Crystal's Edge

‘Am I able to wake up? Am I able to move?’ Jaxson let thoughts fill his head as he slowly opened his eyes. He blinked once. Twice. Three times just to make sure he was in fact alive. Heavy rain drops pelted his body as he slowly got to his feet. The world around him seemed familiar but so distant. Where was he? How was he alive? As Jaxson sauntered along the flooded gray roads, no one seemed to notice that he was laying in the middle of the street. He felt like a zombie as he paced around alley ways and store fronts. Models on bright billboards, that advertised the latest clothing, moved and smiled as he walked under them. Cars zoomed by him in a blink of an eye as they bumped into puddles and drenched Jaxson. He found a small empty alley and examined himself through the reflection in the window. Tight black hair sat neatly on his head as his light complexion was smeared with dirt and mud. His blue jeans were no longer blue as his white shirt became muddy brown as it stuck to his toned figure. His green eyes glowed in the city lights. ‘So far nothing about my looks has changed,’ Jaxson thought as he kept meandering around the city hoping to recognize something or someone that he knew. “Look ma look,” Jaxson heard a little boy pleading with his mother. “It is finally here. Can I get one please?” Jaxson hurried to see what the boy was fussing about. He found himself staring at a giant television that replaced the side of a building just as big. “This just in,” the newscaster screamed from the television. “The new virtual reality massively multiplayer online role playing game Crystal’s Edge will be out tomorrow. After much deliberation, creator Seth Gibson announced that the game is live and functional. This is big news for the year 2070.” . “How was this possible?” Jaxson couldn’t believe what he had heard. “I beat that game four years ago. There must be some mistake.” He was filled with more questions than answers. Then in a blink, the memories came flooding back to him. He remembered walking down a similar street with the Crystal’s Edge hardware in his arms ready to return it for a portion of his money back. That’s when he heard the screams coming from the building across the street. Jaxson didn’t think twice as he dropped his hardware and sprinted to the building. There on the stairwell was a masked robber threatening a woman and child with a knife. Jaxson didn’t hesitate as he pushed the two away from the robber and wrestled him to the ground. He remembered punches being thrown by both men and then a pain shot across his abdomen as he felt blood pool around him. Jaxson glanced the robber running away and the woman calling for help but it was too late. His world went dark and his eyes closed. Those memories felt like yesterday as he rubbed his stomach where his injury would have been. Jaxson had an idea as he scanned for the street where he ran to the building. After finding it he started to retrace his steps. ‘Maybe my apartment is still available,’ he thought as he made a right and then an immediate left. Straight ahead was a modern building about fifty stories tall. Glass and metal were all that kept the residents safe. He rushed through the double sliding door and was greeted by a doorman. “Good evening Mr. Hudsin. I see you have been out for a little stroll.” “Yes, thank you Dodson,” Jaxson quickly read the doorman’s nametag. “I will just be headed to my apartment now.” “Good night sir,” Dodson smiled after him. Once in the elevator, Jaxson remembered his floor and pressed 40 on the elevator as the doors quickly hummed closed and the elevator raced to the top. Within seconds he was on his floor. Only four apartments were on his floor as he scanned the numbers on the door until he came to door 4003. He fiddled through his pockets until he found his key and stuck it in the lock. He breathed a sigh of relief when the door unlocked, and he opened it. His studio was dark, and he fumbled for a light switch next to the door and found it. Once illuminated, a black futon greeted Jaxson while a small tv sat in the corner on top of a cheap wooden entertainment center. Video games and movies lined the walls next to the television. His studio was small, but it was all he needed as he poured a glass of water from the tap in the kitchen. He needed a shower and some sleep before he attacked Crystal’s Edge one more time. After washing up and changing his clothes, Jaxson sluggishly made his way to his futon where he sank into the hardened mattress. His eyes were telling him what to do but his brain wasn’t done thinking. In the end his eyes won the fight and Jaxson fell asleep.