, Skip didn’t know anyone wealthy enough to live in the city. That was a position only the elite class could afford. He walks down the street slowly. The last time he was in the city, he was a child. Of course, in those days, anyone could visit the city. He tries remembering when traveling from place to place, was the norm. And free. The good ‘ole days.

New Evidence and Root Cause

Ellis takes a final look around the scene. He is looking for anything that might lead him to what he’s missing. The scene is secure. Additionally the Sergeant, and his officers, have several of the witness statements already. Ellis can hear the questions as the officers conduct their interviews. Meanwhile he is trying to get his head around what he sees. He is near an alley on Main street, looking for a root cause. The front wall of the corner business is the crime scene. However, is it actually a crime scene? Or something more sinister.

Ellis can hear one of the witnesses in the background.

“The old man was just walking along, and then it’s just this bright flash. The wall opens up, like how it is now. Then the old man just disappears.“

Just disappears. That is the same as in every other statement. There were maybe five witnesses. All tell the same story. There’s no deviation or confusion. The wall opens up, like it is now. Ellis examines the opening in the wall. From a distance. It’s obvious there is something dangerous here. The opening in the wall is like an opening into a high tech computer. There are circuits and other technical features. But what is unsettling is the emanation of the opening.

It is as though it emanates an invisible energy. Furthermore they have it cordoned off just in case. Ellis is comfortable standing away from the event. However, it is more of a scene than an event. Try telling that to the old man who got absorbed. His mind plays the advocate. But his thoughts are quite uneasy.

The Improved Connection

Skip can’t believe how much the city has changed since the last time he was here. There are new buildings, and new streets. Similarly there is a park. He searches his memory for the park but finds nothing. It is a new park then. It’s impressive and he wonders what it takes to live here. Then the strangest thing happens. A flash of light causes him to pause. To his right is an alley. Therefore the flash of light must have come from behind him.

Skip turns around and his eyes widen. The front wall of the building he just passed, has changed. The brick appears to be pulled back. It’s as though it was unzipped. Now, instead of brick and mortar, Skip sees circuitry and pulsing light. The light is blue, and pulses in sync with a machine like sound. It has no root cause. And he feels a wave of energy, and a strong pull, simultaneously. Skip decides this isn’t for him, and he tries to move away.

He’s stuck. Stuck watching that eerie blue light. The visible circuitry makes whirring sounds, and then more sounds become audible. Skip is aware of the blue light expanding. It seems to engulf him. Then, just before he disappears, he hears what sounds like a warning.

“Simulation ended. Reset simulation. Final reset in thirty seconds.“

Thank you for reading! Like, follow and share The Frog Journal on X @1finja1 – and on The Frog Journal Facebook page click here. Subscribe to the free newsletter to stay up to date on new content and updates.