Asher Wells

It's just too perfect, Asher thought, as he smiled with a sinister grin. He stood on a rooftop of an abandoned apartment building overlooking the city. However, his focus was an empty warehouse just across the street from where he stood. Asher knew something of value rested inside that warehouse. So much so that he scaled every inch of the building for weeks. Asher knew every detail associated with the outside of the building. He formulated a well-laid plan to break into the building and steal whatever was inside.

He knew that whatever it was; would bring him a striking payday. Of course, being a thief is viewed as an outdated profession. Advances in technology and security systems make being a cat burglar more challenging. Asher Wells rose to that challenge successfully, stealing only the rarest items that money can buy. However, unlike famous cat burglar's in the past, Asher's name is unknown to many. There aren't headlines of a notorious thief named Asher, nor are the police searching for his whereabouts. Acting as a ghost, Asher declines the public eye and the handcuffs that often come with fame for people like him. He dresses from head to toe in black clothing and is a man of few words.

Traditionally, he acts on commission. His services are sold based on the item and its price. Asher scales and researches before the contract for the theft. However, this situation is entirely different. He happened on this building by mistake. Once he laid eyes on the building, he was captivated by its mystery. The building continued to call to him with a whisper of temptation. Tonight, Asher would finally respond to the call to see what's hidden inside.

As the night fell over the city, Asher made his way onto the rooftop of the warehouse. The air duct would act as the entry point to the building to avoid any cameras or guards. He slid inside with ease, making his way through the air ducts quietly. Finding the vent leading to the main floor, he quickly knocked it out of place and onto the floor. He peered his head out upside down to have a quick look before jumping down to the main floor. Just as he suspected, not a soul wandered the inside of the warehouse. The poorly lit warehouse featured a small glimmer of light from an open floor area. Asher blended with the dark spots of the warehouse, making his way towards the illuminating light that called to him. Each step Asher made, he did in silence. He inched closer to the light, ignoring caution. Once his eyes made contact with the item, a sinister smile arose once again.

A locket contained in a glass case stood alone in the middle of the warehouse. The locket was in the shape of a heart with engraving inside the heart, attached to a silver chain. Asher gasped at the striking piece of jewelry. Upon closer inspection, Asher noticed the engraving inside the heart of the locket. The engraving resembled a clock, although; the numbers were strange symbols that he had never seen. The locket was breathtaking. Asher remained focused on the task quickly and carefully lifting the glass casing of the display. Once freed, the locket gleamed a pulsating light that caused Asher to step back. He stood an arms-length from the locket and watched the light fill the inside of the warehouse. He quickly reached out and grabbed the locket and felt what seemed like a presence as the grip of his hands tightened.

Asher took the locket and carefully placed it in his over-the-shoulder bag. The light from the locket dimmed significantly once inside the bag. The pulsating sensation that came with the light dissipated as well. It was during that moment Asher noticed the street lights from the outside peering in from the window. The light revealed three doors that resembled the exit of the warehouse. However, Asher never knew that three doors led to the outside of the warehouse. He didn't recall seeing them before grasping the locket. Each door stood tall in front of Asher with four symbols in a heart-shaped pattern. The doors called to Asher with the same pulsating vibration that the locket did. Asher approached the middle door cautiously and slowly reached for the handle. As his hand gripped the handle, the door ignited with the same light that came from the locket. The light grew so bright it overtook Asher and filled the warehouse. Asher felt the light overcome him and pull his body forward into the door. He could only see white as his body fell forward, passing the frame of the door. Asher closed his eyes and braced for his demise as he entered the door.

The smell of smoke and gunpowder filled Asher's senses as he awakened. His eyes slowly adjusted to the pastel shade of the sky looking down on him. He quickly realized that he was in the same warehouse, but something was strange. Half of the roof was missing from the rest of the structure. He quickly rose to his feet and checked to find his bag was missing. Anxiety and uncertainty overtook his emotions like a hijacking. Questions began bouncing off one another in his mind. Was this the same warehouse? This warehouse looked forgotten and destroyed. As Asher continued to look around the warehouse, he noticed the right side wall was gone, exposing the outside. He made his way to the main street to find the entire city in ruins. Buildings and cars were torched and left behind. Vines shielded buildings growing from the ground over time. More questions followed Asher with each step he took. What happened? How long was he gone?

There wasn't a soul in plain eyesight. However, Asher felt eyes from every angle on him. He continued to walk north along the main road in disbelief of the devastation that he sees. Suddenly, a building nearby from the warehouse caught his attention. On the door was the symbol from the locket, spray painted in black. He reached for the door handle to find it locked. Frustrated and confused, he reared back and kicked the door, busting it from the hinge. Asher's eyes searched the room for any signs of life. Convinced that the room was clear, Asher took a moment to analyze the events that are unfolding. He struggled to figure out what or why this is occurring. Asher continued to evaluate his position when light reflected off the walls from a dark hallway. He was sure there was a person down that hallway with answers to his questions.

It was time for Asher to get clarity on what is transpiring. He slowly walked down the hallway. His arms flexed in a fighting position. As the light grew brighter, he realized it was a small fire. Asher approached the room where the fire was burning, sliding his back against the wall beside the door frame. He listened to the crackle from the fire as a stick circled under the kindling; someone is on the other side of this wall. Asher couldn't get a good look at this mystery person. The soundtrack of the fire continued, but the mystery person said in a tired tone:

"You should warm yourself by the fire; it will be nightfall soon."

Unsure if the mystery person was trustworthy, Asher reluctantly approached the fire and the mystery person with extreme caution. The mystery person was in a delicate state. His arms and legs were brittle in size and stature. He wore tattered and torn clothes tied around his waist with a rope and a hood draped over his head. The two sat on opposite sides of the fire, eyes focused on the other. Finally, Asher couldn't wait any longer to receive his answers. He carefully crafted a series of questions to keep his recent events hidden:

"Have you been in this area long?"

"No, I only just arrived."

"Where did you come from?"

"I came from the east; I believe it once was called Chicago."

"Is it no longer called Chicago?"

"No, the names of places of the past have long been forgotten."

Asher paused before asking the next question. The past, he thought. How could this be? If this truly is the future, what year is it? As Asher's face showed his mind in deep thought, the mystery person told him more:

"You want to know why you're here after entering that door?"

"Wait, how did you know about the door?"

"I know many things, Asher Wells."

Asher's face became flushed with fury. How is it this person knows his name? Asher rose, leaped over the fire, grabbing the man by his tattered clothes, and demanded answers:

"What is going on? Who are you? How do you know my name?"

The mystery person struggled to breathe. He gasped for air with each word in response:

"I also walked through a door and ended up in this land."

Asher grew impatient, releasing the man with force. The mystery person fell back and collected himself. As his heart rate slowed down, he told Asher everything.

The year was 2047, the world as he knew it was gone. The new world order grew just days after you walked through the door in that warehouse. They released a deadly virus, killing millions. Others died at the hands of nuclear attacks. Cities crushed, technology destroyed, lives lost. Those of us that remain fight to end the new world order and regain this land. Asher sat motionless as this mystery told him everything. However, one question remained. Why was he there? As Asher pondered this question, the mystery person revealed the answer:

"We need your help, Asher. We searched throughout the centuries to find someone with your skill level."

"You brought me here to help you?"

"Yes, you must accept before we continue forward."

"If I say no?"

"You will remain here with no chance of finding the locket to return to your time."

The locket, Asher thought to himself as the fire began to weaken. The locket must be the reason behind all of this. But, his bag with the locket was missing after entering the door. Is it possible this man has it in his possession? Asher analyzed the task at hand without knowing the details. He knew that he is without food, water, clothing, and weapons. The locket would be impossible to locate on his own. Also, the symbol spray-painted on the outside of the door was to lure him in. Everything must be connected, he thought.

Asher looked sharply at the mystery person and agreed that he would help under one condition. Once the task ended, Asher would return to his time with the locket. The mystery man nodded with agreement, then extended his hand to Asher, introducing himself:

"My name is Yahir."

"Yahir? Don't make me regret this."

The two shook hands while gazing into the eyes of each other. Asher's eyes burned with anger. The two will embark on a journey that will lead them to the epicenter of the new world order. They will encounter a labyrinth of trials along their way. However, Asher knows that the only way to return home is finding the locket, and Yahir knows where the locket is.