Resolve : Episode 6 : Crossroads
Chapter 1: Shifts in the Air
Paul arrived at Fresh & Save earlier than usual. The shop’s cold glow greeted him, but today the light seemed… fractured. The aisles shimmered faintly, as though viewed through warped glass.
Paul stopped near the cereal aisle, staring at the identical boxes stacked perfectly in a row. When he reached out to touch one, his hand passed through it. A faint, distorted laugh echoed around him, but when he turned, the aisle was empty
He moved toward the frozen section, but the tiles beneath his feet shifted, rippling like water. His breath caught as he glanced down and saw his reflection staring back at him—not in the polished tiles, but in something darker, deeper. His reflection blinked, and he stumbled back, nearly colliding with Tom’s trolley.
Chapter 2: Jane’s Warning
Paul found Jane in the stockroom, her phone in hand. She looked up as he approached, her face pale.
Jane hesitated, glancing toward the door. “I’ve been having these… dreams. Weird ones. I’m in this… place. It’s dark, and I’m stuck in this kind of…” she paused, searching for the word, “…pod. I can see the shop, but it’s like I’m watching it, not in it.”
Paul frowned. “What do you think it means?”
“I don’t know,” Jane said, her voice trembling. “But it feels real, Paul. Too real.”
Before he could respond, she turned and walked away, leaving him with a growing sense of unease.
Chapter 4: Tom’s Plan
In the frozen section, Tom was sitting on a crate, staring at his phone. He looked up as Paul approached, his face drawn but determined.
“I’m quitting,” Tom said abruptly.
Paul raised an eyebrow. “Really?”
Tom nodded. “I told Stacy I’m not taking her dad’s job and I don’t even care that she’s leaving me. Feels more like it’s me who’s doing the leaving.”
Paul grinned. “That’s amazing.”
Tom hesitated. “Yeah, but… every time I think about leaving, I get this… feeling. Like something’s holding me back.”
Paul frowned. “What do you mean?”
Tom shrugged, his gaze dropping to the floor. “I don’t know. It’s like this place doesn’t want me to go.”
Paul placed a hand on Tom’s shoulder. “Then maybe you have to fight for it.”
Chapter 5: The Door Returns
The Archive door was open when Paul passed it that evening. Inside, the glow of the archive console illuminated the room. Paul stepped closer, his pulse racing. This time the screen was filled with files labelled with names he knew: Claire, Tom, Jane. His own name was at the top.
He clicked on it, his breath catching as the screen displayed fragmented text:
SUBJECT: PAUL
Resolve Status: Pending
Evaluation Cycle: 729 days
Neural Calibration: 63%
Paul’s stomach churned. He opened another file—Jane’s:
SUBJECT: JANE
Resolve Status: Partial
Simulation Anomalies Detected: Increased Lucidity
He stared at the screen, his mind reeling. The hum grew louder, almost oppressive. He backed away from the console, his breath coming in short gasps.
Chapter 6: Reflections
At home, Paul wrote: Day 6. I found the archive.
He glanced at the manuscript on the table, its pages spread open. For the first time in years, he felt the urge to finish it. The words came in bursts, frantic and uneven, but they flowed.
The light above him flickered once, then steadied. Paul didn’t stop writing.
