A Rhapsody of Willows and Weeds

Warning: This story contains death and the use of tranquilizers.

A Rhapsody of Willows and Weeds

By Liam Welch

Chapter 1

        My vision slowly came back as I awoke in the dimly lit dinner. “Hey!” Said the man in the clean Italian suit across from me at the booth, “You’re finally up. I didn’t want to knock you out but you are quite a feisty one.”                     

        My head hurt like hell and I could barely remember who I was. I guess I should explain.

        Today, or yesterday, or a week ago, I can’t really tell. I was at my grandparents house. I love my grandparents, they’ve been there for me when no one else was and basically raised me.

        The sweet smell of my grandma’s red sauce engulfed my nostrils all at once. She only makes it on special occasions and I guess me flying in from New York was a special occasion. 

        They live in Las Vegas in a 55 and older community. It’s quaint in a way and takes on a distinct yellowish hue. The whole neighborhood smells like rich lavender and rosemary, it’s absolutely perfect for them. 

        I got up from their old loveseat and walked into the kitchen making a show of how much I was enjoying the smell. “Mmmhhh!” I exclaimed, “Do I smell red sauce!?” I said with a sort of childish excitement. 

        My grandmother smiled at me and pinched my cheek with squinted eyes, “You are just going to have to wait until dinner.” She said with a punchy definiteness in her voice. “Why don’t you go into the closet in the guest bedroom and grab your apron so you can help out when your grandfather gets back from the store?”  

        “Of course grandma.” I said.  I walked out of the kitchen and down the hall filled chock full of pictures of our family. The guest room was completely untouched, the beds were made and the tables were polished to perfection.

        I opened up the closet and riffled through bins of fabric and old costumes. I found my old engraved apron under a box of scarves in the back.

        I saw something else in the closet as well. It was an old box style computer covered completely in dust. I had never seen it before and it piqued my interest.

        I pulled the old computer out and plugged it into the wall. I sat on the floor and put the old computer on the box of scarves.

        I pressed the on button and the thing wired to life. The screen blinked on and the words “CHOOSE A FILE” flashed across the screen. The options were “Personnel Files”, “Reset”, and “Memorial”.

        I double clicked on Reset and a line of text appeared. What I saw horrified me, I couldn’t believe it. This changed everything I thought I knew.

        I ran out of the house. I didn’t care to hide the computer, I just bolted out of the door. I vaguely remember yelling to my grandmother that I needed to take a walk before leaving but I doubt it made much difference.

        I ran for about a quarter mile and then slowed to a walk to catch my breath. Cars went by giving me interested looks. I’m sure a skinny 25 year old in jeans and an old high school Science Olympiad shirt was not something that they saw there everyday.

        I looked back in the direction I ran from and tried to process what I had just read. My mind was running through all the possibilities. Maybe it was a prank, my family loved jokes, maybe it was for some kind of game. Nothing made sense. I turned around to keep running but quickly stopped short. In front of me was a man in a clean Italian suit, he was about 30, smooth shaven with jet black hair that was slicked back and firm.

        “I can explain what you just saw.” He said, “All you have to do is come with me.” He motioned to a black Escalade that had definitely not been there a moment before.

        I considered his offer but something about him seemed off. I turned around to run and immediately felt something stab me in the back. I didn’t think anything of it but my vision started to fade and I lost consciousness right before my face hit the ground.

Chapter 2

        Ok, so now you're caught up. Where was I… oh yeah. So I wake up at this old dinner with the man in the clean Italian suit.

        “Sorry Ethan, I really hate drugging people but I didn’t think you were going to go quietly and I hate making a scene even more than I hate violence.” Said the man who somehow knew my name.

        I looked around as my vision started to come back and vaguely saw a glass of water in front of me. I grabbed it and immediately drank the entire thing. I didn’t realize I was thirsty at first but my lips were cracked and my tongue felt like my saliva had been replaced with powdered lime.

        “Oh yah, you might need some of that, it’s been a while since you’ve had anything to eat or drink.” He pushed a plate of eggs in front of me and I looked at them suspiciously, if he can drug me I can’t trust anything from him.

        “If I wanted you dead you would be dead by now.” He said as if reading my mind. “Eat, you really need it.” What he said made sense. I would probably die of hunger anyway so I grabbed a fork and tentatively took a bite.

         I didn’t die so I kept eating. “Would you mind telling me what the hell is going on?” I said between bites. “First, you need to tell me something.” He said firmly. “Which file did you open?” 

        My eyes widened as I remembered what I had read. “What does it mean!?” I shouted at the man. He didn’t look very surprised. “So you clicked Reset then.” He said. The man sighed, “I always hate this part.” He said, disappointed.

        He took out a pair of sunglasses and put them on, “Such a tragedy, you could have done great things.” He said. He tapped me on the shoulder and I felt my skin erupt into flames. I screamed but nothing came out and my whole body emitted a light brighter than the sun.

        I saw my entire life in front of me, from birth until now. Every image went by faster than the last except one. That one lingered longer than the rest. I saw the computer screen and the words that sealed my fate.

Welcome player 5,275,163,285

You have found your local update point

The 274th reset is in 6,430 years, 4 days, 8 hours, 36 minutes, and 12 seconds

You will NOT respawn.