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.
647Please respect copyright.PENANAX477QtDq2o
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.
647Please respect copyright.PENANAegjWGvf3tf
Nao: “There are only 2 things that could put a smile like that on my face.”
647Please respect copyright.PENANAVnq9BE8NlH
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.
647Please respect copyright.PENANADo4iEH6VPd
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.
647Please respect copyright.PENANAPSNtqQ8hsq
Nao: “The few that are.”
647Please respect copyright.PENANARI0ZrDX83X
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
647Please respect copyright.PENANADnj8qBlYdm
Nao: “I need something strong today, come on. Anything, please.”
647Please respect copyright.PENANAbsKMGMQeYr
I search the fiction section up and down but came up empty-handed.
647Please respect copyright.PENANADoXOIrrRvP
Nao: “Can today get any worse? Who am I kidding? Of course it can.”
647Please respect copyright.PENANAVQ8LyrzV51
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.
647Please respect copyright.PENANAKfT7w7WSm8
Regardless, the cover is amazingly crafted, and the gem…
647Please respect copyright.PENANAFajKdRA73m
Nao: “I need to know what kind of story deserves such a treatment.”
647Please respect copyright.PENANAZM7SyznRiM
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.
647Please respect copyright.PENANAgmajcZcb68
Nao: “Nice, no line.”
647Please respect copyright.PENANAJ9FfvviE5W
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.
647Please respect copyright.PENANABS0p6ERXOZ
Nao: “Excuse me?”
647Please respect copyright.PENANABagNOErslU
….
647Please respect copyright.PENANAPLVBHGkuFZ
Nao: “Excuse Me!?”
647Please respect copyright.PENANAHjO1mMy0JX
647Please respect copyright.PENANAny0HnMEdeY
“Oh, sorry. Didn’t see you down there. What can I do for you.”
647Please respect copyright.PENANAPDKdUzOaWr
Nao: “…Can I check out this book.”
647Please respect copyright.PENANAsdqGtWsIIS
“Sure.”
647Please respect copyright.PENANAqled1JOj5A
I hand over the book and fidget in anticipation.
647Please respect copyright.PENANABTCUrKwgNf
“Hmmm, I don’t see anywhere to scan. Is this really from here?”
647Please respect copyright.PENANAnB3LAGODrN
Nao: “Yeah, I found it in the fiction section on the farthest shelf.”
647Please respect copyright.PENANAxmMSZ2wKTu
“I see, I can’t-”
647Please respect copyright.PENANAp9lAVfFFM2
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.
647Please respect copyright.PENANAB9JDIrcrXI
She screams and throws the book back at me.
647Please respect copyright.PENANAmxILq3bjiB
“What the hell…was that?! Did you see that!?”
647Please respect copyright.PENANA6qThnaeSc8
The few people turn towards us in confusion.
647Please respect copyright.PENANA0SFNj3YoPH
Nao: “See what?”
647Please respect copyright.PENANAUO2me3Uun4
“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.”
647Please respect copyright.PENANAxAY72pERmE
She slips further back into the library employee section leaving me holding whatever this book is.
647Please respect copyright.PENANAOUe25CCM4B
Nao: “Cool.”
647Please respect copyright.PENANAaGXZSFusEL
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.
647Please respect copyright.PENANAsRL3PJna37
I run as fast as I can back home with feverish excitement to open this book.
647Please respect copyright.PENANAghaBojxZmw
???: “Hey Napoleon!”
647Please respect copyright.PENANA2BtPv55IIp
My legs instantly freeze at that name before my brain could process what just happened.
647Please respect copyright.PENANAAsvi0k0yPf
???: “Where are you going in such a hurry. We didn’t get say to goodbye today.”
647Please respect copyright.PENANAhHKngKU7fV
My legs tremble from the sound of their footsteps coming closer from the other side. I force myself to turn toward my oppressors.
647Please respect copyright.PENANA5sGmzDbVTk
???: “Wow, you’re shaking more than usual. Must be the cold wind.”
647Please respect copyright.PENANA30uS456aTK
Nao: “Yeah, it’s cold out today. I…need to go home so…”
647Please respect copyright.PENANA2UFqEXIK7X
???: “Sure, just need to relieve some stress first. You don’t mind, right? Help a friend out.”
647Please respect copyright.PENANAeWKZxrYYx1
Nao: “Anton I-”
647Please respect copyright.PENANAhPbzyOnl0j
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.”
647Please respect copyright.PENANAIp4i2ERXo8
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.
647Please respect copyright.PENANAX29iaiabvT
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.”
647Please respect copyright.PENANA8KCeFvckWL
Anton and his 3 goons drag me to a nearby ally and set me up against the wall.
647Please respect copyright.PENANAKxYy69VNiq
Anton: “We got only 8 chances, we don’t want to be late.”
647Please respect copyright.PENANAfN5f59WL1q
They loaded their BB guns and fired. I closed my eyes and tensed up at every successful hit.
647Please respect copyright.PENANAdyfjvl6Ten
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.
647Please respect copyright.PENANAPq8m1123qW
Tears flowed out of my eyes as I rub my swollen head.
647Please respect copyright.PENANAyUYGclMIVo
“The hell you crying for? My old man is going to fuck me up for missing half these shots.
647Please respect copyright.PENANAO337WAZVBM
“I prefer the beating, the eyes of disappointment is what gets me.”
647Please respect copyright.PENANAPQM79HTuTp
Anton: “We just need to practice more, right Napoleon.”
647Please respect copyright.PENANAmmL3cHN0pW
I force myself to nod.
647Please respect copyright.PENANAQk89i5m4jC
Anton: “Good boy. Let’s go guys, pizza is on Napoleon.”
647Please respect copyright.PENANAKn0ODGsZ2s
Without even turning around Anton holds out his hand. I take out the little money I have and give it to him.
647Please respect copyright.PENANApgklNd8jN8
Not wasting any more time on the background character, Anton leaves to better things. Leaving me behind in the rain.
647Please respect copyright.PENANALvQVLWUASm
But maybe there’s hope for me. As rain begins to pound heavier into me, my smile slips back.
647Please respect copyright.PENANAvQfKx9K8Jm
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.
647Please respect copyright.PENANAnDaq5m9SSp
???: “Watch where you’re going! You know no one can see you coming from down there.”
647Please respect copyright.PENANAE0sxrWnZYl
???: “Alyson, stop making fun of Nao’s height. He can’t change that.”
647Please respect copyright.PENANAxY06AcaJQH
Alyson: “But he can plan around it, like not running like a manic.”
647Please respect copyright.PENANA3UPdehbuYs
Nao: “I’m sorry, I’ll be more careful.”
647Please respect copyright.PENANA9ILB4O7Cxl
You’re not even that much taller than me.
647Please respect copyright.PENANASiIXiJddBP
Alyson: “You say that, prove it.”
647Please respect copyright.PENANAobhxYA88L6
I move past Alyson with no more words spoken. She deserves none of it.
647Please respect copyright.PENANAwDdwIE2WUi
Nao: “I’ll skip lunch mom, I have a new book to read.”
647Please respect copyright.PENANAaTvQ5R1pIf
Mom: “Really? I thought we could have a movie night.”
647Please respect copyright.PENANA8rEAFYg53S
Nao & Alyson: “No thanks.”
647Please respect copyright.PENANABh5wjM9oZw
Mom: “Awww, I miss when you two were
647Please respect copyright.PENANAZpQ7Upnz1p
Those days are gone.
647Please respect copyright.PENANAUnwvPw4h0h
Alyson: “Time moves on and speaking of moving I have to meet up with my study group.”
647Please respect copyright.PENANAn0XCGOeqEb
Mom: “You’ve been working hard, maybe it’s time to take a break.”
647Please respect copyright.PENANA6M7L0IfloG
Alyson: “Nah, I’m good Nell.”
647Please respect copyright.PENANAfSlGy3XHZK
Nell: “Even after all this time you still won’t call me mom?”
647Please respect copyright.PENANAtc3BDv0pqg
Alyson: “….I’ll get there. Now, if you excuse me.”
647Please respect copyright.PENANATIjr8pZJIK
And she’s gone, I should be getting going too.
647Please respect copyright.PENANAMh91AH1Mu2
Nell: “Nao, what’s that bump on your head?”
647Please respect copyright.PENANA66WXcL83G3
Nao: “Huh, I slipped in the rain. Sorry.”
647Please respect copyright.PENANArYTURtFR4p
Nell: “Oh, be careful. I know you love your books but don’t risk your health over it.”
647Please respect copyright.PENANAgW747wOd1O
It’s worth that risk mom and telling the truth will risk the 2nd thing that can make me smile.
647Please respect copyright.PENANAaVWdRnJ9vV
Nao: “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. I’ll…see you later.”
647Please respect copyright.PENANASLzJSF09A7
Nell: “Alright, I’ll be here watching the news.”
647Please respect copyright.PENANA3Vjo8lhNhA
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.
647Please respect copyright.PENANAC6OO884IOJ
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.
647Please respect copyright.PENANAY5uCxL5IPl
Nao: “A book that makes people scream….hehehehe.”
647Please respect copyright.PENANAyKDouuHIbw
Nothing interesting happens to me, I’m less than important to everyone but maybe this will…
647Please respect copyright.PENANAz1LTM36i75
I swallow air and grip the cover. My head begins to throb but I ignore it, this is my last chance!
647Please respect copyright.PENANAXBT8Vey4Q1
I force open the book and my eyes start to burn. I see….!
647Please respect copyright.PENANAFB6wS19qwT
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….
647Please respect copyright.PENANAQNypPksxSI
Nao: “No, I won’t back away from this.”
647Please respect copyright.PENANAU6ElM7KpEE
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!
647Please respect copyright.PENANAal8BShtGe2
The pain escalates to unreasonable degrees but then just stops. It’s quiet, eerily quiet.
647Please respect copyright.PENANAm5DcSnD9uo
Nao: “Wait a minute where am I.”
647Please respect copyright.PENANAKEbO3E0FPx
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.
647Please respect copyright.PENANAreEROVVjJs
All at once, I can see it all rushing through me that’s reflected in its eye.
647Please respect copyright.PENANAKMWT6ri9lG
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.
647Please respect copyright.PENANAthJl3Q8H6L
Then all of sudden it’s over, the visions stop and a voice echoes in my mind.
647Please respect copyright.PENANAwsYYokZKyv
647Please respect copyright.PENANAg4zOdqRkV9
“ArchMage system activated, 97th user registered. Hello, Nao.”
647Please respect copyright.PENANA45mrfOMOV4