- Independence Gray
- Richard
- Lizzie
- Serendipidy
- Tura
- Tom
- Duane
- Norval Joe
- Jared
- Planet Z
INDEPENDENCE GRAY
Homage to Rod Sterling
It was a stupid gimmick. “Will you press the button?” was just clickbait, the premise a variation of “Would You Rather?” Each time users engaged, the website’s SEO got boosted.
“You get to go back in time to when you had less responsibility. Will you press the button?”
Vicky didn’t hesitate before touching the green icon on her screen, mindlessly enjoying the diversion as she sat in the van waiting for the twins to finish dance lessons.
They never came out, but it was days after they had been reported missing before Vicky thought back to that silly phone game.
RICHARD
Big Red Button
Have you ever seen a great big red button, surrounded with hazard tape, and a sign insisting you shouldn’t press it?
Of course you haven’t – it just a handy way to illustrate reverse psychology.
If somebody doesn’t want you to press a button, it won’t be that easy.
It’ll be hidden away in a secret spot, only accessible by wiggling a paperclip in a tiny hole.
Or sealed beneath a break glass cover; secured with combination locks; or will require two burly military guys to insert their keys simultaneously.
Go on – I dare you to press their button! c
LIZZIE
“This is a camera. It takes snapshots as all cameras do. However, this is not a real camera,” said the seller, smiling.
The client frowned.
“This is a mind-reader.”
The client chuckled.
“You don’t believe it.”
The client shook his head, a sneer on his lips.
“Whatever you do, don’t press the red button. This is how it works.”
The client held the camera and he just had to… Click.
A snapshot slowly slid out of the camera.
The last thing the seller saw, a mask of horror on his face, was his own death on the client’s mind snapshot.
SERENDIPIDY
You know those buttons you have to press to change the lights so you can cross the road safely?
They’re dummies – not connected to anything; they don’t do a damn thing!
And those buttons you press to close the elevator doors?
Nope, those are dummies too.
They don’t work: Their only purpose is to make us feel in control, when in reality, it’s the machines that control us.
Take this power off button on your life support system… I bet that does nothing too.
Still, there’s only one real way to find out, isn’t there?
I can’t resist it!
TURA
The Button
—-
By the Emperor’s hand stands always ready the Button, which travels with him wheresoever he goes. When the Emperor frowns, the Button draws nearer to him; when he laughs, it recedes. None but the Emperor knows what the Button does, but surely must it wreak terrible deeds, should he ever wax so wroth as to press the Button.
Though the Emperor live far beyond the years that are normal to a man, yet must death claim him at last. In the innermost sanctum, the old Emperor passes the secret of the Button to his successor.
“It was disconnected centuries ago.”
TOM
Too Late
I yell to Timmy,” Don’t press that button.” If you have been following my
writing over the pass 16 years you know this can only end fictionally
poorly. Much like Kenny in South Park, Timmy is my go-to name when I know
I will be bump off someone. One time for over Two years I keep Timmy alive
only to your him volunteer to be off-ed in installment 104. Timmy is just
the spirit of on-coming death. So, what did the button do to Master Tim?
Remember the scene in Fargo? No? In a word: Wood-chipper. Funny? No? Too
Bad.
DUANE
His first day on the new temp job, Larry was shown around the laboratory. The lead scientist pointed to a metal box in the corner.
“Rule one: Don’t press the button!”
The scientist had Larry repeat the rule back to him.
“Oh, and don’t sample any of the experiments.”
As soon as he was alone, Larry ran across the room to the box and pushed the button. Nothing happened. He pushed it again, but still nothing happened. He pushed it a few more times before he lost interest and picked up the beaker on a nearby table. It tasted lemony.
NORVAL JOE
Billbert caught his father at the door. “If you think there’s a tiger loose in the neighborhood should you really be going outside right now?”
His father laughed. “This isn’t Huston, son. There haven’t been any reports of tigers in this area. Besides, I’ll just be going across the street.”
Billbert’s mother stood up at that. “Now Hosmer. Do you think that’s a good idea? Linoliamanda’s father is unstable. You don’t want to push that guy’s button if you can avoid it.”
“Don’t worry, Joan. According to his van, he’s the carpet king. I would expect him to behave royally.”
JARED
Max’s Bad Day
“Don’t press the button!” This was pretty much the first thing new recruits heard during orientation. It was also the most frequently repeated warning given that first day, and throughout Max’s employment at SyneDyne Industries. He was sick of it. It reminded him of his mother. And ex-girlfriend. And several schoolteachers. Eventually, he was so fed up, he couldn’t think of anything else. He vowed that he was going to push that damned button that very day. He was so distracted, that he didn’t see or hear the warnings and didn’t get out of the furnace before it fired up.
PLANET Z
There is a button on the console.
It’s red, and looks like there’s a bulb inside of it so it can light up.
Below it, there’s a label:
DON’T PRESS THIS BUTTON
All caps, bright red.
Can’t miss it.
I looked in the manual, and all it says about the button is:
DON’T PRESS THIS BUTTON
Doesn’t say what the light inside of it indicates.
Nor does it say what happens when you press it.
Why add a button to a console if you’re not supposed to press it?
So, I do.
It lights up.
And a siren goes off.
