Just as before, Rebecca found herself standing in her room. The familiar scent of dust and air freshener filled her nose as she took a deep breath. Another buzz came from her pocket.
Hey, Rebecca. Samantha’s text began, You still up for that pool party we were planning for the weekend?
The girl smiled, her thumbs readying over the screen as she formed a response in her mind.
Wait… actually… nevermind, I don’t think I have time this weekend. The next message continued, How’s next Saturday sound?
Rebecca’s eyes drifted to the timestamp on the messages, pausing before she could type anything. That’s today. The girl thought, her attention flitting to the date at the top of the screen.
Sorry for not replying. She sent in return, fingers flying over the virtual keyboard. I might be a bit late today. Wait for me!
She smiled, glancing up to the brightly-illuminated window of her room, looking down again to press the send button…
…Of which did nothing.
Message not sent. The error message read, Tap to resend.
A tap on the screen.
Message not sent. Tap to resend.
Another tap.
Rebecca raised a brow, glancing up from the device only to be met with darkness. Nothing existed around the girl for as far as the eye could see. No light shone but that of her phone. Even then, staring back to the device only revealed that it too had since faded away.
“What…” Rebecca stammered, “What’s going on?”
In an instant, her vision was filled with a blinding flash of light.