Chapter 1: Rainy Night Accident: Ethan's Life-Changing Moment
Rain, a frequent visitor to Silicon Valley's March nights. But tonight's downpour seemed determined to wash away the anxiety, uncertainty, and disappointment of the past five years.
Ethan Blackwood, the tech wunderkind who once took Silicon Valley by storm, was now engaged in a humorous yet bitter dialogue with his own reflection in his expensive Tesla Model S.
"Look at you, Ethan," he smirked at the rearview mirror, "once Silicon Valley's rising star, now more like a dying white dwarf."
On the car radio, a host droned on about the day's news: "Tech giant NeuraTech's stock hit another record low today, with analysts predicting potential bankruptcy—"
"Oh, shut up!" Ethan irritably switched off the radio. "Am I not miserable enough? Do I need someone reminding me I'll be homeless tomorrow?"
Just then, his phone buzzed. A text from Olivia.
"Let's break up."
Five words, like five bullets, hitting Ethan's heart with pinpoint accuracy.
"Ha!" He laughed bitterly to himself, "Company's going under, girlfriend's breaking up. Ethan old boy, your life's quite the drama, isn't it?"
The car speed increased unconsciously. The wipers frantically swayed, yet still failed to combat the torrential rain's assault on visibility.
"Hey, Siri!" Ethan called out to the car's system, "Tell me, will I die young in a car accident tonight?"
"I'm sorry, Ethan," the AI assistant calmly replied, "I can't predict the future. But given the current weather conditions and your driving speed, I suggest you slow down and stay alert."
"Oh, so you're lecturing me too?" Ethan rolled his eyes, "I'm your master, you unsympathetic electronic butler!"
"I'm just concerned for your safety, Ethan," Siri responded. "Also, I'd like to remind you that your sense of humor might be counterproductive during dangerous driving."
"Oh, come on!" Ethan burst out laughing, "When did my AI assistant become a stand-up comedian? Maybe I should groom you to be the next Jerry Seinfeld. At least you could support me after I go bankrupt."
Just then, a blinding flash of lightning illuminated a sharp bend ahead.
"Oh, damn!" Ethan yanked the steering wheel, but it was too late.
The car, like a derailed train, violently lurched off the road. In that brief moment of weightlessness, Ethan's mind raced.
"Hey, life," he thought sarcastically, "if I had a chance to start over, I'd definitely—"
His thoughts were cut short by a violent impact. The world spun, and Ethan felt like he'd been thrown into a manic washing machine.
"Bang!"
Silence.
When Ethan opened his eyes again, he found himself suspended in his seat, cocooned by the airbag like a giant marshmallow.
"Uh... shouldn't I be seeing a bright light and meeting a bunch of angels?" he mumbled, "Or is hell more suitable for a failure who's let everyone down?"
But there was no bright light, no angels, and no demons. Instead, he saw a blurry figure standing not far away, seemingly watching him.
"Hey!" Ethan called out weakly, "If you're here to reap my soul, can I make one last call to my mom? I promise, just one call."
The figure didn't respond, just slowly raised its hand.
Suddenly, a wave of intense dizziness hit. Ethan felt the whole world twisting, as if being sucked into a massive vortex.
"Wow," he thought in his last moment of consciousness, "this is way more intense than my college drug experiences."
An indeterminate time later, Ethan jolted awake. He found himself still in the car, but everything was... different.
"Uh... did I damage my brain?" He rubbed his temples, "Or is this the afterlife? If so, I must say, God's imagination is rather lacking."
He looked around. Everything in the car was normal, not even a scratch.
"Okay," Ethan muttered to himself, "either I've got amnesia, or I'm still dreaming. Siri, tell me what time it is?"
"It's March 15, 2019, 00:03 AM, Ethan." The AI assistant calmly answered.
Ethan froze, his gaze falling on the date display on the dashboard.
"2019? This... this is impossible!" He stammered, "I must have damaged my brain. Siri, are you sure you're not malfunctioning?"
"My systems are functioning normally, Ethan. Today is indeed March 15, 2019," Siri replied. "Would you like me to schedule a brain scan appointment?"
"Haha, very funny," Ethan laughed dryly, "Looks like I not only created a time machine but also an AI with a sense of humor. I should go apply for a Nobel Prize, right?"
Just then, Ethan noticed a strange mark on his wrist, like some complex symbol.
"What the hell is this?" He stared at the symbol, "When did I get a tattoo? Damn, did I do something stupid while drunk?"
Suddenly, the symbol emitted a faint blue light, startling Ethan.
"Okay, calm down, Ethan," he took a deep breath, "Either you're crazy, or the whole world is. Either way, you need a stiff drink."
He started the car, deciding to go home and sort everything out. But just as he was about to drive off, a figure flashed in the rearview mirror.
"Hey!" Ethan quickly rolled down the window, "Who are you? Did you save me?"
But there was no one there. Only rainwater trickling down the window, like tears of time.
"Great," Ethan chuckled bitterly, "Now I'm not only time-traveling but also hallucinating. Maybe I should see a psychiatrist instead of a neurologist."
He shook his head and drove off. The radio emitted intermittent strange static.
