Message Sent.

[rbshinichi]

This is another adaptation of the story SMS.


It was the summer of 2048, Kurt Johnson and his mom had to move to a town far enough to be unknown. They have been living under WITSEC for 5 years now, and moving to places have been part of their lives, in a huge way.


They are now to live in an old house in an old village which is just outside the country. Kurt tries hard to cope up with his not -so-ordinary situation and live his life one day at a time. A socially detached high school boy, an introvert not by choice, Kurt finds it hard to deal with lots of people trying to avoid real connections and attachment. He spend most of his time online, playing VR games and all the technological stuff.


His not oh-so-plain life took a huge turn when he found an old cellphone buried under their new house's basement. The mobile phone gave him a new perspective in life, why not? Everyone will change if your cellphone can send messages to the past.

 

[RoleplayChiQ]

It was the summer of 2011, Claire was outside sitting while reading a book as she watched over her two younger siblings play tag along their front lawn. She hoped their mother wouldn't take long with her grocery shopping, she just can't stand it if maggie and cameron starts biting each others ears off. Claire sighed as she finished chapter 5 of the book she's reading. Oh what a beautiful day, she hoped it was always like this. She just really hated the rain for some reason. "Cam! Maggie! Stay away from the roads!" Claire yelled over her younger siblings as they started running closer to the main road.


Claire was still caught up in her thoughts when her phone's tone chimed. Slowly she picked it up hoping it was Mike, a boy she always had a crush on at school. To her dismay it was someone she doesn't even know. In fact the number wasn't even registered. "Huh?" Claire read the message in curiosity. But then it was blank... There was no message at all. Quickly she replied the text.


"Who is this?"

 

[rbshinichi]

"Kurt! Kurt! Kurt! Get the last box from the truck!" a woman in her late 30's was shouting on the top of her lungs from the porch of a newly renovated house. She was carrying two boxes of stuff from picture frames to kitchen utensils. She seemed to be calling to the boy who was sitting at the side of the road scrolling down on the holographic screen of his mobile phone. He was lost within the text of an ebook he was reading. "Kurt Johnson!!!" the lady tried again, this time with a much louder voice. The boy then turned to her with an indifferent look on his face.


'Kurt Johnson... Oh yeah, that's my new name. Just as when I was getting used to James Cavanaugh. What was my name before that? Johnny Baker? Or was it Jimmy? I can't even recall.' he whispered to himself and let out a tired sigh. "Yeah I'm coming mum! You don't have to shout, we just got here you don't want to get yelled at by the neighbors." he clicked his tongue as he made way to the door with the box on his hands.


"Just put it right there son, and you can go upstairs and rest first. I'll prepare for dinner as soon as I tidy things here. " Sara said as she pointed to a side table just below the staircase.


"Okay, I'm beat." he took three steps on the stairs and he stopped, "which room is mine again?"


"It's...well it's your turn to choose now son."


"Okay, I'm taking whatever is bigger." he replied then jolted to the second floor.


He walked to the hallway and passed through what appears to be a wash room, he continued walking and he reached the second door to the right this time. It was opened and revealed a Queen sized bed with it's head just below the window. The room is painted in white with light green pinstripe, it was empty save the lamp beside the bed over a side table and a study table and a chair. "It's pretty simple and plain."


He turned to the door at the end of the hallway and opened it when he got there. The knob wasn't in a good shape anymore so he had to forced it open. It was a spacious room. Just a small window with just amount of sunlight coming in. The bed was a king sized and the thing he liked about the room is something he can't pinpoint. There's the melancholy of the light blue painted walls, the emptiness of white ceiling with chocolate brown lining. In just seconds he was attached to it. He switched off the light and let the curtains down and the ceiling revealed a small universe made of luminous stick ups. "Wow."


He jumped onto the bed, "Wow, this is good." the sheets were new for his mother went to fix the bedrooms a couple of days ago. He closed his eyes as his thoughts wandered, 'New life...new bed. I'm getting tired of this.' He opened his eyes and his gaze fell upon the bookshelf which was fixed on the wall. He got up and observed it. He noticed something peculiar with it, lines which resembled like seams were drawn from the top shelf to the bottom. He tried to pull it and the shelf revealed a passageway. He found a switch on the left side of the doorway and turned it on. A stair leading downwards laid in front of him. He went down and it was like a basement complete with chairs table which is like a private study room and cobwebs all over. He dusted the table and there was a compartment on the lower right side of the desk. He opened it and found what looked like an old model of cellphone with it's accessories in tact.


Out of curiosity he plugged the charger of the phone and tried to switch it on. It opened. As the led screen of the phone lit up in black pixels he observed the pink casing of the phone, and a sticker on it's back which read "Claire".


The main menu is displayed in a black and white with pixels creating letters and simple graphic. "So this are phones back then." he wondered. After a few moments he went up back to his room and found that the signal bar on the top right of the phone's screen kicked in to full state.


He tried the messaging function and tried to send a message, he browsed through the saved contacts but found only one entry. "Myself." he read it and chuckled. "This Claire girl must be forgetful to think she'll save her own phone number." he then clicked okay and an image of an envelop with lines on the side appeared with the text "Message sent."


The phone in his hand beeped and a message received prompt on the screen. He clicked "Read" and it displayed "Who is this?".


He was amazed and confused at the same time. He checked the number again and it's the same number as the number saved under "Myself."


He replied, "This is Kurt. Is this Claire?"

 

[RoleplayChiQ]

Claire stared blankly at her phone as she waited for the persons reply... Nothing. "That's weird..." Claire whispered to herself as she looked at the number of the person who sends the blank message. Her eyes squinted as she tried to familiarize the number that she thinks she already saw before. "Where have I-" Slowly her eyes grew wide as she finally remembers who owns that number. "Its mine..." Claire said under her breath as her thought wondered on how this might have happened. Glitch from the network maybe? Did she accidentally press it? No couldn't have been the phone was right next to her she wasn't even touching it before it chimed and the little heart key chain blinked up. Right on timing she saw her mothers car taking the turn to enter their garage, Maggie and Cameron running in excitement towards their mother hoping for a surprise again. Knowing Claire's mother, she surely has one for her little kids.


Slowly Claire walked over towards her mother as she came out the driver seat with a smile on her face, her brunette hair in a beautiful up do. Clare wishes she could look that beautiful, oh how she envied her mother. "Hey kids!" Jessica bends over to give her two little kids a kiss on the cheek. "Okay first one in the house gets my surprise first!" Quickly Maggie and Cameron came running towards the front door as they giggled in excitement. Claire watched with a smile at her little sister and brother as they ran away, if only they weren't so annoying sometimes. "Hey hun help mommy bring the groceries in will you?" Jessica asked her eldest daughter with a smile. "Sure. But hey mom. One question, you know all about tech and stuff right?"


Jessica studied her daughter's expression that was of curiosity and wonder. "Well I do have my fair share of knowledge. What is it hun? Something bothering you?"


Claire looked up at her with a confused look at showed her the text message she received earlier. "I got this text earlier..." Jessica eyed the contents of her phone and chuckled. "Hun its from you, is this a joke?"


"No No No! See that's the thing... I'm not the one who sended the message. I'm not gonna die in 7 days am I? Like those horror movies with random text and phone calls then the person who gets them would die? Right mom?" Claire said, of course it was more of a joke but she really was curious on how this was possible.


"Well maybe-" Before Jessica could answer Claire, cries from inside the house rang all over the walls. "Oh what now." Jessica grunted and ran towards the front door. "Thanks mom such a big help you are." Claire whispered to herself before deciding to send out another text message.


"Hello?"

 

[rbshinichi]

Kurt sat on the bed and plugged his earpod on his right ear and lied down. "Play something from my Grandpa's playlist." he commanded the little device on his ear with his words. Suddenly feeling nostalgic with the atmosphere of the room and the phone in his hand he wanted to hear something from the past. An Ed Sheeran song started playing, it was a song called Thinking Out Loud. "Hmm.. This is good." Humming inside his head, he closed his eyes. The phone beeped again and he raised it upward to read the message. The cord was just long enough for him to read it properly. "Hello?" the message read.


Getting a little more curious, he opened his own mobile phone and set it aside the table. "Projector ON" he commanded and a holographic screen popped up from it. "Web Search Nokia 1280". The screen provided search results. Videos, images and details of the phone were displayed. "This is a vintage, from 2010 huh? How cool is this, and it still works?" he said to himself.


He turned back to the phone and typed away on its keypad. "Hi, I think I found your old phone on your old house here at Irving St." Kurt was thinking that maybe the owner of the phone transferred house and left that phone when they moved out. He can't help but think if the girl moved from place to place just like him. To always try and cope up with everything, to never belong to anywhere. To always hide from the unknown.


"Kurt it's time for dinner!" Sara called to him. "Coming!" he replied.


He got up, took his phone and the old one with him.


"Hey mum, Look what I found." he waved to her the Nokia.


"Wow, that's a gem. Where'd you get that? Let me see."


"From the basement on my room. Oh yeah, my room's the last door upstairs okay?"


"A basement? I didn't know this house had a basement. Anyway..." she gasped, "It works? This is amazing!"


"I know, I bet the owner would love to get it back." he said.


His mother looked at him with a question mark on her face, "The owner? You didn't..."


"Oh I did! Give it back to me!" he snatched the Nokia away from her.


"Okay, but be careful, I don't want to move again just because we're compromised okay!"


"I know." He sat down in front of the table.

 

[RoleplayChiQ]

"Hi, I think I found your old phone on your old house here at Irving St."


Claire's eyes grew wide at the response with the use of her own phone number, "No way..." Claire said under her breath as her thoughts raced regarding what the hell is going on. Could her phone be tapped from outer space? Is this like one of those terrorist modus? Claire hoped not. Irving street? Slowly Claire's eyes went over to the sign that shows every street there is near their block.


[iRVING ST.]


"Hey..." Claire frowned as she saw the same sign, and as far as she knows this is the only Irving street there is anywhere near by. Shaking her head she realized she was probably being pranked in a really awesome and professional way. A hacker maybe? Is it James? Her nerdy, slash, hacker, slash curly haired friend? No.... Even James can't possibly be capable of something as hacking someone's phone number. While waiting for the response, Claire turned around to the passenger seat and reached over to three bags of groceries all full and heavy. She might as well carry them all at once that carry two and go back out for the other one left.


"Ugh!" Claire grunted as she placed everything in the kitchen counter. "God that was heavy." She complained to her mom who was gently scolding Cameron who pulled Maggie's hair. Oh so that's why there was crying. "Mom I'm heading up stairs!" Claire called out as she ran quickly to the stairs and ran towards her bedroom. It took Claire forever to beg Jessica to let her have the biggest room, somehow her mother budged and now here she is owning the biggest bedroom in the house. Slowly she went inside her room and locks the door behind her. Looking up at the ceiling were tiny little luminous stick ups she placed since the day they moved. According to the store where she bought it, as long as it sticks there it will never fade even after a hundred years. Slowly she walked over to a secret place she discovered and kept quiet since then. No one, not even her mother knows about. A bookshelf where behind lies a secret basement.


Claire climbed down the stairs and smiled at the quiet and comforting place. It was still clean aside from a few dust here and there. According to her mother this house was previously owned by a historian who focuses on parallel universe, and time traveling studies. She always found it amusing, maybe he didn't clean the place up thinking maybe no one would ever find the place. Silly but that's her best theory. Slowly Claire sat down on the soft leather sofa and took out the phone again. As she expected there was another text message....


 
(AND BTW! Claire ignored the text on purpose thinking she was being pranked.)

 

[rbshinichi]

After having his dinner he kissed his mother good night and Kurt retired to his new room, where he would now spend most of hos time just playing video games and contemplating how boring his life is.


He played the Nokia on his hands. He noticed that the date and time displayed is still in 2011. He browsed through it and found the settings. He configured it tp his current date but as soon as he go back to the home screen it reverts back to the original date. After several tries he gave up. He read the messages again and found out that the dates were from 2011 also. He's now wondering why the number didn't reply. He thought that maybe she didn't like it anymore, or maybe he's talking to another person. It's a long time between 2048 and 2011 which was the manufacturing year of the phone. Maybe she's dead, he thought to himself.


"I'll just send another message." He decided.


hey, if you want your old phone back it's still working and you can just drop by at your old house and pick it up. And hey, we're living here now, thanks for the million little stars at the ceiling. I love it.


He placed the phone on his bed side table and closed his eyes.

 

[RoleplayChiQ]

Claire couldn't even believe what she was reading right now. Is this person even for real? This better be a joke because its starting to creep her out. Quickly standing up from the sofa she ran upstairs and close the passage to the secret basement. Looking up at her ceiling were the tiny luminous stick ups she placed. What is this person talking about? He literally described everything he could about their current location, from the street, to the tiny little stick ups at on her ceiling. As far as Claire knows its only her mom, maggie and cameron who knows about this tiny little stars. And her best friends which were only two other person. But they are so not capable of this...


"What are you talking about? I still live here in the house at Irving St. In fact I'm in my bedroom right now looking up at those MILLION LITTLE STARS you're talking about! This isn't even funny anymore. Who are you?! And what old phone?!"


Claire typed along her keypad as she bit her lower lip in annoyance to this 'prankster'. This time he better be telling the truth...

 

[rbshinichi]

The sun had just risen and stray beams of light trying to punch a hole on his window pane, Kurt stretched then rubbed his eyes with his index fingers. Realizing he's already awake he turned to his side and remembered that he's not on the same room he was two nights ago. A lonely smile crept upon his lips as the thought started to sink into him.


His eyes laid upon the Phone which was lying under the night lamp. He reached for it and pressed the middle button. It shows a message has been received. He reached for his portable virtual assistant (his current phone) and commanded it to read him the news and update his status. "Scene Capture. Upload photo. Caption: Ultimate #TBT". His EyeCam (a contact lens-like device which is used to take photos or videos just as the eye can see them. The user wears them as if they are just normal contact lenses.) took a photo of the phone he's holding and uploaded it to the net.


He continued reading the message. "What are you talking about? I still live here in the house at Irving St..." he wasn't even finished but shivers crawled from his spine through his head. "Okay, now that's weird, totally creepy." he whispered to himself. He thought that maybe he's being messed with or the person on the other line is just an idiot who forgot what reality is. He finished the rest of the message and was rattled.


He's caught in between curiosity and annoyance. But the first one won. He started to type a message and reply. "Look, I'm tryin 2 help here. Bt f u dnt like ur phone bck, it's ok. Just dnt play me. U knw I can sue u for text pranking. U knw the law they passed in 2030? I told you I'm Kurt. This phone a Nokia 1280."





He pressed the send button and felt annoyed at himself from being pissed off by a prankster.

 

[RoleplayChiQ]

"2030?" Claire scoffed, couldn't this person think of anything better than an anti-text pranking law that was somehow passed by the government on 2030?! Making her way towards her bed she slowly sat down and glared at her phone, oh how she wishes she can plunge her hand inside this and slap the person whose been playing her. "He is so not funny anymore..." Quickly Claire started typing on her keypad again, her temper starting to get the best of her.


You are crazy. Couldn't you think of a better excuse aside from that? Seriously? 2030? Anti-text pranking law? Hahaha you make me laugh. Its 2011! Live in the now and stop dreaming about the future crazy ass."


Claire smiled to herself and quickly pressed send. Whoever this person is he just needs to quit... But the fact that he knows too much is just bothering her...even her phone model... "Am I being watched?" Claire whispered as the hair at the back of her neck stood. Slowly she stood up from her bed and ran downstairs seeing her mother now preparing dinner as her little brother and sister watched Spongebob.


"Anything I can do to help mom?"

 

[rbshinichi]

Kurt jumped out of bed, went outside his room and to the bathroom. He did everything a guy in his age would do. He then started to unpack his clothes from the bags on his room, picking a white shirt and a clean pair of pants he dressed himself. After lining up his clothes in hangers on the wardrobe closet he took his hoodie and wore it. He sat beside the bed, and reached for the phone just to see that he's got a new message from his new acquaintance. The prankster on the other end of the line. He proceeded with the message and he was taken a back by just one word--"2011".


"Seriously? As if I could buy that story." he snickered to himself.


"Quit playing man, it's not funny anymore. I'm pretty sure it's 2048, September 16. To be exact." he browsed the net to find some articles or story that relates to their place and 2011. He continued typing, "Well today is your lucky day, 2011 huh? Later today the walmart downtown will receive a bomb threat."


"Mum! I'm going out. I'll be checking the school i'll be attending." and he got out of the door even before his mom can utter a response.


A few blocks away and he found himself in a cafe called Le Monet and was in line for something, he even forgot what he was going to buy. The robotic girl who was taking their order was asking him repeatedly what he wants. "I guess I'll have a cup of hot chocolate then. I want it to go." he replied with hesitation. A good couple minutes had passed and a conveyor belt moved with his drink ready. He swiped his palm on a scanner and the payment was taken care of.


[dice]3096[/dice]

 

[RoleplayChiQ]

"Alright that's it." Claire had enough of whoever this person was, its either he's insanely bored with his own life or pure crazy. Either way Claire is not wasting her time anymore. She walked towards the living room to join her siblings with watching TV, after all this years she still can't believe how much she loves Spongebob, after all. Who's to old for Spongebob right? While watching Claire's eyes saw the date at the cable box that says {Sept. 16/ 4:30PM} Her eyes squinted slightly as she remember the persons text, it is Sept 16. She never really gave the date today a thought till now...


"...the walmart downtown will receive a bomb threat."


Claire couldn't even believe herself for pondering over this, how can she even consider for the tiniest bit that what that person was saying could be the least bit true? Of course its not! Its just absurd. "Ugh!" Claire groaned in annoyance as she leaned her head back against the sofa she was sitting on and closed her eyes shut. "I think I'm about to go crazy...."


"Yow alwedy ah" Maggie spoke with a disarming smile as she looked back at her older sister. Oh kids this days.


"WHAT?!" Jessica yelled through the kitchen before quickly marching towards the living room and grabbed the remote from Cameron.


"Mommy no!" He tried to stop her with a frown on his face. "No No cam this will be quick...." Jessica changed the channel to CNN and a flash news was on screen. A scene reporter is in front of wallmart as it evacuate employees and customers after a tip was given regarding a bomb threat only minutes ago.


"According to the FBI there are still no confirmation regarding the bomb or its whereabouts as of this very moment. But everyone is surely hoping for the best..."


Claire's eyes flew open as she watched in disbelief... "No way..." Slowly she took out her phone from her pocket and started typing.


"You got my attention... The bomb threat, its happening right now. Okay Kurt... Who are you really."


-------------------------------------------------


(That Futuristic world you're creating is amazing)

 

[rbshinichi]

Kurt got out of the cafe, his ears occupied by his earpods, he's got a cup of chocolate on one hand and another hand on his pocket. Looking down while walking, ignoring the speeding hoverboards on the side walk and the cleaning droids sweeping the street. One droid is being checked up by a maintenance guy on the corner of the street.


He felt the vibration of the phone he's got hidden on his pocket and took it out. Another message came. He opened the message and it stopped him from moving, he almost choked on one sip of chocolate he took. He gulped and recollected himself. "Is this guy for real? Anyway, I'll just play along." He said to himself though a part of him really wanted to believe that what's happening is true.


He pressed the keypad making the message Nobody. I'm just a boring teenage boy with a boring teenage life, living in 2048. he sent it.


He gave up on even analyzing anything anymore, he can't even find a proof that he was talking to someone from the past.


He sat on a bench beside what seemed to be a tree, but really a genetically improvised group of cells. Well it does what a tree used to do, sanitize the air so people can breathe.


He looked at the phone and typed in yet another message. What do you think Lincoln park would look like today? he realized what a stupid question he just asked, but too late to even regret it now.


Kurt never really connected to anyone at school. He resented how people only communicate over their PVA's and online, using holographic projections. He yearned for physical involvement and expression. That's why he resorted to games, at least he can control the characters there and would never abandon him.


"Image search: Lincoln park 2011. Maximize image. Projection ON." A series of command and as if he's looking at what the park has been for over 3 decades ago.


The empty pit has now been filled with crystal clear water, swans swimming on the lake, and the sun reflecting beautifully on the ripples made on the surface.

 

[RoleplayChiQ]

Claire wondered if he's really gonna keep this up, seriously living up to his words about him being someone from 2048. How old would Claire be during those years? 50 or so? She wasn't sure but she didn't want to think it through either. But then he predicted this incident at Walmart... "How could this even be possible..." Claire spoke as her eyes stared blankly at the television screen, even her younger siblings who would normally ignore news such as this were paying attention to the reporter who was still talking about the Bomb threat. Claire decided to give it one last try... Maybe its possible, could she really be talking to someone from the future?


Okay listen. Let's say what you're saying is true. That you are living in 2048 and that I'm in 2011... As crazy as that sounds screw it. What will happen to Walmart after receiving the threat? My family and I are downstairs on the living room waiting for news...


"Send." Claire shook her head in disbelief at the bizarre situation. Maybe, just maybe it is possible.


Not even a minute has passed when another messaged chimed on her phone, but apparently it wasn't about her previous question the 'Kurt' asking a question of his own.


"What do you think Lincoln park would look like today?"


Claire couldn't help herself but admit how intrigued she is now. "What? Hell I don't know? Same maybe? Park, benches, the lake, ducks, people? What could possibly change much within three decades?" She replied honestly to him as she found herself curious about what she said. I mean, what could possibly change within three decades right?

 

[rbshinichi]

Kurt was caught up in reminiscing what the past might have been when a message from the phone arrived. He read it and nodded as if accepting the challenge presented to him.


With a few words of command he searched again about the walmart article back in 2011.


His reply went as : "The bomb is a hoax. The squad will find three boxes of iron filings on the second floor. 3 high school boys will be apprehended later that night. "


As soon as he pressed the send button another messaged arrived.


Then he replied, "I'm sorry to say but when the US took over the North Korea and China, things took a huge drastic turn and the world was changed rapidly. "

 

[RoleplayChiQ]

Claire swore that if he got this one right, she would believe him for the time being. Her mother's eyes still glue to the TV Screen, so were Maggie and Cameron who for once actually care about something aside from cartoons. When his second text arrived Claire found herself gasping at what he said, the idea of USA taking over North Korea and China would mean actual war... What's even crazier for her to accept is the fact that she's actually buying this, all of what this guy is texting her. Could it really be possible?


"Three boxes of iron fillings were found on the second floor just now, officially making the bomb threat a hoax. Officials are now tracking the tipster for further investigation...."


"Holly Shit." Claire whispered as denial, shock and disbelief took over her this can't be. No this is just insane! Her mother on the other hand took a quick sigh of relief and handed the remote back to Cameron as she made the sign of the cross before heading towards the kitchen.


You were right...


Was all she managed to type back. What else would she say? her doubting about the situation grew thicker and thicker... She can't believe it... He's right again.

 

[rbshinichi]

Kurt stood up and started to walk again. He threw away the cup on the streets and in 5 seconds a droid was cleaning up his trash. He read the message he just received. He shook his head from it, he thought that it was either the person was playing with him all through out or the person was just speechless from the fact that he was talking to her from the future, that he told her exactly how things would happen because for him, it already had happened.


He pocketed his phone still thinking what to reply, more importantly he's thinking if he should keep it up. But in reality it's too late for him. He already believes in it.


A countless set of strides and looking here and there, observing what the new place looks like, Kurt arrived at his new school. Stutten High. With his friends from WITSEC, he's already a student for the coming term. Everything has been taken care of. From his classes to his schedules.


He stood blankly on the entrance and laser beams scanned through his whole body. A standard security check. There's a screen that projects his body in 3D detecting any foreign material and stuff. He was then asked to place his palm underneath the scanner to check for his ID and credentials. "Welcome to Stutten High Mr. Johnson. Have a good day." the good digital lady with a computerized voice told him.


He looked around and took a deep breath. Fear in his eyes were visible and an indifferent smile on his lips. He took out the phone and typed in "May I ask you a question? What school do you go to? How's it?"