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.
538Please respect copyright.PENANA8zLxKVrdzE
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.
538Please respect copyright.PENANAJyuX5NoSAR
Nao: “There are only 2 things that could put a smile like that on my face.”
538Please respect copyright.PENANASkNfAxLxdM
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.
538Please respect copyright.PENANAdtW2XuMwlP
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.
538Please respect copyright.PENANAKXOsYXKIo4
Nao: “The few that are.”
538Please respect copyright.PENANAp8v8CMyuli
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
538Please respect copyright.PENANAyC4Cr2nw14
Nao: “I need something strong today, come on. Anything, please.”
538Please respect copyright.PENANA12BPSKTf7i
I search the fiction section up and down but came up empty-handed.
538Please respect copyright.PENANANFivraoVz9
Nao: “Can today get any worse? Who am I kidding? Of course it can.”
538Please respect copyright.PENANAPTluGYESVm
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.
538Please respect copyright.PENANATiKCyGsqVW
Regardless, the cover is amazingly crafted, and the gem…
538Please respect copyright.PENANAJQkAeNoTuP
Nao: “I need to know what kind of story deserves such a treatment.”
538Please respect copyright.PENANAsCqKq37Axw
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.
538Please respect copyright.PENANAkhI7kKpHrJ
Nao: “Nice, no line.”
538Please respect copyright.PENANA1Htguf2sXI
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.
538Please respect copyright.PENANAIe735CQRf8
Nao: “Excuse me?”
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….
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Nao: “Excuse Me!?”
538Please respect copyright.PENANAoJ8Q4R5Q8B
538Please respect copyright.PENANAT991pRz3tR
“Oh, sorry. Didn’t see you down there. What can I do for you.”
538Please respect copyright.PENANA6dLhrVQucO
Nao: “…Can I check out this book.”
538Please respect copyright.PENANAQKv7FYMXuA
“Sure.”
538Please respect copyright.PENANAEOWdLN1cSb
I hand over the book and fidget in anticipation.
538Please respect copyright.PENANA6y0BO8e34W
“Hmmm, I don’t see anywhere to scan. Is this really from here?”
538Please respect copyright.PENANAb5WCL5ybQh
Nao: “Yeah, I found it in the fiction section on the farthest shelf.”
538Please respect copyright.PENANAab1XAPx5xh
“I see, I can’t-”
538Please respect copyright.PENANA5QNBuicfi1
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.
538Please respect copyright.PENANA3pA2BdnAVx
She screams and throws the book back at me.
538Please respect copyright.PENANA4fBG3U0bSo
“What the hell…was that?! Did you see that!?”
538Please respect copyright.PENANAq1F90QmFZz
The few people turn towards us in confusion.
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Nao: “See what?”
538Please respect copyright.PENANAEvdIG0bYd6
“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.”
538Please respect copyright.PENANAJq77oE3X0e
She slips further back into the library employee section leaving me holding whatever this book is.
538Please respect copyright.PENANAEjh5vM4g55
Nao: “Cool.”
538Please respect copyright.PENANA4G2uZcsRMD
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.
538Please respect copyright.PENANArKLeMHG5Ax
I run as fast as I can back home with feverish excitement to open this book.
538Please respect copyright.PENANASzqbQ8fJ2T
???: “Hey Napoleon!”
538Please respect copyright.PENANAj0PoD8e5n9
My legs instantly freeze at that name before my brain could process what just happened.
538Please respect copyright.PENANAJ3NDb3CWNA
???: “Where are you going in such a hurry. We didn’t get say to goodbye today.”
538Please respect copyright.PENANAYTFdcuaCMZ
My legs tremble from the sound of their footsteps coming closer from the other side. I force myself to turn toward my oppressors.
538Please respect copyright.PENANA6M09YXwk4a
???: “Wow, you’re shaking more than usual. Must be the cold wind.”
538Please respect copyright.PENANAmRHyRVQfWe
Nao: “Yeah, it’s cold out today. I…need to go home so…”
538Please respect copyright.PENANARDH0Ng0fGv
???: “Sure, just need to relieve some stress first. You don’t mind, right? Help a friend out.”
538Please respect copyright.PENANAYDCMq98TBa
Nao: “Anton I-”
538Please respect copyright.PENANA3IkgFEvIL0
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.”
538Please respect copyright.PENANAeZmXw9Vicw
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.
538Please respect copyright.PENANAnGctpmrpqf
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.”
538Please respect copyright.PENANAMcfxvEtgKX
Anton and his 3 goons drag me to a nearby ally and set me up against the wall.
538Please respect copyright.PENANASkdMvmnDNM
Anton: “We got only 8 chances, we don’t want to be late.”
538Please respect copyright.PENANAiISrMkJL4Z
They loaded their BB guns and fired. I closed my eyes and tensed up at every successful hit.
538Please respect copyright.PENANA5Dbgwt7YQF
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.
538Please respect copyright.PENANAr1YO9Og09e
Tears flowed out of my eyes as I rub my swollen head.
538Please respect copyright.PENANAP4Cr9rHtfm
“The hell you crying for? My old man is going to fuck me up for missing half these shots.
538Please respect copyright.PENANAaQKJYVxBAI
“I prefer the beating, the eyes of disappointment is what gets me.”
538Please respect copyright.PENANAcICamPvEPU
Anton: “We just need to practice more, right Napoleon.”
538Please respect copyright.PENANA8ZJMp4qTQH
I force myself to nod.
538Please respect copyright.PENANAHNYFQjq3Aj
Anton: “Good boy. Let’s go guys, pizza is on Napoleon.”
538Please respect copyright.PENANA8V3Fzvx7Un
Without even turning around Anton holds out his hand. I take out the little money I have and give it to him.
538Please respect copyright.PENANAKnRHrfP0kU
Not wasting any more time on the background character, Anton leaves to better things. Leaving me behind in the rain.
538Please respect copyright.PENANAFY1X1EhAJi
But maybe there’s hope for me. As rain begins to pound heavier into me, my smile slips back.
538Please respect copyright.PENANAvlDeDXQgRj
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.
538Please respect copyright.PENANAyPpkMSUpnE
???: “Watch where you’re going! You know no one can see you coming from down there.”
538Please respect copyright.PENANA94HHQYp1Dl
???: “Alyson, stop making fun of Nao’s height. He can’t change that.”
538Please respect copyright.PENANAGaqBSA7dDA
Alyson: “But he can plan around it, like not running like a manic.”
538Please respect copyright.PENANAZl317SsMPx
Nao: “I’m sorry, I’ll be more careful.”
538Please respect copyright.PENANAvkfraVruhp
You’re not even that much taller than me.
538Please respect copyright.PENANAM2yDCbmF2g
Alyson: “You say that, prove it.”
538Please respect copyright.PENANAmtcdWdeuzb
I move past Alyson with no more words spoken. She deserves none of it.
538Please respect copyright.PENANAB0Qu6qKn59
Nao: “I’ll skip lunch mom, I have a new book to read.”
538Please respect copyright.PENANAVgjOGX8X6j
Mom: “Really? I thought we could have a movie night.”
538Please respect copyright.PENANAtg2pbLdmiV
Nao & Alyson: “No thanks.”
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Mom: “Awww, I miss when you two were
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Those days are gone.
538Please respect copyright.PENANAGlyllKw250
Alyson: “Time moves on and speaking of moving I have to meet up with my study group.”
538Please respect copyright.PENANAztEexZpfSZ
Mom: “You’ve been working hard, maybe it’s time to take a break.”
538Please respect copyright.PENANA7qunHb3UT5
Alyson: “Nah, I’m good Nell.”
538Please respect copyright.PENANAQUaVPRjy9E
Nell: “Even after all this time you still won’t call me mom?”
538Please respect copyright.PENANA4HfUdAbhLf
Alyson: “….I’ll get there. Now, if you excuse me.”
538Please respect copyright.PENANAYPfNt26DTn
And she’s gone, I should be getting going too.
538Please respect copyright.PENANAZWYmQVKA14
Nell: “Nao, what’s that bump on your head?”
538Please respect copyright.PENANAqLr9zsNdsy
Nao: “Huh, I slipped in the rain. Sorry.”
538Please respect copyright.PENANAJfqO4J5Pb5
Nell: “Oh, be careful. I know you love your books but don’t risk your health over it.”
538Please respect copyright.PENANAVJSCOMvwKB
It’s worth that risk mom and telling the truth will risk the 2nd thing that can make me smile.
538Please respect copyright.PENANAeVZbknv3Uu
Nao: “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. I’ll…see you later.”
538Please respect copyright.PENANA5FauOSHnBB
Nell: “Alright, I’ll be here watching the news.”
538Please respect copyright.PENANAbTPZ6BvV6O
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.
538Please respect copyright.PENANA7EikabpPHe
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.
538Please respect copyright.PENANAZ2Y6DkoRxs
Nao: “A book that makes people scream….hehehehe.”
538Please respect copyright.PENANAJUU0s8cAg1
Nothing interesting happens to me, I’m less than important to everyone but maybe this will…
538Please respect copyright.PENANAlVBPSEzhkw
I swallow air and grip the cover. My head begins to throb but I ignore it, this is my last chance!
538Please respect copyright.PENANAaXOs1N7kJN
I force open the book and my eyes start to burn. I see….!
538Please respect copyright.PENANAQK9Oacw2Va
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….
538Please respect copyright.PENANAQsxgK40he8
Nao: “No, I won’t back away from this.”
538Please respect copyright.PENANAIltxydKsFJ
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!
538Please respect copyright.PENANAwG7NiyVmP1
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.”
538Please respect copyright.PENANAnvqpex8lof
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.
538Please respect copyright.PENANAKRJ4mOTyzJ
All at once, I can see it all rushing through me that’s reflected in its eye.
538Please respect copyright.PENANA2TMfrrZwEU
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.
538Please respect copyright.PENANABSQHemCNau
Then all of sudden it’s over, the visions stop and a voice echoes in my mind.
538Please respect copyright.PENANAACJGcK4LjT
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“ArchMage system activated, 97th user registered. Hello, Nao.”
538Please respect copyright.PENANAZhHjUUwFyV