Tales from the Loom

When technology finally caught up to the desire to live beyond a single lifetime, The Loom was born. It offered a person a chance to step into their own reality. Any life they imagined, complete and convincing in every detail. Inside, a year of experience was merely a minute in the real world. Their new reality around them was filled with people who could love, struggle, and die, yet the one who entered was spared from chance or tragedy. A wound, a fall, or a bullet became a miracle of survival, and only old age could bring their story to an end.

Every moment left behind memories as vivid as life itself, and those memories returned with them. For some, they became a gift of wisdom and joy, but for others they were a burden too heavy to carry. Professionals could soften or even erase them, though such erasure often left behind quiet gaps that never quite healed. They never truly knew they were inside, though somewhere deep within remained the choice to walk away. The lives told here are the ones they chose to live.

Struggling in the depths of Southern Louisiana, Austin wanted nothing more than to get out of his broken down, water damaged trailer. Every he stepped he took could’ve sent him right through the floorboards. His room was small but had as many bookshelves as possible. The number of books he owned couldn’t even fit. His passion for writing and reading was the closest he could get to being in a new reality.

The Loom had been around for a while but his struggle was too real. His mother never really approved of his alternative lifestyle so living with her made it that much more difficult. Being a skinny, short gay guy in backwards rural area of the state didn’t help make live any easier. The daily struggle made the Loom so much more desirable. Since he had little to no money to spend on something like the Loom, he always thought it would be an unattainable dream.

His birthday came around and a card from his uncle Percy sent him a gift he never thought he’d receive from anyone. It was a gift certificate for a full session at the Loom facility in Lafayette. Finally, Austin could get a small break from his life and experience one of his fantasies come true. It even included travel costs. Even though it was only 22 miles away, without a car and his mother not willing to drive him, it was a helpful addition to his gift.

He called and set up an appointment which was only a week away. The excitement built up every day. The day finally came and he was off. He could barely contain himself on the ride there. Driving up the Loom facility was like a dream coming true. Walking up the stairs, he started to get nervous. He pulled the cold, metal handle on the glass door to enter the air-conditioned building. The nice lady at the counter greeted him, “Welcome to The Loom. How can I help you?”

“I have an appointment to get plugged in.”

“Excellent. Have you been plugged in before?”

“No. This is my first.”

“Not a problem. Just a few things to go through and we can get started.”

She got his information and gift certificate then proceeded to the back. Austin followed Mei down the white hallway to room 32. “Go ahead and have a seat. Lance will be in soon to get you plugged in. Enjoy.”

“Thank you, Mei.”

Even though it was a mere five minutes, Austin’s anticipation grew. When Lance finally walked in, it calmed Austin down. He was an Adonis of chiseled physic. Perfect to relax Austin’s nerves. With his deep but gentle voice, Lance said, “You excited to get plugged in for the first time?”

Inappropriate thoughts raced through Austin’s mind. “Yeah. I’ve been wanted to get plugged in for a long time. Glad it's by someone like you.”

Lance just smiled as he was preparing everything before the initial set up. “Okay. Since it’s your first time, you’ll just need to watch this safety video. I’ll be back in a few minutes to finish everything up.”

Semi-seductively, Austin offered, “You can stay and watch with me.”

With a smirk, Lance said, “Oh bud, I’d like to but I’ve seen this video so many times and I just need to check on a few other people first. Don’t worry, though. I won’t be gone too long.” Lance gave Austin a little wink and patted his shoulder then started the video. The video began with a calm, steady voice, drawing the viewer in. “When you are plugged in, you will awaken inside the world you have chosen, as though you have just opened your eyes from a deep sleep. Everything around you will be shaped by your mind in partnership with the AI, perfectly tailored to your desires. Every moment you live there will leave traces in your memory, vivid and lasting, carrying the joys and sorrows of a lifetime. Time will bend around you: a single minute in the real world will stretch into an entire year within the Loom. No accident, no injury, can end your life there; only old age will claim you. And if at any moment you wish to leave, the choice will always remain yours.

“Please be aware: the experiences may evoke powerful emotions, including grief, fear, or elation, and these feelings may linger once you return. Extended stays can affect mental or emotional balance, so always follow the guidance of certified Loom technicians. Memory retention is permanent unless professionally adjusted afterward, and sudden reentry into everyday life is not recommended. After exiting, participants should allow a full 24-hour adjustment period before resuming normal activities. By choosing to enter, you accept these conditions and agree to proceed with care.”

A couple minutes later, Lance walked in, “Alright, you ready?”

Austin nodded with excitement. Lance sat on his rolling stool. Reached over for the alcohol pads and other equipment. “Okay. Lean forward and head down.”

Lance wiped Austin’s neck with an alcohol pad, then applied a small dab of fast-acting numbing gel. “Alright, we have two options.” He held up two nearly identical devices. “I can place a permanent entry port if you plan on Looming a lot, or just a temporary one. I know it’s your first time, but some people get hooked. They want to be in there all the time.”

A little ashamed, Austin said, “Well, I’m pretty much broke so this’ll probably be the only time I’ll be able to do it. At least for a very long while.”

“I understand. Don’t be embarrassed. The Loom isn’t cheap. Just be glad you get to do it now, and I’m glad I get to be your first,” Lance said, giving Austin a wink and a small smile. He tilted his head forward again. “You might feel a poke and a little pressure, but it’ll pass quickly.” He inserted the device into Austin’s neck. As the receiving device settled in like a snap clasping onto its catch, Lance asked for details about what Austin wanted to experience. Austin explained while Lance entered the information. Once it was all entered, Lance looked up.

“Now, you won’t consciously realize you’re in a different reality at first. It’ll take a few minutes for your mind to adjust. When you wake up in the Loom, you’ll still feel like yourself from this reality, but able to fully inhabit the life you’ve designed. Your mind will switch over, and until you finish, you’ll be the person you set up in your description. Subconsciously, there’s always something keeping you grounded, preventing you from losing yourself in the world you created. And remember—you can leave at any time you want or need to.”

“When you end the experience, you’ll wake up here groggy. Just relax and let your mind return to this reality. The TV will turn on with soothing sounds and a message to guide you. The lights will remain off at first, and I’ll be notified when you wake. I’ll come help you and gradually turn up the dimmer just enough so you can adjust. Sound good?”

Austin took a deep breath and let it out with a mix of excitement and nerves. “Let’s do this,” he said.

Austin leaned back into the chair as Lance carefully connected the transmitter to the device on his neck. Moments later, his eyes fluttered closed, and he slipped effortlessly into his dream reality. Softly, with a hint of warmth, Lance whispered, “Good night, prince. May your adventures be many and unforgettable.” He switched off the lights and quietly closed the door, leaving Austin to begin his new, temporary life.

Austin woke up in a strange bed. His initial thought was he had a weird dream but he got up to wash his face in the bathroom. The cool water felt good on his face. The breath he inhaled felt new and different. He patted his face dry and looked at the mirror. It was his face but fuller. He looked at his body and felt different. Even fully clothed he could tell it wasn’t what he was used to being.

He touched his chest and his arms. He had muscles. His shirt came off immediately and he started poking his newly acquired muscles. It finally dawned on him; he was in the Loom. He knew these thoughts weren’t going to last forever, so he relished in it as long as possible. His height was also about 6 inches higher and he loved being taller than before. His phone rang and he knew it was time to get to work.

The full moon was at its peak tonight. It had been cloudy the last few days but as he looked out his window the clouds started to dissipate. The brilliance of the super moon could light up a wilderness so a flashlight wasn’t even needed. He knew it was time for the hunt to begin. The last few months have been a nightmare for the small town he was called to. They needed help. The sheep were disappearing without a trace but no one in that town could make any sense of it.

He put on his long leather jacket and grabbed his gear. His favorite crossbow was slung behind him as he reached for the front door. To his surprise, his partner, Eric was waiting for him. Eric was just leaning on the railing cleaning his nails. He looked up at Austin and joked, “’Bout damn time. This werewolf ain’t gonna come to us.’

Austin shoved him by the shoulder, “Get outta here. You’re driving.”

They drove out to the nearby farm where they had investigated the sheep’s disappearance the day before. This time, they came prepared to wait. The full moon gleamed above, drenching the farm in its glow. It was too perfect a night for a werewolf to ignore. It had to show itself. They were hidden in the shadows near the barn. Hours crept by in silence. Then, without warning, chaos erupted. Rustling and sheep crying out in panic.

A massive shape tore through the side of the barn, splinters flying. Clutched in one clawed hand was a struggling sheep. The creature paused, lifting its head to the sky. Its fur seemed to drink in the moonlight. Then it unleashed a long, piercing howl that echoed across the fields before bounding off into the dark line of the woods.

Austin and Eric were in awe of the size of the creature. It was at least 7 feet tall but everything happened so fast they couldn’t see much before it fled. They picked themselves up and ran after it. It was fast but they hoped that going into the woods would possible slow it down a little. They got about twenty feet into the woods and stayed vigilant. The branches on the ground kept cracking and the leaves kept brushing up against their bodies. They wanted to keep quiet but not silent so they could still attract the creature to them.

It wasn’t long before the creature found them. It snuck up on them to their left. Eric saw some movement out of the corner of his eye and spoke softly to Austin, “Bro. Nine o’clock.”

Austin looked slowly and saw its beating yellow eyes. It lunged at the men and Austin shot his silver arrow astray as he dropped. They fell to the ground to dodge as the creature tumbled in a small opening of woodlands. It stood up on all fours and shook off the disorientation. This was the first time they could get a good look at the creature.

The full moon’s shine revealed its frame a terrifying blend of man and beast. Muscles bunched and rippled beneath a coat of coarse, dark fur that bristled in the moonlight. Its head was lupine, elongated into a snarling muzzle lined with dagger-like teeth that glistened with saliva. Golden eyes burned with a feral intelligence, locking onto their prey with a predatory gleam. Long arms ended in hands that were almost human, though each finger tipped with curved claws sharp enough to rend wood and bone alike. Its legs bent in a digitigrade stance, built for explosive power, and its breath steamed in the cold night air as it exuded the raw presence of a predator at the height of its hunt.

The men stared down the creature as Austin reloaded his crossbow. Eric tried to reason with it. With his right hand stretched out to calm, “Okay. Okay. We can help you. This is only temporary. If the real you is in there, follow my voice. You can overpower this.”

The creature didn’t care. It growled the entire time while eyes were locked hard on Austin. It knew he was the one with the weapon. Austin was aware of the threat but didn’t want to kill the creature if possible. He knew deep down it was human that has zero control over what was happening. Eric kept trying to calm down the creature to no avail. It settled its monstrous hind legs into the ground for another pound attack. As the creature jumped, Austin was able to fire his silver tipped arrow into the right arm of the creature. The shot had enough power to throw back the creature’s angle and it fell onto its back to the left of Austin as he dodged to the right.

The silver immediately started to reversion process back to human. It ended up being the 16-year-old they overheard in the occult shoppe a few days. He was looking for wolfsbane but they never gave it a second thought until now. Austin realizing, “Hey, isn’t this the kid from that store? Makes sense why he was looking for that now. Get the blanket to cover him up. Let's get him back to town. Maybe Mr. Saunders will know where he lives.”

They were able to take him back to his house and visit him the next day after he woke up. “Hey kid, how you doing?”

Patrick still groggy, “I’m okay. Who are you guys?”

“Let’s just say we help people with extraordinary situations.”

“Gotcha.”

“So, do you remember anything from last night?”

“Hmm... not really.” He thought for a moment. “All I can really remember is seeing the moon light breaking through the clouds, then I got all hot and it was difficult to breath... Oh, then I ran outside... then nothing... wait, I do remember a really sharp pain in my shoulder.”

He touched his left shoulder to notice the bandage with a small red spot. Puzzled, he asked, “What happened?”

“Well, do you remember hearing about the weird sounds and sheep disappearing over the last few months?”

“Yeah...”

“It was you. You’ve been turning into a werewolf and attacking the farm.”

“Oh shit. I had a feeling something like that was happening. The internet said wolfsbane could help. Couldn’t find any. Was going to get it from Amazon but I didn’t come in on time. What else can I do to stop it? Like never going out at night again or what?”

“Don’t worry. We have a solution. It takes a mix of silver and your blood to create a cure. Only thing is you’ll have a patch of silver hair somewhere and you’ll have one of your senses heightened for life.”

“That's not so bad. What sense though?”

“It's different for everyone. But better than the alternative, right?”

Austin and Eric brought a vial of Patrick’s blood back to the rental, where they carefully mixed it with purified silver to prepare the cure. Hours later, the serum was ready. When they injected it into Patrick’s arm, the change was almost immediate. A streak of silver bloomed through the hair beside his right temple, and his vision sharpened to an uncanny 20/10. He slipped off his glasses, blinking in disbelief as the world came into perfect focus. Overcome with relief, Patrick pulled them both into a fierce hug, gratitude written across his face as they exchanged their goodbyes.

They were going to go back and relax but for monster hunters, they’re work is never done. A call came of unbelievable details. A string of strange deaths. There were bodies drained of blood and left pale as chalk. They had surfaced in the misty streets of Prague, the ancient city whose shadowed alleys and Gothic spires seemed tailor-made for monsters. Austin and Eric didn’t hesitate. Within hours they were on a plane, watching the dawn creep across the horizon, both men quiet with the weight of what awaited them. With the description of how they bodies were drained, it sounded like vampires. Unlike most other monsters, vampires were clever, patient, and centuries old.

Perhaps this one was new and sloppy, poorly trained. Most vampires didn’t leave a trace. Maybe it wanted to be caught. Either way, Austin and Eric would hunt it down like any other and put an end to it. Their plane touched down in Prague just as dawn threatened the horizon. With daylight on their side, they had a brief window to rest. After a quick briefing with the Regional Directorate, they checked into their hotel, planning to recover before the night’s work began. When they woke, their bodies felt sharp again, brimming with purpose. The hunt was waiting, and so was the monster. This killing machine had turned the city into a nightmare but they were there to end it.

The city streets were alive with tourists and the hum of daily life, but beneath the surface lay a tension only hunters could sense. Reports spoke of victims found in alleys near the Old Town, their bodies drained and discarded like refuse. The Directorate’s files hinted at a pattern forming around the Gothic spires and shadowed courtyards of the city center. Austin and Eric knew the predator would strike again soon. It was only a matter of time. All they had to do was predict where and wait in the dark.

With the victims’ bodies left scattered across the city, Austin and Eric suspected they were dealing with a younger, inexperienced vampire. One that couldn’t go long without feeding. They staked out the darker alleyways, blending into the shadows, hoping to catch the creature in the act. Hours dragged by until, around 1 am, Austin heard a blood-curdling scream. He sprinted toward the sound, only to catch a glimpse of a shadowy figure vanishing into the night. It moved too fast to pursue. Checking the alley, he found another victim. They were pale, lifeless, and drained completely of blood just like all the rest. Determined, he vowed to uncover a pattern and bring this monster down.

Days passed, their nights spent in endless surveillance, until finally a pattern began to emerge. Each attack occurred in a precise five-day interval. The first took place near Charles Bridge, the second along the quiet streets around Old Town Square, the third in the shadowed courtyards of Josefov, and the fourth near the abandoned warehouses along the Vltava River. The vampire struck where crowds were sparse but escape routes plentiful, moving like clockwork through the city. Austin and Eric now had something to work with. They finally found a rhythm, a map leading them straight to the predator.

Analyzing the pattern and places, Austin concluded that the river warehouses was where the vampire had its lair. Clearly it was only a young fledgling, so the elaborate lifestyle most vampire’s have wasn’t possible. They narrowed in on the lair and waited. At almost 3am, the fledgling creeped around near by. She looked around and thinking she was alone, entered her warehouse lair. It was cold and drafty. Though it was massive and empty, she created a comfortable little corner where no light was able to sneak in during the daytime.

She was unnervingly, almost fragile in appearance, but there was a predatory edge to her every movement. Her skin was pale to the point of translucence, stretched tight over delicate bones and jutting cheekbones. Dark circles framed her sunken eyes, giving her a permanent, hollow glare that seemed to pierce the darkness. Her hair hung in thin, tangled strands, lifeless and uneven, and her lips were cracked.

She was still too young and alone to have a coffin so she had to make do with what she was able to. Austin and Eric snuck in on the other side of the warehouse. They stayed absolutely silent until they were right on top of the vampire. Eric yelled, “Stay right where you are! There’s nowhere to escape.”

She screamed at first then pleaded. “Please don’t hurt me. I’m only trying to survive. I’m starving.”

Every inch of her seemed sharpened by hunger, and the faint scent of iron hung around her. It was merely a reminder of blood recently taken, and the constant craving that drove her onward. She cowered in the corner palms up facing the men covering her face. At first, they felt sympathy thinking they should help her somehow. They knew a few covens that could take her in and show her the proper ways of being a vampire.

Even though they were only a few feet away, her animalistic behavior took over and lunged at them. Since she was to Eric’s right, as she attacked, he shot her in the forehead with a garlic laced bullet. She flew back into her corner but wasn't quite dead yet. Eric bent down, “We were thinking about helping you. But you seem beyond help. You are too feral to be left to your own devices or retrained by experienced vampires.”

Austin kneeled, sympathy depleted. “You aren’t worth saving. What we’re going to do is going to hurt like a mother fucker but you deserve nothing better.”

They pulled her up and dragged her outside. Tied her to a chair as she begged for mercy. She apologized profusely while struggling to get out of the chair. It was only an hour until dawn so they covered her with a black tarp until they were ready to fry her. She cried and wailed the entire time she was under the tarp but they ignored her. Dawn came but wanted that anticipation and anxiety to build in her before she was released from this world.

The Sun was fully showing in the sky just above the horizon. Austin carelessly asked, “Ready to die, bitch?”

They yanked the tarp away, and the first stab of sunlight cut across her frail body. Her skin went from corpse-white to searing crimson in seconds. Blisters bubbled, flesh charred, and then—like brittle paper in a flame—she crumbled into ash. Austin and Eric stood back, sunglasses on, unmoved as the last of her drifted away on the ocean breeze. Within half a minute, the dock was empty, as if she had never existed.

“Hungry? Breakfast is on me.”

Eric grinned. They allowed themselves a few days of respite but the hunt never truly stops for a hunter. With their ties to the hidden veins of the supernatural world, they chased targets for the next century without aging. From djinn and shapeshifters to ghosts, leprechauns, and creatures too strange to name, their hunts carved legends. Time and again, Austin found himself bloodied but always rising for the next fight. Blades that should have ended him, poisons that should have rotted him, falls that should have shattered him… all passed as if they were mere scrapes. To the world, it was miracle after miracle. To Eric, it was routine. And to Austin, it was just another reminder that no matter how close death came, it never truly claimed him.

There came a night that pushed Austin past his limits. Even with Eric at his side, even with their victory, something in him nearly snapped. The endless cycle of battles and the monsters became too much. When the night was finally quiet, he collapsed onto the couch, sinking into the cushions as if they could swallow him whole. A strange warmth bloomed in his mind, like pressure easing after years of strain. His eyelids grew heavy, his head lolling as sleep pressed in. He fought it for a moment, then gave in.

When he opened his eyes again, he wasn’t in his apartment. He was back at the Loom facility. A television flickered on nearby, its glow washing over the walls. The words were blurred at first, then slowly sharpened:

Welcome back, traveler. We hope your adventure went well. A technician will be in soon to assist you.

Austin’s fogged mind remembered Lance’s advice: just relax. It didn’t feel like sleep. It felt like surrendering to calm. A door clicked open. Lance entered, adjusting the lights only slightly, careful not to jar him. He pulled up a stool and gave a reassuring smile. “Hey, bud. How you feeling?”

All Austin managed was a soft hum and a tired smile. Lance ruffled his chest with a light knuckle, coaxing him to stay awake. “Did you have fun fighting those monsters?”

Austin’s eyes stayed closed, his voice quiet but steady. “Yeah. It was fun. Scary sometimes… but I created a partner, and he helped me through it.”

“Sounds awesome,” Lance said warmly. “You’ll have to tell me more sometime.”

“I’d like that.”

It took Austin a few minutes to shake the Loom’s grogginess, but when he finally rose, he and Lance exchanged numbers before parting ways. Back in his modest home, life felt different. The frustrations, even his mother’s sharp tongue, slid off him more easily. For the first time in a long while, he felt steady, capable... fulfilled. The rumors were true. The Loom gave its travelers more than adventures. It changed how they faced the real world. And for Austin, that shift had just begun.