A loser.
A complete loser at life.
That's all Skye thought of himself.
As he walked along the damp pavement, the gloomy Vancouver sky throwing a dreary pallor over the city. The early morning rain had left a slippery sheen on the pavement, and the distant buzz of traffic reminded him of the busy world that lay just beyond his reach.
He adjusted his worn-out rucksack, which he'd owned since high school, and looked at his watch. He just had a few minutes before he needed to go to the convenience shop.
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The convenience store, All-Night Mart, was nestled on a quiet street, a small beacon of fluorescent light amidst the gloom. Skye pushed open the glass door, the familiar chime ringing out in the stillness of the early morning.
Inside, the store was a clutter of everyday essentials and overstocked shelves. The scent of coffee, old stains that have embedded themselves, and cleaning supplies mingled in the air, a mix that Skye had grown used to over the years.
He gave a half-hearted wave to Elmie, the store manager, who was busy rearranging the candy aisle. Her black hair was pulled back into a tight bun, and her glasses perched on the edge of her nose.
“Morning, Elmie,” Skye said, his voice barely above a whisper.
“Morning, Skye,” she replied, not looking up. “You’re on register duty today. And remember, if you see any expired items, make sure to take them off the shelves.”
Skye nodded and made his way to the cash register. It was a ritual he had performed countless times—a blend of repetitive motions and mundane tasks. Scan items, bag groceries, repeat. The same faces, the same conversations, day in and day out.
He was lost in thought as he worked, his mind drifting back to the life he had once imagined for himself. A life of excitement and adventure seemed so distant now. A few customers trickled in, their faces familiar but unremarkable. Skye greeted them with the same polite smile he wore every day. He watched as they went about their routines, wondering if they ever felt the same sense of monotony that had settled over his own life. He looked at the calendar, October 23rd, 2027. God how long had he worked at this dead end.
“Hey, Skyester,” Mikey called out as he entered the store, the sound of his voice cutting through the familiar stillness. Mikey was his co-worker and the closest thing resembling a friend. They had formed an unlikely bond over their shared job and the quiet camaraderie of the convenience store, often reminiscing about their lack of life.
“Hey, Mikey,” Skye replied, his smile widening slightly. “How’s it going? Did your mom send you home with any of her chow mein again?”
Mikey chuckled, adjusting the strap of his backpack. “Of course! She always makes too many. You know, she insists that a full stomach brings good luck. Want to come over later for some?”
Skye leaned against the counter, a faint sigh escaping his lips as he watched the world outside the glass doors. The sun’s rays broke through the clouds, illuminating the wet streets, and for a moment, he imagined himself stepping outside and leaving everything behind—chasing after something, anything, that could shatter the mundane routine that had become his existence.
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The day wore on, each customer blending into the next as Skye continued with his routine. Just as he began to feel the familiar weight of boredom creeping back, the door swung open once more. This time, a tall man in a dark hoodie stepped inside, his face hidden beneath the shadow of the hood. Skye felt a shiver run down his spine, an instinctual unease prickling at the back of his mind.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
“Hey, welcome to All-Night Mart,” Skye called out, forcing a friendly tone despite the strange tension in the air.
The man didn’t respond immediately, lingering at the entrance, as if assessing the store. Skye’s heart began to race, a wave of anxiety washing over him.
“Can I help you find something?” Skye asked, trying to keep his voice steady.
At last, the man moved deeper into the store, heading toward the aisles. Skye couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off about him, a sense that this encounter was far from ordinary.
As the man browsed, Skye watched him closely, instinct telling him this was a pivotal moment in his otherwise mundane day. The tension hung in the air, thick and palpable, as he wondered what could possibly happen next. Little did he know, the man was about to change everything.
“Skye,” the man said, his voice low and resonant, echoing in the stillness of the store.
And just like that, the boundaries of Skye’s monotonous life began to crumble, a whisper grasping him.
“I've finally found you...”
The statement hung in the air, and before he had a second to think the man lunged a frenzy of mystical fire.
Skye's heart raced as the words echoed in his mind, a mix of confusion and fear swirling within him. Before he could fully process what was happening, the man lunged forward, and a searing wave of fire erupted from his outstretched hand, filling the store with an intense heat.
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Skye's heart raced as the words echoed in his mind, a mix of confusion and fear swirling within him. Before he could fully process what was happening, the man lunged forward, and a searing wave of fire erupted from his outstretched hand, filling the store with an intense heat.
“Get down!” Skye shouted, instinctively ducking behind the register as the flames roared past him, igniting a nearby display of snacks. The blaze danced hungrily, consuming everything in its path, and the acrid smell of smoke filled the air.
Mikey rushed forward, eyes wide with terror. “What the hell is happening?!”
“I don’t know!” Skye yelled back, his voice barely breaking through the chaos. “We need to get out of here!”
The man in the hoodie stood amidst the flames, his expression unyielding, as if he was a conductor commanding an orchestra of destruction.
“Skye!” the man called out again, the sound almost drowning in the crackling inferno. “You don’t understand! You have to embrace your destiny!”
In that moment, as the world around him crumbled, Skye felt a surge of clarity. This wasn’t just a random attack; it was a confrontation that had been waiting to happen—a dark thread woven into the fabric of his mundane life.
“Destiny?” Skye echoed, fear mingling with a strange exhilaration. “What are you talking about?”
But the man didn’t answer. Instead, he reached toward Skye, his fingers glowing with an otherworldly energy. The flames flickered, momentarily illuminating the depths of his eyes, revealing a burning intensity that sent shivers down Skye’s spine.
“Embrace it!” the man shouted, and in a heartbeat, the fire coalesced, twisting and shifting until it formed a barrier around Skye, pushing him away from the danger.
The world slowed as he focused on the intensity of the moment. The flames receded, swirling around him in a dance of fire and light, merging with his own energy. It was as if he had tapped into a latent force lying dormant inside, waiting for this very moment.
The man in the hoodie glared at him, his surprise evident as Skye stood his ground. “You’re stronger than I anticipated,” he admitted, his voice a mixture of respect and disbelief.
“Who are you?” Skye demanded, his voice steady despite the chaos.
“I am Khabnang,” the man replied, the flames receding slightly, their intensity flickering like a dying candle. “And I’ve come to bring you into a world beyond your imagination. But first, you must choose: will you embrace your fate or let it slip away?”
Skye felt the weight of the decision pressing down on him. This was the moment he had longed for, the chance to break free from the chains of his mundane life. But it was also terrifying, just like those incredibly corny webnovels he'd read in his free time during junior high just to feel something -- it was something prickling at him.
Skye took a deep breath, the warmth of the energy surrounding him filling him with courage. “I choose to embrace it!”
And with that declaration, a blinding light enveloped him completely, consuming everything in its wake.
His life as he knew it was over...
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...
...
...
And then he woke up once again. In the body... that wasn't his.
To Be Continued [https://i.imgur.com/N9aEp4F.gif]