The Spectrumverse

Issue #8

Billy watched his mother put her long black coat on before walking out through the front door. As it closed, Billy looked at the door to his room. It had the same sign he put up when he was nine. A hand-drawn “Billy” with crooked handwriting. Twisting the door handle, he pushed the door open and stepped through.

His room wasn’t huge, but it provided enough space to move about. In one corner was a single bed. It was neatly made and had a single pillow with the sheets tucked in under the mattress. The carpet was a yellowish-brown put in long before he was aware of how ugly it appeared. By the doorway was a desk station. In the middle of it was a laptop connected to a mouse. Just under the desk, propped up on a footrest, was a wireless printer. Beside the desk was a closet with a series of drawers built into one side.

It was from some cheap furniture store. It contained all his clothes. Billy opened the wardrobe and looked at the inside of the door. Attached to the door was a mirror large enough for the owner to see what he’d look like while he tried on clothes. In the mirror, he could see his depressed expression; his eyes projected a grim glare. He didn’t like it at all.

Turning toward his bed, he saw the large poster of Metropolis Man standing in front of the flag of the United Protectors. As opposed to the United Nations flag, it had a black background with olive branches branching out from a map of the world. Billy walked back over to his door and closed it. Crossing his room, he climbed on top of his bed, sat cross-legged, and looked up at the poster. Taking a few deep breaths, he realized he could no longer carry this weight and needed a way of releasing the turmoil that consumed him.

“Hey,” Billy said with a heavy heart, “I know I haven’t done this in a while, but I... I don’t know how to deal with all this. Billy then ruffled the back of his head. He felt embarrassed by what he was doing.

“I haven’t done this in years. If Freddie or someone saw me now, they’d think I’m crazy.”

Looking around the room, Billy wanted to make sure no one else was there and that he was truly alone. He didn’t want anyone to see this or hear what he would say. Leaning forwards, he arched his back while looking up at his childhood idol. Even if it were in the form of a two-dimensional image, it provided him a way to communicate with his idol despite it being a one-way conversation. It was like a floodgate. Once he started talking, he couldn’t stop.

“I feel as if I’ve let you down. I remember the first day I went there and saw your costume on display. It was like you were there. It was amazing. I watched all the episodes of that show about you. The one from the Eighties. I even saw the Metropolis Man movie two years ago. I still can’t believe they got Leonardo DiCaprio to play Alan Thundergate, although I did like Ethan Hawk’s portrayal of Metropolis Man. On top of not getting the job, hearing the museum is closing felt like someone dropped a piano on my head. I just…I don’t know. It feels as if all I know is just vanishing. Even though I’ve never met you, you’ve felt like a permanent fixture in my life.”

Billy leaned back and used his arms to hold himself up. Unfolding his legs, he rested his feet on his bedside tabletop.

“Every day after school, I’d come home, heat up the leftovers my mom or dad left me and then go watch Metropolis Man: The Animated Series. I just wish I…”

Before he could continue, he felt a buzzing sensation in his pocket. Leaning backward made it easier to take the phone from his pocket. On the screen, the name “Freddie” appeared flashing. Pressing the green phone emblem, Billy accepted the call, then held the phone to his ear.

“Billy,” Freddie’s voice bellowed over the phone, “Guess what?” He decided to toy with his friend.

“You’ve grown a third arm?”

“Ha, I wish. So, I got the details for this party.”

“Oh, really? So, where is this all going down?”

“It’s far away, like, almost out of town.”

“Is some snob from Rollingford hosting this party while his rich parents are out of town?”

‘Well, it’s not in a house exactly.”

“Well, where is it?” A long pause did little to put Billy’s concerns to rest.

Freddie cleared his throat and replied, “It’s being held at a large establishment, like a club.”

Billy leaned upright with the PHONE still to his ear, “What kind of club is in the middle of nowhere?”

“Well, it’s not built as a club exactly. More like a...a storage place.”

“So, it’s being held in a warehouse outside of town?’”

“Yep.” Billy got up from his bed and walked over to his wardrobe.

“So it’s an illegal rave?”

“Sort of.”

“Great. Even if I wanted to go, I don’t know any buses that go that far out.”

“Don’t worry about that. I know someone. They can drive us’.”

“Who do you know who has a car?”

“Oh, ye of little faith. It’s me, Freddie. I’ve got connections.”

“Don’t act like some wise guy from Little Italy. Look, I’ll go with you and Flo, but I’m not getting drunk or anything else.”

“Deal. Right, I’ll swing around yours at six. Text Flo to meet us at your place. Once you’re all there, we’ll head out.” The call terminated. Billy could hear the dial tone on the other side.

Billy put his phone down. Glancing up at the poster once again, he yearned for something to distract him. All signs showed this party seemed to be an ideal opportunity. Turning away from the poster, Billy went to his wardrobe. After opening the door, he reached for his phone and started texting the information to Flo. Once he had done that, he slid his phone back into his pocket and started to look through his wardrobe. Seeking to change his appearance, Billy sought another means of improving his mood, even if it meant a new outfit for tonight. He wanted to show others he could look sharp even if those people were strangers to him.

After pouring through the shirts and coats hung up inside, he saw something. Far at the back, behind his coats, Billy noticed a dark blue blazer. It seemed suitable for a party. At least he thought so. No matter what would happen; Billy just wanted to enjoy a night out. He wasn’t sure what could happen tonight. Even so, he wanted to do something he wasn’t used to.