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.
342Please respect copyright.PENANAuZWiMsNWkP
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.
342Please respect copyright.PENANAHmblrh7ved
Nao: “There are only 2 things that could put a smile like that on my face.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAkxjrEidMdc
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.
342Please respect copyright.PENANAgMrU97GYGw
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.
342Please respect copyright.PENANAvOhJONFZBH
Nao: “The few that are.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAkId7W3Qqj5
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
342Please respect copyright.PENANAgQ1B5lAkZR
Nao: “I need something strong today, come on. Anything, please.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAeFvbahUrMt
I search the fiction section up and down but came up empty-handed.
342Please respect copyright.PENANAXIk9UY2WaZ
Nao: “Can today get any worse? Who am I kidding? Of course it can.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAlG1oNkBX4x
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.
342Please respect copyright.PENANA816u75m5It
Regardless, the cover is amazingly crafted, and the gem…
342Please respect copyright.PENANAyiGhrlj8jt
Nao: “I need to know what kind of story deserves such a treatment.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAaLyR2IxYEA
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.
342Please respect copyright.PENANAE85FmbWcVw
Nao: “Nice, no line.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAZMkg4ZRMp5
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.
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Nao: “Excuse me?”
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….
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Nao: “Excuse Me!?”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAzzhHKg20H9
342Please respect copyright.PENANAIeLmjO0p8J
“Oh, sorry. Didn’t see you down there. What can I do for you.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANA19wjRbgs0v
Nao: “…Can I check out this book.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAM4uQQhHRnd
“Sure.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANA2nh4wgjYys
I hand over the book and fidget in anticipation.
342Please respect copyright.PENANA3pGQtQTnSR
“Hmmm, I don’t see anywhere to scan. Is this really from here?”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAQoXHOUZTdZ
Nao: “Yeah, I found it in the fiction section on the farthest shelf.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANARWEjEgzUc8
“I see, I can’t-”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAV50FVJTFsm
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.
342Please respect copyright.PENANAeHyPONzwLd
She screams and throws the book back at me.
342Please respect copyright.PENANAapMailA1lN
“What the hell…was that?! Did you see that!?”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAgPUpwlBZKK
The few people turn towards us in confusion.
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Nao: “See what?”
342Please respect copyright.PENANACZgJiEC8Ts
“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.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAOI83FpbcmX
She slips further back into the library employee section leaving me holding whatever this book is.
342Please respect copyright.PENANA7MTOM9nTey
Nao: “Cool.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANA0Pe8ljkT2u
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.
342Please respect copyright.PENANAwmeZSpgCRD
I run as fast as I can back home with feverish excitement to open this book.
342Please respect copyright.PENANA0GvOQHqhUB
???: “Hey Napoleon!”
342Please respect copyright.PENANA7AWDro7IU0
My legs instantly freeze at that name before my brain could process what just happened.
342Please respect copyright.PENANA3WeTuovNLF
???: “Where are you going in such a hurry. We didn’t get say to goodbye today.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAWxkMi0xWtd
My legs tremble from the sound of their footsteps coming closer from the other side. I force myself to turn toward my oppressors.
342Please respect copyright.PENANAppfHioM9mO
???: “Wow, you’re shaking more than usual. Must be the cold wind.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANARoKqeYD5Yu
Nao: “Yeah, it’s cold out today. I…need to go home so…”
342Please respect copyright.PENANArzIM0Mes7m
???: “Sure, just need to relieve some stress first. You don’t mind, right? Help a friend out.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAt3lvnn4LDr
Nao: “Anton I-”
342Please respect copyright.PENANA1xXViELV0p
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.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAmZ0aiWEfd8
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.
342Please respect copyright.PENANAgSQrTUMNE1
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.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAWXFwf4FWoN
Anton and his 3 goons drag me to a nearby ally and set me up against the wall.
342Please respect copyright.PENANAqKrLBRYOPI
Anton: “We got only 8 chances, we don’t want to be late.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAR4gNHoEWqt
They loaded their BB guns and fired. I closed my eyes and tensed up at every successful hit.
342Please respect copyright.PENANAuB6DuqoDpv
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.
342Please respect copyright.PENANAOMgYzIaVTQ
Tears flowed out of my eyes as I rub my swollen head.
342Please respect copyright.PENANAZxnk72TSzf
“The hell you crying for? My old man is going to fuck me up for missing half these shots.
342Please respect copyright.PENANAe9uCYi3tZL
“I prefer the beating, the eyes of disappointment is what gets me.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANA8ZplGomNVs
Anton: “We just need to practice more, right Napoleon.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAb1ArSYIoqD
I force myself to nod.
342Please respect copyright.PENANAhuTR6KTHfL
Anton: “Good boy. Let’s go guys, pizza is on Napoleon.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAnW13P00XKn
Without even turning around Anton holds out his hand. I take out the little money I have and give it to him.
342Please respect copyright.PENANAlZLNs3WdVQ
Not wasting any more time on the background character, Anton leaves to better things. Leaving me behind in the rain.
342Please respect copyright.PENANA0b5nuD6nTp
But maybe there’s hope for me. As rain begins to pound heavier into me, my smile slips back.
342Please respect copyright.PENANAnht8NUMRAK
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.
342Please respect copyright.PENANAsXPRN7kN4T
???: “Watch where you’re going! You know no one can see you coming from down there.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAwAfLXCiU7e
???: “Alyson, stop making fun of Nao’s height. He can’t change that.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAhjh7FEjy3K
Alyson: “But he can plan around it, like not running like a manic.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANABPNNhh2tD9
Nao: “I’m sorry, I’ll be more careful.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAXOq94R1e1A
You’re not even that much taller than me.
342Please respect copyright.PENANA1dIfVxJCzw
Alyson: “You say that, prove it.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAuOU3aU8ez8
I move past Alyson with no more words spoken. She deserves none of it.
342Please respect copyright.PENANA9VJkDG8H0A
Nao: “I’ll skip lunch mom, I have a new book to read.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAJ3ig79i8ko
Mom: “Really? I thought we could have a movie night.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAsWkZqJ4cYE
Nao & Alyson: “No thanks.”
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Mom: “Awww, I miss when you two were
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Those days are gone.
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Alyson: “Time moves on and speaking of moving I have to meet up with my study group.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAdzC6yVank4
Mom: “You’ve been working hard, maybe it’s time to take a break.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAmLRbezLsM0
Alyson: “Nah, I’m good Nell.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAQxXReZepdc
Nell: “Even after all this time you still won’t call me mom?”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAbY2TVDLDwf
Alyson: “….I’ll get there. Now, if you excuse me.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAo0BjAFRhYJ
And she’s gone, I should be getting going too.
342Please respect copyright.PENANAywbGkgizVY
Nell: “Nao, what’s that bump on your head?”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAflYNQ3Ie1V
Nao: “Huh, I slipped in the rain. Sorry.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAwzsW6OJAoA
Nell: “Oh, be careful. I know you love your books but don’t risk your health over it.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANA3zbX09RfY8
It’s worth that risk mom and telling the truth will risk the 2nd thing that can make me smile.
342Please respect copyright.PENANAo3jIMFTjJ6
Nao: “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. I’ll…see you later.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAr5I2Kfsnfv
Nell: “Alright, I’ll be here watching the news.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAkOONfpGI6o
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.
342Please respect copyright.PENANAM08ig9puwW
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.
342Please respect copyright.PENANAJOVLUO59FT
Nao: “A book that makes people scream….hehehehe.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANAAR71FgvKLi
Nothing interesting happens to me, I’m less than important to everyone but maybe this will…
342Please respect copyright.PENANANcVCSlyB1e
I swallow air and grip the cover. My head begins to throb but I ignore it, this is my last chance!
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I force open the book and my eyes start to burn. I see….!
342Please respect copyright.PENANAUV1le7rPVf
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….
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Nao: “No, I won’t back away from this.”
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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!
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The pain escalates to unreasonable degrees but then just stops. It’s quiet, eerily quiet.
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Nao: “Wait a minute where am I.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANA0Uq5p2xBeH
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.
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All at once, I can see it all rushing through me that’s reflected in its eye.
342Please respect copyright.PENANAnRSLNxHhrM
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.
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Then all of sudden it’s over, the visions stop and a voice echoes in my mind.
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“ArchMage system activated, 97th user registered. Hello, Nao.”
342Please respect copyright.PENANA3CisJEtLPg