20:14, Saturday, March 18, 2028
Luke walked with no particular destination in mind, the setting sun quietly settled in behind him followed by a sudden beautiful sunset whom painted the horizon in fiery reds and golds, like flames dancing across the skies.
"Someone should paint this..." Luke muttered
*Sigh*
Calmly looking out towards the sunse
"Wah, can't believe I landed that job!"
Luke, like many had sent of hundreds of applications, to no avail. Finding himself in an atrocious job market, stable employment had been like hitting the jackpot. A master's degree in computer science had once been a secure path, yet...
His future had been filled with uncertainty. The rise of AI in the early 2020s had left job postings swamped with generic applications, forcing employers to conduct numerous interviews and strictly screen applicants.
The once-safe, "shoe-in" industry had quickly become saturated. AI advancements had led to reduced hiring policies and, well... the firing of entry-level coders.
"2,172 applicants, and I persevered! Eighteen interviews, seven screenings, three rounds of discussions, and finally, the research paper on quantum computers... hah. I hope it's worth it."
A whistling echo filled the silence as Luke pondered.
"Why did they go with me?"
He wasn't lying. With the sheer number of applicants, limited job openings, and a surge of overqualified candidates, his chances were practically zero.
Luke knew his talents well, some would call him cocky, others a "know it all", but in reality Luke had worked himself within an inch of his life. Performing in the top 1 perenctile in every test or project he had been involved in. Often picking up the slack of others, in order to accomplish his goals.
A sudden warmth sprouted within Luke, making it's way, slowly alleviating some of the built up nerves, Luke had sustained thanks to his work ethic
"Aaaaah, I'm so relieved!"
Luke's few friends often joked he was one step away from homelessness, calling him
"lucky for receiving a scholarship."
Not for his grades, nor his ability. But because they figured it would be the last money he'd ever make off of his degree
With a heavy breath Luke felt his lungs rising, satisfying his obvious need for air.
"I almost forgot how to breathe" Luke thought to himself, feeling silly for holding his breath
First Second Elapsed
He slowly let out a breath, a sense of comfort enveloping him as life felt perfect, for the first time in a long time.
Yet faith is a fickle thing, with a snap his comfort vanished, his breath now shaky. Luke knew something was very wrong...
Two Seconds
His legs grew heavy, as if rooted to the ground.
"Wh-what is going on?!" Luke's face turned pale as a sense of dread gripped him. A sudden tightness in his chest, followed by a prickling, squeezing sensation hit him like a freight train.
4 Seconds
Each step became heavier.
The beautiful sunset dimmed. The world lost its color as Luke struggled to stay awake. Like staring into a tunnel, Luke's vision narrowed until a mere sliver of light remained
6 Seconds
His mind muddied, every thought dragging and disappearing before completion.
"What is happen..."
"Am I having a st..."
Thud.
**
*Stranger's Pov*
A sudden noise alerted a nearby pedestrian, whom hesitantly approached the sprawled, unmoving body
"It's just a child!" the old lady's shrill voice pierced the awkward silence
20 Seconds
"Someone call 911!"
With luck an experienced medical professional, happened to catch the entire act. Noting Luke's tightly clenched fist, placed just over his hearth. He easily assumed it was related to his hearth. Knowing time was off the essence, the man barked
"Back off."
27 Seconds
Placing his hand near Luke's neck, he felt a slight, thready pulse weakening by the second. Rapidly evaluating his options, the man began hearth compressions.
2 minutes
"Damn it!" the man roared. "Where are the medics? He's dying—quickly!"
Time passed, and the paramedics arrived on scene.
3 Minutes
They loaded Luke into the ambulance and rushed to the hospital.
The ER went into a frenzy. Luke had suffered a sudden "widowmaker"[1] His odds of surviving were slim—less than 12%.
The sound of a heart monitor, signaling his lack of pulse, constantly blared, urging the paramedics to continue compressions. Luckily, the quick reaction of the passerby's had given Luke a slight chance of survival.
He was hoisted into a hospital bed, and the scenery quickly changed as it flew through corridor after corridor, each filled with people. Some had diseases, others various injuries. Some were dying quickly, others slowly—somehow, both envying each other.
12 Minutes
Hospitals are truly places of sadness, jealousy, and anxiety. But...
The staff rushed him through a massive door. Surgery was next. New nurses jumped atop his chest, relieving the exhausted paramedics who had no doubt given it their all. The chest compressions continued desperately as the surgeons worked with all their might.
20 Minutes
Finally, Luke was placed on acute bypass, effectively shutting down his heart temporarily.
Extra personnel quietly left the surgical suite, moving upwards. They watched the procedure from above—some praying, others hoping.
Despite being faced with overwhelming sadness, grief and pain every single day, some compassionate individuals give their all, shining like beacons, lighting a fire and inspiring patients, coworkers, and families alike.
After a nerve-wracking surgery, the surgeon prepared himself to turn off the bypass, attempting to start the heart once more.
2 hours
"Clear!"
Ba-dum. Ba-dum.
Their eyes grew hopeful, but the joy was short-lived as the room grew tense once more.
"Charge it again! Please! Clear!"
The doors opened, and one doctor stepped out with bloodshot, listless eyes. His posture crumbled, as if the weight of the world bore down on his shoulders.
"He was only 23. How the hell did this happen?" the doctor muttered.
With tense brows and a heavy heart, he prepared himself mentally.
"The family must be waiting... haaaaaa."
"He was actually an orphan," a sudden voice called out.
The doctor stood in silence—not relieved, but feeling even worse.
"Nobody will miss him. Nobody will recognize him. An anonymous man, who will not be missed, was failed once more in life. I'm sorry..."
Standing alone in the corridor, a silent tear escaped his weary eyes. He tried to collect himself, taking heavy breaths.
"Doctor! Another heart attack! We need you!"
Sigh.[2]
**************************
Luke found himself in complete darkness. A sensation of falling wildly, as if traveling at lightning-fast speeds, followed by sudden light, then darkness, repeating in an eternal pattern.
What felt like an eternity slowly passed, and his confusion was almost tangible.
His mind was unable to reflect on its experience, briefly shutting down protecting him from further damage.
In the far distance, a sudden window appeared. Luke's mind, now too far gone, failed to acknowledge the terror that was quickly approaching.
Shriek
A soundless shriek escaped Luke as his innards pulled apart. The pulse emanating from the window tugged something deep within Luke, threatening to rip it out of him.
The scream stopped at his lips, unable to escape as the torturous pulling continued.
Luke's torment was made worse by his inability to express himself. His body's slow destruction was further exacerbated by his inability to control it nor make sense of it.
The window grew larger, and so did the pulling force it emanated. Luke's eyes widened, and his pupils constricted. Through the window was horror unlike anything he'd ever seen—more terrible than anything in movies: torture, bones, death. It was as if the ten divisions of hell had merged together, creating the otherworldly, horrific scene in front of him.
DooOoong
A thunderous sound exploded outward as Luke's body collided with a massive bronze bell that had suddenly appeared, surrounding the terrifying window. It blocked his vision while simultaneously hindering his entry, sending him further into his journey.
For the first time, Luke let out a breath of relief.
*****
The journey, though long, was almost complete. Luke felt his body and mind slowly repairing themselves as he regained the ability to think and reflect.
What met his newly repaired mind was foreign knowledge. Accompanied by a splitting headache, Luke felt more certain than ever. In misfortune lurks opportunity
He had found a sudden purpose: failure meant death, and victory would result in eternal life. And it would all be decided on the whim of 'Netizens.'
He instinctively knew what was to come. When a second window appeared out of nowhere, Luke's eyes remained stoic
"This is my chance," he muttered to himself, silently clenching his fists, looking resolute.
As expected, the new window approached differently. Instead of sending out pulses of pure destruction, it emanated a seductive golden glow, tempting and powerful, pulling him towards it.
The scenery was also wildly different. A planet, roughly five times the size of Earth, appeared in his vision. It was divided into seven continents of equal size. Yet something was missing: the seven continents were completely empty, each a blank slate. Nothing had been created; nothing had formed.
Luke knew his journey was about to begin. The window was mere inches away now. Offering him a choice, he came to a sudden halt. Unable to move, two black, intricate boxes appeared in front of him.
[Accept] [Decline]
No thoughts were necessary; Luke's mind was made up
The collision felt almost natural, as if it was meant to be. As Luke surged through it, he suddenly fell rapidly, the ground fast approaching.
His speed increased, faster and faster. Luke, however, remained calm.
"Elevate."
His body froze, no longer bound by mortal limits. He felt no pain or discomfort from the sudden halt.
As he looked down, his face morphed
"This will be fun."
Thinking to himself, Luke quietly willed:
'Interface.'
Just as the thought formed a sudden notification popped up in front of his eyes.
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[1] Hearth attack
[2] A tribute to all healthcare workers, you guys are heroes! You keep society floating, I respect each and every one of you
Love you!