Wednesday has come around again, and I’m happy to present this week’s flash fiction.
The portal clung to Ilan as he reluctantly stepped through. The mission had seemed enticing from the description. An alter-realm in peril, a riddle which time had been unable to unravel, and the promise of weeks spent out of base. Even months if he’d been lucky.
His luck hadn’t held.
A scant number of days later, Ilan discovered everything had been a teenage prank involving reflectors, voice adapters, and too much free time on the kids’ part. This results in him returning early.
He squinted expecting the ever-raging argument between Zachary and Lottie to roll over him before he even had a chance to breathe the base air. Silence greeted Ilan.
Effie, the final member of his team, sat the perfect image of bliss. Or her version of it. She dipped a tea bag lazily in her cup as she flipped pages of a magazine.
“Where’s Lottie and Zachary,” he asked pulling out another chair at the table.
Effie pointed with her lips, first one way than the other, not bothering to look from her magazine.
Following her motion, Ilan noted two active portals. The seal lights gleamed at their top.
“Uhm, Effie,” Ilan said hesitantly. “Why are they in sealed portals?”
“They needed time apart,” she said quickly. Ilan knew she needed the time apart from them.
“Sealing teammates in alter-realms isn’t allowed.”
Effie paused, mid page flip, and glowered at him. “Neither is using missions you’re unqualified for.”
Ilan breathed in. “Fair point. What’s the tea?”
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