Aphelion

The question the protagonist and the reader must answer is: Was any of it real?

At least the portal didn't lead to the inside of John Malkovich's head.

Excellently written, but it does leave a reader hanging, doesn't it? I'm trying to think of a better way for it to end, though, and I can't. Anything that might happen after the last line would be a let-down.

I really loved this line:

I stood there, hoping the darkness would return.

This just speaks volumes about how desperate the poor character is, that something which ought to be terrifying is, instead, inviting. I also liked:

I have extra clothing, a knife and a sword I bought online. A Zippo too, and some condoms just in case.

Ready for anything, indeed.

Whether his experience was real or not, there's a real message here about what modern life does to people.

Note carefully, that this story may not seem to have an ending, it DOES have a climax, which actually happens around the middle.

TaoPhoenix wrote:

Lester Curtis wrote:Note carefully, that this story may not seem to have an ending, it DOES have a climax, which actually happens around the middle.

Heh climaxes without endings are better known as ...

But after four hours, you're supposed to go to a Mitt Romney Health Care Facility for the Uninsured (i.e., an Emergency Room). No, wait -- that's only if the unending climax doesn't -- um -- defuse the situation.