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.
362Please respect copyright.PENANAkQZMeBO5t2
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.
362Please respect copyright.PENANAGHDWO2hYuC
Nao: “There are only 2 things that could put a smile like that on my face.”
362Please respect copyright.PENANAfnqUKwf3R0
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.
362Please respect copyright.PENANA52NczhpNQt
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.
362Please respect copyright.PENANAxSdBJBnyZU
Nao: “The few that are.”
362Please respect copyright.PENANAYbEmnr5F0O
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
362Please respect copyright.PENANAdQJfDoDr1Z
Nao: “I need something strong today, come on. Anything, please.”
362Please respect copyright.PENANAfclKxnDSaq
I search the fiction section up and down but came up empty-handed.
362Please respect copyright.PENANAOcq0XOgAlF
Nao: “Can today get any worse? Who am I kidding? Of course it can.”
362Please respect copyright.PENANAVGfr6ZbqzW
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.
362Please respect copyright.PENANAcoqbVMiQCW
Regardless, the cover is amazingly crafted, and the gem…
362Please respect copyright.PENANA1bYcex6cTc
Nao: “I need to know what kind of story deserves such a treatment.”
362Please respect copyright.PENANATds8VZ2LFD
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.
362Please respect copyright.PENANAFefNNGipaN
Nao: “Nice, no line.”
362Please respect copyright.PENANAexQlwViReH
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.
362Please respect copyright.PENANANwNSrImkVT
Nao: “Excuse me?”
362Please respect copyright.PENANAiYOCB2FoY9
….
362Please respect copyright.PENANAjJWqKYfN4A
Nao: “Excuse Me!?”
362Please respect copyright.PENANAzDD1qlOjPY
362Please respect copyright.PENANAkoqhDGIISq
“Oh, sorry. Didn’t see you down there. What can I do for you.”
362Please respect copyright.PENANA0NIi9U9ijl
Nao: “…Can I check out this book.”
362Please respect copyright.PENANAPUQPBhATFk
“Sure.”
362Please respect copyright.PENANADmX2OtLhFj
I hand over the book and fidget in anticipation.
362Please respect copyright.PENANA5npxRw65Gp
“Hmmm, I don’t see anywhere to scan. Is this really from here?”
362Please respect copyright.PENANAqvO3E2I8te
Nao: “Yeah, I found it in the fiction section on the farthest shelf.”
362Please respect copyright.PENANAGTe5HYlePN
“I see, I can’t-”
362Please respect copyright.PENANAcTG3psqCfh
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.
362Please respect copyright.PENANAt3xEwJe2gW
She screams and throws the book back at me.
362Please respect copyright.PENANADo40t3ADqx
“What the hell…was that?! Did you see that!?”
362Please respect copyright.PENANAIrvUCEUhJD
The few people turn towards us in confusion.
362Please respect copyright.PENANAGxhDNyVfCg
Nao: “See what?”
362Please respect copyright.PENANAs5hEYrtB1J
“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.”
362Please respect copyright.PENANAvmVi8X7jIF
She slips further back into the library employee section leaving me holding whatever this book is.
362Please respect copyright.PENANA46QyyLqsth
Nao: “Cool.”
362Please respect copyright.PENANA6rNUQYGsFw
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.
362Please respect copyright.PENANA1RELBjITDc
I run as fast as I can back home with feverish excitement to open this book.
362Please respect copyright.PENANAqkWfPX37y9
???: “Hey Napoleon!”
362Please respect copyright.PENANA5O71bhkr2s
My legs instantly freeze at that name before my brain could process what just happened.
362Please respect copyright.PENANA8QzL7p9Tvn
???: “Where are you going in such a hurry. We didn’t get say to goodbye today.”
362Please respect copyright.PENANA18J5ggrL7j
My legs tremble from the sound of their footsteps coming closer from the other side. I force myself to turn toward my oppressors.
362Please respect copyright.PENANA6elWcglAZ6
???: “Wow, you’re shaking more than usual. Must be the cold wind.”
362Please respect copyright.PENANAvWFK2w3Jqx
Nao: “Yeah, it’s cold out today. I…need to go home so…”
362Please respect copyright.PENANAdLWuSf08fx
???: “Sure, just need to relieve some stress first. You don’t mind, right? Help a friend out.”
362Please respect copyright.PENANAASAKh32BW6
Nao: “Anton I-”
362Please respect copyright.PENANAA3O1XCpl7u
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.”
362Please respect copyright.PENANAe3PDpfMFsA
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.
362Please respect copyright.PENANAoSOyyWZiM5
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.”
362Please respect copyright.PENANA30kfy27XPu
Anton and his 3 goons drag me to a nearby ally and set me up against the wall.
362Please respect copyright.PENANAtsQhISjPhm
Anton: “We got only 8 chances, we don’t want to be late.”
362Please respect copyright.PENANAdfQb52GCfq
They loaded their BB guns and fired. I closed my eyes and tensed up at every successful hit.
362Please respect copyright.PENANAI8m7YgWkIz
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.
362Please respect copyright.PENANAtbp4rqCt83
Tears flowed out of my eyes as I rub my swollen head.
362Please respect copyright.PENANA9MiiE9Bmgq
“The hell you crying for? My old man is going to fuck me up for missing half these shots.
362Please respect copyright.PENANAJ8U51YqLPC
“I prefer the beating, the eyes of disappointment is what gets me.”
362Please respect copyright.PENANADVhxpIDXls
Anton: “We just need to practice more, right Napoleon.”
362Please respect copyright.PENANAhcoEMSLA2A
I force myself to nod.
362Please respect copyright.PENANA6TGAKcXdY1
Anton: “Good boy. Let’s go guys, pizza is on Napoleon.”
362Please respect copyright.PENANAkL9HAPuefC
Without even turning around Anton holds out his hand. I take out the little money I have and give it to him.
362Please respect copyright.PENANA9Qji4TgSZb
Not wasting any more time on the background character, Anton leaves to better things. Leaving me behind in the rain.
362Please respect copyright.PENANAcodSmc9YWM
But maybe there’s hope for me. As rain begins to pound heavier into me, my smile slips back.
362Please respect copyright.PENANAEvyE9VLx9u
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.
362Please respect copyright.PENANAxb2TqlXOTa
???: “Watch where you’re going! You know no one can see you coming from down there.”
362Please respect copyright.PENANAVGxDn01jct
???: “Alyson, stop making fun of Nao’s height. He can’t change that.”
362Please respect copyright.PENANAmMxF0J8pBA
Alyson: “But he can plan around it, like not running like a manic.”
362Please respect copyright.PENANAWYBEwZsxBk
Nao: “I’m sorry, I’ll be more careful.”
362Please respect copyright.PENANAD2HOSGkVi7
You’re not even that much taller than me.
362Please respect copyright.PENANAHHoaQhiB9u
Alyson: “You say that, prove it.”
362Please respect copyright.PENANAWloKaY0SJB
I move past Alyson with no more words spoken. She deserves none of it.
362Please respect copyright.PENANAKzMyspYu7U
Nao: “I’ll skip lunch mom, I have a new book to read.”
362Please respect copyright.PENANAsh7wAXumWZ
Mom: “Really? I thought we could have a movie night.”
362Please respect copyright.PENANAHLwpdcQdZz
Nao & Alyson: “No thanks.”
362Please respect copyright.PENANAcUKCHOT1Kv
Mom: “Awww, I miss when you two were
362Please respect copyright.PENANAxjZK1jmAug
Those days are gone.
362Please respect copyright.PENANA9exhRK9a4b
Alyson: “Time moves on and speaking of moving I have to meet up with my study group.”
362Please respect copyright.PENANAnm6lNehtqk
Mom: “You’ve been working hard, maybe it’s time to take a break.”
362Please respect copyright.PENANAUIcU1NRU0L
Alyson: “Nah, I’m good Nell.”
362Please respect copyright.PENANAlV0VrGW2nc
Nell: “Even after all this time you still won’t call me mom?”
362Please respect copyright.PENANACQAP7dKGCS
Alyson: “….I’ll get there. Now, if you excuse me.”
362Please respect copyright.PENANALl2bXJ2oCs
And she’s gone, I should be getting going too.
362Please respect copyright.PENANALBpsQ7auAU
Nell: “Nao, what’s that bump on your head?”
362Please respect copyright.PENANAKWhH31Po1A
Nao: “Huh, I slipped in the rain. Sorry.”
362Please respect copyright.PENANA6LrKFvpBDc
Nell: “Oh, be careful. I know you love your books but don’t risk your health over it.”
362Please respect copyright.PENANAAhak7CcOLS
It’s worth that risk mom and telling the truth will risk the 2nd thing that can make me smile.
362Please respect copyright.PENANADqzmdQ6GUW
Nao: “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. I’ll…see you later.”
362Please respect copyright.PENANApnGx3riJD9
Nell: “Alright, I’ll be here watching the news.”
362Please respect copyright.PENANAkRArw4j8wt
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.
362Please respect copyright.PENANAyhGs4PJDBW
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.
362Please respect copyright.PENANAmnfqXYHgQH
Nao: “A book that makes people scream….hehehehe.”
362Please respect copyright.PENANANXGC84JAlp
Nothing interesting happens to me, I’m less than important to everyone but maybe this will…
362Please respect copyright.PENANA8zH5O4rpa3
I swallow air and grip the cover. My head begins to throb but I ignore it, this is my last chance!
362Please respect copyright.PENANAru2nTAJKE3
I force open the book and my eyes start to burn. I see….!
362Please respect copyright.PENANAN6dsXVLgn6
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….
362Please respect copyright.PENANA3K0Z29iV7l
Nao: “No, I won’t back away from this.”
362Please respect copyright.PENANAYDY9iTqTyN
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!
362Please respect copyright.PENANAnCyrg8uH0v
The pain escalates to unreasonable degrees but then just stops. It’s quiet, eerily quiet.
362Please respect copyright.PENANAFEw7S1ZZv2
Nao: “Wait a minute where am I.”
362Please respect copyright.PENANALvdm4QV8CX
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.
362Please respect copyright.PENANAVs8j1vWoCO
All at once, I can see it all rushing through me that’s reflected in its eye.
362Please respect copyright.PENANAlEmvggEyOg
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.
362Please respect copyright.PENANAbHUtgx8Qag
Then all of sudden it’s over, the visions stop and a voice echoes in my mind.
362Please respect copyright.PENANA4Q554wl71V
362Please respect copyright.PENANAsdtZqovRZz
“ArchMage system activated, 97th user registered. Hello, Nao.”
362Please respect copyright.PENANASEKcWqSco3