I forgot my umbrella, again. I look towards the gray sky and feel the light drizzle on my nose. I can’t help but chuckle at my forgetfulness but what else is new.
692Please respect copyright.PENANA6u7NTw2Znn
I look to the other side of the street to see the smiles of my high school classmates. Even the rain can’t dim their mood. I’ll admire them for that. But only that.
692Please respect copyright.PENANA8U7Rp3mcHA
Nao: “There are only 2 things that could put a smile like that on my face.”
692Please respect copyright.PENANAMm8q2XSgfU
I pick up the pace to my destination before the heavy rain catches me and wets my reward for survival. It takes longer than I would like but I make it to my local bookstore in time.
692Please respect copyright.PENANAW5nOq8PtME
I push open the doors and breath deep the smell of fresh new books. The only reprieve in the town for people like me. I scan the area to see only a handful of people reading or at least pretending to.
692Please respect copyright.PENANA9bJCiv7kIs
Nao: “The few that are.”
692Please respect copyright.PENANA592KKwsZAC
But that’s fine, more worlds to escape to for me. I pace around the fiction section, scanning everything hidden gem and catching titles. But none of them really pop out
692Please respect copyright.PENANAw63zAVB2h2
Nao: “I need something strong today, come on. Anything, please.”
692Please respect copyright.PENANA8NHb18o3dT
I search the fiction section up and down but came up empty-handed.
692Please respect copyright.PENANAMfb10OQl96
Nao: “Can today get any worse? Who am I kidding? Of course it can.”
692Please respect copyright.PENANAqOOBTSJNML
I begin to leave but I notice something. A book with a silver cover, and a purple gem engraved on it. It wasn’t there before in this bookcase, I checked.
692Please respect copyright.PENANAI8TvimRPeO
Regardless, the cover is amazingly crafted, and the gem…
692Please respect copyright.PENANARsW2PVJPqr
Nao: “I need to know what kind of story deserves such a treatment.”
692Please respect copyright.PENANATZzmuW3Vqr
I take the surprisingly heavy book despite not being a particularly big book. Maybe today will be a good day after all. I rush towards the checkout and even more luck blesses me.
692Please respect copyright.PENANA7WLl2AvEnO
Nao: “Nice, no line.”
692Please respect copyright.PENANAdIDGzFVxqD
I go straight up to the librarian or at least the part-timer working for the librarian. She does seem like a reader at least but maybe she shouldn’t do this on the job.
692Please respect copyright.PENANAzGlrqKrVM1
Nao: “Excuse me?”
692Please respect copyright.PENANAVUxQUDqtJa
….
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Nao: “Excuse Me!?”
692Please respect copyright.PENANAKJofY1G94z
692Please respect copyright.PENANAPdwghMo7s8
“Oh, sorry. Didn’t see you down there. What can I do for you.”
692Please respect copyright.PENANA2LyVspGeOM
Nao: “…Can I check out this book.”
692Please respect copyright.PENANAARhmpmuCQg
“Sure.”
692Please respect copyright.PENANA377q6cJdau
I hand over the book and fidget in anticipation.
692Please respect copyright.PENANAlevq9aOfUD
“Hmmm, I don’t see anywhere to scan. Is this really from here?”
692Please respect copyright.PENANA3tiR8uZ8AD
Nao: “Yeah, I found it in the fiction section on the farthest shelf.”
692Please respect copyright.PENANATRghHhYeRa
“I see, I can’t-”
692Please respect copyright.PENANA1dFVkn3xOw
My heart begins to sink at the thought of no book to escape to but that quickly fades. She’s….staring at me, as if frozen in time. Time resumes and her bored expression quickly turns into one of horror.
692Please respect copyright.PENANATqcA2n9jfT
She screams and throws the book back at me.
692Please respect copyright.PENANAk7vlY8Q6ND
“What the hell…was that?! Did you see that!?”
692Please respect copyright.PENANAfVCqJZd00I
The few people turn towards us in confusion.
692Please respect copyright.PENANA7tbqLWfWCT
Nao: “See what?”
692Please respect copyright.PENANA2mAa9W9Zpe
“I-I….don’t know. I think I…need a break. You can keep the book, I don’t think our library can afford a book that extravagant anyway.”
692Please respect copyright.PENANA4HAXoTnavF
She slips further back into the library employee section leaving me holding whatever this book is.
692Please respect copyright.PENANA0ML2Q3M2Rf
Nao: “Cool.”
692Please respect copyright.PENANAVwACI3dNdy
I rush out of the library, placing the book in my book bag along the way. It might be raining heavier but I don’t care, something interesting is finally happening to me.
692Please respect copyright.PENANAaKpNJFDzc8
I run as fast as I can back home with feverish excitement to open this book.
692Please respect copyright.PENANAVfibkzbzeq
???: “Hey Napoleon!”
692Please respect copyright.PENANAv4WZBXK6LT
My legs instantly freeze at that name before my brain could process what just happened.
692Please respect copyright.PENANAF9iHNtZP0U
???: “Where are you going in such a hurry. We didn’t get say to goodbye today.”
692Please respect copyright.PENANA8Zfl2owFut
My legs tremble from the sound of their footsteps coming closer from the other side. I force myself to turn toward my oppressors.
692Please respect copyright.PENANAjlu74XnUra
???: “Wow, you’re shaking more than usual. Must be the cold wind.”
692Please respect copyright.PENANAgD7SUAIVdb
Nao: “Yeah, it’s cold out today. I…need to go home so…”
692Please respect copyright.PENANAhcPUYUTkUN
???: “Sure, just need to relieve some stress first. You don’t mind, right? Help a friend out.”
692Please respect copyright.PENANAn5y4Z6Y2A6
Nao: “Anton I-”
692Please respect copyright.PENANAs6xanUHINC
Anton: “Don’t worry, we won’t throw you around like last time. You may be Napoleon but you still weigh a solid chunk. I don’t need that kind of workout now.”
692Please respect copyright.PENANAzzuhDSfNMe
They stand tall like skyscrapers around me, pushing gravity-like pressure on my body to comply. And I do, that is my station at school and…here.
692Please respect copyright.PENANABAbAKSxaqg
Anton: “Good, we need to improve my aim. My parents wouldn’t like it if I graduate without being able to hit a target perfectly.”
692Please respect copyright.PENANApZwA7C7CME
Anton and his 3 goons drag me to a nearby ally and set me up against the wall.
692Please respect copyright.PENANAN6yn04eCoO
Anton: “We got only 8 chances, we don’t want to be late.”
692Please respect copyright.PENANA7EeAq6azPC
They loaded their BB guns and fired. I closed my eyes and tensed up at every successful hit.
692Please respect copyright.PENANAR1Di3Jfjjy
Thankfully, the other 2 weren’t good shots. They missed half their shots much to their disappointment. Anton on the other hand, only missed twice and always aims for the head.
692Please respect copyright.PENANAiuxtgDxAIP
Tears flowed out of my eyes as I rub my swollen head.
692Please respect copyright.PENANAzXouz6Ki1E
“The hell you crying for? My old man is going to fuck me up for missing half these shots.
692Please respect copyright.PENANACY6hqv0Xbn
“I prefer the beating, the eyes of disappointment is what gets me.”
692Please respect copyright.PENANAhWijgZsYAr
Anton: “We just need to practice more, right Napoleon.”
692Please respect copyright.PENANAGTldSD6AHY
I force myself to nod.
692Please respect copyright.PENANAXyQcvqPhuu
Anton: “Good boy. Let’s go guys, pizza is on Napoleon.”
692Please respect copyright.PENANAP5IW8pxBFk
Without even turning around Anton holds out his hand. I take out the little money I have and give it to him.
692Please respect copyright.PENANAhIVCAP4tqO
Not wasting any more time on the background character, Anton leaves to better things. Leaving me behind in the rain.
692Please respect copyright.PENANA0sWOF2CxKe
But maybe there’s hope for me. As rain begins to pound heavier into me, my smile slips back.
692Please respect copyright.PENANA3acl2oqF63
I ran as fast as I could with my stumps legs back home. It didn’t take long for me burst through the door and slam into my older sister.
692Please respect copyright.PENANAl0NL2P25Dt
???: “Watch where you’re going! You know no one can see you coming from down there.”
692Please respect copyright.PENANAkE36HNlSqf
???: “Alyson, stop making fun of Nao’s height. He can’t change that.”
692Please respect copyright.PENANABEEB4R05UQ
Alyson: “But he can plan around it, like not running like a manic.”
692Please respect copyright.PENANAPUFNJ53yru
Nao: “I’m sorry, I’ll be more careful.”
692Please respect copyright.PENANA2rb2QK3Y3r
You’re not even that much taller than me.
692Please respect copyright.PENANAqAFG2CNFv9
Alyson: “You say that, prove it.”
692Please respect copyright.PENANAB24DbD3TyA
I move past Alyson with no more words spoken. She deserves none of it.
692Please respect copyright.PENANAGfXdcFsD48
Nao: “I’ll skip lunch mom, I have a new book to read.”
692Please respect copyright.PENANArUsctLtyH9
Mom: “Really? I thought we could have a movie night.”
692Please respect copyright.PENANASbGFAGdpGb
Nao & Alyson: “No thanks.”
692Please respect copyright.PENANAw5h0HKEm0B
Mom: “Awww, I miss when you two were
692Please respect copyright.PENANATgvAIF3Koc
Those days are gone.
692Please respect copyright.PENANAwENnDtD9Jb
Alyson: “Time moves on and speaking of moving I have to meet up with my study group.”
692Please respect copyright.PENANAasgmDiLoHU
Mom: “You’ve been working hard, maybe it’s time to take a break.”
692Please respect copyright.PENANAC4lrW0WfX5
Alyson: “Nah, I’m good Nell.”
692Please respect copyright.PENANAeE6cfPrMBL
Nell: “Even after all this time you still won’t call me mom?”
692Please respect copyright.PENANAUOVfCbPfbX
Alyson: “….I’ll get there. Now, if you excuse me.”
692Please respect copyright.PENANAEYq7O1jseq
And she’s gone, I should be getting going too.
692Please respect copyright.PENANAcJijNMMzgB
Nell: “Nao, what’s that bump on your head?”
692Please respect copyright.PENANAY7w501rMb3
Nao: “Huh, I slipped in the rain. Sorry.”
692Please respect copyright.PENANAvLmCS7wa2Z
Nell: “Oh, be careful. I know you love your books but don’t risk your health over it.”
692Please respect copyright.PENANAZ4VquszibC
It’s worth that risk mom and telling the truth will risk the 2nd thing that can make me smile.
692Please respect copyright.PENANAoETsXwN4wd
Nao: “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. I’ll…see you later.”
692Please respect copyright.PENANAEho4QoKJIC
Nell: “Alright, I’ll be here watching the news.”
692Please respect copyright.PENANAwLFrbrH5mR
I go upstairs, through my plain door, and lock the door. The excitement returns in force as I rip tear my book bag off and take the book out.
692Please respect copyright.PENANAoAMTWBlUwe
I flop on the bed still in school clothes ready to gorge myself on this new world. The silver engravings, purple gem, and generally ornate design of the book is striking.
692Please respect copyright.PENANA3mhpwMDSPj
Nao: “A book that makes people scream….hehehehe.”
692Please respect copyright.PENANAjFz6CkC3Di
Nothing interesting happens to me, I’m less than important to everyone but maybe this will…
692Please respect copyright.PENANAhQN1ID186u
I swallow air and grip the cover. My head begins to throb but I ignore it, this is my last chance!
692Please respect copyright.PENANA8EPovN84Gz
I force open the book and my eyes start to burn. I see….!
692Please respect copyright.PENANA2yxKaCyaGf
I throw the book down and stifle the scream trying to escape my throat. I’m sweating as if I ran 2 marathons and barely can breath. But….
692Please respect copyright.PENANA8xBQKOZ5BP
Nao: “No, I won’t back away from this.”
692Please respect copyright.PENANA3oiIwKZ4ij
I take the book back and stare into the depths of its indescribable pages. The headaches, bloody eyes and breaking body is nothing. This is what I’ve been waiting for!
692Please respect copyright.PENANAviGCdcD7vk
The pain escalates to unreasonable degrees but then just stops. It’s quiet, eerily quiet.
692Please respect copyright.PENANACUNn2sdj4n
Nao: “Wait a minute where am I.”
692Please respect copyright.PENANAJMJr94GeUe
All around is a black void but I can hear it. From within the void emerges a giant red eye that stares through me. I steel myself and I stare back into the maelstrom before me.
692Please respect copyright.PENANAxTVMOApocs
All at once, I can see it all rushing through me that’s reflected in its eye.
692Please respect copyright.PENANA9hJ866wOA0
My life, no, lives beyond my own flash before my eyes. Worlds only found in my dreams and nightmares flow into my mind. But I can’t comprehend any of it. Their shadows only graze and scrape my mind. Otherwise I would go mad from the horrors whispering into my soul.
692Please respect copyright.PENANALeSbQZHqSR
Then all of sudden it’s over, the visions stop and a voice echoes in my mind.
692Please respect copyright.PENANAdjnl3KKEEb
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“ArchMage system activated, 97th user registered. Hello, Nao.”
692Please respect copyright.PENANAiW3tIDsWvr