Jen lay in the hospital bed. The normal beeping and hushed talking spilling form the odd green colour screen. She could just make out the officer speaking with the nurse that was here but moments ago.

“My life is shit.” Drifted through her thoughts.

“If only I wasn’t so weak.”

Jen noted the nurse returning with a look of bad news upon her face. Jen frustrated hit the screen closed trying to delay the coming words of sympathy. Nothing good would come of words which were just wind.

Second pasted and the screen did not move. Closing her eyes, Jen was left alone with her own dark thoughts. “I would like to offer you an invitation.”

Started Jen body flooded with adrenaline and bolted up. Arm pressing against her side knees up. Her eyes came to rest on an elderly woman. The woman’s hair was done up in a tight bun, dressed in simple modern cloths. As Jen’s body was slowly unwinding her mind thought darkly. “I am jumping at old ladies now, but how did she get in without making noise?”

A moment passes and the woman decide to break the silences. “Girl accept the invitation. I can see it in your eye. The desire to grow strong, to never feel weak again. Grow tall and strong and let none damage your pride without recourse.”

“What the fuck?” Jen saw the woman holding a worn looking letter out with one hand. “Snail mail, with my name in fancy script.” Reaching out Jen torn open the mail.

Dear Jenifer Towns

The higher being Willow has sent you an invitation to another realm if you accepted the invitation please say aloud “I Jenifer Towns due accept the invitation of Willow and wish to go to another realm.”

“You expect me to believe this?” Jen glared at Willow. “must be a crazy cat lady.”

Without a word Willow moved the hospital screen open. The world was frozen. Jen hears the silence. The nurse still with her hand out stretched ready to open the screen. The officer on his cell phone. Half a dozen other workers doing various task all frozen.

Jen wills her mouth to works. It has suddenly gone dry “If your so powerfully to make time stop why not just force me to go?”

“Simple answer. Doesn’t work that way. Rules. Something about free will. Say the words girl. The only thing I want from you is to grow strong. If some day you grow strong enough we will meet again. If not have a nice life.” Pausing for a moment she smiles and says. “Or death.”

Jen thinks. “To grow strong.”

The words spill out into the frozen hospital.

“I Jenifer Towns due accept the invitation of Willow and wish to go to another realm.”

Then Jenifer Towns was somewhere else.

John watches the foot ball game from the bleachers. The crowds cheering their high school team on. Cheerleaders cheering. Lights powered up, illuminating the field. The Classic high school football game. The crowd is focused completely on the game. Most even forgetting their phones now the last quarter half way done.

“I want to be the star. I want to be the man throwing the ball to make that perfect throw. I want the power to make everyone want to watch me.” Thinks john.

An emo looking student sits next to john “Sup dude.” Irritated John speaks. “I do not want any drugs.”

The Emo student takes the heated voice in his stride. They both silently watch the game. “Not even the Drug of Power?”

John rolls his eyes. “Not even your power drug.”

“Even if you could eventually do this.” The emo teenager snaps his fingers whiles speaking with a teasing tone.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

The game stops. So does johns mind. “The ball it stopped in the air.” John mumbles out loud.

“I have an invitation of power for you.” Emo teen hand holding a letter.

John smiles. Taking the letter and reads it quickly. Without any questions or preamble. John confidently speaks. “I John Hynick due accept the invitation of Draco and wish to go to another realm.”

Tim rides his bike swiftly throw the tree. The chipped wood path slowing his wheels. The wind blows gently throw the forests swaying its trees. Taking a side trail Tim picks up speed on the packed dirt. Minutes later Tim applies the brakes as he examines the ruined brick house that used to stand in the small clearing of the forest.

The ruins are a square shape no part of the house more than 2 layers high. “Too many students trying to kick it over.” Thinks Tim. Leaning his bike against a tree, Tim moves through the bricks to a gap in the brush.

Pasting through the thick underbrush Tim find himself by a small stream. Barely 8 feet wide. Waist deep. “If I had live here I would have used this spot for swimming.” Ponders Tim. Time finds a spot to sit and enjoys the babbling of the stream. Suddenly the noise stops. Tim opens his eyes.

A man walks towards Tim, dressed in white simple tunic. A letter in hand. The man walks with propose and a hint of haste. Stopping in front of the sitting Tim, voicing nothing. The man holds out his hand with the letter firmly grasped.

Tim takes the letter and reads its. Looking to the man he raises an eyebrow.

“I invited you Tim. The enemy has moved. So do I. There are few I can trust, fewer still with the skills required. You are needed and great good can come if you accept the invitation.”

Tim’s mind is a whirl. “Invited? Enemy? Trust? Skills? I am a high school student that plays too many video games. Crap. I play medieval war games.”

Tim speaks his mind. “Look I’m just a teenager that plays video games without a care in the world. What’s this invitation and why do I need to go to another realm? Enemies usually mean war and who wants to fight a war? Do I get to come back? I need some more information here.”

The man smiles at the tirade and responds back to Tim. “You are a man of Morals, discipline and faith. You have a chance of a life time but you must leave this life behind. There is always a war happening, but now you can make a difference in that war. You can come back to this realm but it’s a long road filled with tribulation. Trust me Timothy Gambriel. I have plans to protect you to give you hope and a future.” The last was said with a knowing look in his eyes.

Tim’s eyes widen and start to gleam with moisture. He takes a moment bowing his head. His breathing slows and with a big sigh he uses wisdom. “Any advice before I go realm jumping?”

The man folds his hands behind his back. Looking up and way from Tim, giving his next words great thought. “Its not a game no matter how much it feels like it is. Get a good foundation, know your limits. You only get one chance. The enemy is strong be ready for when they come full force. For they will be like a river flooding unending. You must be the dam that stems the flow.”

The man stops his advice giving. He closes his eye and with an air of mystery says “Look to the fields and forest. That’s all.”

Tim with a nod. Gathers his courage and speaks. “I Timothy Gambriel due accept the invitation of Gabriel and wish to go to another realm.”