It was just another autumn afternoon for me, but soon I would find this day to be anything but conventional. In fact, it would swirl my life around into an entirely new direction, whether I liked it or not. I had finished school and walked home about 45 minutes back. The sun was shining, leaves swirling like a miniature golden, brown, and red tornado. And best of all, the weather was perfectly pleasant. My legs were twitching and shaking in excitement as I was working on homework. On a beautiful day like this, I couldn’t BEAR staying indoors.  

Scratch, scratch, scratch, was the sound the pencil made as it touched the paper to solve the math problems. But something was off. I frowned, listening to the sound of the pencil in a half-dazed state, and slowly the scratching sounded louder and louder, with lots of noise and evil laughter in the background. My eyes wide open, I was gasping for air and saw a huge man with a cruel face and dark black eyes, holding a heart, then crushing it with his bare fists and blood spraying on the white walls, giving them a new design with deep red.  

HAHHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! All I could hear was this dreaded noise!  

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!” I screamed, clutching my face and shutting my eyes tight. But nothing changed. And then it all stopped. I shook my head in absolute bewilderment. I must be going insane, I thought, shuddering. It’s probably just the Pre-Algebra homework. But to be fair, even the sanest of people can go mad with the right amount of that torture. Shaking my head, I got back to work. Sighing, I finished the last of the Pre-Algebra homework, and moved onto the final part: reading an article about Arnold Bennett, an author, for Social Studies class tomorrow. It was quite short, only a page long, and on the bottom of the page I found a rather interesting quote from him that read “Any change, even a change for the better, is always accompanied by discomforts.”  

“What an interesting-” 

Ding Dong. Ding Dong.  

“Who could that be?” I muttered to myself. “We aren’t expecting anybody today, are we?” Opening the door, I found a small package on the mat. I looked around, and nobody was near the house, not even a delivery truck. All that was there was the box, as if it were saying hi to me. Weird. A package certainly can’t get delivered on its own. It’s the brown box Amazon uses for their smaller packages, but all it said on the box was “To: Jeff” in peculiar red handwriting, with no address or name. I rolled my eyes. It must be some prank. Ripping it open, all that was there was a paper with a message on it. It read: 

Dear past self,  

I need help and it’s an emergency. I can’t explain why right now, because they can read these messages. I know it may be confusing, but I sent this through Amazon’s pre-emptive shipping service and time travel. I’m basically your future self. Be near your room mirror at 9:00 PM so we can talk. I’ll tell you everything there.  

Thanks, 

Yourself 

My heart started beating faster. There were butterflies in my stomach. I recalled that Amazon had just released their new pre-emptive shipping service about a month ago, but it’s got to be something else. There’s no way something like this would happen to me. I dismissed any thought I initially had about the package and walked outside to get my mind off things. No need to decide now; I still have time left. After all, what could possibly be of so much importance? Future-me would have just called the police to deal with it, if they really claim to be me.  

The outing was a complete blur for me, with lots of smiles, laughter, activity, and perhaps a bit of adventure and thrill as a nice touch. It was like one of those dreams that seem so vivid when you experience them, but when you wake up in the morning and look back at them it’s like there are only a few major details you can remember and nothing else. 

“See you later guys!” I told my friends, waving at them as I left the park to go home.  

“Bye!” They replied in unison, waving back. 

I had decided against telling them about the all-mysterious letter I received, as well as that horrific and graphic daydream, because it wouldn’t matter anyway, and they probably would have thought I was crazy for even thinking that it might be real. Someone taking the time to write me a letter like that because they need help for something “important” that’s an “emergency”? Please, just give me a break. I’ve never done anything to help someone with an emergency that’s important ever in my life, and I’m only in high school. What would be the benefit of asking me, when you could ask any adult to do it, including police or detectives, if it’s that serious? I have made my decision now. I’m not doing it. As I reached our house, I knocked on the door (In the rush to get fresh air I forgot the keys, silly me) and was greeted by the warm smile of my mother, a bright woman with a great personality to match. Just what I needed to eradicate the confusion and questions in my head.

“Did you enjoy today, honey? The weather looked great!” My mother said as I walked in. Dinner was already ready for me on the table, and the delectable aroma of the steamy, almost heavenly, and perfectly cooked chicken held me a slave to its charm.  

“Great! My friends and I did a lot around town today and played soccer in the park as well. Not only that but we also did our best to do some adventurous things, like climbing high trees or doing parkour. Nobody got hurt, and I guess we learned a lesson that risks can be a good thing. Climbing trees is actually super fun!” I replied, still drifting towards my food like the floating, enchanted characters you see in cartoons and shows.  

“Wow, good for you!” My mom said, grinning. “You know, I used to do a lot of that as a kid too.” A smile crept across my face as I sat down.  

“The food looks good today.” I gobbled it down faster than a hungry predator, savoring each bite. The chicken had the perfect combination of sweetness and spice that made my mouth water and spoiled my taste buds as if they were the children of a rich figure. In these moments, I could not care if a meteor struck where I sat, and only focused on the meal before me. In less than two minutes, it was all gobbled up and in my happy stomach. I looked at the clock. It was 8:30 PM. If I was going to meet the self-proclaimed “you from the future” like the message had said, I would need to decide now. On one hand, if I did end up deciding to go, it could be real and I could help someone out quite a bit today, but on the other hand, the chances of it being real are quite low, and I was extremely tired after all I did today. So, I said goodnight to my parents, and the latter of the two choices won, as I drifted off into sleep. 

BANG, BANG, CRAAAAAACKKKKKKKK 

I jolted up and out of bed, hyperventilating. Please don’t be the same thing that happened this morning. I’m shaken enough already, I thought, trying to keep myself controlled, with no such luck. My breaths were faster than a sprinter. Looking around wildly, I saw that the mirror had cracked, and in its place was, well, me. He looked a bit older, with slightly longer black hair, shaggy over his head, and a more athletic, taller composure. Otherwise, he had the same face and other features as me. No, it cannot be. I thought. There’s no way.  

“Actually, there is.” The person said. “I’m you but in college, and I can also hear your thoughts. Not only that, but I need help that only you can provide. So please, come quickly, hold on to my hand, and I will explain along the way. We need to travel back to the future. Oh, also, thanks a lot for making me waste my energy to reach you. Things would’ve been a lot simple if, I don’t know, you ACTUALLY LISTENED to the MESSAGE.” He rolled his eyes. Yep, that’s definitely me, I thought. Future-me held his hand out, and I decided to take the risk. If I was able to take risks this afternoon, I would be able to take them now too. I can’t play it safe my entire life. Might as well make the most of it, if I really do just live once. Who knows, maybe it’ll be completely fine and I’m just overthinking? Something just clicked inside, and it made the choice for me. Grasping onto his hand, my vision blurred for a second and I tumbled, only seeing a void of blue and green. But then my sight cleared, and we were in a completely different world. “Walk with me,” he said. 

“Will you please explain now?” I asked, still dazed from what happened. “What do you need me here for? What’s this all about?” My head was spinning.  

“Look, I know you’re confused, but I’ll explain,” future-me said. “Last night, “A detective by the codename of Noir approached me, saying that a top criminal has plans to come to our house tonight, because he is looking for an ancient relic that’s been in our family for years. Our parents will/already have shown it to us when we turn 16, and now this dangerous criminal, Leo Park, has escaped from Alcatraz and is now after this ring which is worth millions of dollars. If he gets it and gets the cash, there’s no telling what he can do with it. The world will turn into his playground.” Both of us shivered. 

I should have known this was a bad idea. “But then what do you want me to do? I’m literally 15 years old and you want me to help you stop an international criminal from the future!? How messed up-” 

“No, you don’t understand. He won’t and can’t harm you, because you’re from a different flow of time, so you won’t be affected. Also, we just need you to lure him in, as he has tech that can read the awareness of humans, but again, not from people out of this time period.” Future-me looked down at me, serious and solemn. “I understand if you don’t want to do it, but are you in or are you out?” 

I thought for a second, but I knew the answer was already set in stone. I’ve already come this far, so there’s no point in backing out now. “I’m in.” Future-me nodded and ushered me into the house.  

“Welcome, young one.” Said a voice in the corner. As the moonlight shined on his face, I saw his gray hair and eyes that could pierce even the strongest of armor. “Your older future counterpart has already told me about you, and we are acquainted. I’m Noir, and my team needs your help to stop this crook once and for all. He's already stolen millions and has many connections. This may be the best chance we will have in years to stop him. It’s been long enough already. But enough with the sentiment, here’s the plan. You will be out and aware of what’s going on around the house. The center chamber is the room we must protect at all costs, as it houses the ring. We have advanced technology in which we can communicate with thoughts and will help ambush you once you get him distracted. Since he has so much strength, power and protection we’ve developed a blade of diamond and steel to finish the job and kill him. Alive or dead were the orders we’ve gotten. Any questions? Please be quick, we’re already behind on time.” 

“No sir, not at all,” I said. And so, the plan was on. As the rest of the people creeped back into the shadows, I just stood there taking a look through the many windows that only showed stars in the night sky. No sign of anyone yet, I told them. Copy that, future me said. Oh! It works! I told future me. Of course it does, this is the future. Now focus, replied future me. I heard once again a creaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaak as the door opened, bracing myself for what would come next. Standing before me was a huge, muscular 6-foot 7’ man with white teeth and dark eyes glistening in the moonlight, exactly as he appeared in my impromptu "dream" from the afternoon.   

“So, this tiny child has been sent to stop me? How ridiculous!” He laughed. A loud, hearty bellow echoed across the house. He took a knife, and I stepped back, knowing exactly what would happen next. Please help me, please. Leo thrust it right into my chest, and closing my eyes, I grimaced, waiting for the chorus of angels to come and take me to the afterlife, but nothing happened. As I slowly opened my eyes, nothing had changed, and the blade had gone right through me, yet not hurt me at all. They were right, and a gaping expression quickly engulfed the big man’s face. 

“Surprise old man,” I smiled. “I stopped you from killing me, and now you’re about to die.” As if on cue, a blade was thrust through his heart, eyes still in shock, and life drained from them. He collapsed onto the floor, blood pooling around his body. I shivered. It’s so hard to believe that I participated in the killing of someone. I have blood on my hands, just at 15 years old. My heart throbs quickly and loudly at the thought of it. What have I done? I saw Noir and future me grinning at me in pride, the group high-fiving and congratulating each other, and then everything went black. 

When I woke up, I was still in my pajamas, but I could smell the sweat on my t-shirt. The mirror somehow picked itself up and cleaned up, I’m guessing something from the future, and the shadow of older me got sucked right back into it, as if a vacuum cleaner pulled it in. I was alone at home again. “What an eventful night,” I sighed to myself. Yawning, I figured I might as well just get up now since I would wake up around this time anyway, at 6:00 am. I would probably be chewing my nails, tossing and turning, if I tried to get back to bed after the rather horrific experience last night. It wasn’t completely dark, but not light either, and my parents were both probably asleep. I saw a letter on my bedside, that read: 

Hey Little Me,  

You passed out quickly after we won, but don’t worry, everything’s fine here and I managed to bring you back home so you could sleep safely. I wouldn’t want our parents worrying over this for no reason. I just wanted to say great job, because what you did here today could have impacted so many people’s lives for the better, even if you may not realize it. Just know that even though it may seem scary or tough at times, you’ll get through it.  

Thanks, 

Future you :) 

Jumping out of bed, I realized something. I’m capable of doing big things. Older me seemed like a pretty nice person, so I figure I’ll turn out decent when I’m older. I’ve already become more accustomed to risks and been through a lot for a 15-year-old. I just hope I don’t have much homework when I’m older, I thought, chuckling to myself. I strode out of the room with purpose and was ready to start a fresh new day. It was quite the adventure I had without taking a step out of my room!