City Pool, 1967…
Joshua, the lifeguard, lazily added a fresh layer of sunblock to his nose. He loved being a lifeguard during the summer. For a few weeks, he could relax. No school, no teachers, and a job that surprisingly required little effort from him, especially now that the pool added those new safety devices.
Blue Light Technologies, an innovation and entertainment company, released the machines only a few weeks ago. Every pool customer was given a belt rental. If the wearer ran into danger, the belt would inflate and take the person to safety.
Joshua’s job now consisted of making sure the tech didn’t malfunction, and looking cool, of course. Joshua did need to know First Aid because the belts only got the victim to safety; he needed to do the rest. However, BLT claimed the next update would have First Aid capabilities.
Joshua couldn’t see how the corporate giant could fit anymore into that belt, but he also didn’t care, as long as it meant more chill time for him.
A striking young woman in a one-piece swimsuit passed by his lifeguard tower. She glanced over her shoulder then up at him, making sure he knew she was looking at him.
Oh yeah. And more time for the ladies.
Joshua started his climb down the tower, so he could make his move on the girl. Everything then went wrong.
First, someone screamed.
Strange people arrived at the pool carrying weapons. They fired at the people. Blue bolts of energy hit people in the chest or arms or legs. Fortunately, the blue bolts of plasma meant the blasters were set to stun.
The pool became a madhouse of people running and screaming.
Joshua tried to track all the customers, and he tried to get a look at the attackers. Every time he got close to seeing them, someone got in the way, or they would fire a weapon causing a bright flash.
Someone, or maybe one of the bolts, hit the lifeguard’s tower. Joshua heard and felt the creaking a few seconds before he felt the tilt of the tower. Gravity took control, and the tower hit the water. Joshua watched as the tower broke apart. He tried to let out a scream as a large piece of the tower drifted his way. He accepted his fate and waited for the darkness.
***
In 2019, Mickey finished his homework and promptly snuck out of the house to attend the party his parents told he could not attend. Mickey had to go; it was the social event of the year (at least until the next social event of the year). It was at the football captain’s house. No parents, of course.
Mickey walked down the street lit only by the streetlights.
He never arrived at the party or at home.
***
In 2075, Rosa woke to find everyone at her friend’s sleepover had vanished. It took her an hour to realize she was the one that vanished.
Her friend’s house, the street, even her bed—once she finally made it home, was all fake.
As she sat on her simulated bed, knees up to her chest and crying, a light appeared beyond her closed door. Slowly, the door creaked open letting the light spill in.
Rosa used her hand to shield her eyes. “Who are you?” she asked the figure in the light.
The figure did not respond; but about thirty seconds later, Rosa was screaming.
***
WAG News office floor, MyStudios, Megaton City, present day…
Nearly everyone gathered around the holo-screen wall for WAG’s special documentary. Half the newsroom bullpen was empty while the other half was smooshed together by the wall. A man in a freshly pressed suit and graying hair appeared as soft music played.
“The story you are about to see is true,” said the reporter. “The names have been changed to protect the innocent and to make fun puns.
“It was ten years ago in 198Y when Jordan and Michael were last seen playing basketball in the neighborhood playground a block away from their apartment complex…”
The on-screen reporter continued as a female reporter said to Sally. “I can’t believe it’s been 10 years.”
The pair of young women kept their eyes on the screen. The documentary reporter continued to talk about the day Jordan and Michael vanished. A neighbor saw them from their window; busied themselves in the kitchen; saw some strange light; went back to the window; and saw that they were gone.
“So tragic,” said Sally.
“Can you imagine what the families went through?” said the female reporter. “Are still going through?”
“Maybe we can do something about it,” said Sally, half under her breath.
“We who?” asked her co-worker.
“Uh…we…we as in WAG. We are a news station. We have the resources, the talent, and the drive. We do this sort of thing all the time.”
The female reporter scratched at her hair. “I don’t know. It’s been 10 years. What do you think we could do?”
“You’d be surprised.”
Characters courtesy of public domain:
The Jabberwock comes from Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll
The Winged Monkeys appear in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
Jackalope, el chupacabra, and drop bear from local myths
Various mythological gods and monsters from ancient myths
Joe Rover 