This is an automated archive made by the Lemmit Bot.
The original was posted on /r/nosleep by /u/BadandyTheRed on 2024-10-13 23:43:35+00:00.
I held the phone up to my head with the arm that was not as injured and heard a panicked voice call out on the line.
“Help, there is a fire here and we are stuck in the building.” A brief coughing fit interrupted the caller, no doubt due to smoke inhalation. I could hear an inferno in the background and they continued.
“My name is Kylie Burke and I am a secretary at the Hope for the Future research center on 311 Lang street. We don’t know what happened but a fire broke out and someone blocked the exits. We are stuck in here, we tried breaking the door down but we can’t and it is getting hot to the touch. Help us! We are going to die unless you send the fire department now, please help!”
I was not sure how I was going to stop a fire, but I would have to do something to prevent it in the first place. It sounded like details were scarce and I was trying to think of what else to ask, to see if any more info could be gleaned when I heard the static and the panicked,
“Hell...o......plea.....hel.....us” A loud crash signaled the end of the call and the line was dead again. I had to find that building and do something to stop that fire, I did not know how many people were in that building besides Kylie but it could be dozens or even hundreds and they were likely all stuck and would be burned alive. My mind raced, lots of things could start a fire, but I considered the blocked doors and the situation stank of some malicious influence. It might even be the same person who has been committing all of the other future crimes, so far, he has been at every event and my gut convinced me that he would be there and he would likely be the one starting the fire.
I pocketed my phone and tried to rise but my whole body ached from being beaten almost lifeless. The shock and adrenaline of the fight and answering another call was starting to subside and I was finally feeling just how injured I really was. As I tried to stand up, I fell back down with a shock that made my body writhe in pain. Just then the woman I had saved from the attack earlier came back in and tried to help me. Her initial concern must have abated when she saw me try and defend her, though she still had a somewhat doubtful look on her face when dealing with me. She did seem to want to help now and said,
“I am sorry, I can't get a hold of anyone, this place became a dead zone all of the sudden and I can't get the police or an ambulance here. It seems like you really need some medical attention. Thank you for stopping that man, but who was he and how did you know he was coming for me?”
The question was a good one and I struggled to come up with an answer that she would believe since I couldn't exactly tell her I got a call from the future where she was likely dead.
“Oh I don’t know who he was, but I saw him creeping around and thought he might be up to something when I saw him come in here. I am sorry for scaring you earlier.”
I introduced myself and she did the same. I learned her name was Bianca Sinclair and she was a researcher at the Hope for the Future. That name was cropping up a lot, I wondered if maybe M was targeting people who worked there for some reason. This many employees being potential victims, it couldn't be a coincidence. I remembered what M said about how I should, “consider who you are really saving and why?” I needed to get more information about what these people were doing and why they might be targeted.
We moved out of the restroom and to a bench where we could await some help. The whole rest stop seemed to have no traffic today so no one else came through to assist. The emergency line was still out and Bianca was unable to call out to any other lines. We had been waiting so long it had been almost an hour and we finally flagged someone else down. As soon as the woman approached us and she spoke I recognized the voice as the one from the call and I knew I had met Stacy Thomas. After introducing ourselves, Stacy had offered to go get help for us, but I did not have time to spend at the hospital despite my injuries so I declined. I did ask her why she was heading into town and apparently, she had been coming this way to visit her family. It turned out her brother had just been killed and she was going to be with her family to mourn his loss.
I realized my hunch was likely confirmed but just to make sure I asked what his name was and when she told me I felt a wave of realization and despair. His name was Calvin Thomas and he had been struck by a car and killed while cycling at night yesterday. As I was mulling in my own sense of sadness and defeat at the memory of how my actions had inadvertently led to his death, Bianca perked up at the mention of the name.
“Calvin Thomas? You are his sister?” Stacy nodded and confirmed,
“Yes, why?”
“Well, your brother and I work together, or worked I should say, I am so sorry that is terrible what happened.”
My ears perked up and I listened to them speak more about Calvin. Now to find out he worked for the Hope for the Future foundation as well? It was all too much. Everyone I have met during this entire debacle has had some connection to this foundation, what were they anyway? I was in a unique position to find out more since some workers were here with me now. I could glean more info and maybe see what was going on. Then I could follow up tomorrow at their facility, assuming I could keep it from burning to the ground.
I tried to inquire about what sort of work the foundation did, but Bianca was tight lipped about it and Stacy indicated her brother was never forthcoming in the sort of research they did there either. Just vague statements about research and development into new technologies and some renewable energy solutions but few specifics. In the end I did not know why someone would want to kill the people who worked there. I had some suspicions that Bianca was not telling me everything though. I did not blame her; it was her work and it was private. I could not tell her what I really knew about why I thought she might be in danger, but something happened there that has made them a target for whoever, or whatever M is. I had to make do with the knowledge I had, since I had another incident to stop tomorrow.
Stacy departed as she had to get back on the road and said goodbye. Before Bianca could leave I tried to ply her with some questions about her work.
“I did have a question about the foundation, how many people worked at the Lang ave building? and is it open tomorrow?” Bianca regarded the question furtively and asked,
“Why do you want to know?” I told her,
“Well I just wanted to visit and see what sort of work is done there I am really interested in new technologies and innovation.” I was not lying at least not completely, but she had a doubtful look on her face. She tried to discourage me but I was persistent,
“Please, I am very curious and it could be a personal favor for me if you wanted to repay me for the help.” I smiled and the motion hurt my face after getting stomped recently. I could tell she felt sorry for me and relented.
“Alright I can take you on the investor tour and if anyone asks you are a new shareholder, its not open to public tourists.”
“Thank you so much! I promise I won't be any trouble.” It was sincere since if things went the right way, I would be saving her and all her coworkers from a fiery fate. I had my way in now, I just needed to ensure I could evacuate those people on time or stop the first in the first place. Since I couldn't bring a fire engine to the site, I would have to make due with a visit at around the time shortly before the call. I needed to stop the fire before it happened.
The next morning Bianca and I set out to the foundation. She spoke a little more on what they did and the answers were not something I suspected. It sounded like some sort of sci fi movie premise, but the Hope for Future foundation was actually trying to research Tachyons and the potential to send things forward or backward in time. I thought she was joking with me but when I started to laugh, I saw the look of genuine sincerity and my jaw almost hit the floor. I wondered just then if I should tell her about the phone? If she knew maybe she could figure out how it's happening and why to me? It could not be a coincidence I get embroiled with some futuristic foundation that can send things through time and I just so happen to start receiving calls from the future. I decided to ask her something , trying not to give away too much,
“I know you probably could not confirm to the public but, has anyone really done it? I mean sent an object back in time?” She looked uncomfortable and responded with a curt,
“That is classified and why do you ask?”
“Just curious. I was also wondering if something like a phone or computer could be used to send a message from a different time to now using that method. Would that be possible?” Her eyes narrowed and I was afraid a said too much.
“That is a very specific suggestion, why would you think that is something we could do?” I just mumbled a feigned excuse under my breath and then pointed to the building we were approaching like an impatient child and asked,
“Is that it?” Hoping it would change the subject from my all too specific question. She nodded and looked away, clearly not fully trusting my distraction but too polite to grill me on it. We had indeed made it to the foundation. Bianca parked and we got out and h...
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