Scrivenings of the King-Beyond-The-Wall

Space Adventures #25

As I was walking home from the bus stop one evening, I saw someone approaching me heading in the opposite direction. Something seemed a little familiar about him; he was dressed in ratty clothes, and looked like he might be a homeless person, but there was something about him...

As he got closer, I realized he actually looked a lot like me. No wait, scratch that. He looked exactly like me. Like, could be my doppelganger similar. He stopped short when he noticed me and we regarded each other for a few moments.

“What are the chances?” I asked, incredulous.

“Pretty good, actually,” the other “me” said. “I’ve been specifically trying to find you.”

“Really? Why?”

“Because I wanted to give you this.” My opposite said, handing me a chunky bracelet that was bristling with all kinds of circuitry and electronics. “Put this on and it’ll change your life.”

I shrugged and took the bracelet, inspecting it for a few moments before slipping it onto my wrist.

“What’s it do?” I asked.

“It’s a teleporter. It’ll take you to my world.”

“Oh cool, is this like a grand tour through time or something? A view into a greater multiverse?”

“”No,” Other Me replied. “It’s a one-way trip.”

I heard a click on the bracelet and tried to take it off, realizing the thing was now locked onto my wrist. Several lights lit up and I could hear a mechanical whirring come from somewhere deep in the bracelet.

“But why?”

“Because my reality sucks,” he said sadly. “And the rules of interdimensional travel state that one version of each person has to live in each reality. But it doesn’t specify which version exists where. I figured we’d just swap places and I can enjoy living out my life in a reality that doesn’t have all of the... complications that mine does.”

In retrospect, I probably should have seen this coming. It’s definitely something that I would have done were our situations reversed.

“Sorry, bro. I really wish it didn’t have to be this way. But who knows? Maybe you’ll enjoy my reality. I may have lost most of the trust fund Mom and Dad left me, but there’s probably enough to last you a few years of fun before the government comes for you for my crimes.” Other Me then paused, looking around. “By the way, what are you doing in this part of town? Are you visiting a friend or something? Which way to the family mansion in the hills?

I found myself laughing out loud, in spite of the portal opening that was going to send me to a world where I would be prosecuted for who knows what crime. At least I was going to a world where I was rich. This world, as Other Me was about to find out, was a world where my very-much-alive parents were still alive and disowned me over my decision to pursue a career in professional sex work. I wasn’t in this part of town to visit a friend; I was in this part of town because that’s where my shithole studio apartment was that I shared with three other dudes.

The last thing I remember seeing on this side of the interdimensional portal was the look of concern on Other Me’s face as I eagerly stepped forward to take his place in his world, leaving him behind in mine.


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(573 words)


Prompt: You’re walking down the street, when you spot a familiar figure. It’s another you. And they’ve come from an alternate reality to warn you about something.