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.
698Please respect copyright.PENANA0N9XzbD07A
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.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAxLCGnkQa10
Nao: “There are only 2 things that could put a smile like that on my face.”
698Please respect copyright.PENANAZ8tVu3gm8E
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.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAIzDItVoODv
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.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAxKNwME3BAV
Nao: “The few that are.”
698Please respect copyright.PENANAqfv0yV21sZ
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
698Please respect copyright.PENANA1z1Hrc5Wp9
Nao: “I need something strong today, come on. Anything, please.”
698Please respect copyright.PENANAC4dXjuam7l
I search the fiction section up and down but came up empty-handed.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAfcxu9F2XNo
Nao: “Can today get any worse? Who am I kidding? Of course it can.”
698Please respect copyright.PENANAYJ9cXO7ACX
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.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAevDb2CZ14a
Regardless, the cover is amazingly crafted, and the gem…
698Please respect copyright.PENANAaqk7XGaGV4
Nao: “I need to know what kind of story deserves such a treatment.”
698Please respect copyright.PENANAwjBm189TWg
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.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAMYvsSXTlBe
Nao: “Nice, no line.”
698Please respect copyright.PENANAnVmds478lX
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.
698Please respect copyright.PENANABx0uAzrCyr
Nao: “Excuse me?”
698Please respect copyright.PENANAnHpQ7VSwPD
….
698Please respect copyright.PENANAFm4LxnTADa
Nao: “Excuse Me!?”
698Please respect copyright.PENANAd0rri2dZZR
698Please respect copyright.PENANA6qnry8kHzl
“Oh, sorry. Didn’t see you down there. What can I do for you.”
698Please respect copyright.PENANAlj1DKqmbb4
Nao: “…Can I check out this book.”
698Please respect copyright.PENANAMLrBF3tahk
“Sure.”
698Please respect copyright.PENANAiIqFavFGA7
I hand over the book and fidget in anticipation.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAuulXmbUQGn
“Hmmm, I don’t see anywhere to scan. Is this really from here?”
698Please respect copyright.PENANAz0u1vUakYe
Nao: “Yeah, I found it in the fiction section on the farthest shelf.”
698Please respect copyright.PENANACFYzCQv6OW
“I see, I can’t-”
698Please respect copyright.PENANAdBFGiAzRTr
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.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAFMrRY5CQZA
She screams and throws the book back at me.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAhXDkKwG7QR
“What the hell…was that?! Did you see that!?”
698Please respect copyright.PENANAjyHbXWZzSE
The few people turn towards us in confusion.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAWarIvMwzRu
Nao: “See what?”
698Please respect copyright.PENANAUmIT7KGpNz
“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.”
698Please respect copyright.PENANAndnMi8TBwy
She slips further back into the library employee section leaving me holding whatever this book is.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAUIbQMs1eFC
Nao: “Cool.”
698Please respect copyright.PENANAnTiVRSBsEO
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.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAfQFqbK2MRs
I run as fast as I can back home with feverish excitement to open this book.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAxFchEhLImW
???: “Hey Napoleon!”
698Please respect copyright.PENANAwElr4cipkZ
My legs instantly freeze at that name before my brain could process what just happened.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAKoNoQEFnLE
???: “Where are you going in such a hurry. We didn’t get say to goodbye today.”
698Please respect copyright.PENANAXIA2zrw5Mt
My legs tremble from the sound of their footsteps coming closer from the other side. I force myself to turn toward my oppressors.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAZmpSyVGXbE
???: “Wow, you’re shaking more than usual. Must be the cold wind.”
698Please respect copyright.PENANAp9wZ7kW2Ah
Nao: “Yeah, it’s cold out today. I…need to go home so…”
698Please respect copyright.PENANAWze8jr5d8s
???: “Sure, just need to relieve some stress first. You don’t mind, right? Help a friend out.”
698Please respect copyright.PENANAio1JEgOYkL
Nao: “Anton I-”
698Please respect copyright.PENANAnFYOFJQggO
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.”
698Please respect copyright.PENANAsTazIsCYld
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.
698Please respect copyright.PENANA5yEr00JbWl
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.”
698Please respect copyright.PENANARqA9CDgQJE
Anton and his 3 goons drag me to a nearby ally and set me up against the wall.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAiAemLXALZ7
Anton: “We got only 8 chances, we don’t want to be late.”
698Please respect copyright.PENANALcaANYTGIT
They loaded their BB guns and fired. I closed my eyes and tensed up at every successful hit.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAVF8i7OAp7e
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.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAuuTSaB0pEs
Tears flowed out of my eyes as I rub my swollen head.
698Please respect copyright.PENANABrXiBQiiHt
“The hell you crying for? My old man is going to fuck me up for missing half these shots.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAXDpmNuCW6l
“I prefer the beating, the eyes of disappointment is what gets me.”
698Please respect copyright.PENANApXv2lMnDJl
Anton: “We just need to practice more, right Napoleon.”
698Please respect copyright.PENANAF23Qgw8qQj
I force myself to nod.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAagc3D0RO6F
Anton: “Good boy. Let’s go guys, pizza is on Napoleon.”
698Please respect copyright.PENANABNaykVFaUX
Without even turning around Anton holds out his hand. I take out the little money I have and give it to him.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAXDjhX6gHhc
Not wasting any more time on the background character, Anton leaves to better things. Leaving me behind in the rain.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAUMDjjVY6St
But maybe there’s hope for me. As rain begins to pound heavier into me, my smile slips back.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAmkZxmrAbID
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.
698Please respect copyright.PENANABzfNcpS51B
???: “Watch where you’re going! You know no one can see you coming from down there.”
698Please respect copyright.PENANAdrBD2qg2LT
???: “Alyson, stop making fun of Nao’s height. He can’t change that.”
698Please respect copyright.PENANAug0N5oD759
Alyson: “But he can plan around it, like not running like a manic.”
698Please respect copyright.PENANA7T00SwoEED
Nao: “I’m sorry, I’ll be more careful.”
698Please respect copyright.PENANA4vfBsUFLA4
You’re not even that much taller than me.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAFhS8VAyTSK
Alyson: “You say that, prove it.”
698Please respect copyright.PENANA2YwG6Xu72t
I move past Alyson with no more words spoken. She deserves none of it.
698Please respect copyright.PENANALqBpPUEW7H
Nao: “I’ll skip lunch mom, I have a new book to read.”
698Please respect copyright.PENANAuOvXGrVPYB
Mom: “Really? I thought we could have a movie night.”
698Please respect copyright.PENANARr2VrnbyJW
Nao & Alyson: “No thanks.”
698Please respect copyright.PENANAOap2F93j09
Mom: “Awww, I miss when you two were
698Please respect copyright.PENANAuXCshJqexq
Those days are gone.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAXn2Wl6QE9r
Alyson: “Time moves on and speaking of moving I have to meet up with my study group.”
698Please respect copyright.PENANA4AYQOnQNMu
Mom: “You’ve been working hard, maybe it’s time to take a break.”
698Please respect copyright.PENANAAfZiprlY3j
Alyson: “Nah, I’m good Nell.”
698Please respect copyright.PENANAYV9xytZsfZ
Nell: “Even after all this time you still won’t call me mom?”
698Please respect copyright.PENANAiJkR7Mzw3B
Alyson: “….I’ll get there. Now, if you excuse me.”
698Please respect copyright.PENANA4pa5CsISsW
And she’s gone, I should be getting going too.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAyvxHjPcd5u
Nell: “Nao, what’s that bump on your head?”
698Please respect copyright.PENANAa7TAXX83TP
Nao: “Huh, I slipped in the rain. Sorry.”
698Please respect copyright.PENANA0V7GXGPekl
Nell: “Oh, be careful. I know you love your books but don’t risk your health over it.”
698Please respect copyright.PENANAZexOu71pzj
It’s worth that risk mom and telling the truth will risk the 2nd thing that can make me smile.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAHRgu0sx4vn
Nao: “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. I’ll…see you later.”
698Please respect copyright.PENANAsR6ox84MVM
Nell: “Alright, I’ll be here watching the news.”
698Please respect copyright.PENANAWLmHXbArbo
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.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAzwrWL3bViN
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.
698Please respect copyright.PENANA7TW3jC5oys
Nao: “A book that makes people scream….hehehehe.”
698Please respect copyright.PENANABLoQmefVAT
Nothing interesting happens to me, I’m less than important to everyone but maybe this will…
698Please respect copyright.PENANAUgkKAHXTsD
I swallow air and grip the cover. My head begins to throb but I ignore it, this is my last chance!
698Please respect copyright.PENANABZ4petUedq
I force open the book and my eyes start to burn. I see….!
698Please respect copyright.PENANA8Y9uQXsPS4
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….
698Please respect copyright.PENANA0PD9Yz8tDw
Nao: “No, I won’t back away from this.”
698Please respect copyright.PENANANbvHsOum96
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!
698Please respect copyright.PENANApk35WQBiWt
The pain escalates to unreasonable degrees but then just stops. It’s quiet, eerily quiet.
698Please respect copyright.PENANANpsgDTkxGo
Nao: “Wait a minute where am I.”
698Please respect copyright.PENANA6ERLmTqIY3
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.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAwW7OyWeQG5
All at once, I can see it all rushing through me that’s reflected in its eye.
698Please respect copyright.PENANALJQqOof3K8
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.
698Please respect copyright.PENANAPg2CjVYqwz
Then all of sudden it’s over, the visions stop and a voice echoes in my mind.
698Please respect copyright.PENANA345bEKyMZ8
698Please respect copyright.PENANARxxe7ZsLRq
“ArchMage system activated, 97th user registered. Hello, Nao.”
698Please respect copyright.PENANAScpkypZFky