the Black Dragon Space Elevator

On the front cover of the sidewalk was a blaring notification about booking your appointment on the Black Dragon Space Elevator. The weather was cold and the air was hard to breathe. The atmosphere was not very good today. In fact, it wasn't good most days. There were too many people around. The city was too crowded. But to book an appointment to go to the moon, you had to do so at the city spaceport. It had taken nearly three years for rooms to open up in the city. Apparently, it would be another three to thirteen months waiting before I leave Earth for good.

Grandpa said it was not always like this. It was the great space race of 2070 that did it. The space revolution changed Earth. The atmosphere has changed. No one considered the damage done to our atmosphere when they punched a hole in it with a spaceship or satellite. It could be repaired, of course; the process only took 100,000 years... Climate models now show human populations need to be below three million people. Everyone else has to go into outer space.

Looking up into the sky, you could see the never-ending tubes. They extended beyond the range of sight. How do they stay so upright? They were flexible and wobbling, almost swaying. It looked terrifying.

The planet isn't dying; it was just becoming uninhabitable for humans. It could be reversed, but only if all humans left. The supreme government says there are enough ships tethered off Earth’s moon to accommodate seven times the current human population. They say Earth is now a national park. Only very few tribes are allowed to stay behind; the rest must live on spaceships in space or volunteer for expedition terraforming work. I don't want to leave Earth.

As I continued to stare at the wobbling tubes, a creeping sensation of being watched settled over me. I turned quickly, but there was no one there. This wasn’t the first time I had felt this way. It started a few weeks ago, an unshakeable feeling that something or someone was observing me, lurking just beyond my perception.

Back in my cramped apartment, I opened my journal to document the day's experiences. Writing had always been a solace, a way to confront my fears. But as I wrote, the words began to blur, a chill ran down my spine. I had read about psychological phenomena like this before, how isolation and stress could play tricks on the mind. Yet, this felt different. It felt... real.

Late that night, as I lay in bed, I heard a whisper. It was faint, barely discernible, but it was there. My heart raced. I sat up, scanning the room. "Who's there?" I called out, but only silence answered. I tried to rationalize it—perhaps it was the wind, or the building settling. But deep down, I knew something was very wrong.

The following day, the feeling of being watched intensified. I moved through the crowded streets, the air thick with smog and anxiety. Every shadow seemed to hide a figure, every reflection in shop windows seemed to contain an extra presence. I decided to confront it. Returning to my apartment, I called out, "Show yourself!" The room remained still, but the air grew colder. Then, a shape began to form in the corner, a dark, amorphous figure that seemed to absorb the light around it.

The figure approached slowly, and as it did, I felt a wave of dread wash over me. It spoke without words, a voice inside my mind. "I am the Horla," it said. "I have come to feed on your fear, to consume your essence." My knees weakened, and I sank to the floor. The Horla was real, not just a figment of my imagination.

Days turned into a blur of terror and confusion. The Horla’s presence grew stronger, feeding on my fear and despair. I tried to reach out to others, but they dismissed my claims as paranoia. I was alone, isolated in my struggle against this invisible tormentor. The once-crowded city now felt like a prison, with the Horla as its warden.

Desperation breeds creativity. I began researching ancient texts and modern psychological theories, seeking any knowledge that could help me understand and combat the Horla. I discovered references to similar entities in folklore, creatures that thrived on human suffering and isolation. Armed with this knowledge, I devised a plan. I would confront the Horla, not with fear, but with understanding and resilience.

That night, I performed a ritual I had read about, designed to summon and bind malevolent entities. The Horla appeared, more solid than before, its presence suffocating. "You cannot defeat me," it hissed. "I feed on your fear, your despair." But I stood firm, channeling all my resolve. "You are a parasite," I replied. "You exist only because I allow you to. Today, I reclaim my mind."

Life continued in the city, but something fundamental had changed within me. I was no longer just another inhabitant overwhelmed by the oppressive environment. My encounter with the Horla had equipped me with a resilience that I hadn't known I possessed. The constant reminders of the deteriorating atmosphere and the government's evacuation policies still loomed, but I faced them with a newfound strength.

I continued my daily routine, capturing carbon and earning credits, but with a renewed purpose. The goal of leaving Earth had not changed, but the journey now felt less like a desperate escape and more like a deliberate path toward a better future.

In the weeks that followed, I noticed subtle changes in the people around me. Whispers of similar encounters with the Horla began to surface. It seemed that I was not the only one who had faced this malevolent entity. The Horla had fed on the collective fear and despair of the city's inhabitants, but it had also inadvertently united us in our struggle against it.

Community groups formed, sharing stories and strategies for confronting the Horla. These gatherings, though informal, became a source of strength and solidarity. Together, we began to reclaim our city, one mind at a time. The more we learned about the Horla, the stronger we became. Ancient texts, modern psychology, and shared experiences formed a body of knowledge that we used to arm ourselves against the entity. It was clear that the Horla thrived on isolation and ignorance, and by fostering connection and understanding, we weakened its grip on us.

Our efforts extended beyond personal encounters. We lobbied for cleaner air policies, pushed for sustainable urban planning, and advocated for mental health resources. The Horla's presence had revealed the cracks in our society, and we were determined to mend them.

As our community grew stronger, so did our resolve to reclaim Earth. The government’s offer to leave the planet was still on the table, but many of us saw it as a temporary solution. We wanted to heal our home, not abandon it.

A group, volunteered for an expedition to study the long-term impacts of our actions on the environment. We aimed to develop technologies and strategies that would allow humanity to coexist with nature, rather than dominate it. This was our way of confronting the Horla on a global scale, addressing the underlying issues that had given rise to such an entity. Our journey took us to the most devastated areas of the planet. We witnessed the scars of pollution, deforestation, and climate change. But we also saw signs of resilience—plants growing in the cracks of concrete, animals adapting to new habitats, and people innovating to survive.

The expedition was grueling, both physically and emotionally. But it was also empowering. We were not just documenting the decline; we were actively participating in the planet's recovery. Each day brought new challenges and discoveries, and with each step, we felt the Horla's shadow recede.

Returning to the city, we brought back more than just data and samples. We carried with us a vision for a sustainable future. Our findings were shared with the community, sparking new initiatives and collaborations. The Horla had been a catalyst for change, pushing us to confront our fears and take responsibility for our world.