The Time Park

by Reilly Brady (10)

“We can’t continue these empty threats,” said the man in uniform. As he turned to his lieutenants, the star on his uniform flashed in the light of the dim bulb overhead.

One of the lieutenants cleared his throat and spoke, his voice catching slightly. His eyes remained dutifully on the ground below. “With all due respect, sir, we still aren’t sure if they have more bombs. We can’t start a war with no information, it’s too — ”

The first man banged his fist on the table in front of him. The lieutenant stopped speaking immediately, remaining in his stiff position. With a glare, the first man spoke gruffly, “I expected that information weeks ago. This cannot wait longer. I propose an attack in two weeks. It must be done.”

An echoing clang filled the room, and the heads of the lieutenants looked around anxiously.

None of them had moved.

The first man glanced at the floor in front of the doorway and stared, perplexed at the source of the noise — a camera, in pristine condition, a model advanced beyond his own knowledge. But the figure behind the strange camera reversed his confusion to anger — a young man, shaking nervously, staring into the eyes of the military general in front of him.

“A spy! How did he — ” the general shouted, brandishing his gun. The shot rang out, and the lieutenants flinched. However, the young man had disappeared before the bullet could reach him.

*

Everett glanced around him as his stomach twisted with nervous — yet excited — jolts. Besides a few whispers of other passengers, the vehicle was mostly silent. The collected energy in the air around the passengers buzzed with anticipation.

The building was seemingly endless in all directions; a domed ceiling created the illusion of a night sky while rows upon rows of glass machines and hordes of passengers lined the floor.

Though the vehicle was simplistic, its abilities were impressive. Everett understood the basics of the mechanism: it was able to reach time periods of the past in a matter of minutes. However, he failed to comprehend the science behind its time traveling abilities. He would have to ask later.

The woman in the ticket booth checked his identification with a quick once-over and proceeded to hand Everett his ticket. “Welcome to the Time Park! Visiting… ah, seventy years back! Today’s the very first visit for this event.”

Only a few minutes longer, the captain had said. Everett’s excitement was beginning to transform into impatience.

“Thirty-six, thirty-seven, thirty-eight… thirty-nine!” Everett muttered as he wandered through the packed building, searching for his machine number. A long line had already formed in front of the vehicle, and he pushed ahead to hear the instructions of the captain.

Though he knew that the machine was secure as well as invisible and soundproof once in use, it still felt like he was standing in the room. It was like he was watching a movie, but instead of it being on a screen, he was in the movie.

“Seventy years ago today,” explained the captain, “the famous event known as the ‘Last Straw’ occurred in North Korea when an American spy was discovered hiding in a secure underground bunker. This event is called the ‘Last Straw’ because it is considered to be the event that instigated the first battles of World War III between North Korea and the United States.”

Finally, Everett could hear footsteps from far down the hallway, echoing through the metallic walls and ceiling.

“The American spy seemingly ‘disappeared.’ There are no records of a spy being in that part of the country, and his identity or means of escape were never discovered.” by Reilly Brady (10)

The footsteps became human shapes as the figures moved closer and closer.As they turned the corner into a wider room,

Everett’s fear level skyrocketed as he saw the faces of the soldiers and the general. One soldier, while taking his seat, was so close to Everett that he could count the wrinkles under his eyes.

“As the first group to ever visit this event, please understand that this journey is not without danger. The waver you signed states that the Time Park is not responsible for any injuries, and that anyone who acts against our rule book will be severely punished.”

The men began to speak once all seated at the table. Everett had expected sound to be slightly muffled through the walls, but the accuracy of the sound made the scene even more realistic. “We can’t continue these empty threats,” one man said.

Everett reached for his camera.

“Before we depart, let me offer all our passengers a quick review of the rule book. Please no videos, as the viewing of this event is exclusive to passengers only. However, remember that photos may be taken, but avoid flash, as that might affect the invisibility of the machine.”

“With all due respect, sir,” one man started. Everett made sure to turn off his flash feature before taking his first picture.

Passengers around him started taking photos as well, while others stared in shock at the scene around them.

One man at the head of the table banged his fist on the table, and nearly everyone in the machine jumped in fear. After a few nervous chuckles from the passengers, camera clicks resumed.

“I expected that information weeks ago,” yelled the man who had pounded his fist.

“Also, please remember that there are no refunds on your purchases. If you are unsatisfied with your visit today, please let us know, but understand that we will not refund you.”

An echoing clang filled the room, and the heads of the lieutenants looked around anxiously. None of them had moved.

Everett looked down. He had dropped his camera.

He fumbled to reach for it, but his heart skipped when he realized that it had landed outside of the machine.

With a shudder, he headed towards the door labeled “Exit.”

“And most importantly-”

Everett turned the handle.

The door opened. His foot hovered outside the door frame.

“Never exit the vehicle.”

His heart racing, Everett crawled and grabbed the camera. Before he could celebrate his success, he glanced up to see the menacing general staring right at his face.

With a yelp, and the clang of a bullet, Everett raced back to the machine and closed the door behind him.

“We’re going to have to perform the procedure,” spoke the captain, a slight sadness in his voice. The doctor nodded.

The young man in front of him had already been sedated. The doctor placed the machine around his head. With the click of a button, the procedure was over.

“It’s a shame, about his memory,” the doctor said. “I would have loved to study the brain of a man who just learned that he started World War III.”

by Katherine Chui (10)