Egg

Here’s an entry for Chuck Wendig’s Flash Fiction Challenge. The challenge this time was to take a tweet from the Magical Realism Bot on Twitter and write a story inspired by it. Here is the tweet I chose. Enjoy.

“This just in, an unidentified object has just appeared in the skies above Beijing. It is not yet known what the object is, other than it is small, somewhat round in shape and hovering nearly one-thousand feet over the city. Chinese authorities are en-route to the object, and we will have more on this story, as it develops.”

***

“It has been three days since we reported on the mysterious object floating above the Chinese capital of Beijing. Since that time, the object does not appear to have moved at all. It still floats approximately a thousand feet over the Zhaoxian Temple. Today, Chinese authorities have released some of the information they have gathered on the object since its appearance. According to authorities, it appears to be a standard chicken egg. No word on how it is staying aloft or what its purpose might be.”

***

“Chinese authorities have been tight-lipped on the subject of the mysterious egg above Beijing, but we have been informed that the egg does not pose a threat to Beijing, or anywhere else. We have also received several unconfirmed reports of aircraft being suddenly diverted around the egg. No word on whether this is due to official Chinese policy or something else.”

***

“New reports on the Floating Egg story. We are being told that the aircraft diversions are not official Chinese policy, but, in fact, completely unintentional. There appears to be some sort of perimeter, approximately two-hundred feet from the egg in all directions. We are getting eye-witness accounts of birds flying sideways as they approach the two-hundred foot mark, then staying exactly that distance from the egg until they are on the other side. The Chinese military has sent several aircraft in an attempt to breach the perimeter of the egg. So far, none have.”

***

“Breaking: Chinese authorities have confirmed that there is, in fact, a tower in the square outside of the Zhaoxian Temple. The three-foot wide structure appeared in the square a week ago and has grown at a rate of one-hundred feet per night. The tower now measures nearly seven-hundred feet in height. All attempts to tear down the structure, so far, have been unsuccessful. As with the egg, nobody seems to know how this tower appeared, or what its purpose may be.”

***

“We have news on the Chinese Egg story. The tower below it has continued to grow. It now measures more than nine-hundred feet in height, and appears to be less than twenty feet from the egg. To date, it is the only object known to breach the two-hundred foot perimeter. Japanese architect, Natsuki Yamamoto has claimed responsibility. No word as of yet on how Yamamoto constructed the tower or on what she was even doing in the country, but Chinese authorities have asked that any citizens who may know the whereabouts of Yamamoto please come forward.”

***

“Update: Natsuki Yamamoto, the architect supposedly behind the tower near Zhaoxian Temple, has been positively identified as the person currently perched on the top of that tower. Witnesses claim she seems to be talking to the egg. This is unconfirmed as no aircraft have managed to get within two-hundred feet of the scene.”

***

“Authorities warn visitors to the Zhaoxian Temple to please avoid climbing on the tower. There have been two confirmed deaths from falling several hundred feet due to the precariously narrow ladder attached to the tower.”

***

“Despite warnings, people continue to climb the tower, some coming all around the world to attempt the climb. Ten deaths and several injuries have been reported in the last week.”

***

“It has been two weeks since Natsuki Yamamoto appeared at the top of the tower. She has not come down in that time. Eye witness reports state that she appears alive and well up there. She seems to still be talking to the egg.”

***

“An American by the name of Christopher Benson has reached the top of the tower, where he claims he received ‘enlightenment’. Benson was interviewed when he reached the ground again. When asked what enlightenment he received, he replied ‘The earth is fake, we are being prepared to join the true universe’. When questioned what that meant, he refused to speak and left the area. His current whereabouts are unknown, but Chinese officials are on the lookout.”

***

“Up to five people have now made the journey to the top of the tower. Upon returning to the ground, they have all reported a similar enlightenment along with statements referencing a ‘fake earth’ and a ‘true universe’. So far, none have elaborated on what this could mean.”

***

“A permanent crowd has formed at the base of the tower. Among the people are several practitioners at the Zhaoxian Temple and at least one high-level Chinese official. They appear to be praying to the egg. This comes hot on the heels of reports we have received that long-range surveillance has shown cracks forming in the egg. As with everything surrounding this mystery egg, the reason remains unknown.”

***

“China is gone. I’m- I’m sorry.”

***

“Yes, you heard that correctly. We all did. China is gone. It’s disappeared overnight. Satellite imagery shows a series of distorted images where the former landmass once was. All land-based transport has disappeared immediately at the border even though all eye-witness reports nothing unusual about the area’s appearance. Those piloting aircraft over the country have reported a feeling of vertigo, immediately followed by all equipment reporting their location as the opposing border. Chinese authorities have made no comment on this as they are gone, presumably with their country.”

***

“We have received reports of eggs floating above New York, Paris, and Tokyo. May God have mercy on our souls.”