As It Never Was
Abigail Callaghan reviewed the readings on her screen. "You're sure about these readings?"
"Our top minds have confirmed it." Mr Krei answered, "We need your help."
"I'm sure you can understand my concerns about joining this project." She responded with a hard look, "Given our history."
"Uh yes," Krei said nervously, "I realize there's a lot of bad blood between us. I wouldn't have come if there was anyone else. I can promise you twice your salary."
"I want full oversight of the team." Abigail said.
"Done." Krei answered.
"I mean full oversight, if I say stop then it stops no questions asked." Abigail said sternly, "Do we have a deal."
Krei hesitated, "Alright we have a deal."
Abigail shook Krei's hand then pressed stop on her recorder. "But once this is over we are done forever."
Lewis and Wilbur flew the through time for the past. Colors and lights whirled around them in strange patterns.
"Hey Wilbur, does this flight seem different from the others." Lewis asked.
"It is longer than usual, but I'm sure its fine we are going further back than we have before. Besides you fixed the time machine so you know I'm sure its fine."
"Yeah I guess so but what if I didn't fix it right and we get stuck like this?" Lewis asked.
"Keep moving backwards I guess." Wilbur answer with a shrug.
The time machine jerked hard to the left throwing them to the floor.
"What's happening?" Wilbur asked.
"I dunno you're the one flying it!"
"But you fixed it!" Wilbur shouted back.
The machine bounced up and down again jerking wildly to the side. A large tear of color was in front of them. It sharply contrasted from the smooth lights with its sharp crackling lightning arching out from its center.
"I think its pulling us in!" Lewis screamed.
The time machine punched through the tear in front of it. It flickered in and out of existence. A small Texas town; a city suburb; then San Francisco downtown before crashing into the bay.
Lewis pulled himself back into his seat he was going to be sick.
"When are we?" Wilbur asked.
"I don't even know where we are." Lewis answered looking at the unfamiliar skyline.
Riley was on her way home from school as usual. She had finally gotten used to living in San Francisco after a very tumultuous move. She was halfway across the street when something big and red appeared out of nowhere. She screamed and threw her arms up in front of her. The machine vanished upon contact leaving nothing only a discarded textbook on the crosswalk.
Fear slapped wildly on the control panel, "Wah! What is happening!?"
"How would I know you're driving!" Disgust shot back.
"Figures something bad would happen." Anger muttered.
Riley crashed to the ground inside a building. The room was full of smoke and flames. She looked around in a panic, "Help!"
Riley's emotions were in turmoil.
"This heat is terrible we need to cool off before our hair falls out." Disgust pouted reaching for the controls. Fear knocked her hands back accidentally while he panicked at the controls.
"Guys there's something new in here." Sadness said pointing to the back corner.
"Something" turned out to be a swirling tear of lights in the tracing out in strange patterns.
Fear screamed and pushed Joy in front of the controls, "Panic for me."
He raced to the strange lights and circled around it surrounding it with caution tape, "No no no! This can't be happening! I need a blanket to throw over this!"
A man became visible through the smoke, "We got to move!" he shouted grabbing her hand.
An explosion filled the room with flames engulfing them completely. Riley screamed.
Fear saw the wall of flames approach them, "Ah! Why couldn't we be at the park?" His wall of manuals collapsed under him and he fell into the light.
A tear opened up before Riley, both she and the other man were pushed through it by the force of the explosion. They landed in a grassy park a mile away.
Fear sat up looking around confused, "Did I do that?"