The CWCville Tales Episode 9 - A Different Path

Chris stands at his office window, looking out to see his people fighting, blowing up buildings and burning Bulgarian flags.

A smile appears on Chris’s lips “It gives me delight when I see my loyal citizens supporting me!”

Chris then notices someone outside carrying a rocket launcher and aiming it at the window.

Chris smiles again “Oh wow! My fans must be firing some flowers up for me! They must know about my love for delicate items because I’m a fragile being.”

The rocket launcher fires and smashes through the window, causing Chris to be thrust into the wall, knocking him unconscious.

Chris’s head begins to spin as he hears a constant ringing in his ears. He then sees a bright light in the corner of the room. He walks towards it and vanishes.

Chris wakes up to find himself in a vast white room. He looks around to see a park bench with a man reading a newspaper sitting on it.

Chris walks up to the bench and sits down. The man says, with a British accent “Have you ever been round here, son?”

“No.” Chris replied “I don’t actually know where I am.”

The man chuckles, while still focussing on his paper “Oh don’t worry. Death’s a bit of a strange thing to get used to.”

Chris turned in shock “What do you mean, death? Are you saying I died?”

“Well, maybe.” The man replied “At this point you could get back to where you started or you could... move on. It’s certainly 50-50 at this point.”

Chris sighs “But how am I supposed to get back?”

“Oh don’t worry.” The man responded “That’s why I’m here. To help you out.”

The man puts his paper down to reveal himself to Chris.

Chris gasps in horror as he notices the man’s extremely pointy chin. “Oh my stars! You’re Jimmy Hill! One of most cunning deadly trolls!”

Jimmy rolls his eyes “Listen mate, that wasn’t me. I’ve got better things to do then scramble a slow in the mind.”

“Now I don’t appreciate that.” Chris says. “So are you here to help me get back? I have a lot of important things to do.”

“Oh, I’m sure you do.” Jimmy nods. “But before that, I’ve decided to take you on a little trip. Nothing special, just a quick what-could-have-been.”

Chris seems confused “What do you mean what-could-have-been?”

“I’ll explain as we go.” Jimmy confirms as he grabs Chris’s hand as they both

disappear into a therapist’s office. Chris notices a therapist and a young boy talking.

“Where on CWCville are we?” Chris asks.

“Virginia, 1988. Jimmy replies “Does that young lad there look familiar to you?”

Chris looks closer at the boy and gasps “That’s me! Hang on, I don’t remember going to any therapist.”

“I know. This is an alternate path in your life where it shows what would of happened if you went to a therapy when you were younger.” Jimmy explains.

Chris sighs “Oh come on! I’m sure this was a huge waste of time. I don’t need any therapy.”

Jimmy looks at Chris “Oh really? Well in that case, why don’t we take a quick trip a few years after this?”

“Why?” Chris asks.

“Well if you’re so confident it didn’t have an impact, let’s find out.” Jimmy replies as he sends them both into another point in Chris’s timeline.

Chris and Jimmy arrive at Manchester High School. Chris notices the younger version of him sitting at a lunch table, talking with a group of people both male and female.

“Chris, does the date 17th March 2000 seem important to you?” Jimmy asks.

Chris nods instantly “The day I created Sonichu. What about it?”

Jimmy points to the table “Well there you are, talking to your friends about it. What do you see?”

Chris looks closer “I see them... laughing.”

“Yes, now in this path the version of you is much calmer and more capable of taking criticism and humour.” Jimmy replies “That’s all down to the therapy you went to.” He adds.

Chris seems confused “So are you saying that if I did therapy, I would be calmer?”

“Exactly.” Jimmy responds. “You knew all this was a joke and you considered it a sign to maybe not focus on your creation too much in the future.”

“Wait, you mean I won’t draw Sonichu? That’s an absolute no-go for me, thank you very much!” Chris boasts.

Jimmy frowns “No, you do still draw him. But in a slightly different way.” “Would you like to see the difference?”

Chris responds “Well actually I’d rather—

Jimmy interrupts by sending them both away into an unknown house.

“Well, here we are. February 4th 2008.” Jimmy tells Chris.

Chris looks around “What is this place? I’ve never seen it before.”

Jimmy smiles “It’s your house Chris.”

Chris seems startled “Whoa, what do you mean, my house?”

“Well, you moved out of home just after you left college and got your own place.” Jimmy tells Chris. “Not bad, is it?”

Chris then sees the other version of him drawing a Sonichu comic. Chris notices how the younger version of him appears much more healthy and slimmer.

“You see? I’m still drawing the comics.” Chris says in joy.

“Yes, but as more of a hobby. They’re also not as... vulgar as your originals.” Jimmy replies.

The doorbell rings and the younger Chris opens the door.

Chris stares in awe as the other Chris says “Hi Megan, thanks for coming!”

Chris looks at Jimmy “How is... she there?”

Jimmy replies “It’s amazing what therapy can do for your confidence. And for your personal character. It seems Megan prefers this version of you.”

Megan looks at the Sonichu pages “You know Chris, I don’t know why you still want to draw these comics.

Young Chris laughs “I know but I’m only doing it for a bit of fun. Oh I meant to tell you I posted some of the comics on my website to see what people thought of them.”

“Oh cool, how did it go?” Megan asked.

Chris conceded “Not great, some website called Encyclopaedia something posted them and they thought the comics sucked.”

“Oh, who cares what they think Chris?” Megan says

“Yeah, you’re right. I don’t want to waste my time with these guys” Chris says as he turns off the computer.

Jimmy puts a hand on Older Chris’s shoulder. “You see, this is another turning point. If you ignored the ED trolls like you should have, your whole life would change. No troll campaigns, no releasing embarrassing information and most importantly, you got to keep close with the ones you care about.”

Chris says nothing. Jimmy takes the hint and sends them both away.

When Chris and Jimmy arrive in another place, Chris immediately tells Jimmy “OK, you proved your point. I’d still be friends with Megan if I ignored the trolls. Now can you please let me leave?”

Jimmy smirks “Well, you’re a bit more than friends in this path.”

Chris stares at Jimmy “Wait, are you telling me...?”

“That’s right. Why do you think we’re standing outside a church?” Jimmy asks.

Chris looks down “Are you saying that me and Megan...?

Jimmy nods “April 17 2011. The happiest day of your life. You can hear the bells from inside.”

Chris runs up the church steps and just as he opens the church doors, Jimmy clicks his fingers and sends them away again.

As they arrive in another place, Chris screams at Jimmy in anger “Why are you doing this?! Haven’t I suffered enough?!”

“Almost.” Jimmy replied. “I want you to see one more thing.”

“Chris turns around to find the alternate Chris and Megan in the middle of Chris’s living room, with a Christmas tree in the corner.”

Chris sighs “Let me guess. It’s Christmas?”

“25th December 2018.” Jimmy replied.

“And you want me to see what my future would look like if I was Megan?” Chris asks in a depressed tone.

“Not just Megan.” Jimmy replies.

A little girl runs into the room and hugs Chris.

Chris stares in shock “Is... is that?”

Jimmy nods “Charlotte Weston Chandler. You compromised on the name.”

Chris focuses on the alternate version of him “What happened to Sonichu?”

Jimmy sighs “Once you and Megan became closer, you lost concentration with it. In this path, all that’s left of Sonichu and CWCville are a few old comics in your garage.”

“But I can’t just throw all that away.” Chris whines.

“If you did throw it away, you could have had it so much better.” Jimmy replies. “But it’s not all forgotten.”

“What do you mean?” Chris says, with a lump in his throat.

Jimmy tells Chris “You’re not a bad storyteller. Every night before Charlotte goes to sleep, you always tell her a story about the adventures of Sonichu. The only reason you still come up with those stories is because of her.”

Chris then notices the other him handing a present to Charlotte, she opens a box to find a medallion of Sonichu inside. As she puts it on, Chris begins to cry.

“I think it’s time we left, Chris.” Jimmy whispers as he causes him and Chris to disappear and go back to the white room.

Chris sits down “What do I do now?

“Do you not know what the purpose of that was?” Jimmy asks. Chris shakes his head.

Jimmy pulls Chris up “It was to make you understand how with a little bit of self control, your life could be so much better. How you could get everything you really wanted. To see yourself be happy for once.”

Chris looks up at Jimmy “What do I have to do to be happy?”

Jimmy stroked his chin “Well, I understand you have some important work to do back in your path. Something to do with fighting Donald Trump?”

Chris stands up straight “You’re right, Jimmy. I can’t let that hold me back. This is my chance to be just as happy as that other Chris. To get the things I need. A cure for autism and the opportunity to show the world what I really am.”

Jimmy smiled “I think you’re getting the hang of it. Now get out of here.”

Jimmy slaps Chris in the face as he wakes up in his office again.

Chris stands up and hears a knock on the door, he answers it and is sprayed with a gas that knocks him out.

As he fades unconscious, he hears one of his captors says “Get him to the White House.”