1 Chapter 1

A/N: hi new readers, so this is a fanfiction I posted here from my original one on wattpad, just to let you know. And unfortunately I can't post images for some reason, so the images and gifs in my chapters on wattpad won't be here:(

My apartment complex was near my work, so I didn't need to drive to travel between them. I was walking home from work, and the setting sun was painting the sky vivid golden colors.

I sighed and turned the street corner. I couldn't see a a single car or person at the moment. I passed a small garbage dump area, but stopped a few feet after. I took a few steps back and glanced at the piles of trash.

Is that... a TV? I walked closer to it to get a better look and sure enough, it was a box TV- definitely an older model... but it looked fine. Who would put a perfectly fine TV in the dump?

I stared at it a little longer. Should I take it? I mean... no one owns it anymore, so... I guess it's mine for the taking.

I glanced around to make sure no one was watching, then quickly stepped over and picked it up. It wasn't too heavy, and it was the size of a backpack, so it was pretty easy carrying it back home.

"Alright," I said and plopped the TV down in my room. "How exactly do I work this thing?" I searched for a panel in the back or anything, but failed to find one.

Come to think of it, this TV didn't have anything on it other than the dark screen... weird. And I didn't really have a remote, buttons, or plugs or anything. I really should've thought this through. But a compatible remote can always just be bought from the store, right?

As I was staring regretfully at the old object, I noticed something on the side of the TV. I crawled over and analyzed it. There- right there- there was a small panel on the left side. I grinned. Maybe I can work this thing after all.

I tried opening the panel, but it wouldn't budge. After several attempts, I just got up and retrieved a fork from the kitchen. After a few attempts of trying to pry the lid off, the small piece of plastic finally popped off. "Yes!" I exclaimed, placing the fork down.

I peered inside and blew the dust away. Right in the middle of the small compartment, there was a dark gray button. Just a normal looking button, about the size of my thumbnail. Ok... this might work, I thought as I lifted my hand to press the button.

But little did I know, pressing that button would change my life forever. I never should've even looked at that old box TV.

My finger inched closer to the compartment, and every other sound seemed to fade into the background- the humming of the dishwasher, the barking of the neighbor's dog.

The only sound was the rhythm of my unusually loud and unsteady heartbeat.

Then my finger touched the smooth surface of the button, and pressed the gray button with a quiet click.