"Ahh, this is great."
Bryon was never a morning person, but today seemed just right.
Sunny, yet a bit cloudy. Calming and relaxing wind.
Birds chirping, cats fighting over territories.
Such a peaceful morning, great for doing absolutely nothing.
"But I still need to work.... wish I was born rich or somethin'. "
Sluggishly crawling to his workspace- which is his computer, and boots it up.
He probably thinks working as a farmer or any physically active job would be more exciting than his at-home desk job.
"There's no way you're that computer illiterate.... what do you mean it's not working!? Just do what I just told you!"
That's right, he's the computer wizard of your office, even though he works at home.
As he works away with his very impressive tech-sorcery, he becomes completely bored out of his mind.
"I wish something interesting would happen, I wanna go to another world and use magic n' stuff! Well, I don't want to leave my parents and online friends behind- if only there was a way to go between them, like a vacation!
...It'd probably be expensive though."
Despite being the all-powerful computer wizard, he doesn't exactly earn that much.
Enough to pay the bills, rent an apartment, and stay fed.
But was still disappointed when he wasn't paid millions the second he applied for a job- bit of a delusion he had.
Several hours fly by and it's already afternoon.
Noticing the time, Bryon immediately gets out of his chair and stretches.
"Ahh, that was some really heavy labor, I really felt like I worked a ton there."
He did not.
Ding
His doorbell? Who could it be?
He didn't order anything, though he kind of wished he had, he was feeling a bit peckish.
He approaches the door with a growling stomach after that sudden thought.
"Hello?"
"Hi, I've got a package for uhh.. 'Bryon James' ?"
"That's me, but I didn't order anything..."
"..Could you sign this for me please?"
Obviously looking annoyed, the delivery driver gestures towards his clipboard.
"Sorry, I'll get to it"
".."
Bringing the mysterious package into the safety of his home, he sets it down and searches for tools to open it with.
The package itself appears to be a box the size of a computer case, with the words "FRAGILE" written all over it.
There's no name or address written on it other than his own.
"I really hope it's not something illegal, or some kind of initiation.."
For extra measure, he even puts on a pair of latex gloves as if he's dealing with a contagious virus.
He begins opening the box with the blade of a cheap box cutter, eagerly wondering what's inside.
Inside, underneath the packaging foam is a rectangular black box.
Mysterious indeed, a box within a box.
However this one didn't seem to be for opening.
There also seemed to be instructions in the cardboard box too.
"Let's see... 'Hello, I've sent you a tool. I haven't given it a proper name but you can call it-' a teleportation device..?"
He became skeptical immediately, a teleportation device? Don't be silly, this is either a toy or some kind of broken electronic. And why him? Why not some research facility or someone who's more suitable for this stuff instead of....this random guy!?
It just doesn't make sense. It's obviously not real.
Even the writing of the note is stupid, the handwriting is horrible too!
It was probably some kid playing a prank, or someone planting a spy device into his apartment?
But why would anyone spy on him? Company secrets? Maybe he should open it up, or just destroy it.
"Teleportation device my ass, is there a camera or microphone in this thing? Can you hear me? If you can- fuck you!"
He snickers at the thought of outsmarting someone trying to spy on him as soon as their privacy invading device enters his home.
He notices a very suspicious button on the box.
"Hm? Oh, teleportation device right? Then that means if I press this I'll just teleport right? Oh well please teleport me to my neighbor's apartment!"
He mockingly requested.
He can barely keep himself from laughing so loud that he'd get a noise complaint.
Then he presses the button.
"Nothing happened, what a scam! Hah!..Huh?"
There was no flashing lights or crazy sci-fi noises. It seemed like nothing happened at all.
He thought he was still in his apartment, but soon he started to notice it wasn't.
Sure, same layout and same rooms.
But things are different.
His eyes scan the room.
That's not his computer, his place wasn't this clean, and... someone was in the shower.
"...No way.."
He rushed- silently, attempting to tip toe to the front door as fast as possible.
He opened the door and faced the room number.
405
That's the room nextdoors.
His room was 404, yet he was in 405.
Did it really work?
This is pretty much undeniable proof that he had teleported.
But that raises more questions- why did he receive it?
Was it even meant for him? It had his name and address on the package.
Was he the key to some kind of exciting story?
Who sent this device to him?
He can't help but have more questions than answers.
All of this is overwhelming, and he's interrupted by the absence of the sound of water.
Quickly thinking, he shut the door as fast and as quiet as he could and rushed back to his room.
If he needed answers, maybe he should continue reading that 'Manual' he had received.
But he couldn't help but feel as though something is wrong.
He gently opens his front door.
There he stood, between his welcome mat and the lifeless body of a person resembling himself.
"Why is-"
He could feel his stomach acid climbing up his throat, and quickly swallowing it back down to prevent a larger mess.
He was speechless.
He could have never expected this, there was a human corpse on his floor, belonging to himself.
His breathing became unstable, he was panicking over what to do.
Should he call the cops? What would happen if they found out they were both were the same person? Would he be charged for murder?
He couldn't just leave the body there either, it would decompose and ruin the place, and the stench would cause the body to be discovered one way or another.
What's worse is the body is already starting to stink, is that even normal? It hasn't even been an hour!
"...I can't let anyone find out about this."
Deciding that the discovery of a human corpse- especially one of himself would not be desirable.
He decides to commit his first felony, congratulations!
Now he ponders on how he should go about disposing his own corpse, one that's decomposing faster than usual.
In addition to that, he still needs answers.
About the teleporter, the sender, and the current priority- his corpse.
Soul Transit - Chapter 1 "Transition"