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.
556Please respect copyright.PENANAJHSm09f23f
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.
556Please respect copyright.PENANA2DNfdUqUYA
Nao: “There are only 2 things that could put a smile like that on my face.”
556Please respect copyright.PENANAx4jorvwTPl
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.
556Please respect copyright.PENANA2YvfkQ5gG4
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.
556Please respect copyright.PENANAMzH1mpCMoW
Nao: “The few that are.”
556Please respect copyright.PENANAVpKMTNnDra
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
556Please respect copyright.PENANAPBKVgIS6Pg
Nao: “I need something strong today, come on. Anything, please.”
556Please respect copyright.PENANAj3qmJSsIYF
I search the fiction section up and down but came up empty-handed.
556Please respect copyright.PENANAD3taVOrCES
Nao: “Can today get any worse? Who am I kidding? Of course it can.”
556Please respect copyright.PENANAWiywUx1Nhu
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.
556Please respect copyright.PENANAbJZMuEUTMc
Regardless, the cover is amazingly crafted, and the gem…
556Please respect copyright.PENANAb17UuPjsqY
Nao: “I need to know what kind of story deserves such a treatment.”
556Please respect copyright.PENANALc0cx98epc
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.
556Please respect copyright.PENANAqyJWaXxgV5
Nao: “Nice, no line.”
556Please respect copyright.PENANAkkcSyfSmMC
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.
556Please respect copyright.PENANABZyS3osjlk
Nao: “Excuse me?”
556Please respect copyright.PENANAcN51IDhO7r
….
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Nao: “Excuse Me!?”
556Please respect copyright.PENANAWoFOShxddB
556Please respect copyright.PENANAGMmoy9CIcb
“Oh, sorry. Didn’t see you down there. What can I do for you.”
556Please respect copyright.PENANAkK5qFjriPV
Nao: “…Can I check out this book.”
556Please respect copyright.PENANAk0pCNHgb4D
“Sure.”
556Please respect copyright.PENANA855noa2oki
I hand over the book and fidget in anticipation.
556Please respect copyright.PENANAFfBbChMAGn
“Hmmm, I don’t see anywhere to scan. Is this really from here?”
556Please respect copyright.PENANAui01sR4Ln5
Nao: “Yeah, I found it in the fiction section on the farthest shelf.”
556Please respect copyright.PENANAAXHCRGF99A
“I see, I can’t-”
556Please respect copyright.PENANAFhdpjYYNHD
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.
556Please respect copyright.PENANArSOGBrfYVW
She screams and throws the book back at me.
556Please respect copyright.PENANAQgFxFtYZP5
“What the hell…was that?! Did you see that!?”
556Please respect copyright.PENANAdkSAcBWT7v
The few people turn towards us in confusion.
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Nao: “See what?”
556Please respect copyright.PENANAstCrYNYX2X
“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.”
556Please respect copyright.PENANA2uo90Nfjc9
She slips further back into the library employee section leaving me holding whatever this book is.
556Please respect copyright.PENANAfeijaTVFg1
Nao: “Cool.”
556Please respect copyright.PENANAUuwp0Fq5dw
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.
556Please respect copyright.PENANAMpX47Ty9lQ
I run as fast as I can back home with feverish excitement to open this book.
556Please respect copyright.PENANAPw477vgVHx
???: “Hey Napoleon!”
556Please respect copyright.PENANA3vLqwF8P0y
My legs instantly freeze at that name before my brain could process what just happened.
556Please respect copyright.PENANAvuzCrEKorl
???: “Where are you going in such a hurry. We didn’t get say to goodbye today.”
556Please respect copyright.PENANAl2l1r7V4Va
My legs tremble from the sound of their footsteps coming closer from the other side. I force myself to turn toward my oppressors.
556Please respect copyright.PENANAx8vMY1267h
???: “Wow, you’re shaking more than usual. Must be the cold wind.”
556Please respect copyright.PENANAPiQLXggCkS
Nao: “Yeah, it’s cold out today. I…need to go home so…”
556Please respect copyright.PENANAlUaLlXEPO6
???: “Sure, just need to relieve some stress first. You don’t mind, right? Help a friend out.”
556Please respect copyright.PENANARuoofccPs1
Nao: “Anton I-”
556Please respect copyright.PENANAanNSgt1IM1
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.”
556Please respect copyright.PENANAU9wdVskTcJ
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.
556Please respect copyright.PENANACP5zy4Q66o
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.”
556Please respect copyright.PENANAhhAjJcXYP0
Anton and his 3 goons drag me to a nearby ally and set me up against the wall.
556Please respect copyright.PENANAq7FpUJLqPT
Anton: “We got only 8 chances, we don’t want to be late.”
556Please respect copyright.PENANA869hXWlHOJ
They loaded their BB guns and fired. I closed my eyes and tensed up at every successful hit.
556Please respect copyright.PENANAK1yicWTiE3
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.
556Please respect copyright.PENANAQ5fY0eaOdK
Tears flowed out of my eyes as I rub my swollen head.
556Please respect copyright.PENANA3KnnkEkFXq
“The hell you crying for? My old man is going to fuck me up for missing half these shots.
556Please respect copyright.PENANAZ8QFaTiAns
“I prefer the beating, the eyes of disappointment is what gets me.”
556Please respect copyright.PENANAxGJE0715hK
Anton: “We just need to practice more, right Napoleon.”
556Please respect copyright.PENANAIZiZR8NFCU
I force myself to nod.
556Please respect copyright.PENANA8KyYu2wgaq
Anton: “Good boy. Let’s go guys, pizza is on Napoleon.”
556Please respect copyright.PENANAq4r0Thq1vq
Without even turning around Anton holds out his hand. I take out the little money I have and give it to him.
556Please respect copyright.PENANAQaf0Ty43qg
Not wasting any more time on the background character, Anton leaves to better things. Leaving me behind in the rain.
556Please respect copyright.PENANAiE2cOKaErb
But maybe there’s hope for me. As rain begins to pound heavier into me, my smile slips back.
556Please respect copyright.PENANAjNSG3H6tSj
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.
556Please respect copyright.PENANAV4awYrsveZ
???: “Watch where you’re going! You know no one can see you coming from down there.”
556Please respect copyright.PENANA3s6sYw3VlK
???: “Alyson, stop making fun of Nao’s height. He can’t change that.”
556Please respect copyright.PENANAK0DkebAfef
Alyson: “But he can plan around it, like not running like a manic.”
556Please respect copyright.PENANAq4EYDT69tx
Nao: “I’m sorry, I’ll be more careful.”
556Please respect copyright.PENANAWg1zyxRZVR
You’re not even that much taller than me.
556Please respect copyright.PENANAxMjg7o1c2u
Alyson: “You say that, prove it.”
556Please respect copyright.PENANAUBRrTngc6q
I move past Alyson with no more words spoken. She deserves none of it.
556Please respect copyright.PENANAqf9xxSvuF3
Nao: “I’ll skip lunch mom, I have a new book to read.”
556Please respect copyright.PENANAIKwTJR9ptl
Mom: “Really? I thought we could have a movie night.”
556Please respect copyright.PENANAt23jqLREhE
Nao & Alyson: “No thanks.”
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Mom: “Awww, I miss when you two were
556Please respect copyright.PENANA4oWAOeW5bj
Those days are gone.
556Please respect copyright.PENANAQwvl6vX1rK
Alyson: “Time moves on and speaking of moving I have to meet up with my study group.”
556Please respect copyright.PENANAwxKUwAwzOz
Mom: “You’ve been working hard, maybe it’s time to take a break.”
556Please respect copyright.PENANAnoIXvt7faX
Alyson: “Nah, I’m good Nell.”
556Please respect copyright.PENANAnH4uPhuObi
Nell: “Even after all this time you still won’t call me mom?”
556Please respect copyright.PENANAskkykyNw6q
Alyson: “….I’ll get there. Now, if you excuse me.”
556Please respect copyright.PENANAwsb0WmZWdr
And she’s gone, I should be getting going too.
556Please respect copyright.PENANAL2SkDSw482
Nell: “Nao, what’s that bump on your head?”
556Please respect copyright.PENANA40cN6XLZw9
Nao: “Huh, I slipped in the rain. Sorry.”
556Please respect copyright.PENANAe7WcmIi9gF
Nell: “Oh, be careful. I know you love your books but don’t risk your health over it.”
556Please respect copyright.PENANA1ZKgp5oIqR
It’s worth that risk mom and telling the truth will risk the 2nd thing that can make me smile.
556Please respect copyright.PENANAeXZNgNGvdQ
Nao: “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. I’ll…see you later.”
556Please respect copyright.PENANAhl4AKNRLdK
Nell: “Alright, I’ll be here watching the news.”
556Please respect copyright.PENANA9j7gNiDEUj
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.
556Please respect copyright.PENANAWmr7JN5QJQ
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.
556Please respect copyright.PENANA72qr1IWwm4
Nao: “A book that makes people scream….hehehehe.”
556Please respect copyright.PENANAs6xW7yW7DD
Nothing interesting happens to me, I’m less than important to everyone but maybe this will…
556Please respect copyright.PENANAa3SvdOsuRB
I swallow air and grip the cover. My head begins to throb but I ignore it, this is my last chance!
556Please respect copyright.PENANApFgk7x69Ed
I force open the book and my eyes start to burn. I see….!
556Please respect copyright.PENANAJ4L2VBgsWx
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….
556Please respect copyright.PENANAW8WEJcoYtj
Nao: “No, I won’t back away from this.”
556Please respect copyright.PENANA9uOUbucAT2
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!
556Please respect copyright.PENANA9i8wO7vjkH
The pain escalates to unreasonable degrees but then just stops. It’s quiet, eerily quiet.
556Please respect copyright.PENANAKmFNCAApz1
Nao: “Wait a minute where am I.”
556Please respect copyright.PENANAJXJMifoTyl
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.
556Please respect copyright.PENANAvGg7nGJKGO
All at once, I can see it all rushing through me that’s reflected in its eye.
556Please respect copyright.PENANA1EH1szPVZK
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.
556Please respect copyright.PENANAOCg7uFllE5
Then all of sudden it’s over, the visions stop and a voice echoes in my mind.
556Please respect copyright.PENANAptdkgeu5Yy
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“ArchMage system activated, 97th user registered. Hello, Nao.”
556Please respect copyright.PENANAlFY2f4zwHC