No one is here to save me. The realization floods my mind as I sprint for my life, possibly for the final time. Around me, buildings go up in flames and concrete crumbles. I chance a quick glance over my shoulder to confirm my worries—a giant machine is hot on my tail. Never in my life did I imagine I would be present for the takeover of killer robots. But then again, this shouldn’t be happening in my lifetime…
Exactly a year ago, I was alerted that the CEO of the tech company I was working at wanted to have a word with me the next day. Though I was a rookie only in my second month, he had apparently stated that my ideas were “truly astounding.” Unsure if it would be a pleasant conversation or not, I spent the whole afternoon and evening in my mind, weighing the possibilities. I woke up the next morning, pumped for the big meeting, but that all went out the window as soon as I set foot through the threshold of my apartment.
My eyes widened as I looked up, taking in the towering screens and flying cars. It was absolutely glorious. Truly, a tech obsessed girl like me could wish for nothing more than a scene like this. Stupefied, I took my time strolling through the modern city, until a bus whirred past me at lightning speed without even making a sound! It was so amazing, I had to stop myself from skipping down the street. For the first time, I realized that all of the humans here looked weirdly…dull. Strange. Nonetheless, I was beyond giddy to continue exploring the futuristic landscape. As the bus came to a stop, I noticed the date, lit up on one of its screens.
April 13, 2104??? I couldn’t believe my eyes. For a brief moment, I wondered if I was dreaming. How was it possible that I was nearly eighty years in the future? If anyone was aware of my confusion, they certainly didn’t show it. The people around me continued walking as if on a conveyor belt, blank expressions plastered on their faces. I approached a few of the walkers and was brutally ignored each time. By then, it was starting to set in that something was completely wrong. In a sudden panic, I broke out into a full sprint. I didn’t know where I was going, only that I wanted to find someone who would speak to me, someone that would tell me what was going on. That’s when I saw them. The robots, I mean.
I stood in awe, gawking at the three tremendous robots trudging straight toward me. To even think that humans could create machines as beautiful as these! Judging by how there was zero reaction to these giant robots, I assumed they must be quite a normal sight. I craned my neck to look up at their facial features. Strangely, their eyes were glowing red. The faster my heart started beating, the faster the robots seemed to move. Stirring me from my trance of sorts, a woman screamed “RUN!” Immediately, the robot on the right set a target on the woman, gaining speed as it stomped straight at her at a speed that seemed scarily fast for a hunk of metal. The sky above me seemed to darken. To my terror, I looked up to find a shadow looming over my head, casted by the flat, metal foot of the robot. I was about to be crushed.
After a few days, I figured out the situation at hand. The robots could sense strong emotions, and they were programmed to eliminate them. I wondered who would want to create such a horrific world, where people were controlled but never felt anything. The only thing I knew was I desperately needed to get back to 2024. That is, if I could evade the murderous robots. I didn’t know how to limit myself from having feelings, how to copy all the others who seemed conditioned to feel nothing at all, and that made me the biggest target.
I’m still running. The robots have tried relentlessly to rid their city of me, but unfortunately for them, they never will. My legs threaten to give out as I finally reach the very door I had stepped through one year ago, on April 13th. After my countless attempts to escape this dystopia, I’m sure today I will succeed. I have to.
I wrench open the doorknob, closing my eyes as I slam the door before a robot smashes me to a pulp. My entire body shakes as I take a deep breath, hopeful that I’m clear of that nightmare. As I open my eyes, I exhale with relief, recognizing the familiar view of my small apartment.
On the desk next to me, my phone lights up. April 13, 2024. A single notification lays on the screen, a reminder of the meeting with the CEO. At that moment, I realize this is the perfect opportunity for me to save others from the terror I spent a year living in. Almost out of time, I sprint to the company building.
A bell dings as the elevator opens to the highest floor of the building. Confidently, I stride into the CEO’s spacious office.
“Ah. You must be Evelyn. I must say… you look a lot different from your profile picture,” he pointed out as a way of greeting me.
Yeah, I guess a year in a robot apocalypse might have that effect on someone, I thought, laughing to myself. “Sir, if we could please put those ‘astounding’ ideas of mine aside for one day? You’re never going to believe what I’ve witnessed…”