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.
685Please respect copyright.PENANApua5ZTnyfd
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.
685Please respect copyright.PENANAUUSYtu5I2p
Nao: “There are only 2 things that could put a smile like that on my face.”
685Please respect copyright.PENANAtlrRDqpCHS
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.
685Please respect copyright.PENANA9Sm0ZteTZL
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.
685Please respect copyright.PENANAgr2ozIFHKO
Nao: “The few that are.”
685Please respect copyright.PENANAITLDtDh1yS
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
685Please respect copyright.PENANAqpAUiMIl2t
Nao: “I need something strong today, come on. Anything, please.”
685Please respect copyright.PENANALEPNKVORK4
I search the fiction section up and down but came up empty-handed.
685Please respect copyright.PENANA20H3qGTfsq
Nao: “Can today get any worse? Who am I kidding? Of course it can.”
685Please respect copyright.PENANAsd2SXqeUfx
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.
685Please respect copyright.PENANAncaIA65GI0
Regardless, the cover is amazingly crafted, and the gem…
685Please respect copyright.PENANAQjlv7X7Zao
Nao: “I need to know what kind of story deserves such a treatment.”
685Please respect copyright.PENANABvxcIVfKGD
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.
685Please respect copyright.PENANApyNBgCjzVg
Nao: “Nice, no line.”
685Please respect copyright.PENANACwmjndOpWQ
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.
685Please respect copyright.PENANAvldpcJZ3cR
Nao: “Excuse me?”
685Please respect copyright.PENANAciAWsmzETH
….
685Please respect copyright.PENANAaxWmr6PCmN
Nao: “Excuse Me!?”
685Please respect copyright.PENANAVjkx4C1FBz
685Please respect copyright.PENANA0DvLkUqU8S
“Oh, sorry. Didn’t see you down there. What can I do for you.”
685Please respect copyright.PENANAEEWT7BuAZY
Nao: “…Can I check out this book.”
685Please respect copyright.PENANAZVkTPhKBxx
“Sure.”
685Please respect copyright.PENANAioCdICnZnI
I hand over the book and fidget in anticipation.
685Please respect copyright.PENANArKELnBYzX3
“Hmmm, I don’t see anywhere to scan. Is this really from here?”
685Please respect copyright.PENANA5AyQ4BZZQC
Nao: “Yeah, I found it in the fiction section on the farthest shelf.”
685Please respect copyright.PENANAAJt9SHuMPB
“I see, I can’t-”
685Please respect copyright.PENANAKnpKTppJzH
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.
685Please respect copyright.PENANANte6qcdkjp
She screams and throws the book back at me.
685Please respect copyright.PENANAjxhDHiKwo4
“What the hell…was that?! Did you see that!?”
685Please respect copyright.PENANAVwUVTd7hsu
The few people turn towards us in confusion.
685Please respect copyright.PENANADSOgT9wh8U
Nao: “See what?”
685Please respect copyright.PENANAGIh03qibtt
“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.”
685Please respect copyright.PENANArYLtpSTryd
She slips further back into the library employee section leaving me holding whatever this book is.
685Please respect copyright.PENANAx58dcjWCsN
Nao: “Cool.”
685Please respect copyright.PENANAPuZqCJDySS
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.
685Please respect copyright.PENANAz11Mn5SWAD
I run as fast as I can back home with feverish excitement to open this book.
685Please respect copyright.PENANAvfdkWce7y1
???: “Hey Napoleon!”
685Please respect copyright.PENANAUeZw78vh4D
My legs instantly freeze at that name before my brain could process what just happened.
685Please respect copyright.PENANAg56XYcUTpq
???: “Where are you going in such a hurry. We didn’t get say to goodbye today.”
685Please respect copyright.PENANA2uYmHLMv4S
My legs tremble from the sound of their footsteps coming closer from the other side. I force myself to turn toward my oppressors.
685Please respect copyright.PENANAwEh6qGVfGd
???: “Wow, you’re shaking more than usual. Must be the cold wind.”
685Please respect copyright.PENANAhxQgnELeen
Nao: “Yeah, it’s cold out today. I…need to go home so…”
685Please respect copyright.PENANAsFQsvsX9SC
???: “Sure, just need to relieve some stress first. You don’t mind, right? Help a friend out.”
685Please respect copyright.PENANAeXRUT67Mrz
Nao: “Anton I-”
685Please respect copyright.PENANA7epq5DshIX
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.”
685Please respect copyright.PENANA5z17fH6P4L
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.
685Please respect copyright.PENANAq8asg26iUm
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.”
685Please respect copyright.PENANAmipG40Bkwb
Anton and his 3 goons drag me to a nearby ally and set me up against the wall.
685Please respect copyright.PENANA9hqNhLtlRI
Anton: “We got only 8 chances, we don’t want to be late.”
685Please respect copyright.PENANALIqpcS8Pgr
They loaded their BB guns and fired. I closed my eyes and tensed up at every successful hit.
685Please respect copyright.PENANAPbeM0IDuSu
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.
685Please respect copyright.PENANAR5VTcCb6wd
Tears flowed out of my eyes as I rub my swollen head.
685Please respect copyright.PENANAObmIfH4eN5
“The hell you crying for? My old man is going to fuck me up for missing half these shots.
685Please respect copyright.PENANAAiMp4jWjOI
“I prefer the beating, the eyes of disappointment is what gets me.”
685Please respect copyright.PENANAPyDccLhInX
Anton: “We just need to practice more, right Napoleon.”
685Please respect copyright.PENANA4CVOm4CMva
I force myself to nod.
685Please respect copyright.PENANAcfL5rcEHkr
Anton: “Good boy. Let’s go guys, pizza is on Napoleon.”
685Please respect copyright.PENANAPIP09PRoeZ
Without even turning around Anton holds out his hand. I take out the little money I have and give it to him.
685Please respect copyright.PENANA5s1opGKXIK
Not wasting any more time on the background character, Anton leaves to better things. Leaving me behind in the rain.
685Please respect copyright.PENANACTBeHNXtDm
But maybe there’s hope for me. As rain begins to pound heavier into me, my smile slips back.
685Please respect copyright.PENANACMWwzCvmN4
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.
685Please respect copyright.PENANAFbjIXtdX30
???: “Watch where you’re going! You know no one can see you coming from down there.”
685Please respect copyright.PENANALl2cOhEqAN
???: “Alyson, stop making fun of Nao’s height. He can’t change that.”
685Please respect copyright.PENANAvLs2tN1CTi
Alyson: “But he can plan around it, like not running like a manic.”
685Please respect copyright.PENANAEL8ZO3K4Bl
Nao: “I’m sorry, I’ll be more careful.”
685Please respect copyright.PENANAODz1DXwOAm
You’re not even that much taller than me.
685Please respect copyright.PENANAPBFYBU8skF
Alyson: “You say that, prove it.”
685Please respect copyright.PENANAh06de0ZqYF
I move past Alyson with no more words spoken. She deserves none of it.
685Please respect copyright.PENANAKFq9FgSz8t
Nao: “I’ll skip lunch mom, I have a new book to read.”
685Please respect copyright.PENANAiq26iD8fb0
Mom: “Really? I thought we could have a movie night.”
685Please respect copyright.PENANAoymHi6zRke
Nao & Alyson: “No thanks.”
685Please respect copyright.PENANA8pcv4pW4jk
Mom: “Awww, I miss when you two were
685Please respect copyright.PENANArfGU6XZQTR
Those days are gone.
685Please respect copyright.PENANAf2skIlhgMO
Alyson: “Time moves on and speaking of moving I have to meet up with my study group.”
685Please respect copyright.PENANADBWY27QOtM
Mom: “You’ve been working hard, maybe it’s time to take a break.”
685Please respect copyright.PENANA3vI436QEI9
Alyson: “Nah, I’m good Nell.”
685Please respect copyright.PENANAYg3RUv011D
Nell: “Even after all this time you still won’t call me mom?”
685Please respect copyright.PENANA4swWcZ44tA
Alyson: “….I’ll get there. Now, if you excuse me.”
685Please respect copyright.PENANATyOdJxBkxg
And she’s gone, I should be getting going too.
685Please respect copyright.PENANAAfQWInGBYz
Nell: “Nao, what’s that bump on your head?”
685Please respect copyright.PENANAD3KCtXurW2
Nao: “Huh, I slipped in the rain. Sorry.”
685Please respect copyright.PENANACxK5Tw0d0H
Nell: “Oh, be careful. I know you love your books but don’t risk your health over it.”
685Please respect copyright.PENANAwVlVeApEmc
It’s worth that risk mom and telling the truth will risk the 2nd thing that can make me smile.
685Please respect copyright.PENANAQQOpLYUDdH
Nao: “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. I’ll…see you later.”
685Please respect copyright.PENANAjqOj8oZGEe
Nell: “Alright, I’ll be here watching the news.”
685Please respect copyright.PENANAD9ijRu1ybX
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.
685Please respect copyright.PENANAB2TrDr0TNg
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.
685Please respect copyright.PENANAlyfFFJDzPT
Nao: “A book that makes people scream….hehehehe.”
685Please respect copyright.PENANAFb7HvxQOEW
Nothing interesting happens to me, I’m less than important to everyone but maybe this will…
685Please respect copyright.PENANAsoPWcc9hEM
I swallow air and grip the cover. My head begins to throb but I ignore it, this is my last chance!
685Please respect copyright.PENANAnxrYebCwyF
I force open the book and my eyes start to burn. I see….!
685Please respect copyright.PENANAspZvnxgoee
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….
685Please respect copyright.PENANAF5xnNWp7hb
Nao: “No, I won’t back away from this.”
685Please respect copyright.PENANABJ2VjzUwqF
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!
685Please respect copyright.PENANA9IQJwESbMP
The pain escalates to unreasonable degrees but then just stops. It’s quiet, eerily quiet.
685Please respect copyright.PENANANVASoRrSpO
Nao: “Wait a minute where am I.”
685Please respect copyright.PENANAJwrhIx5iP0
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.
685Please respect copyright.PENANAgTVGlU1bbq
All at once, I can see it all rushing through me that’s reflected in its eye.
685Please respect copyright.PENANAZGmni00Ctp
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.
685Please respect copyright.PENANApUB42ShXSm
Then all of sudden it’s over, the visions stop and a voice echoes in my mind.
685Please respect copyright.PENANA2i5kWUukwx
685Please respect copyright.PENANAaIJvQbfZHq
“ArchMage system activated, 97th user registered. Hello, Nao.”
685Please respect copyright.PENANAn8zE0W3hEh