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.

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.

Nao: “There are only 2 things that could put a smile like that on my face.”

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.

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.

Nao: “The few that are.”

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

Nao: “I need something strong today, come on. Anything, please.”

I search the fiction section up and down but came up empty-handed.

Nao: “Can today get any worse? Who am I kidding? Of course it can.”

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.

Regardless, the cover is amazingly crafted, and the gem…

Nao: “I need to know what kind of story deserves such a treatment.”

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.

Nao: “Nice, no line.”

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.

Nao: “Excuse me?”

….

Nao: “Excuse Me!?”

“Oh, sorry. Didn’t see you down there. What can I do for you.”

Nao: “…Can I check out this book.”

“Sure.”

I hand over the book and fidget in anticipation.

“Hmmm, I don’t see anywhere to scan. Is this really from here?”

Nao: “Yeah, I found it in the fiction section on the farthest shelf.”

“I see, I can’t-”

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.

She screams and throws the book back at me.

“What the hell…was that?! Did you see that!?”

The few people turn towards us in confusion.

Nao: “See what?”

“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.”

She slips further back into the library employee section leaving me holding whatever this book is.

Nao: “Cool.”

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.

I run as fast as I can back home with feverish excitement to open this book.

???: “Hey Napoleon!”

My legs instantly freeze at that name before my brain could process what just happened.

???: “Where are you going in such a hurry. We didn’t get say to goodbye today.”

My legs tremble from the sound of their footsteps coming closer from the other side. I force myself to turn toward my oppressors.

???: “Wow, you’re shaking more than usual. Must be the cold wind.”

Nao: “Yeah, it’s cold out today. I…need to go home so…”

???: “Sure, just need to relieve some stress first. You don’t mind, right? Help a friend out.”

Nao: “Anton I-”

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.”

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.

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.”

Anton and his 3 goons drag me to a nearby ally and set me up against the wall.

Anton: “We got only 8 chances, we don’t want to be late.”

They loaded their BB guns and fired. I closed my eyes and tensed up at every successful hit.

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.

Tears flowed out of my eyes as I rub my swollen head.

“The hell you crying for? My old man is going to fuck me up for missing half these shots.

“I prefer the beating, the eyes of disappointment is what gets me.”

Anton: “We just need to practice more, right Napoleon.”

I force myself to nod.

Anton: “Good boy. Let’s go guys, pizza is on Napoleon.”

Without even turning around Anton holds out his hand. I take out the little money I have and give it to him.

Not wasting any more time on the background character, Anton leaves to better things. Leaving me behind in the rain.

But maybe there’s hope for me. As rain begins to pound heavier into me, my smile slips back.

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.

???: “Watch where you’re going! You know no one can see you coming from down there.”

???: “Alyson, stop making fun of Nao’s height. He can’t change that.”

Alyson: “But he can plan around it, like not running like a manic.”

Nao: “I’m sorry, I’ll be more careful.”

You’re not even that much taller than me.

Alyson: “You say that, prove it.”

I move past Alyson with no more words spoken. She deserves none of it.

Nao: “I’ll skip lunch mom, I have a new book to read.”

Mom: “Really? I thought we could have a movie night.”

Nao & Alyson: “No thanks.”

Mom: “Awww, I miss when you two were

Those days are gone.

Alyson: “Time moves on and speaking of moving I have to meet up with my study group.”

Mom: “You’ve been working hard, maybe it’s time to take a break.”

Alyson: “Nah, I’m good Nell.”

Nell: “Even after all this time you still won’t call me mom?”

Alyson: “….I’ll get there. Now, if you excuse me.”

And she’s gone, I should be getting going too.

Nell: “Nao, what’s that bump on your head?”

Nao: “Huh, I slipped in the rain. Sorry.”

Nell: “Oh, be careful. I know you love your books but don’t risk your health over it.”

It’s worth that risk mom and telling the truth will risk the 2^nd thing that can make me smile.

Nao: “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. I’ll…see you later.”

Nell: “Alright, I’ll be here watching the news.”

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.

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.

Nao: “A book that makes people scream….hehehehe.”

Nothing interesting happens to me, I’m less than important to everyone but maybe this will…

I swallow air and grip the cover. My head begins to throb but I ignore it, this is my last chance!

I force open the book and my eyes start to burn. I see….!

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….

Nao: “No, I won’t back away from this.”

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!

The pain escalates to unreasonable degrees but then just stops. It’s quiet, eerily quiet.

Nao: “Wait a minute where am I.”

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.

All at once, I can see it all rushing through me that’s reflected in its eye.

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.

Then all of sudden it’s over, the visions stop and a voice echoes in my mind.

“ArchMage system activated, 97^th user registered. Hello, Nao.”