Anything You Could Imagine

A box could contain anything you can imagine.

He’d been walking home from work when he spotted it on the park bench. It was seeping something. A slow, ichorous dribble ran down the side of its crumpled packaging. The rain had soaked it, and now, something dark was sweating out of its weakened seams.

Looking around, he furtively approached the box. Someone had just left it in the open. As he got closer, a foul odour pervaded his nostrils. The overwhelming stench of decay gripped his senses. How long had it been here?

There were no shipping labels on the side that he could see. He coughed. The smell got worse as he approached. Digging around in his pocket for his keys, he did his best to remove the tape without getting any of the congealed goop on his hands. He slowly opened the lid. The scent of rot exploded at him as a blunt object crashed into his head.

He tried to whirl around to see his attacker, but the relentless assault rained blow after blow down upon his skull. It cracked like an egg, and his consciousness faded. In the final moments of his desperate, gasping life, he saw a vision...

A woman tromping through rows of dusty shelves. There was the sweet smell of decay in the air. The kind that accompanies dusty armchairs and ancient books. She approached the clerk at the front of the store.

“I’m looking for a book for my partner. Do you have anything by J.P. Irons?”

They smiled and chirped, “Yes, their latest thriller just hit the shelves yesterday. Are they a fan of J.P’s classics or do they like to read all the new ones?”

“We’ve got a whole shelf dedicated to their work; they’d be delighted! What’s it about?”

“A string of serial murders surrounding mysterious brown boxes,” they replied, pulling a fresh shipment from under the counter, “Kind of like this one!”

They both laughed as the clerk cut open the sealed box.

“We’ve also got a new selection from Irons’ fantasy series, if your partner is into that sort of thing!”

“I’m actually more of a fan of those ones. What’s the plot, without any spoilers?”

“Well….” the clerk began.

A titanic fist the size of a mountain crashed down upon the landscape. Terra’s eyes widened at the sheer scale of the beast. She was going to need more than a sword and some pluck to deal with this monster. She shouted a command word to her steed and flew into the sky.

Thousands of tiny figures swarmed out of nodules in the behemoth’s fist as it stretched out upon the plains. Grasping at the land, it dug its fingers deep into the soil and began to pull its mammoth bulk towards the city.

Briefly, Terra fantasized about what it would be like to be back in her home kingdom, doing something simple like buying a present for a loved one. The sharp pang of familiar comfort steeled her nerves. There would be no simple things to cherish if this abomination rained havoc upon the kingdom.

There was only one weapon in her realm powerful enough to challenge this colossus. She flew to Quixstress’ tower.

She jumped off her steed and rolled into the room, shouting, “Sister, I need the box!”

Her startled sibling looked up from her book, regaining her composure.

“You always need something! You never just call anymore.”

“The Realm is in danger!”

“The Realm is always in danger. I, on the other hand, never get to finish reading in peace!”

“Surely, you’ve looked out your window. The land is ablaze and creatures from the depths of the Arcanum are hours away from the palace. We must act!”

“You always jump to save the precious monarchy.”

“No, sister, I’m trying to save the people cowering behind their walls. We can deal with the Prince and his Puppet-King anytime we want. Now, give me the box!”

“Relax! It’s right behind you.”

Terra swung around. A simple brown box wrapped into paper lay on the table next to her.

“You knew I was coming.”

“Of course, I knew. I ALWAYS know. Now, be quick about it!”

Terra tore off the lid as the visions of a thousand deities exploded around them. She shielded her eyes from the absolute force of its cosmic energies. Reaching in, she grasped a singular dream…

They sighed and put down the book. It had been a long day on the beat, but the adventures of Terra always made them feel better. They kind of felt like they embodied her character. They were always dashing off to help someone or another. “The Colossus Pandorisa” had been an especially good one.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the answer to your every desire could be found in a box? An infinite realm of visions contained within a humble package. They grinned, and that’s when they noticed the woman put the box down on the ground.

She was hurrying away. Too fast. Their instincts kicked in. Way too fast. They looked around themselves. The platform was crowded. It was rush hour, and the station was packed with people.

“Fuck,” they swore, “Not today… not today!”

Running over to the station wall, they pulled the fire alarm.

“Everyone! Evacuate! There’s a fire!” they shouted above the raging alarm bells. If they were wrong, then they’d get a ticket, but if they were right, then they just saved people.

Running over to the package, their worst fears were confirmed. It was wired and trapped. They couldn’t move it without triggering the mechanism.

“Shit... “ they swore under their breath.

There was no telling how long they’d have to work. The woman had been running away really fast. That’s when she blinked and saw the last thing she’d ever envision before the expanding cloud of force tore her to pieces…

It was 5pm. He’d had a really long day in class, and he just wanted the chance to relax. Mid-terms were starting next week, and he wouldn’t have a chance to enjoy himself, until they were done. As he walked up to his apartment door, he was greeted by the mail.

The delivery lady had dropped it off outside. His Aunt had sent him something for his birthday. She always got it to arrive on exactly the right day. He didn’t know how she did it, but it always made him smile.

There were flyers stacked on top of it, along with a copy of the Journal. The front page headlines screamed something about a bombing in the downtown area. One brave soul had died getting everyone else off the platform. They had saved a lot of people.

His smile was wistful, but tinged with a mix of sorrow. Everytime he read about someone that brave, it inspired him. Yet, they were gone, and he was safe. It made him want to do something to help people, but it was his birthday. He was going to read a book and enjoy himself.

The present at his feet drew his attention. His smile grew as he tried to think what she had gotten him this time.

A box could contain anything you can imagine.