And as soon as the man said it, dozens of users of Fiction Branches left this branch of the story alone. Years went by in real-world time, and no one bothered the man and his companions...because without anyone to continue the story, the branch just sort of ended there. Everyone was more or less frozen in time.
However, the man had not stated that the people on the other side of the computer couldn't come back. Nor had he provided against the possibility of new users to Fiction Branches coming in and stumbling on the plot line, replacing those who he had wished away.
Two years later real-world time (see the posting date on this episode and the prior episode), someone stumbled on the branch and finally decided to extend it. But would it pick up where it left off right away? Would the man be over his paranoia and not even realize that people would once again be manipulating his life? Would he and his companions even be given names?
Would Karyn remain a couch? And what of Jon? Does he even realize that Karyn has been kidnapped?
And so, time resumes...
