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.
673Please respect copyright.PENANAeREkwwbhXc
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.
673Please respect copyright.PENANAn0h5BjEcBS
Nao: “There are only 2 things that could put a smile like that on my face.”
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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.
673Please respect copyright.PENANAdIWn5zaw1J
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.
673Please respect copyright.PENANApOS8XI5V2y
Nao: “The few that are.”
673Please respect copyright.PENANAn1wxG8EynG
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
673Please respect copyright.PENANA9V4VNn5XY0
Nao: “I need something strong today, come on. Anything, please.”
673Please respect copyright.PENANAEmlpLtdL5y
I search the fiction section up and down but came up empty-handed.
673Please respect copyright.PENANAhj91nFwKGW
Nao: “Can today get any worse? Who am I kidding? Of course it can.”
673Please respect copyright.PENANAqlN8kbL1r1
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.
673Please respect copyright.PENANA2A0GWhGO4M
Regardless, the cover is amazingly crafted, and the gem…
673Please respect copyright.PENANAA3ok9mig2H
Nao: “I need to know what kind of story deserves such a treatment.”
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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.
673Please respect copyright.PENANAM2Pe06ByKh
Nao: “Nice, no line.”
673Please respect copyright.PENANAttCNPtDYhc
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!?”
673Please respect copyright.PENANALX4gsB2nkT
673Please respect copyright.PENANAsSKbcMjxIV
“Oh, sorry. Didn’t see you down there. What can I do for you.”
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Nao: “…Can I check out this book.”
673Please respect copyright.PENANAihtjCKNUSw
“Sure.”
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I hand over the book and fidget in anticipation.
673Please respect copyright.PENANAOdugRtlmLN
“Hmmm, I don’t see anywhere to scan. Is this really from here?”
673Please respect copyright.PENANAO6J9BbsVmI
Nao: “Yeah, I found it in the fiction section on the farthest shelf.”
673Please respect copyright.PENANAvVVJ1I8Dcv
“I see, I can’t-”
673Please respect copyright.PENANA5zKPf6e6tL
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.
673Please respect copyright.PENANAE6HCgtelz9
She screams and throws the book back at me.
673Please respect copyright.PENANAMqp2MkPGS0
“What the hell…was that?! Did you see that!?”
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The few people turn towards us in confusion.
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Nao: “See what?”
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“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.”
673Please respect copyright.PENANAOT1ewsEgWz
She slips further back into the library employee section leaving me holding whatever this book is.
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Nao: “Cool.”
673Please respect copyright.PENANAPQ9FPOaEYm
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.
673Please respect copyright.PENANAYQfqTYBX1M
I run as fast as I can back home with feverish excitement to open this book.
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???: “Hey Napoleon!”
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My legs instantly freeze at that name before my brain could process what just happened.
673Please respect copyright.PENANAlSaXdG63Fv
???: “Where are you going in such a hurry. We didn’t get say to goodbye today.”
673Please respect copyright.PENANAnDENIgpxSi
My legs tremble from the sound of their footsteps coming closer from the other side. I force myself to turn toward my oppressors.
673Please respect copyright.PENANAh2b5YbNgfd
???: “Wow, you’re shaking more than usual. Must be the cold wind.”
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Nao: “Yeah, it’s cold out today. I…need to go home so…”
673Please respect copyright.PENANAzWo8NDwebj
???: “Sure, just need to relieve some stress first. You don’t mind, right? Help a friend out.”
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Nao: “Anton I-”
673Please respect copyright.PENANA2QPZlUamuP
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.”
673Please respect copyright.PENANA0chO1jRysG
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.
673Please respect copyright.PENANAAmjrj4SVhB
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.”
673Please respect copyright.PENANAFOBJm0OsFV
Anton and his 3 goons drag me to a nearby ally and set me up against the wall.
673Please respect copyright.PENANAmzU6CPjrLQ
Anton: “We got only 8 chances, we don’t want to be late.”
673Please respect copyright.PENANAtEZc1VdlBo
They loaded their BB guns and fired. I closed my eyes and tensed up at every successful hit.
673Please respect copyright.PENANAEJf64XwRa6
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.
673Please respect copyright.PENANA25YQPhbt7X
Tears flowed out of my eyes as I rub my swollen head.
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“The hell you crying for? My old man is going to fuck me up for missing half these shots.
673Please respect copyright.PENANAopQcUYNVvy
“I prefer the beating, the eyes of disappointment is what gets me.”
673Please respect copyright.PENANApBpku1U5E3
Anton: “We just need to practice more, right Napoleon.”
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I force myself to nod.
673Please respect copyright.PENANAmVPfSGWDGE
Anton: “Good boy. Let’s go guys, pizza is on Napoleon.”
673Please respect copyright.PENANA7AR3bZapbe
Without even turning around Anton holds out his hand. I take out the little money I have and give it to him.
673Please respect copyright.PENANAgXpCArLvPN
Not wasting any more time on the background character, Anton leaves to better things. Leaving me behind in the rain.
673Please respect copyright.PENANA8JSrGFX7ek
But maybe there’s hope for me. As rain begins to pound heavier into me, my smile slips back.
673Please respect copyright.PENANAD6O7FbWhr0
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.
673Please respect copyright.PENANAmfdk56NDUI
???: “Watch where you’re going! You know no one can see you coming from down there.”
673Please respect copyright.PENANAllLhCl7zLP
???: “Alyson, stop making fun of Nao’s height. He can’t change that.”
673Please respect copyright.PENANAsOrTtQ2F7C
Alyson: “But he can plan around it, like not running like a manic.”
673Please respect copyright.PENANAXlYZCF8Het
Nao: “I’m sorry, I’ll be more careful.”
673Please respect copyright.PENANA4ouWdcTA78
You’re not even that much taller than me.
673Please respect copyright.PENANAAaylJRFWKv
Alyson: “You say that, prove it.”
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I move past Alyson with no more words spoken. She deserves none of it.
673Please respect copyright.PENANAABELBWDbXv
Nao: “I’ll skip lunch mom, I have a new book to read.”
673Please respect copyright.PENANA1MzI3JgRxB
Mom: “Really? I thought we could have a movie night.”
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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.”
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Mom: “You’ve been working hard, maybe it’s time to take a break.”
673Please respect copyright.PENANAz8KFRsD6pO
Alyson: “Nah, I’m good Nell.”
673Please respect copyright.PENANA9uKmWkLIVc
Nell: “Even after all this time you still won’t call me mom?”
673Please respect copyright.PENANAhc8gTLfx3p
Alyson: “….I’ll get there. Now, if you excuse me.”
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And she’s gone, I should be getting going too.
673Please respect copyright.PENANASTMBi0Af1c
Nell: “Nao, what’s that bump on your head?”
673Please respect copyright.PENANAgcGkYoPyBm
Nao: “Huh, I slipped in the rain. Sorry.”
673Please respect copyright.PENANAiDm7Rfz8ZZ
Nell: “Oh, be careful. I know you love your books but don’t risk your health over it.”
673Please respect copyright.PENANAtCP69I3s2U
It’s worth that risk mom and telling the truth will risk the 2nd thing that can make me smile.
673Please respect copyright.PENANAbJn75BrxHc
Nao: “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. I’ll…see you later.”
673Please respect copyright.PENANAAGKGZX2cRK
Nell: “Alright, I’ll be here watching the news.”
673Please respect copyright.PENANA6ceAO4falg
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.
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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.
673Please respect copyright.PENANAA7WAtBdlRF
Nao: “A book that makes people scream….hehehehe.”
673Please respect copyright.PENANAc4kUgjw4Pv
Nothing interesting happens to me, I’m less than important to everyone but maybe this will…
673Please respect copyright.PENANAtIgOhjR6Rl
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….!
673Please respect copyright.PENANAc8fbUgbcbx
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.”
673Please respect copyright.PENANAnNA7YR66Nf
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!
673Please respect copyright.PENANAHvmJYXhfpV
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.”
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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.
673Please respect copyright.PENANA61uFYaYySG
All at once, I can see it all rushing through me that’s reflected in its eye.
673Please respect copyright.PENANA1kzD5kkosW
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.
673Please respect copyright.PENANAYvCxnijxRV
Then all of sudden it’s over, the visions stop and a voice echoes in my mind.
673Please respect copyright.PENANARNDsuM0ppB
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“ArchMage system activated, 97th user registered. Hello, Nao.”
673Please respect copyright.PENANAqtzQCE3uoH