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.
343Please respect copyright.PENANAzPZ2RDBn7e
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.
343Please respect copyright.PENANAlnHwljpnpI
Nao: “There are only 2 things that could put a smile like that on my face.”
343Please respect copyright.PENANAimiPKhAjtb
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.
343Please respect copyright.PENANAsjCfRQUC4z
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.
343Please respect copyright.PENANAuWID0YQ2B5
Nao: “The few that are.”
343Please respect copyright.PENANAefBWdPaMh2
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
343Please respect copyright.PENANAYz5x7ikHmL
Nao: “I need something strong today, come on. Anything, please.”
343Please respect copyright.PENANA4s6UgYcl2o
I search the fiction section up and down but came up empty-handed.
343Please respect copyright.PENANAqyZfuewFkl
Nao: “Can today get any worse? Who am I kidding? Of course it can.”
343Please respect copyright.PENANArlkfQInHvo
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.
343Please respect copyright.PENANAMX8XpqSdp1
Regardless, the cover is amazingly crafted, and the gem…
343Please respect copyright.PENANA69nEGtJixi
Nao: “I need to know what kind of story deserves such a treatment.”
343Please respect copyright.PENANAhw8hrkUi8E
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.
343Please respect copyright.PENANAor415Yt7Ij
Nao: “Nice, no line.”
343Please respect copyright.PENANACEHJisIlux
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.
343Please respect copyright.PENANABfllkJxstf
Nao: “Excuse me?”
343Please respect copyright.PENANArpHuswcZgl
….
343Please respect copyright.PENANA4bCTQUuIJ3
Nao: “Excuse Me!?”
343Please respect copyright.PENANAjGRfP1tW4r
343Please respect copyright.PENANA0gy4qBequN
“Oh, sorry. Didn’t see you down there. What can I do for you.”
343Please respect copyright.PENANAj3ixt4C8Hj
Nao: “…Can I check out this book.”
343Please respect copyright.PENANAAEC8UYPMMw
“Sure.”
343Please respect copyright.PENANAMjBvPjGKx9
I hand over the book and fidget in anticipation.
343Please respect copyright.PENANAws0sBZg8Rk
“Hmmm, I don’t see anywhere to scan. Is this really from here?”
343Please respect copyright.PENANApHntBJ94yP
Nao: “Yeah, I found it in the fiction section on the farthest shelf.”
343Please respect copyright.PENANAUs1gmjVj9o
“I see, I can’t-”
343Please respect copyright.PENANAOabZiPnJ3x
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.
343Please respect copyright.PENANAaLQ4eOuHKL
She screams and throws the book back at me.
343Please respect copyright.PENANAH5rTdg2hvS
“What the hell…was that?! Did you see that!?”
343Please respect copyright.PENANAdXCM9YHkmq
The few people turn towards us in confusion.
343Please respect copyright.PENANAch645vwAY3
Nao: “See what?”
343Please respect copyright.PENANAuXUlnoBNb9
“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.”
343Please respect copyright.PENANAslrsDWfR05
She slips further back into the library employee section leaving me holding whatever this book is.
343Please respect copyright.PENANAZcTaVwclis
Nao: “Cool.”
343Please respect copyright.PENANA0IVEQFVaNJ
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.
343Please respect copyright.PENANALWzslI4ioB
I run as fast as I can back home with feverish excitement to open this book.
343Please respect copyright.PENANAjSB0rY6K13
???: “Hey Napoleon!”
343Please respect copyright.PENANAUBSYue2FBl
My legs instantly freeze at that name before my brain could process what just happened.
343Please respect copyright.PENANANzu3335lDA
???: “Where are you going in such a hurry. We didn’t get say to goodbye today.”
343Please respect copyright.PENANAN9yFfLI0Qd
My legs tremble from the sound of their footsteps coming closer from the other side. I force myself to turn toward my oppressors.
343Please respect copyright.PENANALooKaK13fT
???: “Wow, you’re shaking more than usual. Must be the cold wind.”
343Please respect copyright.PENANAWS7nggtvnT
Nao: “Yeah, it’s cold out today. I…need to go home so…”
343Please respect copyright.PENANA1toOib8tIE
???: “Sure, just need to relieve some stress first. You don’t mind, right? Help a friend out.”
343Please respect copyright.PENANAAQvDvF7TQ2
Nao: “Anton I-”
343Please respect copyright.PENANAXihGLlcyy8
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.”
343Please respect copyright.PENANAqZ0xcGEFxU
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.
343Please respect copyright.PENANAh9XA4CM3ev
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.”
343Please respect copyright.PENANAJ6EIxRAJyp
Anton and his 3 goons drag me to a nearby ally and set me up against the wall.
343Please respect copyright.PENANA3K1KVsG6Sg
Anton: “We got only 8 chances, we don’t want to be late.”
343Please respect copyright.PENANAJovx0BwAhP
They loaded their BB guns and fired. I closed my eyes and tensed up at every successful hit.
343Please respect copyright.PENANAakx80PdcRU
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.
343Please respect copyright.PENANADtvU9uCBBn
Tears flowed out of my eyes as I rub my swollen head.
343Please respect copyright.PENANASWr5cXQPUg
“The hell you crying for? My old man is going to fuck me up for missing half these shots.
343Please respect copyright.PENANAGYFB1Ds3Fq
“I prefer the beating, the eyes of disappointment is what gets me.”
343Please respect copyright.PENANAtlUZJEBvxX
Anton: “We just need to practice more, right Napoleon.”
343Please respect copyright.PENANAvGkHHlfYp5
I force myself to nod.
343Please respect copyright.PENANANJMGz2JBbK
Anton: “Good boy. Let’s go guys, pizza is on Napoleon.”
343Please respect copyright.PENANApYF2biIShA
Without even turning around Anton holds out his hand. I take out the little money I have and give it to him.
343Please respect copyright.PENANAyEyMnThsz3
Not wasting any more time on the background character, Anton leaves to better things. Leaving me behind in the rain.
343Please respect copyright.PENANACgBN1uXXGW
But maybe there’s hope for me. As rain begins to pound heavier into me, my smile slips back.
343Please respect copyright.PENANAPGgYoN9QsZ
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.
343Please respect copyright.PENANAzKqpcYe8dM
???: “Watch where you’re going! You know no one can see you coming from down there.”
343Please respect copyright.PENANA9pIUMtd5XE
???: “Alyson, stop making fun of Nao’s height. He can’t change that.”
343Please respect copyright.PENANAkhrUYNlelS
Alyson: “But he can plan around it, like not running like a manic.”
343Please respect copyright.PENANAN47FAr3MRD
Nao: “I’m sorry, I’ll be more careful.”
343Please respect copyright.PENANAg2vFCMXYYU
You’re not even that much taller than me.
343Please respect copyright.PENANAqvAfUv74Gu
Alyson: “You say that, prove it.”
343Please respect copyright.PENANAuOi4uhYOaE
I move past Alyson with no more words spoken. She deserves none of it.
343Please respect copyright.PENANAwJxSO9g4hz
Nao: “I’ll skip lunch mom, I have a new book to read.”
343Please respect copyright.PENANAT0ZsSAvY2k
Mom: “Really? I thought we could have a movie night.”
343Please respect copyright.PENANAB9p5NoaO3w
Nao & Alyson: “No thanks.”
343Please respect copyright.PENANAq30kT3fqFP
Mom: “Awww, I miss when you two were
343Please respect copyright.PENANAkmg83R5Huq
Those days are gone.
343Please respect copyright.PENANAKRYSGxCTED
Alyson: “Time moves on and speaking of moving I have to meet up with my study group.”
343Please respect copyright.PENANAu3RD0w6Q4Y
Mom: “You’ve been working hard, maybe it’s time to take a break.”
343Please respect copyright.PENANABEaQnbFbm1
Alyson: “Nah, I’m good Nell.”
343Please respect copyright.PENANAVQTfmxwrUd
Nell: “Even after all this time you still won’t call me mom?”
343Please respect copyright.PENANABzQfnro3VQ
Alyson: “….I’ll get there. Now, if you excuse me.”
343Please respect copyright.PENANAdwats4Rc2k
And she’s gone, I should be getting going too.
343Please respect copyright.PENANAAfseNYD4Vx
Nell: “Nao, what’s that bump on your head?”
343Please respect copyright.PENANAkua4DQZNSF
Nao: “Huh, I slipped in the rain. Sorry.”
343Please respect copyright.PENANAUA2gXkAtKE
Nell: “Oh, be careful. I know you love your books but don’t risk your health over it.”
343Please respect copyright.PENANA6QbfuvaHWQ
It’s worth that risk mom and telling the truth will risk the 2nd thing that can make me smile.
343Please respect copyright.PENANAesS9Pe7zNT
Nao: “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. I’ll…see you later.”
343Please respect copyright.PENANANF5RsH43Fn
Nell: “Alright, I’ll be here watching the news.”
343Please respect copyright.PENANA6gr39ajLOn
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.
343Please respect copyright.PENANADR3iWII8Ar
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.
343Please respect copyright.PENANAARywOr45h9
Nao: “A book that makes people scream….hehehehe.”
343Please respect copyright.PENANAx1buFO7goI
Nothing interesting happens to me, I’m less than important to everyone but maybe this will…
343Please respect copyright.PENANA0pIUCVRZL8
I swallow air and grip the cover. My head begins to throb but I ignore it, this is my last chance!
343Please respect copyright.PENANAIzbkbEIHbb
I force open the book and my eyes start to burn. I see….!
343Please respect copyright.PENANAZBmCwl22wC
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….
343Please respect copyright.PENANA8HRwucKFMb
Nao: “No, I won’t back away from this.”
343Please respect copyright.PENANAX9hGleUsBd
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!
343Please respect copyright.PENANAQULpzmgNeQ
The pain escalates to unreasonable degrees but then just stops. It’s quiet, eerily quiet.
343Please respect copyright.PENANA365yNFs6Oc
Nao: “Wait a minute where am I.”
343Please respect copyright.PENANAwaNLbzFAJz
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.
343Please respect copyright.PENANAuATo8F9Yd6
All at once, I can see it all rushing through me that’s reflected in its eye.
343Please respect copyright.PENANA9QpHTWHHyR
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.
343Please respect copyright.PENANAMO65xijJ0u
Then all of sudden it’s over, the visions stop and a voice echoes in my mind.
343Please respect copyright.PENANAFME45BaAS1
343Please respect copyright.PENANAQl6PLcCrVd
“ArchMage system activated, 97th user registered. Hello, Nao.”
343Please respect copyright.PENANA7KvVi8tCnd