Dissolving Sucks

Dissolving sucks.

Sure, after being basically betrayed by Bradley, being forcefully punished into an unknown time machine of doom would probably be terrifying, but it was surprisingly boring.

Even after being dissolved, I still had some sort of consciousness. I wondered if this was what dying felt like. If so, I never wanted to die. It'd be more boring than my last trip to the dentist's office. (I fell asleep approximately four times there. No one likes talking about braces for three hours straight, trust me).

I didn't really have a body, and everything was pitch-black, but I could still think in my pretty much hollow brain.

To be honest, I didn't really think much. My greatest thoughts were just, "Wow Bradley stinks," and "When is this gonna end?" and finally, "I'm bored."

It felt like four more hours until something interesting happened. As it turns out, I could see just fine. Everything was just too dark. Suddenly, a small cube just shy of one-centimetre-by-one-centimetre appeared on my legs pretty low down, somewhere around my feet. It was a sort of yellow-ish blue, something that I instantly knew was my shoes.

Excitement stirred inside me. One-by-one, I watched as more cubes materialized.

This process took a few minutes, but eventually I could properly see my lower body. My jeans looked dirty and grimy as usual, and my shoes were the same as before. It was quite disorienting, as the pixels seemed to be…Glowing in the darkness.

Every time a new body part was completely put together, I found that I could move it. Therefore, I could stand up with my two new fully-functioning legs. I walked around in a tight circle, until suddenly BANG! I hit my kneecap hard on something. Ow. I thought. Apparently there are objects around here.

After that, I found my original spot and sat there for another hour, until my brain was assembled and I could finally start thinking properly.

I was still stuck in the time machine. I didn't even know if what Bradley designed even worked to bring me back in time. So far, it didn't look like it was working.

A few minutes later, I was about to lose it. I was about to go insane.

I was on the verge of screaming. I took a deep inhale, and before I could let loose my anger, the machine around me vibrated, and bounced up and down, eventually stopping to a halt. A door slowly opened. I could see colours outside. The sunlight penetrated into the machine, and my eyes had to adjust. I squinted, trying to block the sunlight.

From the looks of it, the time machine had sent me into the middle of a city. I didn't know which one, because only the United States would have a mass of beeping cars and angry pedestrians screaming english. Obviously, I couldn't be sure. I stepped outside, and I knew it was a mistake. All around me, citizens were staring at me and my giant metal box, which triggered my social anxiety, and also made me think OH NO I FORGOT I CAN'T BE SEEN.

Fortunately, due to my above average IQ, I quickly remembered my watch and slapped the surface two times. Nothing happened. I cursed under my breath.

I tried to play it cool. I leaned on my machine, and just said, "S'up people? Don't mind me and my metal box. I just store my gardening tools in here for quick access and safety. No need to stare."

Most people seemed to just walk off like nothing happened. Some, however, like the stubborn homosapiens they were, kept staring at me.

I sighed, and I slapped the wristwatch twice again, and it fortunately turned me (and the box, thank god) invisible. The people looked at each other, especially the children.

I could hear their whispers, "Was that thing an alien?"

The parents just responded, "No, sweetie. Aliens don't exist. I think you ate too much chocolate in the morning. I told you that was too much."

I sighed with relief. I climbed back into the machine, I closed the door, and I called Bradley by slapping the watch five times. I could hear the faint B-RING RING RING of the watch, and I heard a voice.

"Hello? Bradley Shen Yao speaking."

I tried to stay cool. "Hello, yes, this is the 16-year-old teen that you betrayed. Could I speak with you for a little while?"

I could hear Bradley sighing. "Yes, yes. Fine. What do you want, Steven?"

I answered, "Okay. First of all, where am I? Second of all, I hate you for betraying me, third of all, when do I get my father back, and lastly, how do I get out of here to the correct place and time?"

Another sigh from Bradley. "Okay, to answer your questions, first, Manhattan, New York City. Second, I know that. Third, after you do my bidding, and fourth, well, that will be up to me.

I balled my fists. "What bidding?"

Bradley chuckled. "You'll find out soon enough. I just need you to change something that happened a few years back."

"And after that do I get my father?"

"I'll…think about it," Bradley told me. "For now, I suggest you stay alive. Oh, and also one little hint. Go to the Statue of Liberty. Call me again when you reach there. Also, don't die. I would have to find another young man to do the job, and that will take AGES."

He promptly hung up on me. It took me two minutes alone to set my hand down from the previous position. In that moment, I knew I had to do something.

My chance to see my father depended on it.