Eye of Ra by Kipjo Ewers

giving it his back for some distance and privacy and got dressed. He marveled at how soft and weightless the outfit’s material felt against his skin. As he donned the socks and sneakers, the wall next to him became shiny and reflective so that he could view himself as he stood up. A shiver came over him as he smoothed out his outfit giving himself a look over. It was a bit unsettling seeing someone both old and new at the same time. Feeling whole once again, he quickly swatted away a mist forming on his eyes as he gave a nod of approval.
     
    “Yeah, this will work.”
     
    “For your protection I must attach myself to you before we head to the surface,” informed the familiar slithering up to him.
     
    “What do you mean ‘attach’?” He asked stepping backward.
     
    “I possess the ability to further reduce my size and alter my shape taking the inconspicuous form of either a bracelet or necklace.”
     
    “How about neither?” Laurence declared. “Why don’t you just transform into a walking stick, and I’ll carry you?”
     
    “These are the protocols for returning to the surface,” it stated. “If you choose not to follow them we will just proceed with the inject …”
     
    “I’ll follow! I’ll follow them!” He gave in.
     
    Laurence took a deep breath before extending his right hand. Effortlessly it began to wrap itself and slither up his arm while shrinking in size until it looked like a thick exotic bracelet coiled around his forearm. Some of his fear and uncertainty melted away as he gave it a fascinated look over.
     
    Fear returned tenfold as the familiar’s eyes began to glow brightly, causing the air in front of him to crackle. He stumbled backwards as electricity surged from out of thin air. It intensified as blue and white sparks began to foam and expand outward from the electrical fireworks creating an oval vertical door. The energy from the hole subsided a bit as it kept its form. A wide-eyed Laurence curiously shuffled over to it to see what he could only describe as universes and dimensions clashing into one another. Memories of his father’s physics lessons flooded his mind, because they mirrored what he was seeing. He was looking into a tear in the curtain of space and time.
     
    “This is …some kind of portal …isn’t it?” He swallowed.
     
    “Correct,” answered the familiar on his arm. “In your language it is called a dimensional jump portal. By stepping through you can travel virtually anywhere within the known universe.”
     
    Laurence stepped closer to the portal, then recoiled as panic leapt into his spinal column giving him a cattle prod shock.
     
    “Oh hell no! Ain’t there another way? A ship or a submarine?”
     
    “This transport does not contain miniature vessels,” informed the familiar. “It does not require any considering that dimensional jump portals are both the safest and fastest mode of transportation. It is how I brought you onto this ship.”
     
    “Well where the hell does this portal lead to?” He pointed.
     
    “I will be transporting us to downtown Beverly Hills, California.”
     
    “You’re taking me to Cali?” He screwed up his face.
     
    “Affirmative,” it answered. “It is on the West Coast of North America, where you are still a citizen and not wanted for murder and within a location where you will not be accidently mistaken for a local gang member.”
     
    Laurence looked over his color scheme again and nodded, understanding its logic.
     
    “So what …I just walk through?” He threw his hands up.
     
    “Correct,” it answered. “The moment you step through; you will exit the portal and arrive at your destination.”
     
    Laurence muttered a curse under his breath and shook off his trepidation. He sucked into his lungs a healthy amount of artificial oxygenated air and forced himself to march toward the portal. He pushed through jolt after jolt of fear that hit his spine. His heart quickened as he commanded his