Simulation

• Darren Pham, Grade 9, Bonnyrigg High School -
• Short Story
• 2022

Excellence Award in the 'Summertime Fun ONLINE' competition

The serenity of such an atmosphere continued to play a soft melody, soothing the two into an unworldly state of consciousness. The vast endless ocean of harmonious oranges, reds and pinks seemed to swirl together to unveil a new land for the explorers. Giant mythical jellyfish-like creatures roamed the waters, providing a safe haven, protecting and watching over anyone who enters the vortex of serenity. Upon discovering a new world no has yet to tell the story of, a sharp exhilarating thunder sounded within the two best friends, new mysteries uncovered by the seconds, leaving them to only gasp.

The sky seemed so free. The creatures swayed passersby into a comfortable blanket. The feeling of the air was so warm. An underlying world shielding the two. From what?

Envious beatings bursted; why couldn't Earth be like this? How is this so peaceful? I wonder if I can live here forever? An endless room, where you cannot escape, a box enclosing victims into a loop of idyllic dreams only, an illusion where nothing is malicious.

A contaminated vessel pulsed under the water, a deathly red bright as the sun, veined across the entire world, possessing the horizon, and illuminating the world into a hellish atmosphere. A clear trigger for the deformation and radiation-like transformations onto the wandering beasts, limbs and heads protruded from the bodies, a human-like texture dissipating the safe feeling of soft protective tentacles they once had. The two travellers could only turn a blind eye, refusing to leave their delusion of ‘home’. A repetition of an old forgotten world.

Stuck within a simulation...