Gateway

Chapter 1: The Mall

This was it. Back to school shopping, same as ever. We were on our way to the mall to pick up some new clothes and supplies I'd need for 12th grade. I was exited to finally graduate the Gallivan Academy for the 6083-6084 school year. I lazily stared out the window of our car and saw the city skyline zoom past us. The view never got old. "Hey, Arzol!" My mom said from the front seat. "You falling asleep back there?" "No," I responded. "Just enjoying the view."

I kept looking out the window. The beautiful twilight sky sparkled with hundreds of constellations, as the sun was setting. I could see one of the moons just over the opposite horizon, tucked behind a skyscraper. I read the giant neon billboard on it: "Enjoy hundreds of select shops with our Grand Gallivan Mall!" The image featured a cartoon man giving a thumbs up gesture. Yep. That's actually where we were going. I shifted my gaze hundreds of feet down, where the bustling Gallivan streets were. Commotion seemed to have occurred some time earlier, as there were police and sentinels down there. I shuddered. Seeing sentinels was never a good thing. It almost always meant another Earthen Order attack, a new terrorist organization that started up a couple years ago. Their reasoning was something about being true heirs to the throne, but everyone knew they were lying. We steadily glided down as I was shifted from my thoughts. We had just landed at the mall, and I got out to watch our car get folded into its parking slot; a recent invention that was quite useful for conserving space. 

My mom looked at my countenance and knew something was wrong. "Are you okay, honey? I thought you really liked the Mall." I thought about the sentinels before. I knew I would worry her if I told her, she would freak out. "I'm fine, Mom." My mom looked at me again, and said: "Well, if anything's getting you down, maybe finally buying a new pair of shoes will cheer you up." I nodded, and we entered the Mall. I saw the signature arched entrance, ceiling, and black tile. Complete with golden accents, it was the most elegant building I had laid eyes upon. 

We walked down the main hall. Hundreds of Gateway portals stretched out before us on either side. The whole place was busy, busier than I had ever seen it. It was a huge place with multiple stories, so it could definitely fit the demand, but still. Something about it seemed off.

The smell of rubber told me we were close to the shoe store. My mom walked through the Gateway portal with a small static sound emitting from the portal as she did. I could see her on the other side; and the inside of the shop with it. It was as if the portal was just an open window. In reality I knew behind the physical portal was just a wall, but the fact the portal could just whisk you to a whole other pocket universe for something as simple as a shoe store amazed me.

I followed her in, and felt a buzz all over my body. I was being turned into a code, a simulation, if you will. That's how the portals worked; they attach to a computer, which codes in what to load in on the other side. This means anything on the other side is generated from code, including anything that moves into the portal. The computer recognizes new entities moving into it, and saves their code as part of the simulation, effectively turning it into code. Whenever something moves out of the portal, the computer deletes its code, so no errors occur in the system by trying to generate a foreign object that left the portal.

We began looking for a suitable pair. My current shoes were worn out beyond measure, and I had been dying to get some new ones, so I was glad I was here."These look good, Arzol." My mom said, handing a pair to me. They were black, yellow, orange and red. The perfect look. "I'm going to find myself a pair, these sandals have been giving me blisters lately," she continued. "I'll be back here to see how they fit you in 5 minutes."

"Okay, mom." I replied. I pulled on the sneakers, but just as I was tying my shoelaces, a woman's voice came over the P.A. speakers in the shop. "Attention all shoppers." My blood ran cold. I knew what was coming next. "There have been reports of Earthen Order attacks at Grand Gallivan Mall. Please remain calm and exit the building. Thank you." 

I got up, frantically searching for my mom. I couldn't see her anywhere within my immediate field of view. Then I heard it. The death bell. A deafening siren went off, and the lights turned off and then back on, but flashing red. An automated voice spoke over the P.A. "Attention, civilians. The gateway is closing in T minus 30 seconds. 30, 29, 28, 27..." It kept counting down, and I knew what was going on. The Earthen Order had hijacked our Gateway portal! I knew if we were stuck on the wrong side of it, we would literally be de-atomized, as the pocket universe the shop consisted of would collapse and vaporize into nothingness. I thought I saw my mother, and tried running towards her. I didn't care if I died, I just had to get her to safety. As I was running, I tripped on the untied shoelace and fell, completely face-planting on the black tile. 

I got up, blood trickling down my nose, and my attention went back to the P.A. "11, 10 , 9, 8..." I knew I had little time but I still hadn't saved my mother, let alone gotten her attention. "3, 2, 1... Termination Sequence Initiated." As soon as the haunting automated voice finished speaking, I saw black and brownish circles appear in my peripheral vision. No matter which way I turned, they remained there. They slowly got bigger and more central in my vision. I managed to look towards the gateway portal I had come through to enter the shop. Instead of seeing the main hall of the Mall on the other side, I just saw the brownish-black void, with the same sphere-like formations growing and contorting through my vision. I could feel my limbs being torn apart now, and my chest felt like the flesh was being burnt away. 

Quickly I fell to the ground, and all went dark.