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.
360Please respect copyright.PENANAuPSEIHPvvd
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.
360Please respect copyright.PENANA1Ip7vPwh0t
Nao: “There are only 2 things that could put a smile like that on my face.”
360Please respect copyright.PENANAEFd19j01mK
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.
360Please respect copyright.PENANAuAKbd6RgVG
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.
360Please respect copyright.PENANAH2U9Sl54kQ
Nao: “The few that are.”
360Please respect copyright.PENANAd1aYCqrpVB
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
360Please respect copyright.PENANAbCKkhPMm7K
Nao: “I need something strong today, come on. Anything, please.”
360Please respect copyright.PENANAcfwPQKEBTV
I search the fiction section up and down but came up empty-handed.
360Please respect copyright.PENANATa57e4EzML
Nao: “Can today get any worse? Who am I kidding? Of course it can.”
360Please respect copyright.PENANAiyvqQSsKxE
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.
360Please respect copyright.PENANAxPF7NoYK7y
Regardless, the cover is amazingly crafted, and the gem…
360Please respect copyright.PENANA8CAhctXeP2
Nao: “I need to know what kind of story deserves such a treatment.”
360Please respect copyright.PENANAF0sSII6LP7
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.
360Please respect copyright.PENANAJbRV83gqQ6
Nao: “Nice, no line.”
360Please respect copyright.PENANAHZrxtG8GW8
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.
360Please respect copyright.PENANACS85nIoMy9
Nao: “Excuse me?”
360Please respect copyright.PENANA3mX60Htgzp
….
360Please respect copyright.PENANAGcHOLopQPJ
Nao: “Excuse Me!?”
360Please respect copyright.PENANAuSkfErG6rP
360Please respect copyright.PENANAvZe2Ifq1fF
“Oh, sorry. Didn’t see you down there. What can I do for you.”
360Please respect copyright.PENANAdV2OX6ITI8
Nao: “…Can I check out this book.”
360Please respect copyright.PENANAHOvFoRo9Ms
“Sure.”
360Please respect copyright.PENANAPPL5Blw4Kx
I hand over the book and fidget in anticipation.
360Please respect copyright.PENANAo5RtCpJLzy
“Hmmm, I don’t see anywhere to scan. Is this really from here?”
360Please respect copyright.PENANApINLLu0Iyz
Nao: “Yeah, I found it in the fiction section on the farthest shelf.”
360Please respect copyright.PENANAwAI1Wxtf7D
“I see, I can’t-”
360Please respect copyright.PENANAuVl3OlhV0V
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.
360Please respect copyright.PENANAfzxjvYae07
She screams and throws the book back at me.
360Please respect copyright.PENANAs00VE1vBjF
“What the hell…was that?! Did you see that!?”
360Please respect copyright.PENANAfjkZfTwIVY
The few people turn towards us in confusion.
360Please respect copyright.PENANAy3JXMQeE75
Nao: “See what?”
360Please respect copyright.PENANAvfNt8eqXy3
“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.”
360Please respect copyright.PENANA9liHrUIqPw
She slips further back into the library employee section leaving me holding whatever this book is.
360Please respect copyright.PENANAS0YdWfArYE
Nao: “Cool.”
360Please respect copyright.PENANAbIRI7szEPk
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.
360Please respect copyright.PENANAm7FcITIZRj
I run as fast as I can back home with feverish excitement to open this book.
360Please respect copyright.PENANAtFmt8wBC9t
???: “Hey Napoleon!”
360Please respect copyright.PENANAV51OYqxds2
My legs instantly freeze at that name before my brain could process what just happened.
360Please respect copyright.PENANAhzSM1WZCfo
???: “Where are you going in such a hurry. We didn’t get say to goodbye today.”
360Please respect copyright.PENANA4O1C83d5OU
My legs tremble from the sound of their footsteps coming closer from the other side. I force myself to turn toward my oppressors.
360Please respect copyright.PENANAJbsuvGYiES
???: “Wow, you’re shaking more than usual. Must be the cold wind.”
360Please respect copyright.PENANAyy8sFLBAFR
Nao: “Yeah, it’s cold out today. I…need to go home so…”
360Please respect copyright.PENANACR2K69VLvX
???: “Sure, just need to relieve some stress first. You don’t mind, right? Help a friend out.”
360Please respect copyright.PENANAxHUrHX5mEh
Nao: “Anton I-”
360Please respect copyright.PENANAXSE5EBFAgP
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.”
360Please respect copyright.PENANAcXbNXaesjj
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.
360Please respect copyright.PENANA2BnS5WVjrv
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.”
360Please respect copyright.PENANAYzBwbdo1k0
Anton and his 3 goons drag me to a nearby ally and set me up against the wall.
360Please respect copyright.PENANA5eRJzlbvWG
Anton: “We got only 8 chances, we don’t want to be late.”
360Please respect copyright.PENANAZvzkpFxX3f
They loaded their BB guns and fired. I closed my eyes and tensed up at every successful hit.
360Please respect copyright.PENANAuUOQEYk0I9
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.
360Please respect copyright.PENANAqpOL3aAu1M
Tears flowed out of my eyes as I rub my swollen head.
360Please respect copyright.PENANASpu9Vv5eFb
“The hell you crying for? My old man is going to fuck me up for missing half these shots.
360Please respect copyright.PENANACsRXFbGoaH
“I prefer the beating, the eyes of disappointment is what gets me.”
360Please respect copyright.PENANAuxOQ6e5cRS
Anton: “We just need to practice more, right Napoleon.”
360Please respect copyright.PENANAwfu4gTtCdX
I force myself to nod.
360Please respect copyright.PENANAxx4WmjQTAj
Anton: “Good boy. Let’s go guys, pizza is on Napoleon.”
360Please respect copyright.PENANAGw5krezcaA
Without even turning around Anton holds out his hand. I take out the little money I have and give it to him.
360Please respect copyright.PENANAceijtmoYpL
Not wasting any more time on the background character, Anton leaves to better things. Leaving me behind in the rain.
360Please respect copyright.PENANAm8A68JeTNx
But maybe there’s hope for me. As rain begins to pound heavier into me, my smile slips back.
360Please respect copyright.PENANACULhbyvhlX
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.
360Please respect copyright.PENANAzzF5VWUzA4
???: “Watch where you’re going! You know no one can see you coming from down there.”
360Please respect copyright.PENANAgTriTuU9tH
???: “Alyson, stop making fun of Nao’s height. He can’t change that.”
360Please respect copyright.PENANANzq2DHXm1W
Alyson: “But he can plan around it, like not running like a manic.”
360Please respect copyright.PENANAspTEGznm5D
Nao: “I’m sorry, I’ll be more careful.”
360Please respect copyright.PENANAnMBHht1VxP
You’re not even that much taller than me.
360Please respect copyright.PENANAKYXJI2T30r
Alyson: “You say that, prove it.”
360Please respect copyright.PENANABazxIBHaqR
I move past Alyson with no more words spoken. She deserves none of it.
360Please respect copyright.PENANAi0lytctxlW
Nao: “I’ll skip lunch mom, I have a new book to read.”
360Please respect copyright.PENANA8MaP3UD5gV
Mom: “Really? I thought we could have a movie night.”
360Please respect copyright.PENANA8FKeSmVivg
Nao & Alyson: “No thanks.”
360Please respect copyright.PENANAC2c8W6SE1l
Mom: “Awww, I miss when you two were
360Please respect copyright.PENANAtmBl1zttND
Those days are gone.
360Please respect copyright.PENANAAMUulzGi8J
Alyson: “Time moves on and speaking of moving I have to meet up with my study group.”
360Please respect copyright.PENANA96v533SLP3
Mom: “You’ve been working hard, maybe it’s time to take a break.”
360Please respect copyright.PENANAdA40ou80NW
Alyson: “Nah, I’m good Nell.”
360Please respect copyright.PENANARydeh7sBOI
Nell: “Even after all this time you still won’t call me mom?”
360Please respect copyright.PENANACgT19RJXQr
Alyson: “….I’ll get there. Now, if you excuse me.”
360Please respect copyright.PENANAohs1ecx5ur
And she’s gone, I should be getting going too.
360Please respect copyright.PENANA3RNShRCldk
Nell: “Nao, what’s that bump on your head?”
360Please respect copyright.PENANAiAOO2k6nOD
Nao: “Huh, I slipped in the rain. Sorry.”
360Please respect copyright.PENANAvXXCnjkb7K
Nell: “Oh, be careful. I know you love your books but don’t risk your health over it.”
360Please respect copyright.PENANAZYohMYS27X
It’s worth that risk mom and telling the truth will risk the 2nd thing that can make me smile.
360Please respect copyright.PENANAGiBfwbtq5Q
Nao: “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. I’ll…see you later.”
360Please respect copyright.PENANA5SjCW0VGSC
Nell: “Alright, I’ll be here watching the news.”
360Please respect copyright.PENANAAaHfUh8Lkf
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.
360Please respect copyright.PENANAvVe3d1pHJo
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.
360Please respect copyright.PENANApI2nJ8qaNQ
Nao: “A book that makes people scream….hehehehe.”
360Please respect copyright.PENANAAbtX6r9hgu
Nothing interesting happens to me, I’m less than important to everyone but maybe this will…
360Please respect copyright.PENANAnHaAInLpPk
I swallow air and grip the cover. My head begins to throb but I ignore it, this is my last chance!
360Please respect copyright.PENANAdp5JA66cAT
I force open the book and my eyes start to burn. I see….!
360Please respect copyright.PENANAG4ak7dOPL9
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….
360Please respect copyright.PENANA8218vBYSGn
Nao: “No, I won’t back away from this.”
360Please respect copyright.PENANAcBiLGby5Zq
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!
360Please respect copyright.PENANAuHm6Nxr32o
The pain escalates to unreasonable degrees but then just stops. It’s quiet, eerily quiet.
360Please respect copyright.PENANAtGQHqu84Xx
Nao: “Wait a minute where am I.”
360Please respect copyright.PENANAv13DLsUHxH
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.
360Please respect copyright.PENANA3SCLBe4jh8
All at once, I can see it all rushing through me that’s reflected in its eye.
360Please respect copyright.PENANA0q0fAOhcC0
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.
360Please respect copyright.PENANA9SbDL3Y1Lc
Then all of sudden it’s over, the visions stop and a voice echoes in my mind.
360Please respect copyright.PENANA6zSaeaOGQU
360Please respect copyright.PENANA8Slh3iZwPQ
“ArchMage system activated, 97th user registered. Hello, Nao.”
360Please respect copyright.PENANAvfv4pcB9HD