In response to Lucas Clay’s post about being a character in someone’s story. While technically not being a character in one of my books, it is part of the universe.
Lucas wandered the bookstore in a bored daze. Most of the books for sale were ones he already read, or they were so bland he was sure some soulless AI system wrote them.
He sighed as he placed back another book that followed the current trends. Same cover; same plot, he thought as he surveyed the quiet bookstore. The only other person, other than the teenage employee who looked like they were questioning if a job at Burgerland would have been a better option, was a young woman on her smart device ironically buying books from some online store.
Lucas moved to the next section. He wasn’t sure what he wanted. The recent news of climate change, economic woes, terrorist attacks, and cybernetic greed made him sour for most of the book options. Why would he want to read about a zombie apocalypse when the news and social media talked about the new miracle weight loss pill that was causing people to become ravenous for meat? Real life was definitely getting stranger than fiction.
He needed something to help him escape from the troubles of the Real World.
As he turned to leave the store, he felt the Tingling in his arms, like goosebumps. He felt an electricity in the air. A feeling of adventure. Lucas followed the feeling towards a book half hanging off the shelf. It seemed to call to him. Electricity shivered down his and the book’s spine.
The cover looked old. The image was faded and some of the ink had come off creating streaks of white. The corners were bent and cracked from years of use. The binding seemed in need of repair.
Why is this old book in a store that sells new books? Lucas thought. He ran his hand over the cool, almost leathery surface of the book. It felt like an ancient spell book, but it had a more modern image of a boy reading an oversized book. He had his back to the “audience,” so Lucas couldn’t see his face, yet the boy’s posture and frame felt familiar…yet forgotten, like a memory from childhood.
That’s an odd choice, Lucas thought about the position of the boy before reading the title. “The Reader,” he said in a whisper so soft Lucas wondered for a moment if he even said anything. Lucas’s heart warmed as if speaking the title unleashed some forgotten magic within his soul.
The pages and cover crinkled as Lucas carefully opened the book.
The copyright page proudly displayed the date of the book’s creation as “The Big Bang.”
Lucas turned the page.
A cool, mysterious wind blew across his body. Ignoring the fact that he was inside a building, he read from the book.
“Once upon a time, as all good books begin,” Lucas read, “a kindly man wanted nothing more than to bring joy to a world ravaged by darkness…”
Lucas stopped as a tremor rumbled across the store’s floor. Once the rumble ceased, Lucas returned to the book.
“This man’s world faced war, famine, and destruction at every turn. The world had forgotten their dreams as the busyness of life gripped every corner of their day. Even the smallest of children had no time for play as they needed to be at the top of society by the age of two.”
The bookstore started to moan. The lights flickered.
“This man, named Lucas Lite, wished to make a theme park with rides so real that they were indistinguishable from reality. It would be a place of dreams and magic. Unfortunately, magic does not exist. Lite, and his best friend Simon Darkk, turned to science: augmented reality.”
A sound like singing filled the air. It sounded like the books themselves sang.
“The friends founded Blue Light Technologies and created Furryland. But they would need an energy source of immense power to run their ultra-realistic rides.”
Lucas Clay spoke louder as the alien singing grew louder and the wind and electricity grew more intense. It seemed like reality itself was about to crack open!
“Lite and Darkk’s search lead them to an ancient rumor about a mysterious biological machine called the Gate of Eden. Legends told that this machine with wheels within wheels was the force behind the creation of the Earth. If this Celestial device could create a world, it could power Furryland.”
The text began to glow, but Lucas continued to read.
“On October 31, 1955, BLT powered up the machine. Little did they know it was damaged. Also, they did not suspect that while human imagination is impressive, it is not godlike. Instead of creating realistic simulations, the Gate of Eden, a device made to create trillions of worlds, brought to life every story created by humans. In an instant, the Omniverse was created with BLT’s island as the nexus. The island, located in the Bermuda Triangle, would forever be known as…”
The light from the text became so bright that all Lucas could see was white.
When the light faded, the book was gone…so was the store. Instead, Lucas saw a shining city that could rival any interpretation of a futuristic city. In the middle of the city stood a massive modern day skyscraper made of glass and steel. Atop the tower, acting like the light from a lighthouse, was a sphere about the size of a bedroom that glowed with blue and white energy.
Lucas’s soul filled with childlike wonder at the sight. The image of the boy on the cover flashed in his mind. In that moment, he heard Lucas’s mother call to him–it was bedtime. The boy turned and Lucas saw himself as a kid again. Then the moment was over.
“Sky City,” said a new voice, finishing the line from the book, “the last of the flying cities.”
Lucas spun away from the gleaming city of peace and dreams to a young man dressed in all white. A part of Lucas’s mind took note that he now wore all white as well.
“Welcome, Lucas Clay,” the figure said with a friendly smile, “we’ve been expecting you.” He placed a hand to his chest and offered a respectful bow. “My name is Gulliver, and I’ll guide you on your travels.”
Until the next wormhole…thanks for reading!
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And don’t forget to check out Lucas Clay’s X page.
Glen poured the particles into his hand. Using a finger, he tapped and moved the dainty dust around. He took a sniff of the dust before producing a magnifying glass he happened to have on him. (I was not about to ask why he carried one around.) He hemmed and mumbled all while he inspected the dirt. Finally, he tasted it.
I groaned in disgust. “Was that necessary?”
Alliance is available at select retailers.
Joe Rover 
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