SFSS

“Time Travel” follows John, a man preparing for a secret government mission to travel two years into the past. This mission comes with a dark precedent: a previous traveler, George, went back ten years and returned psychologically altered. Now John needs to go to past, find what happened to George and comeback to the present time.

John suddenly woke up; someone had just tried to kill him. That was all he remembered from the nightmare. He looked at the alarm clock; there was still almost an hour before he needed to get up, but soaked in sweat, with his heart pounding, and the vivid memory of the nightmare, he didn't even think about sleeping a little longer.

Today was a special day, the great mission of his life: to use a machine to travel back in time. Who hadn't dreamed of using something like that?

But he wouldn't be the first to do it. Two months earlier, one of his colleagues tested the machine and went back 10 years in time. He only stayed one day in the past, but when he returned, he was strange; something had happened.

No one thought it was serious, just a slight side effect. However, two weeks after he returned, he entered a bar and killed twelve people and tried to kill four others; he only stopped when a police officer shot him in the head.

As it was a secret government project, everything was hushed up, and the project continued. The mission leader, Professor Wood, concluded that ten years was too much; it would be better to reduce it to two years. Going back a decade clearly affected a person's psychological state; a lot could happen in such a long period.

John had signed up for this mission, intending to be the first to time travel; now he would be the second. Before, he was excited, even proposing to Kelly, his girlfriend. Now, after the bloodbath caused by his colleague, he was apprehensive. He had been trained for anything, but he felt a certain unease, like a student before an important exam. He didn't want to admit it, but maybe he was scared. Something uncommon for him.

He went directly to Professor Wood's laboratory, a large modern-style house on the outskirts of the city, surrounded by trees and a high wall. He found it incredible that no one suspected anything: armed men pacing back and forth in an ugly garden, cars coming and going, ambulances entering an underground garage, but it seemed no one was bothered by it or even noticed anything.

Professor Wood, a man of almost 60 years old, seemed to feel nothing but the pleasure of conducting experiments—some illegal, others just strange. Everyone was just a guinea pig to him, in a grand, as-secret-as-possible experiment.

John, feeling even more apprehensive than before, sat in a small chair and looked at the machine; he couldn't get used to it: an upside-down leather chair inside a metal casing. It spun at a certain speed and sent its occupant to somewhere in the past.

The technical details (and there were many) were not shared with John; much of it only Professor Wood knew. And about his past, no one knew anything, except that for some reason, he had access to a large public budget to do things no one understood how they worked.

“Let's go with this, John! Jump as high as you can, 10 times in a row.”

The only times someone spoke to John were to tell him to do something, usually some physical exercise, but there were some variations—things to test his reasoning, his capacity, and speed of understanding.

Now, finally, he would be the second person to make the journey, but since no one had thought to ask the first what truly happened between leaving the present and arriving in the past, and vice versa, it was as if it were the first time. Until that unfortunate accident in the bar happened, and he died. Thus, John didn't know what he should do; perhaps no one knew yet. He had told his fiancée he would be traveling. She knew nothing of what he truly did, and it was better that way, he thought.

Before entering the laboratory garage, he stopped the car and got out. The guards watched him carefully, but John just wanted to look at the almost cloudless blue sky one last time before returning to the past.

He was even more anxious when he entered the laboratory. He did some exercises, but nothing calmed him down. He was placed in the chair, strapped in, and hung upside down. Soon they would start spinning him, and he would go back to the past. They couldn't be precise, but the idea was that he would return, if not to the laboratory itself, at least to a very close location.

He would carry a small device, resembling a watch. After 24 hours, he should return to a place near where he arrived (in the past) and wait, and he would eventually return to the present. Something seemingly simple to do.

“10...9...8...” John closed his eyes. “7...6...5...” A dizzy spell hit John. “4...3...”

John simply blacked out, and when he woke up, he found himself on the road leading to the laboratory, sitting on the ground.

He slowly got up, feeling a bit dizzy, looked around, and saw trash scattered all over the road. There were some people eating it. He looked up and realized the sky was reddish, and although he saw the sun, it wasn't shining.

The dry air began to irritate his throat, and he slowly started walking towards the laboratory.

The people eating trash from the ground had their clothes covered in blood, pale skin, rotten or yellowish teeth, and only then did John realize they weren't eating trash, but parts of a human body.

This made him vomit his entire lunch. He found it strange because if he had gone back to the past, he hadn't eaten yet; on the other hand, he was an intruder, not himself. They had warned him about this: John existed in this past and in the future, but now it was the present, and both existed. He continued walking towards the laboratory, smelling death and putrefaction getting stronger and stronger. He looked to the side and saw a person approaching fiercely with a machete, but before he could do anything, another person approached and prevented John from being struck.

Startled, he then saw that the person who was going to attack him was bleeding on the ground, while someone was hitting him with a small metal mallet.

But when that person turned around, John could see it was his other “self,” it was the John from the past who was in front of him, even though at that moment both were only from the present, and he said:

“Well, well! I knew you'd come here, but I didn't think it would take so long. I thought Professor Wood would speed up your journey.”

John didn't know what to say and remained silent even when the John from the past stood up, covered in blood. Both began walking towards the laboratory, and only then did he decide to speak:

“Is this the past? I would have thought it more likely to be the future.” “It's not the past. It's like a sister reality.” “Another dimension?” “It's not another dimension. See, that man who is now bleeding on the ground and was about to attack you; when I hit him in the head, in your world, that same man has another version, and that other version suffered something in his head, perhaps a stroke, or something else hit him.” “But...”

John couldn't finish the sentence, as his other self continued:

“On the other hand, when someone from your reality slips and falls down the stairs, someone here suffers something, perhaps a car accident. Haven't you ever heard about sudden or idiotic deaths? Of course, we are in a cruel and violent world, so part of the misfortune of your reality happens because of what happens here.”

They walked in silence for a few more minutes. As they approached the laboratory, the smell in the air grew increasingly disgusting. John then said:

“How did you know I would come?” “Well, we have the equivalent of your reality here. Professor Wood was also trying to create something, but in the end, he only managed to prevent you from going to the past, making you fall here. Of course, I didn't know that until your colleague came here, George, right?” “Yes.”

He then fell silent. He had forgotten about George and how strange he had returned and killed so many people. This reality was bad, but for now, he couldn't think of anything that would have made him act that way.

John was pulled off the road by his other self; they were somewhat hidden behind some plants, a lot of trash, and blood. John heard his other self say:

“I'll go to the lab to get my car. Wait for me here. I'll pull up beside you, open the door, and you get in.” “What do you mean?” “Well, if you want to see Professor Wood's cruel side, you can come in with me. Your friend George didn't seem to like it much.”

John nodded. Whatever had happened to George, deep down he didn't want to know. He was curious, but not that much. He waited for some time, with growing fear, until he saw his car, or at least a car identical to his, leave the laboratory and stop nearby. The door opened, and he got in. Then, as they were going back to the city, John heard:

“How long will you be here?” “24 hours.” “Do you need a watch?” “I have this one. It's how I'll go back.” “What do you mean?” “I need to be back in 24 hours at the same place where I appeared, with this watch in hand, then everything happens, and I go back to the present, I mean, my reality, but I don't know the technical details.”

They were silent again. John saw a person in the middle of the street. His other self slowed down, moving to the side, but as they approached, he swerved the car and knocked that person to the ground, then reversed and ran over them:

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR” was the cry of pain the poor wretch let out, while John heard the sound of bones being crushed, despite the noise of the engine.

Horrified, he looked at his other self and, unable to contain himself, said:

“Why did you do that?” “We are in a cruel world...”

John couldn't believe it. Those eyes transmitted evilness. Disgusted, he almost opened the window, but he remembered the smell outside, where people killed and ate human flesh. He could see arms and feet thrown along the road, rotting. He shrank back into the car seat and said:

“Where are we going?” “To my girlfriend's house.” “Kelly!?” “Yes. Is she your girlfriend too?” “She's my fiancée.” “Interesting, I'm thinking of proposing to her.” “I thought the worlds were almost the same.” “Well. I believe they are quite similar.”

And they fell silent. As they drove through dirty streets filled with body parts, John became increasingly terrified by it all, and even more so when his other self “collided” the car with another person, and if it didn't kill them, the end result was probably very close to it.

Finally, they arrived at a place full of buildings that looked like they had been bombed. John said:

“She doesn't live here.” “Do you think I wouldn't know where she lives? We'll have to wait for her because she works at a bank and must still be there.”

They went up a dirty and sticky staircase. “It's blood,” the John from the past said, “it hasn't completely dried yet,” he added.

Two floors later, they entered an apartment that resembled John's girlfriend's apartment, and John said:

“It looks a bit similar, but it's not the same. How does this happen?” “I believe our worlds are similar, but not entirely identical. We are physically the same, and even our personalities are equivalent, but we are not different; it's a different world. Here, it's normal to be cruel.” “How do you know so much?” “I know because of your colleague.” “George?” “Yes. Professor Wood did many things to him; some I even found cruel.”

This made John swallow hard. They were silent for a few more minutes, and he continued:

“And the equivalent of George in this world?” “He died.” “Shot in the head?” “No. I think it was a blow with a club.”

Then he added: “Did something happen?”

John hesitated for a few moments but said: “He came back different. One day, he entered a bar and shot everyone he found. He only stopped when someone shot him in the head.”

As he recounted, he saw the evilness smile of his other self, who seemed happy with all the tragedy. Then he heard the doorknob and looked at the door. Someone who looked very much like his fiancée Kelly entered, closed the door behind her, looked at both of them, and said:

“Well, well! Is this John from the other world? You don't know the trouble you've gotten into.” Nothing was said for several minutes. Until the John from the past stood up and, looking directly into her eyes, said:

“Shut your mouth!” “I'M NOT SAYING ANYTHING!” “KEEP IT THAT WAY!” “I'LL SPEAK AS MUCH AS I WANT!”

And they continued shouting at each other until John heard his other self say:

“You'd better get out of here. This argument will take a while. I'll meet you on the street.” And he added: “Take the metal pipe. Even if I'm in my world, if you die, I die too.”

John left the apartment. He had forgotten about the strong smell and the sticky floor, so he quickly felt disgusted by it all again. He went down the stairs calmly, holding the metal pipe firmly, but only when he was already on the street did he notice blood and hair on the tip.

He walked a bit down the street, but soon returned to the front of the apartment. He was afraid of what might happen, or what he might do. This would be even worse for him. Had George become bestialized by that world? Or had he killed and then repeated the act when he returned?

These were unanswered questions, questions that would probably never be answered. He looked at his watch; there were practically twelve hours left until the end of the mission, and he was surprised that so many hours had already passed. He then noticed someone approaching and raised the pipe full of blood and hair, ready to kill.

But before his eyes was his other self, with a malicious smile plastered on his face. This made John stop the pipe in mid-air and fear. He then heard:

“Are you hungry?” “I don't think so. And Kelly?” “She's in the apartment and decided to stay there. I understand your lack of appetite, but I need something. Come with me, and we can talk a little more.”

John accompanied him, tried to return the pipe, but couldn't. He then saw that the John from the past carried a small metal mallet. They continued walking through almost deserted streets until they entered what appeared to be a restaurant. John then said:

“I can't believe so many hours have passed. I've done almost nothing.”

“You were unconscious for a while as soon as you arrived. Then Kelly delayed us a lot.”

He ate in silence, some dirty and rotten-looking hamburger, left some change on the table, and they went out again. They went to a square with dead trees, where John said:

“And what will we do for the next few hours?” “We can talk or be silent.” “Here? What about your house?” “Someone blew it up. Fortunately, I was in the laboratory when it happened; otherwise, neither of us would still be among the living.”

John took a deep breath as he heard screams coming from everywhere. As they grew more intense, he asked:

“Doesn't anyone do anything?” “About what?” “These screams?” “The suffering of others is common here. Imagine something common in your world, but uncommon for me. If I went there, I would try to change it, but for you, it's normal.”

And after some time, he added: “I think all those screams are from people who are going to be eaten. Have you ever eaten human flesh?”

The simple question made John vomit bile; there was nothing left in his stomach. But his other self continued:

“When you're hungry, you end up eating, but most people who do it are seeking pleasure. Personally, I don't like it, but as you can see, many do.”

“Doesn't the government do anything?”

“Governments and politicians are the same everywhere in the world, and I would even say in any world. Notice that Professor Wood is funded by the government in two different worlds.”

It's true, perhaps not the best example, but certainly very true. John continued:

“I can't wait to go back to my home.” “We'll go to Kelly's house later. It's my house at the moment.” “I didn't mean that.” “You know, in this world of wickedness, I can't develop properly. Anything I do, someone else has already done on a larger scale. In a way, your world is untouched.”

Hearing that startled John, who tightly gripped his special watch in one hand while doing the same with the pipe in the other. But the John from the past then said:

“It's a tiring day for everyone. Let's go back to Kelly's house; we still have to talk a little more. Let's go quickly; even I'm afraid to stay out here on the street...”

They walked in silence, hearing screams of despair in the background, like hearing dogs howling in certain neighborhoods of some cities. John felt oppressed by it all, and to make matters worse, the smell of putrefaction seemed to be getting stronger and stronger. He simply couldn't get used to it.

Soon they were in front of Kelly's building, but they didn't go in. They went inside the car instead. “It's better for now,” said the John from the past, who added: “We'll be safe in here; nothing can happen to us.”

John thought they would talk a little more, but he ended up falling asleep. He woke up to his door being opened. He looked to the side, and it all happened very quickly; soon he was thrown onto the blood-stained sidewalk.

He tried to get up quickly, but was thrown to the ground again. He then looked up, trying to see who his assailant was, and even in that world of terror, he was astonished to learn that it was his other self who had done this to him.

He then searched for his watch, but couldn't find it. He then saw that it was in the hand of his other self. It was already very late; soon it would be time to go back. With some fear in his voice, he asked:

“What are you doing?” “We're going to swap.” “Swap what?”

The John from the past looked at the orange sky and then lowered his gaze to that devastating environment and said:

“This will be your world.” “But...”

And then John understood what was happening: he would stay in that world, and his other self would go to John's world. Another thing seemed clear to him, but he wanted to be sure, so he asked, fearing his suspicion would be confirmed:

“The George who came back was from this world, wasn't he?” “Yes. Your friend stayed here, scared, locked inside an apartment, until he suddenly died. We now know that his other self was shot in your world.” “What will you do?” “I will kill Professor Wood and who knows what else.”

Then he kicked John and got into the car, speeding off, probably towards the laboratory; he was almost at the return trip.

John got up with difficulty. Beside him was the pipe his other self had given him for protection. He picked it up and looked around; the street was deserted. He started running towards Kelly's past apartment, worried about the possibility that something had happened to her.

The door was locked. He broke it down with difficulty, entered, and saw with disgust that she had been hit in the head. She was lying in a large amount of blood, unconscious but still alive, clearly for a short time.

John began to cry because this meant his fiancée had suffered something, perhaps a cerebral aneurysm, he couldn't say. There was no way to get back to the return point. He wanted to do something but knew that trying to enter the laboratory would be a mistake. All he had left was to wait, probably for certain death.

He wished, even with everything that had happened, that his other self would kill Professor Wood, perhaps that would end everything that was happening, but he wasn't even sure of that.

With Kelly's blood touching his shoes, John felt his tears streaming down his face, and almost at the moment of returning to his world, he tried to decide if he would wait for his probable death, or try to live in that world, or just jump out the window and prevent a greater disaster.

He just wanted to die, but he didn't know if he would have the courage to take his own life or if he would be cowardly enough to wait for his other self to do something, while the blood continued to flow from Kelly's open head and touch his shoes...

#ubg

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Copyright 2025 Ugo Barberi Gnecco

Image made with AI by Ugo Barberi Gnecco