Chapter 2: Noob

Rocky looked down at his hand, he was holding his phone. It was open and on the site. A black screen with a single phrase and a button at the bottom. Every few seconds the image would shake, flash then roll.

Warp Reality. Take Control. Download “Shift.”

He checked the Play Store and Apple Store for “Shift,” but nothing came up. Then for warp reality, reality apps, control apps, but nothing related could be found. Switching to google, and another ten minutes of scrolling later, and with nothing about it, his curiosity won over his concerns.

“I want control!” he whispered, his finger tapping the download button.

The download was freakishly fast, lighting fast. No permissions, no terms of service—just a black icon labeled Reality Warp on his home screen. Rocky opened it, expecting a knockoff Sims rip off. Instead, a message filled the screen, accompanied by cheesy harp music that sounded like it belonged in an elevator to heaven.

Welcome to Shift: A Reality Warp. Complete actions and tasks to earn you points. Use points to unlock new actions and tasks.

The app trumpeted in celebration, and a new message appeared:

Congratulations – User Rocky leveled up. Rocky level 1 Noob.
Level Up, Rocky and take control. This world is yours to shape as you become a god.

Scanning your location.

“A God? Seriously?” Rocky rolled his eyes. “Da fuck kind of cheesy basic shit was this? And that music and these graphics.”

The graphics were shit, blocky text and a loading bar straight out of 1982. He was about to chuck his phone when the cracked screen flashed brightly, and when it returned to normal the screen was displaying a 2d wireframe of Russel’s house, like a blueprint from a budget video game. As the image zoomed it, it paused then went black again.

This device does not meet the basic requirements to fully allow you to transcend. Shift requires alignment to unlock its full potential. Allow the upgrade to reforge your phone into a conduit of infinite possibilities. Accept to begin.

Worry and doubt began to set in as Rocky again clicked accept. His eyes widened. The phone started to vibrate as the cracked screen began to seal. It was like watching a video in reverse. Once it looked to be fixed the whole device melted into a silver puddle then reformed. Slightly bigger and in perfect condition. It now was a brand new model instead of the outmoded 3 year old phone he use to have. Rocky was in shock and disbelief. It took only a moment more for the phone to restart and open up. Scrolling thru his other apps he found the button for Shift. With a chime it reopened.

Scanning your location. Same location detected. Save as favorite to access.

Clicking yes, the 2D wireframe model of Russel’s house returned but now the image was in great detail. Rocky could move it around and zoom in easily. As he played with the house he saw 4 colored dots. A red dot pulsed in the den, alongside three yellow dots: one static in the master bedroom, one near the kitchen and the final dot just outside the back door. Rocky tapped the red dot.

Rocky Merchant: 16yr. Nonresident. Locked - Level up to unlock new location character.

“Fuck!” Rocky cried out. How did it know his name? He glanced around, half-expecting a hidden camera. But as he had that thought he realized that it was his phone do a basic program would access his contacts and files. But this was also clearly so much more. Trying another dot, he figured that the one outside must be Russel, hauling trash for his mom. He tried tapping one of the other yellow dots. The one that wasn’t moving and looked like it was in the master bedroom.

Alan Hill: 55 yr. Head of Household. Sleeping. Do you want to wake up?

Rocky shook his head automatically. The app accepted his action as a reply and switched to new options. Rocky stared at the phone in his hand. How did it know? Fuck, this game is sweet.