NOVEL NEXT CHAPTER 6: Bad Movies and Good Friends
Atlas continued walking out of the gym, his mind swirling with plans and possibilities. He’d already secured all the equipment he wanted to bring back, the best that modern survival stores could offer. But there was something nagging at him. As he glanced at the timer in his right-hand vision, counting down with unnerving precision, a new line of text caught his eye: “Assistance: 0/5.”
“What does that mean?” Atlas muttered to himself. Was he supposed to bring five people with him? In his last experience, the portals took twenty people at a time during the first month. So what was different now? Would his portal only be taking five? Did that mean it would be six people, including himself? Or did this mean he had five of the twenty slots?
*Man, this was confusing. Being a regressor should come with a manual.* Although technically, *wasn’t it his job to write the manual, in case he regressed again?*
This reminded him of that time Calvin and Hobbes traveled into the future to get their homework from 8:30 PM Calvin, only to find out that 8:30 PM Calvin had traveled in time and found 9:30 PM Calvin just watching TV and not having the homework done. *Seriously, time travel hijinks were way funnier when they weren’t happening to him.*
And what about Clark, Shaniqua, and the rest of those backstabbing jerks? *Were they going to be portaled again, just like last time? Were they blissfully unaware that a portal was coming for them in two years? Or were they also regressors now?* He really hoped it was the former, not the latter. *A time-traveling Clark would be so much more difficult to gank.*
As these questions ruminated in his mind, Atlas wandered through the city streets, the usual hustle and bustle barely registering. The city was a blur of activity, people moving with purpose or simply drifting. Their conversations a random murmur in the background. It was an odd feeling seeing so many people just walking around with no apparent destination, their lives seemingly untouched by the same pressures that weighed on him.
His aimless stroll led him to a large shopping mall, its entrance flanked by towering glass doors. He stepped inside, immediately enveloped by the cool air conditioning and the soft hum of background music. The mall was a sprawling maze of shops, food courts, and entertainment areas, a stark contrast to the harsh reality of his recent life.
Atlas wandered through the mall, taking in the sights and sounds. Neon signs flashed advertisements for everything from the latest gadgets to trendy clothes. He passed by a store selling exotic fruits and paused for a moment, his gaze lingering on a display of durians. *Ah, durians. The king of fruits and a real challenge to eat. It’s like it has its own personal defense mechanism.* He chuckled to himself, amused by the thought of how a durian would fare in a fight against demon dogs. *If only those monsters knew what they were missing.*
As he continued his exploration, he stumbled upon a giant movie theater. The marquee displayed a variety of films, but one title caught his eye—a new release about a man trapped in time, trying to fix his past. The movie's title was oddly named after soy sauce, and Atlas couldn't help but find it amusing.
“Huh, sounds close enough to what I’m going through. Let’s see what Hollywood thinks time travel is all about.”
He bought a ticket using an app, feeling a twinge of nostalgia for the simplicity of such pleasures. With his ticket in hand, Atlas made his way into the theater and sank into one of the plush seats. The lights dimmed, and the movie began, accompanied by the familiar crackle of popcorn and the faint clinking of soda cups.
Atlas settled in, savoring the comfort of the seat and the luxury of overpriced popcorn.
“Ah, movies and expensive popcorn, how I missed you. Ooh, look, in the VIP theater I can order booze. Totally getting a beer delivered to my seat. #Willfulspending.”
The film unfolded, following the protagonist—an ordinary man sent back in time, reconnecting with old friends and trying to mend past mistakes. As the story progressed, Atlas found himself growing increasingly bored. The protagonist was perpetually wracked with guilt, moping around and agonizing over every decision. Atlas rolled his eyes, feeling a twinge of impatience.
“Come on, man. Get over it already. You’ve got a second chance—stop whining and use it.”
He could relate to the sense of opportunity, but his own experiences had made him less inclined to wallow in regret. *I had one day with Mr. Scotch, but that was enough. I’ve got other things to focus on.*
By the time the credits rolled, Atlas was thoroughly unimpressed. The movie’s ending was a predictable tearjerker, clearly designed to make the audience emotional—if they managed to stay awake. The sparse attendance in the theater only confirmed that the film didn’t resonate with many others either.
Stepping out of the theater and back into the bright, bustling mall, Atlas shook his head. The movie had been a disappointment, but it served as a reminder of his own purpose.
*That’s definitely not me. I’m not here to wallow in regret. I’ve got work to do.*
The protagonist of the movie might have been a whiny emo, but Atlas was determined to forge his own path. He wasn’t going to reconnect with old flames or seek forgiveness for past mistakes. Instead, he was going to prepare, train, and get ready for the battles ahead.
His thoughts returned to the mysterious “Assistance: 0/5.” He didn’t know exactly what it meant, but he was determined to figure it out. If he had to bring people with him, he would make sure they were ready. The number indicated 0/5, so to be prepared, he would find and prepare five other people to accompany him. And if it turned out to be something else entirely… well, he’d cross that bridge when he came to it.
As Atlas walked out of the mall and glanced up at the sky, he felt the weight of the ticking clock. *Two years, or now a little less than that. That was all the time I have before the portals return. I can’t afford to waste a single second.*
“Well, technically I could afford to waste some time, considering I just spent two hours on a brutally bad movie. Man, I’m a jerk to myself in my head.” Atlas smirked, shaking off the remnants of the film’s influence.
“Alright, things to do and people to see.”
Including one very important person who he needed to meet. Hopefully, that person was home and not putzing around in a different country. Otherwise his “Save the world from portals!” plan, would be dead in the water.
Even though Atlas wasn’t about to spend his days moping around like the protagonist in that lackluster time-travel movie, he realized reconnecting with his friends might be a good idea for several reasons. First, it would be downright wrong not to give them a heads-up about the portals. Second, he needed to make sure they were prepared for what was coming. Third, he needed a place to stay, given that his apartment was about to be someone else’s property once the escrow closed. He’d also need somewhere to store the gear he’d accumulated.
Atlas pulled out his phone and messaged one of his closest friends, John. They hadn’t talked much since he got back, but John had always been a solid guy, the kind of friend you could count on even if you hadn’t spoken in a while. Their friendship was the kind where you could pick up right where you left off, no matter how much time had passed. They had spent countless hours hunting in the woods and ice fishing on the frozen lakes, bonding over shared stories and deep conversations.
“Hey John, are you still in town?”
John was a tall, lanky guy who spent half his life on the road. Atlas could never keep track of what exactly John did, but it had something to do with IT and oil companies, which meant that John made a lot of money and was frequently out of the country.
A few minutes later, his phone buzzed with a reply. *Yeah, I’m in town for a week, then off to Thailand.*
Atlas grinned. *Hey, do you want to get together for a beer?*
“That’d be great,” John responded almost immediately.
“Well, if that’s the case, why don’t I come by?”
“Sure, sounds great, dude.”
Atlas felt a bit of relief. John was always easygoing, which was exactly what he needed right now. More than just needing a place to stay, Atlas needed a friend who could help him navigate the complexities of what was to come. He knew John’s calm demeanor and practical mindset would be invaluable in preparing for the chaos ahead. With a plan in place, Atlas headed to his car and threw a case of beer into the backseat. He then added some of his Costco haul into the trunk—extra water, a few boxes of energy bars, and some other essentials. It wasn’t much, but it was part of his stockpile that he wanted to store at John’s.