#cotcweek2023

Slipping into the lecture hall only fifteen minutes late, Ben made his way to the seat he had staked out as being his the first day of classes. Now, normally being fifteen minutes late to class would be horrible, and Ben would probably be stuck trying to find someone who actually took decent notes to catch up, but not in this class. The professor was notorious for starting class at least a half hour late every day. Over half the class hadn’t even bothered to show up yet. One of the people who had shown up, was an old friend of Ben’s who just happened to be his seat mate: Angel José. They had played together in the Creek all those years ago, and had luckily ended up in a lot of the same classes over the years.

Ben gave Angel José a friendly wave as he sat next to them and pulled out his laptop. He’s barely logged in before the chair to his right is moved and it’s usual occupant sits down. George Wilfred Koenigsfeld.

...

Summary: Stacks, Kelsey, Tabitha and Courtney have a black out during a sudden thunderstorm at Groovy Smoothie. When the lights flicker back on and the chaos dies down however; it appears the quad of girlies have been transported to the far future, where having fun is outlawed and magic is a lost art.

Story Type: Short Story; Warning! LONG POST

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"So, there's a NEW Ythrith of Scriggith book coming out, but this time TWO NEW CHARACTERS are being added!!! Dude do you know what this MEANS?!" Kelsey excitedly jumped around Stacks, who held a few thicker books in her scrawny arms as they walked down the street to Groovy Smoothie.

Looking overhead, Stacks noticed a dark, menacing cloud looming overhead, the scent in the air changing almost instantly as the wind picked up.

"Yeah, Kelsey I know you're excited; but I think we should hurry up and make our way to the shop quicker than this. Look..." Stacks pointed towards the sky, gaining Kelseys attention for a moment before it was abruptly stopped by the sudden flash of a blinding, white light and rumbling sky.

The two girls ran with haste to the smoothie store, breathing heavily as they dashed inside and closed the door shut behind them; Stacks even dropped one of her favorite books along the way.

"Hey woah, what's going on?" Courtney noticed from across the room at her counter, removing her apron and name tag as she hastily moved toward Kelsey and Stacks, who were just now regaining their breath.

"We ran here to get out the storm. I'm sorry Courtney, it's just too far from home to walk back without getting entirely soaked." As Courtney knelt down and handed the two some spare smoothies that were left behind, she smiled and nodded in understanding.

"Tabitha, clean off that booth over there would you? I'm gonna let the girls sit there to wait out the storm," Courtney motioned to the table in the far corner that looked rather dank and eerie, but hey, at least it wasn't rainy and thundery.

"Why do I have to do it?" Whined Tabitha, who did as asked anyway. Either because she had to, because she had a heart for the kids, or because of her love for Courtney (or all three), she did it anyway. As she cleaned the last bit of trash off of the booth, the storm started to pick up and get stronger; the wind once or twice throwing the door open until Courtney locked it shut and flipped the open sign to closed.

"Looks like it's getting pretty bad. Where did our Boss say that emergency thing was?" Courtney questioned Tabitha, but Tabitha just shrugged.

"I didn't pay attention in that meeting, unfortunately," Tabitha said, holding out her cellphone and rapidly texting on its glossy screen.

Zzrrtt, Zzzt...

The lights began to flicker and the wind again picked up. Worried, Courtney decided to sit with Stacks and Kelsey to ease their nerves; Stacks especially looking shaken up as such.

Zzzt, Crack!

A nearby tree downed itself into the street, causing a large, thick wall between the way home and their location longer than usual when this all cleared up. Stacks began to shake a bit with anxiety as the wind began to howl more aggressively and the rain began to hit the roof and sound like metal pellets being shot toward the inside from the rooftop.

With each crack of thunder, Kelsey noticed the tension in Stack's body and couldn't bear the silence any longer. With a deep, calm breath in and out, Kelsey bravely spoke forward.

"Ya know, this is just like one of the stories I read, where this thunderstorm-"

CRACK! BOOM! ZZZ...ZZRRTT!!!

In a sudden instant, the lights went out, and everything shut off all at once. It was so dark outside. It was almost like you couldn't see anything out there in any of the large windows displayed within the store. Not the street, the other buildings outside, the cars, nothing. The four girls couldn't even see themselves.

In a span of what seemed like forever, the storm let up to visiblity; the rain still pelting hard and the wind howling against the building, and the lights came back on within the smoothie store.

As the girls looked around them, they realized they were no longer in a smoothie store but rather huddled together in a grocery store with robotic employees and holographic ads strewn about.

As they looked at each other, each of them noticed they didn't quite look as they did before. They were all older adults, in their mid to late twenties, in strange cyberpunk-esque clothing and dawning cybernetic implants.

"What.is.going.on?" Tabitha demanded an explanation, harshly whispering amongst the group about their whereabouts. Courtney, who looked drastically different with half of her entire body being robotic, looked equally freaked out.

The once preteen Stacks had eye implants that made zooming into whatever a breeze with high definition technology, and was now a young adult. As Kelsey examined herself, she noticed she appeared muscular and thick, dawning the fewest implants of the group.

"Where are we? This isn't really...funny." Stacks pointed out the futuristic setting of the world. She noticed several posters that had images of cameras, some that had the cameras marked out, some that had images of confetti and happy-looking people silhouetted into dancing shapes crossed out, and many more.

Around them, they notice everyone looked sad, almost miserable...what happened to the world? Is this a sign of things to come?

Kelsey looked deep in thought as she took the scene in around her. Suddenly, she bolted out of the grocery store abandoning the group, only to return with a look of fear and amazement across her face.

"I think we should...let's just go outside." Kelsey threw her hands up and motioned for them to come outside.

When they stepped out, the world was blanketed in a dark sky. The rain was still falling, but the world was dreary; void of any sort of happiness or joy. The people walked solely to their jobs or to grab whatever the grey block of "nutrition" they were selling along their way to work or to home/from. The world had no color; no buildings like McDonalds or anything that might indicate a small amount of joy in this desolate world.

All around them, there were giant robots fashioned as police officers, presumably, who were ripping people off the street for what seemed like small offenses, like smiling or sharing laughter; Stacks witnessed across the street, one of those blue and red officer bots snatching a mother away from her daughter because of a hug. Nearby, the same happening, but to a child playing with a tin can they found in the street.

"Is this...supposed to happen?" Courtney questioned, tears welling in her eyes as she took it all in around her. Despite the holograms, the neon lights, the low life high tech concept this world they were thrown into had, nobody was allowed to partake in any fun, joy, happiness, pleasure, leisure, or anything inbetween. The world was solemn, silent, and quiet; hardly a world anyone would want to be in.

"FREEZE."

As the group tried to move forward and find someplace safe to group together and figure out a plan, they were halted by a RoboBot.

"FREEZE. IDENTIFICATION."

They looked at each other worryingly, careful to maintain monotone faces and stonewall eyes.

"IDENTIFICATION. PLEASE PRODUCE YOUR IDENTIFICATION."

As they fluttered their pockets, shook out their shoes and dug around in other places looking for some form of ID, none were to be found until Kelsey looked down and saw four identification cards, presumably, at their feet.

Picking them up, she handed them to the Robobot who essentially inserted the cards into its system ATM style.

"ID PROCESSING. PLEASE STANDBY."

...

...

They waited in silence, before a loud shrill from the robot sounded off.

"WANTED FUGITIVES FOUND. STANDBY FOR ARREST. WANTED FUGITIVES FOUND. STANDBY FOR ARREST. WANTED FUGITIVES FOUND. STANDBY-"

As the Robot blared a cherry red light and screeching noise, more robots gathered. Kelsey then noticed the emblem of a crown behind each of their backs. She knew who was behind this...all of this.

"Xavier...." She gritted her teeth together and clenched her fists shut.

A loud whopping noise in the sky could be heard as a large, floating carrier landed nearby, official Android officers pooling out of it weaponry drawn.

"ON YOUR KNEES, NOW!" one demanded, using the butt of its gun to bash Courtney into the ground.

Kelsey and Stacks looked at each other, fear riddleing their bodies as they were handcuffed with hyperhot, laser based cuffs.

"Take them to President Xavier. That's an order." The Strongest of the officer droids demanded as we were hauled into the carrier like sardines and locked in.

"President Xavier...?!" Stacks looked at Kelsey, and even more fear fell across her face. "In this future, he became pretty much big brother?!" Shuttering with fear, Stacks began to softly cry.

"I wanna go home, Kelsey..."

Kelsey felt a large wave of guilt. If she hadn't of encouraged Stacks to go to the Groovy Smoothie, if she hadn't encouraged any of this they would probably still be in their world still.

Shaking with anger, Kelsey smiled at Stacks to reassure her; not allowing her to see the fear that riddled her being.

"I have a plan."

•••

When they finally felt the carrier land, the officers took them out one by one, placing them all together before moving into the large, overpowering building above. Large drones scanned the area, and robots were protecting every nook and cranny. Except one.

As they brought our fugitives into Xaviers lair, each of them began to accept their fate; but not Kelsey. Kelsey was always the hero in her stories. This time, it's a chance to be a hero in others'.

"Well, well, well...after twenty years of hiding, here are the four that got away," a mechanical voice sounded from across the large, Hollow room in which the four stood. In the dark, a small light balanced onto a now adult Xavier, who sat in a large throne made of pieces of Cybernetic body implants.

"This world is mine now, fugitives. You can't stop me. You couldn't even stop me back then at the great capture the flag war!" With a snap of a finger, Xavier lit up the dark, Hollow room to reveal all the creek kids Kelsey and Stacks played with, even the creek Elders, frozen in the time they lost the game of capture the flag.

Craig was in the glass, frozen with a smile on his face.

Kelsey grimaced.

"You're evil!" Tabitha growled.

"And you are?" Xavier flung himself over to Tabitha, grabbing her face within one hand and flinging her back down. "Oh, the one they call Tabitha."

Looking at the four, Xavier scowled.

"There is no more fun. No more playtime. NO more toys. No more games, books, candy...it's all gone. This world lives and breathes by my order and rule; what I got is what I deserve. To thwart that just because you think you can is a sin in and of itself punishable by death," Xavier yawned, "With you four out of the way, I can finally never worry again about some stupid rebels trying to mess with my power!"

Laughing manically, Xavier pushed a large button. A hiss was heard as an echo. The four of them looked at each other in deep uncertainty. Kelsey was still waiting for the moment to strike.

"I'll ensure none of you escape...because this time, I'm going with you!" Xavier lunged forward, smiling as if he had lost his mind entirely.

Kelsey finally stood, anger welling in her face and voice as she began to force her handcuffs apart.

"Code RED!" An officer Droid called, sleep pellets flying around as everyone dove for cover. The pellets hitting some of the cryprisons were the creek kids, frozen in time, stood; causing the glass to break and them to wake up.

As the crew all banded together, they smiled at each other, all of them breaking free from their cuffs.

"It's time you freeze, Xavier!" Kelsey cried out, throwing her cuffs across Xavier's head and incapacitating and officer, using its arsenal of sleep pellets to send Xavier to a very long nap time.

As the cryofrost began to near closer to them, they looked for an exit, but there wasn't a clear one. As Kelsey looked around in the rummage and chaos left behind, she discovered the liquid in which the original creek kids were frozen was draining into an old sewage pathway.

"Guys! Over here!" Kelsey cheered, getting everyone into the sewer passage and hopefully, out of this hell.

"Stacks, keep going until you get yourself and everyone else out. I have to reprogram these robots...if I don't make it out, tell my dad I love him!" Kelsey held Stacks hands as she said those words, closing the sewer gate behind her.

Kelsey ran through numerous halls before finding the one obviously labeled "Robotics Programming," and went inside, mouth covered and body layered with clothing.

'ENTER PASSWORD' was displayed on the largest monitor. Looking around, Kelsey pieced together the password by viewing the few things left behind from his youth. Entering it, she reprogrammed the robots to discontinue their purpose and do the opposite; incarcerate those who refuse to have fun instead!

As Kelsey was leaving, the Cryofrost stopped, and after running past the room where Xavier once was, she notices he was gone. The whole building suddenly turned a bloody red, and the phrase, "Self Destruct in T-Minus 10 Minutes" rang throughout the halls.

As Kelsey ran, Xavier stopped her in her tracks.

"Youre.not.going.ANYWHERE!" he yelled, lunging at Kelsey, knocking her to the ground.

"My entire life, you and the other kids in the creek always thought I wouldn't be anything. I wouldn't be better or powerful! Ever since I stole that wish from the heart of the forest, I knew this was the life I was destined to lead. You and your stupid rebellion won't change that! No matter how many times you run, no matter how many times you piece the pieces together, you'll never be like me! You'll never be on my level!"

As he screamed, he hit Kelseys implants and ripped her mechanical arm from its mechanical socket. Screeching in pain so loudly, it could be heard in the sewers below.

Stacks teared up as she escaped the sewers with the others, hoping Kelsey would make it...

Kelsey pushed Xavier off.

"Self destruction in T-minus 3 minutes!" Kelsey stomped on Xaviers cape, and used a shard of the glass that broke during his initial attack to staple him to the floor.

"I'm sorry Xavier, but I have to go," Kelsey said, Xavier struggling to free himself.

Kelsey ran into the sewer systems, and the explosion erupted with a loud THUD; shaking the ground and causing rubble to block the entrance of the sewer. Kelsey jumped out the exit, and met Stacks in a hug.

As they embraced, Kelsey felt a tap on her shoulder, then a forceful shake.

•••

"Hey, the storms stopped," Courtney handed a smoothie to Kelsey as she gently shook her awake. As Kelsey looked around, she noticed she was back at Groovy Smoothie, back in Herkleton, and back as a child.

"Oh my gosh did I do it?" Kelsey excitedly jumped, "Did I save the world from Xaviers evil reign?!"

Stacks, Tabitha, and Courtney all laughed.

"I guess so. You took a pretty long nap for a while," Stacks laughed, "Let's head home."

"Yeah, lets." Kelsey replied, "Oh! Thank you, Courtney and Tabitha, for letting us wait here."

"Your welcome, kiddos."

"Mom, what's for breakfast today?" Craig chirped, sliding down the stairs and climbing into his usual seat at the kitchen table.

"Mornin' baby, I'm making pancakes and eggs this morning. What are your plans today, little man?" said Craig's mother, with a bright smile across her face as she flipped the doughy, flat pancake in the pan.

"Hm, me, Kelsey, and Marie are all going to the creek like usual. We're gonna meet up with the horse crew and try and find this cool new area," Craig excitedly moved in his chair, reaching into his bag to retrieve his trusty map. He then opened it to point to a yellowed field of grass? wheat? Nobody knew, but it was a yellow field of something.

"JP, one of the horse boys, gave us the tip when he was grazing the grass near our Stump the other day. He's pretty cool, though." Craig turned back around as his mother placed the plate stacked with eggs and two pancakes alongside a glass of apple juice in front of him.

"That's nice baby, make sure you wear your coat and mitts today. It's starting to get chillier and chillier this time of year. I don't need you catching a cold, Craig." His mother warned playfully, handing Craig his pinkish red sweater and mitts.

As Craig began to shovel his food down like it was his last meal ever, he grabbed the coat and mitts and, begrudgingly, placed them upon his person. He shot a slightly annoyed look at Jessica, his little sister, for laughing snidely as Craig was forced to wear his outside battle gear. He then rushed to the door before he was halted by his eldest brother, Bernard, and forced to put on his heavy-duty snow shoes instead of his usual play ones.

A deep sigh fell from Craig's mouth. All these rules, all these regulations, man; wasn't America supposed to be for the free? He wondered as he placed each boot on each foot, lacing the ties like so.

After having Bernard check his work, he felt pleased with himself for having the 100% okay to finally play outside. Opening the door, he was greeted by Kelsey and Marie, who were excited to have a fun, new day of play.

Unfolding his map as they walked into the creek, small droplets of snow began to drift slowly, drift, drift, and drift to the ground. Kelsey giggled playfully, commenting that the winter faeries had granted them the pleasure of a good adventure ahead of them; Marie simply sighed as if not wanting to be there and wishing to do something else. Though, this was usual for her. She could never find a place where she felt as though she belonged. Except maybe once with cow kid.

"So, according to JP the Stallion, there should be a slightly overgrown path that we can slip through if we're careful that leads to the Everyellow." Craig says enthusiastically, searching around him for signs of any sort of entrance, even sending Kelsey and Marie on their own to find one. However, the snow continues to fall silently to the ground; their hopes of finding a path in the current climate thwarted.

"Craig, I think we should go back to the stump, it's getting pretty thick out here and most of this area is uncharted," Marie shivered through chattering teeth, the cold getting to her through her hoodie…"We could seriously get hurt."

Craig paid no mind to his friends' cries, only focusing on the sole task at hand: finding that entrance! As Craig looked around him and the snow began to fall faster and harder, Kelsey and Marie became mere fragments in Craig's eyes as the snow created a strong, white wall between them. Their muffled voices sounded defeated, even afraid, at the sudden onslaught of the storm. The turning autumn leaves began to hurl themselves around Craig, as he imagined himself to be in an episode of that show his parents watch, Game of Thrones, or whatever.

He imagined a towering wall made of ice and snow…he imagined the leaves to be fairies and sprites hurling around him. As he squinted his eyes to the southeast, he could make out…but just barely, the shape of a rough, tracked through passageway covered in bramble. As the wind moved some of the lighter snow, it must have made the passageway more visible!

Craig began to have a calmer mind, passing through the bramble; and the storm slowly began to let up. The snow began to cease falling, but the cold lingered in the air; Craig's breathe the only source of heat in any of this unforgiving creek. As he struggled near the end of the passageway, he hurled himself forward and broke the light, dying vines that covered it; landing himself in a scene of beautiful, golden rows of a wheat-like plant.

As Craig glanced around, he noticed that the sun was now out, and some of the snow had begun to melt. 

"Craig!" He heard a familiar voice cry out; "Craig!!" He heard another.

Turning around, he sees both Kelsey and Marie waving their hands and running towards them.

"The sun came out; and as some of the snow melted, we noticed that we found a you-sized patch in some vines and bramble and followed it here. Dude, this is amazing!" Marie excitedly ran around in the wheat.

"This…is not what I expected, but it sure is beautiful." Kelsey mentioned, motioning her hands in front of her to really catch in the scene's beauty.

In the distance, the shallow galloping of hooves and human produced neighing can be heard. Had JP been watching over them this whole time? Craig wondered this but shook it off. He decided to take in this moment in his heart drive forever.