2025 November ??, ?? : ??
Subspace Highway , ???
Mr. Moon bowed slightly, a small chuckle escaping his lips before he spoke. His voice was honeyed, laced with a faint British accent. “Greetings, Wisp. I’m Mr. Moon. Welcome to the Subspace Highway.”
Briar let out a nervous laugh. “This is a joke, right? I’m on some kind of television show or... or something like that!”
Mr. Moon straightened, his face tinged with concern and confusion. He replied, “I beg your pardon? I’m not sure what you mean. Listen, I understand you must feel confused, even scared. Allow me to explain—”
“Why do you talk like that?” Briar interrupted. “Why are you British?”
Mr. Moon sighed, shaking his head slightly. “As I was saying, all your questions will be answered—if you’d let me.”
Briar stayed silent, his mind racing. Finally, he spoke. “Alright, fine. Please explain—what’s going on? Where am I? Who are you?”
“I’m Mr. Moon,” he answered, raising an eyebrow. “I thought I said that already. Didn’t you hear me?”
Briar glanced around. “You said this was the Subspace Highway. What does that even mean?”
Mr. Moon walked past Briar, stopping in front of the large window. “The Subspace Highway is my home, a place at the edge of space. You’re safe here, I promise. . . Wait! How rude of me. Why don’t I get you somewhere to sit?”
Before Briar could react, he fell backward into an armchair made of shady oak. He immediately stood, inspecting the chair. He turned to Mr. Moon. “Where did this come from? This place was empty when I arrived.”
“The Highway is quite helpful,” Mr. Moon said with a playful grin. “Now, sit down, and I’ll explain everything.”
Briar hesitated but sat cautiously. Mr. Moon clapped his hands. Behind him, the ground cracked, and a second chair of the same design emerged. Mr. Moon cheerfully sat, giving Briar a small smile. “Ask away—one question at a time.”
Briar struggled to think of a starting question. After a moment, one came to mind. “How did I get here?”
“You stumbled into a pit,” Mr. Moon explained. “I had to call Julia to collect you before you fell to your death.”
“Julia?” Briar repeated.
Mr. Moon gestured to the train behind Briar. “That’s Julia, the train that brought you here.”
“How did you know I was there?” Briar asked.
“Well, I saw your fall,” Mr. Moon clarified. “I was there.”
“You were there?” Briar pointed out. “But it was just me and... wait. Did you kill my janitor?”
“Heavens, no!” Mr. Moon gasped, placing a hand on his chest. “I would never harm someone who didn’t deserve it.”
“You’re lying! You’re full of it!” Briar jumped to his feet. “You killed him and stole his skin so you could chase me into that hole!”
“Please, calm down. You’re mistaken,” Mr. Moon reassured. “You are correct—I attempted to meet you disguised as someone you trusted: your janitor. However, I assure you, I did not ‘steal his skin.’ I had the Subspace Highway create a disguise. I didn’t expect you to run. I’m sorry for the stress I caused.”
“I don’t trust you,” Briar pressed. “How could I?”
Mr. Moon clapped his hands, and the floor in front of Briar cracked. From the ground emerged a pile of loose skin and the same green tracksuit and black cap the janitor had worn.
Briar looked at the pile, then at Mr. Moon. Mr. Moon gestured for him to examine it. Hesitantly, Briar crouched and touched the loose skin. It felt rubbery, almost gel-like. When he picked it up, it stretched unnaturally and stuck to his fingers with a slimy sound. Briar gagged and quickly shook it off.
“See?” Mr. Moon said. “Just a disguise.”
Briar dropped the skin, watching as it sank back into the floor. He returned to his chair, glaring at Mr. Moon. “Why couldn’t you just talk to me? Why disguise yourself at all?”
“I thought humans trusted each other,” Mr. Moon explained. “I was, unfortunately, wrong.”
“Human?” Briar repeated. “So, you’re not human?”
“Not at all,” Mr. Moon replied with a small chuckle.
Briar stared into Mr. Moon’s eyes, unable to fathom what lay behind them. Finally, he sighed. “What do you want from me?”
“A proposition.” Mr. Moon extended his hand. “I need your help. I want you to come with me.”
“Why me? Why not someone faster, stronger, smarter?” Briar asked, leaning forward.
“I can’t tell you yet,” Mr. Moon replied, his tone calmly. “Not until you give me your answer.”
“How convenient,” Briar muttered, narrowing his eyes. “Why would I accept?”
“I’ve seen you, Wisp,” Mr. Moon said, his voice softening. “You despise the world you’re trapped in. The finite sandbox, the limited paths. I can show you an endless gallery of experiences and infinite possibilities. Imagine a world where colors speak, where time moves slower. A galaxy of endless wonders. A life where you’ll never repeat yourself again.”
Briar hesitated. “What if I refuse?”
“I’ll wipe your memory of me and this place,” Mr. Moon answered. “You’ll return to your regular life.”
“Can I ever come back?” Briar asked quietly, looking down.
Mr. Moon stood. “I apologize, but why would you ever want to return?”
Briar stared at Mr. Moon’s outstretched hand, his mind racing. Something about Mr. Moon seemed impossibly kind, yet undeniably manipulative.
“I refuse,” Briar said firmly, standing. “Take me back. Wipe my memory, do whatever you need to. Just take me back.”
Mr. Moon paused, his smile faltering. His eyes betrayed disappointment. Finally, he sighed and clapped his hands. The chairs sank into the floor. “I cannot change your decision. Enjoy your life. Goodbye.”
2025 November 12, 7:40 AM
Cork, Ireland
“My world... is so stale, isn't it? Wake up, school, home, sleep. Wake up, school, home, sleep. The same conversations, the same walls, the same people, the same old routine. Why isn’t there more—more for me, more to see, more places to go, more to feel?”
Briar’s eyes opened. He lay on the white mattress of his bed. Brushing the red duvet off himself, he sat up and looked around his room. His wooden walls were painted with green and lime stripes running vertically. The room was almost bare—just his desk with a computer on top, a white wardrobe, and the red carpet covering the floor. His window was open, revealing a view of the forest outside. His mahogany brown door stood out against the striped walls in the corner of the room.
Briar stepped out of bed and walked to his wardrobe. He stared into the mirror on the door. His reflection stared back—a boy with messy, black, curly hair. His pale ivory skin contrasted against his emerald, green eyes, though heavy bags sat beneath them, remnants of lost sleep. Wearing nothing but his underwear, his slender figure revealed the faint outlines of his bones.
"It’s you," Briar thought to himself. "You look terrible." He let his mind wander. "This cycle... how many times has it repeated? How many times have I looped this track? Where is my option to leave this world?"
He grabbed his grey school jumper and black school pants, pulling them on. He glanced at himself once more in the mirror. "How many times have I looked in this mirror, put on these clothes?"
Briar stepped out into the hallway. Family photos, paintings, and doors lined the walls. He walked through with his head down. "Dad should have left for work already. I should be alone."
He opened one of the doors, entering the kitchen. The checkered black-and-white floor gleamed, freshly cleaned. Most of the space was taken up by a dark glass dining table. In the corner of the room stood granite countertops, a white fridge, and an oven. Across the room was a door leading outside.
On the table sat a brown paper bag. Briar picked it up and peered inside. It held a wrapped sandwich and a pink cupcake. On top of the sandwich was a small note. He read it aloud, a faint smirk forming on his face: “Enjoy the treat, little champ. Love, Dad.”
A knock at the door startled him. He walked over and peeked through the peephole. Aira stood on the other side, her face bright with enthusiasm. Briar sighed before opening the door.
Her eyes lit up even more. “Bri-Bri! Are you ready for an amazing day at school?”
“You have a lot of energy this morning,” Briar noted.
Aira grabbed his arm and started pulling him. “Yes, exactly! So, let’s hurry to school!”
“But I haven’t eaten yet,” Briar groaned.
Aira shook him back and forth, pouting. “Please! I’ll buy you a treat. White chocolate—your favorite!”
“Fine. Let’s get going then.” Briar stepped out the door. The morning sun shone in his eyes. Outside, the forest path was oddly serene. A gentle wind swayed the trees left and right.
Aira ecstatically pulled Briar forward. “Come on, come on! I’ll race you there!”
Briar sighed. “You won’t beat me this time.”
The two dashed down the forest path, Aira laughing and chuckling like a madwoman. Briar chased after her, his mind lost in thought. Is she all that changes in this world?
2025 November 12, 3:40 PM
Cork, Ireland
Mr. Brooks walked across the classroom, bundles of papers in hand, and began distributing them to each desk. “This test will be worth 60% of your grade. If I see any phone calls out during the test, you’ll get a zero,” he announced.
When he reached Briar’s desk, he slammed the papers down. Leaning in close, he locked eyes with Briar. “Glad to see you’re awake today, Mr. Hammon. Let’s keep it that way, alright?”
Briar ignored him, looking down at his test. Mr. Brooks scratched his head before returning to his desk. “Alright, you can start the test now. Remember, no—”
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
He stopped mid-sentence, his hand shooting to his head. Scratching furiously, guttural noises spilled from his mouth as his body violently twitched and shook.
The classroom buzzed with murmurs. A few students stood up, concerned, and moved to help.
Mr. Brooks froze. His mouth opened, and he whispered, “Goodbye.”
Suddenly, crimson spider-like tendrils burst out of his skull—one after another, tearing flesh and splattering blood. The students screamed. The tendrils spread until his head exploded, scattering brain matter, blood, and bone fragments across the classroom.
In place of his head sat a spider the size of a human skull. Its jagged, rock-like body gleamed crimson, its fangs dark gray, and its eyes blank white.
The room erupted into chaos. Students scrambled for the door, pushing desks and each other out of the way. Briar stood frozen, his heart racing, his vision blurred by the gore. He stared at the mutilated remains of his teacher and classmate.
To his left, he saw Aira standing still, her outfit stained red with blood.
Briar’s body moved instinctively. He sprinted to Aira and grabbed her hand, pulling her with him out of the classroom. Behind them, the spider-like monster’s footsteps echoed.
In the hallway, the once quiet and orderly space was now a scene of carnage. Blood and body parts covered the floor. The remnants of Briar’s classmates were nothing more than piles of limbs scattered across the ground.
More monsters stood in the hall, blocking their way. Briar turned to look back. The mutated Mr. Brooks stepped out of the classroom, his body staggering forward. The creatures all chanted, “Goodbye.” The word echoed in his mind like a mantra.
Briar’s head pounded from the noise and the sight of the slaughter. He looked at Aira. She clung to him, her wide eyes fixated on the carnage. Tears streamed down her cheeks.
“Aira,” Briar said, grabbing her shoulders and shaking her lightly. “I’ll do what I can to help you, but you need to run!”
Her voice was broken and trembling. “I... I can’t. Luke, Chloe, they’re—”
“You have to!” Briar pleaded. “Please! Just run! Get out of here!”
Tears welled in her eyes as she hugged him tightly. The monsters came closer. Briar’s heart sank. Did I cause this? My wish... to break the cycle?
A train whistle pierced the air. Briar looked around, searching for the source.
Out of nowhere, a black-and-white train phased through the right wall, crashing into the creatures blocking the hallway. They exploded into pools of white liquid.
A figure leapt from the open door of the train just as it phased through the opposite wall and disappeared.
The figure raised a black revolver and quickly fired, hitting the spider on Mr. Brooks’ body. The creature sprayed white liquid across the wall as it collapsed.
The figure walked closer, slipping the revolver into their pocket.
Briar stared, words failing him.
The man spoke. “Are you hurt?”
Briar released Aira and pointed at the stranger. “Who are you?”
“I'm an ally. Pleasure to assist you.” Mr. Moon waved.
Aira ran to him, grabbing his hands. “Thank you! Thank you!”
Mr. Moon smirks “there, there. It's alright.”
Mr. Moon raises his hand and snaps. Aira suddenly falls to the ground, her body hit the ground making a heavy thud and she laid limp; like a discarded puppet. A rush of shock hits Briar. Mr. Moon raises the the guns from his pocket at aims them at Briar. Briar eyes shoot wide open. Briar raised his arms “wait don’t do this! I'm not a monster!”
Briar’s heart rate rose as Mr. Moon looked him in the eyes, his stare cold and emotionless. Briar's eyes darted between the barrel to Aira to Mr. Moon back to Aira until, Mr. Moon pulled the trigger. The bullet hits Briars head. Just as the bullet collides the world around Briar slows done. Briar’s head twirls and contorts. His eyes spun before rolling to the back of his head, Briar sees a gallery of images and hears several noises, changing landscape, mysterious layers. Instantly, Memory returns.
Briar groans, gripping his eyes, his head felt as if it was pulsating out of his head. Eventually the pain stopped, he looked up towards Mr. Moon. He muttered “Mr. Moon?”
Mr. Moon nodded, a smile coming to his face. “Good to see you survived wisp, I was betting on it”
Briar looked down towards Aira. “What did you do to her!”
Mr. Moon Lifted Aira into her hands she “she is merely resting, temporarily of course.”
Briar nervously questions “what is going on, why are you here?”
“Here it is” Mr. Moon placed Aira back on the Ground. He took out a blue cube from his pocket. Briar yelled “Mr. Moon!”
“One moment wish your questions will have their answers” Mr. Moon drops the cube on Aira. It flashes white before expanding covering Aira in a white aura. Mr. Dusts off his hands “now then, lets solve this issue”
“What is happening!” Briar yelled demanding the answer. Mr. moon walked around he poked one of the dismembered limbs with his leg “Aranenna or the infestation, they use other creatures as host to gather nutrients for their growth.”
“Why are they here! Why are they killing people!” Briar questioned
“That may be my fault, the Aranenna usually don’t attack planets like this. It is possible they noticed you when I tried to bring you back home. Did you notice any weird phrase from them”
“Goodbye,” Briar stated, “they kept saying goodbye, every single one”
“Then I was right. The Aranenna larvae lay dormant inside a species brain but to be able to connect they latch onto an idea or concept that is common in the race. Do you remember the last words I said?”
Briar thought back to the last words Moon said, echoing them in his head. “I cannot change your decision. Enjoy your life. Goodbye.”
Briar spoke “you said goodbye, that was the last thing you said”
“Excellent memory wisp,” Mr. Moon said, he voice a cheerful tone, "the Aranenna attach to a thought and use that thought like a radar to find other similar organisms”
“so what they’re attacking people who think of the word goodbye?” Briar questions.
Mr. moon shakes his head “not just that, they’ll hunt anyone who has heard the word before.”
Briar looks at the white liquid splattered against the wall “why bother hunting based of a thought, wouldn’t they just attack anything is sight?”
Mr. Moon walks over to the white splatters on the hallways; he touches it white his finger. Mr. Moon chuckled “These Are fully grown. Their newborns, they can’t even see, only being able to detect others with that same thought. So, without that thought they’re useless.”
“Newborns? What are the adults like?” Briar questioned. Mr. Moon responded sarcastically “let's hope you’ll never know, is there a way to get up to the roof?”
“The fire escape outside the building” Briar answered. Mr. Moon takes a second revolver out of his pocket; he tosses it to Briar. Briar catches the revolver in his two hands. He looked at the revolver. A was a dark black revolver, patterns of white vines covered the revolver. Its shape matched one from the 19th century. The tip of the barrel emitted a faint white glow. Mr. Moon spoke “Why don't we hurry the pace, the longer we take the more people die. Guide the way wisp!”
Briar takes a glance at Aira before quickly running down the, making sure to avoid stepping on the detached limbs. Mr. Moon quickly followed behind him. Yelling could be heard in the distance. Briar looked towards moon; a blank stoic expression covered his face “Hey Mr. Moon”
“Go ahead” Mr. Moon responded. Briar continued “can you put it back, revive everyone. Set everything back to normal”
Mr. Moon sighed “I'm no god wisp. . . but what we can do is prevent others from witnessing this.”
The two reach the school's front door. Briar opens the door. Seven Aranenna infected humans stood by the outside of the school. As Briar opened the door the aranenna heads turned the Briar. The aranenna ran frantically towards him, Briar froze watching them approach. Mr. Moon moved Briar out of the way. He gripped the revolver with both hands. He quickly shoots each one with robotic accuracy, the Aranenna exploding in contact with the exit. Mr. Moon took out a black handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the tip of his gun. He looks back to Briar. Briar’s eyes were fixed on the aranenna remains. Mr. Moon taps Briar on the shoulder. “Are you alright”
“I'm fine,” Briar responded “it's just . . . this is so surreal, like a nightmare. I can’t even begin to process what happening”
Mr. Moon responded “focus, guide me to the roof and I'll do what I can to restore your world. Can you do that for me”
“why do you even care?” Briar mumbled his voice slowly rising. Mr. Moon tiled his head in confusion, his voice shook and was soft “pardon?”
Briar pushed moon away “Why do you care! Why help me!”
“it's just what I do wisp” Mr. Moon fretted; he took a cautious step back. Briar pointed at Mr. Moon; he pressed his finger against his chest. “Why should I even trust you! You're an alien just like them!”
“Wisp, you are letting your emotions get the better of you” Mr. Moon reached out his hand. Brair slapped Mr. Moon hand away. He continues badgering Mr. Moon, his hands swaying violently as he spoke “Of course my emotions are getting the better of me, these creatures are here because of you! You’re here acting like people aren’t dying! That stupid face, I'm sick of it!”
Mr. Moon sputtered “wisp-”
“And stop calling me that,” Briar interrupted “I'm Briar, Briar! B-R-I-A-R!”
Mr. Moon bowed. “I apologize Briar . . . I promise I have no ill intentions for your world. Now if the issue has been solved. Can you show the way?”
Brair put his hand to his chest, he breath in and out, he slowing counted under his breath “one, two, three, four, five . . . I'm ready”
Briar points back towards the school building. On its side was a fire escape, the stairs and the railway were made of a black metal, they spiraled up leading to the building's roof. Mr. Moon ran ahead, Briar quickly following behind. The two rapidly ran up the stairs, each step making metallic clank.
They made it to the top. The roof of the building was empty apart from a couple of vents and pieces of trash. Mr. Moon walked to the center of the roof. He turned back to Briar and gestured for him to come over. Mr. Moon took out an odd device, it was a dark black, with white accents. It had a bright red button on top of it. He placed it on the ground and a stand extended out to the bottom. Briar peeked over his shoulder at the device “what are your going to do”
“They need that core thought for them to hunt, erase it and their entire system collapses," Mr. Moon explained, tampering with the device. The device pulsated with white lights making a sparking sound with each pulse. Briar responded, “ease it? but it's a thought, a thought that almost everyone has.”
Mr. Moon smirked “I'm going to remove memory of the word “goodbye” from your world.”
“you're going to do what?” Briar questioned. The two hear a banging coming from the fire escape. Mr. Moon called out “they’re not going to stand idle while I cut of their dinner, you're going to need to use that revolver, I am afraid I can't assist you while I'm doing this”
Briar raises the revolver; he aims it at the fire escapes. His hand shivered and his finger grasped the trigger. A hand popped up from the fire escape followed by the head of an Aranenna. Briar presses the trigger. The gun fired and the bullet missed its head. The aranenna rises up from the fire escape and runs towards Briar. Briar presses the trigger again. The bullet hits the torso of the Aranenna’s host. The Aranenna moved forward, unphased. Mr. Moon grumbled “aim for the head not the body”
Briar aims the revolver up, he presses the trigger again, the gun fires another bullet that blows up the Aranenna, the body falls over. Briar covers his mouth resisting the urge to puke. Several more aranenna climbed up the fire escape, they pushed each other desperately trying to get to them. Briar repeatedly fires over and over at the antennas. several fell over dead. The horde of aranenna moved forwards like a flow of water. Briar’s gun suddenly stops firing. He looks back at Mr. Moon. The device was floating, it emanated a bright white glow. Mr. moon stood up and looked towards the moving Aranenna. Mr. Moon chuckles “that’s all she wrote”
Briar looked at the device. It suddenly bursted into a blinding white light. Its shine enveloped as far as the eye could see. Briar’s eyes rang, he fell to his knees. After a minute, the sound died down and white light dissipated. Briar looked up; the aranenna laid upside down, completely detached from their host. Briar looked to his left. Mr. Moon was looking down at him. He offered Briar a hand up. Briar brushes his hand away and stands up. “Did it work?”
“Well can you remember the word they were hunting on?” Mr. Moon inquired. Briar opened his mouth to speak but stopped himself, he thinks and tries to remember what he was told mere moments ago. Briar shakes his head “I can’t remember, you did it!”
“Amazing!” Mr. Moon clapped. Briar looks around at the several dead bodies. “What now?”
Mr. Moon repeated “what happens now? I clean up the aranenna, stage it as an accident then you and Aira return to your regular life.”
“I keep my memories?” briar asked. Mr. Moon hesitated for a moment, he waited before answering “you can keep them, in case we have another emergency like this. either way, I'll try and make everything back to normal.”
“Thank you, Mr. Moon" Briar, smiled, “thank you for doing what you did”
“this is goodbye for now,” Mr. Moon bowed, “possibly forever, but that's okay? You already made your decision to stay, so let me get out of your-”
The sound of choir bells rang from the sky, each bang making the ground beneath them shiver. Sky cracked; A machine slowly broke through the sky. First forty black, long, and jagged spider legs tearing through the sky; each legs causing a crack through the clouds, then seven bright red eyes shining through the clouds; there shine sending a shiver down Briar’s spine and finally the main structure, its form a massive spider that blocked out the sun, covering the area in complete darkness and its figure a slick pristine mechanism. The massive machine spider swung its abdomen back and forth slowly each turn making the same colossal choir bell. Briar stared aimlessly at the structure. The machine opened its mouth it spoke in an overwhelming voice, something you’d except from, a god “ssskchirr chirrksi Mr. Moon! chiskkssk”
Mr. Moon shuddered; his gaze was shaking “unexpected”
“What is that thing! Mr. Moon!” Briar yelled. Mr. Moon answered “it's called “the Chordis”
The machine’s forty legs struck down, making ripples in the air as they descended. The legs collide with the ground. Briar hears the incoming sound of collapsing buildings and distant winds. After a moment, a shockwave hit them. Briar falls to the ground; he coughs up blood. He feels a sharp pain in his chest. The school building cracked and shook. The Chordis’s eyes changed to a bright white. Mr. Moon quickly waved his hand in the air. Briar looked up. He saw the train to the subspace highway appear. It stopped right in front of them. Mr. Moon looked down at Briar “can you stand?”
Briar didn’t respond, his body refused to move at all. Mr. Moon wrapped his arms around briar. He runs to the train. The ground all around them cracked and shook. Mr. Moon jumped onto the train. Mr. Moon placed Briar on one of the train seats by the window. He sat across from him. Mr. Moon touched the white windows. The clear becoming fully transparent. Briar watches as the train shot upwards into the sky. The train rapidly rises from the ground below, the ground below them becomes smaller as they rise. Briar watches as they crash through the atmosphere and rise into the black void of space making a shockwave in the air.
Briar could see planet earth out the window. The chordis’s legs were wrapped around a portion of the planet. Its legs dug into the earth. The Chordis’s moves away from the earth. The planet's crust cracks. The Chordis’s legs tear off a portion of the planet, taking off a perfect sphere of mass off of the earth. The Chordis’s entire structure glowed white. Suddenly both the Chordis and the chunk of the earth disappeared. Briar felt control over his body. He got closer to the window; he looked at the damaged earth Infront of him. Briar coughed blood onto the window. He fell back lying across two seats. Mr. Moon stood up “briar, don’t move. Its effects and still upon you”
Briar looks up at the ceiling of the train. his eyes slowly close.
“My world is so stale, but is it? Wake up, school, Risk my life, panic. Changing conversations, changing walls, confusing people, the rapid lack of routine. Why is there so much! too much to see, too many places to go, too much to feel? It's overwhelming, I'm drowning in this ocean of chaos, the numbness I felt seems so distant from me”
Do you trust Mr. Moon
