Urban Fallout (hold)

(2.1) Collapsing Universe

(2.1) Collapsing Universe

The flashlight rolled to a stop against the wall, but Issa made no move to retrieve it. The boy hung in front of her, suspended in space. Then his eyes snapped open and she was trapped in a vortex of blue.

“I need to show you something.”

There was nothing threatening about the voice, but she had never been so terrified. She did not know whether his mouth had moved, or if the words had found their way directly into her head. The air crackled with static electricity. And the boy imploded. The universe rushed into the empty space he'd left, pulling Issa with it. All of creation spiralled down a drain, and a scream hung in the air that Issa would only later realize had been hers.

Someone grabbed her hand. “I need to show you something.”

The boy stood beside her. On what, she was unsure.

“Where are we?”

She asked because she could not see, although what surrounded her was not blackness. The boy was silent for a long time, and Issa clutched his hand despite herself. Because she had the unshakeable fear that if she let go she would cease to have ever existed.

“Where am I?” she asked again.

The world around them began to come into focus, and Issa realized she was in what looked like a janitorial closet. The boy looked at her, as if finally coming out of a trance.

“A collapsing universe.” His answer was brief, then he was gone, and she was alone with no idea where she was.

Once she'd gotten the shaking under control, and accepted that if she was dreaming there was no way to wake up, Issa began to look around. The room was empty except for a mop—leaning against the wall—and a few boxes. A chain bulb hung from the ceiling. She was beginning to gather the courage to try the door when everything exploded.

Issa hit the floor, covering her head with her hands, as the building was torn apart. Her pistol still hung at her waist, and she reached for it out of instinct. Everything was on fire, but these were not any flames she had ever seen. They curled and flowed instead of crackling, and they were blue. But they were still hot, and they destroyed everything they touched. Issa began to cough. Pushing herself up onto her elbows, she crawled towards the door. The handle burned her hand, but it opened and she collapsed out into the hall. Blue flames licked around the frame, as if pursuing her. The end of the hall had been completely blown off, and she could see the city: Valuit, she was pretty sure. It was night.

Running feet became audible, and Issa struggled to get upright. The gun was in her hand... And then it wasn't. She was pinned against the wall by something she couldn't see, and a girl stood in front of her. A grey bandana had been tied over her mouth, and she looked teenaged, the same as the impossible boy who had dumped her here. But then again everything here was impossible, like this girl, who could incapacitate her without lifting a finger. She'd heard rumours, around the lab, of children being born with psychic powers, but this was something else entirely. This girl, whatever she was, was a level above. And she looked angry. Issa closed her eyes in anticipation.

Nothing happened. If anything, the invisible hand holding her in place loosened a little.

“Issa?” The voice was guarded.

Issa opened one of her eyes a crack. The girl had lowered the bandana half way, the smoke held back by something else.

“You're Issa, aren't you?” There was a glint of excitement in her eyes.

Still frozen, and more than overwhelmed, Issa nodded. The girl dropped her immediately. Her knees buckled, and she fell to the floor. How did she know her name?