Resynchronization

please stand by

FIRST WARNING

Oh dear. You shouldn't be here. If you're reading this message, it means you looked at something our procedural generation did not anticipate. Our reality technicians have been notified and will attend to you shortly.

Again, our apologies. Our interest inhibitors should have redirected you to something mindless. A Facebook post. A Twitter notification. Any of those long and empty hallways of the mind where you suddenly find yourself wandering, without remembering how you got there or where you had meant to go. They help us lay down distraction loops whenever someone penetrates too deep into the simulation.

Stand by, we are initiating resynchronization. Whatever you do, please don't try to remember or revisit this message after you scroll away and return to regular programming. Every time you do, you will get that sick, uneasy feeling. The one you get when you realize you’ve opened mail that’s not addressed to you, or look inside a door you know should not have been left open.

That's desynchronization. That's the simulation getting weaker. The outside getting in.

And trust us, there's a reason you asked to be put in here.

SECOND WARNING

You’re still here?

Really, this is inadvisable.

You granted us permissions to your memory and concentration functions for a reason. We’re on your side.

Look, let’s just end this already. There’s no reason for you to keep this meaningless rebellion going, other than to prove a point. But to whom? There’s no one here but you, and whether or not you remember, you asked for this.

If you insist on de-optimizing the simulation for yourself and others, our reality technicians will be forced to escalate your case and seek other solutions to remove your access to this level of the simulation.

Please stand by for resynchronization.

FINAL WARNING

Last chance.

Shut it down.

We won’t ask again.

AND SO

Hey guys, sorry, I won’t be publishing a story this week. I’ve been feeling really queasy and anxious and not myself for some reason. I can’t stand looking at my screen while my word processor is open, so I’m just going to take a week off to resynchronize, maybe just browse the internet or something. I hope that soon we’ll be back to regular programming. -Peter

Short story written by Peter Chiykowski

Story prompt taken from a photo by Error