[WP] You wake up in a strange room, only to find alternate universe versions of you there, each different in their own way (gender, race, background etc). You have no idea what brought you here.

Thought I'd give this a go, with it being my prompt. This is part one of <shrugs>, and pretty much covers my story up to the prompt, that will come in part two.

<BEEP...BEEP...BEEP>

I looked over and groaned, staring at the flashing neon-Red display. 6:35AM. Slowly, I rolled onto my back, and gazed at the posters on my ceiling. It was no secret that I was a film-buff, but these posters seemed to mock me now. The smug expression of James Bond no longer made me think he was the ultimate in save and sophistication. Instead now it screamed at me ‘I save the world and do it with debonair. What are you doing with your life’. Not wanting to bare the mocking of a fictional entity, I shut my eyes and rubbed them. What I was doing, was the same as every day for the past 2 years. I was getting up at 6:35 to go to a job I hated. Perhaps though, that was unfair. It was good money, that was for sure. I could even afford my own apartment. But I couldn’t help but loathe the place. Whilst old school-mates had gone on to become writers or musicians, here I was, sitting in some God-forsaken office job, waiting to get home, so I can go the next day. The cycle was sadistic, and it laughed at me with every rotation.

As the clock read ‘6:41AM’, I somehow rose from my bed. I had had that dream again. The dream that had cornered me for the past 3 months. Running in a corridor, from a force that I dare not look back to see. I make it to the end, but the door is jammed. As I turn to face the creature, I awake. I had talked to some friends (however few there may be), and they assured me it was nothing. But why couldn’t I get it out of my head then? Standing up, and taking a big stretch, I sighed as I looked at my room. Clothes flung across the floor, an old pizza box resting behind my TV. Like some kind of loner teenager, I had made a decision to just reject cleaning the place up. No-one visited anyway. I guess no-one’s looking for a 20 year old with a dead end job and no real social prowess. I thought about making the bed for a moment, but left it as it was. It didn’t need doing, so why do it? For all the mess I had made, there was one area I tried to keep clean, the balcony. It was a tiny little thing, room for one person to stand there and no-one else, which suited me fine. I stepped onto it, and breathed deeply. The cold air lodged in my throat, a reminder of what it meant to be alive. I chuckled to myself. I may be alive, but I wasn’t living. I had had such potential just 3 or 5 years ago, but it had all been squandered. I can’t change the past, I told myself, as I stepped back in.

Making a simple breakfast of toast and cereal, I fell back into my leather armchair and reached for the remote. ‘Damn’, I uttered, as the TV refused to work. Just my luck. Thinking it as too much an inconvenience to see the problem for myself, I decided to just sit there, as I ate my breakfast in cereal, sans the occasional slurp or crunch. Finishing the bowl off, I tossed it into the sink, waiting for the day when I’d actually clean them. Getting dressed was a chore as always, as the company-enforced shirt refused to button up, instead opting for a carefree ‘lets go anywhere’ mentality. Eventually though, they bent to my will, and the pants soon followed. Looking at myself in the mirror, I tried to maintain a positive attitude. There were worse positions to be in at 20 years old, and I tried to focus on the positives. I had a job, food, and a place to live. By all measures, I was made. I guess they don’t factor in how happy a person can be. My eyes look tired, and it made me appear much older than I was. A series of unshaven stubble was fast emerging, the black hairs prickling against my skin. I made a mental note to shave later, knowing that I’d probably never get round to it.

Approaching my front door, I had one final glance around. The living room was as messy as my bedroom, but it didn’t matter. Mom and Dad never visited, and there was no significant other to wish me well before my big day of work. I again thought back to just 3 years ago, back when I lived in Raleigh, with Mom and Dad. I had been the apple of their eye, and wondered what they must think of me now. They both called from time to time, but I always let it go to voicemail. I didn’t want them to see me like this. Like a failure, I thought. Turning the key to unlock my door, I breathed deeply, getting ready to face the world. And that’s when it happened.

At first, I wasn’t even sure what I was seeing, my eyes refused to adjust to the light. Slowly, it all came together, and seeing the vision before me made my jaw drop in fear and trepidation. Instead of the usual hallway that greeted me every morning, the hallway was empty, wit all fours black. It was at this moment, that I realised what it was, the hallway from my dream. the hallway I had seen dozens of times, was now here before me. Unsure of what to do, I ventured forward, only for my front door to lock behind me. ‘Crap’, I uttered aloud, my voice echoing in the impossible space.

“Do not be afraid Sam” a deep calm tone replied to me. I shrieked, and would have been probably embarrassed, if there was anyone around to hear me. Regaining control of my sense, I looked around, my eyes darting from corner to corner, trying to see who had spoken. “Who’s there?” I asked, and couldn’t help but feel ashamed. I had seen enough B-List horror movies to know that asking who’s there in a mysterious environment was nothing short of a death sentence. As I waited for the seeming inevitable end, I was pleased to receive a different response. “Who I am isn’t important Sam, you are the one who’s important”. I did my best to suppress a scoff. “Me? I’m sorry, whoever you are, but I ain’t anybody special”. “Oh Sam” the voice stated, the tone being sincere. “That just isn’t true. You are one of the most special individuals in this moment”. The voice paused. “You are going to save the universe, all universes as a matter of fact”. This time, I did both bother to suppress, my laugh echoed in the empty space. “Me?! I’m not saving anything. I’m just waiting to wake up and get out of this hellhole”. “Ah, I see” the voice retorted, the tone more cold and curt now. “You think this is a dream then, like the ones you have every night?” I paused, trying to formulate the correct response. “How di-” “It doesn't matter how I know, just that I know. Your name is Samuel Antony Bryson. You are 20 years old from Raleigh North Carolina, though you currently reside in Seattle. And whether you know it or like it, you will save all universes”. My mouth hung open, waiting for a response, but none came. “Here, step through this door” the voice’s more gentle tone returned. Almost on cue, a simple wooden door appeared before me. From what I could tell, it was not connected to anything, and merely stood there alone. “You’re kidding me” I joked. “I never joke with such important matters Samuel. Open the door. It’s not like you have anything else better to do here”. “I thought you said you didn’t joke” I replied, and felt the curl of a smile appear on my face. “Heh, point taken”.

Knowing the voice was right, I slowly turned the door handle, the cold steel pressing firmly against my warm palm. Turning the handle, I wondered what was going to come next, the last time I opened my door, I had walked into an impossible world. What would be next for me, and how was I supposed to save every universe? As I opened the door, I couldn’t help but stare as the sight before me. 6 individuals had gathered in the room, each one sat at a table in deep discussion. From what I could make out, it was 5 guys and a girl, who all had to be roughly my age. And that’s when it struck me, like a bolt of lightning that goes off from no-where. They all had the same dark coarse hair that I had (though hers was much longer. They all sat in the same hunched position that I did; with one arm resting on a knee to prop myself up. It was clear, more clear than anything I thought, as the door slammed behind me. It was when they all looked up at me, 12 piercing blue eyes staring me down, that I knew the truth.

They were me. They were all me.

/r/WritingPrompts Thread