- Orphanage - Queens NY - 1992 -
The old orphanage stood in the heart of New York City, a relic of forgotten times surrounded by towering skyscrapers.
The building's brick walls were weathered and cracked, its windows grimy and streaked with dirt.
Inside, the halls echoed with the sounds of children.
A mix of laughter and the occasional sob, all under the watchful eyes of the orphanage's stern staff.
Nine-year-old Erik Stevens sat alone in a dimly lit corner of the communal room, isolated from the other children.
He rubbed his chest absentmindedly where a strange spider had bitten him a week prior.
While He was lost in thought, a boy the same age as him walked over.
"Are you thinking of ways to drive old Yuan completely crazy?" He asked with a smile, giving Erik a light elbow nudge.
"Hum?" Erik lifted his head to see who was speaking to him.
Once he did, he instantly recognized the boy.
It was Jimmy, another orphan like him.
Physically, he was quite large for his age. His height and weight surpassing most of his peers.
He had black hair, brown eyes and a darker, Polynesian skin tone.
"Yuan?" Erik murmured, glancing towards the entrance of the room where she stood like a statue, observing everyone.
Yuan was a Chinese woman in her fifties, and was the one in charge here.
She ruled the orphanage with an iron fist.
Known for her unwavering discipline, she had eyes and ears everywhere.
Disobedience was met with swift and harsh punishment, as she wielded an array of sticks to enforce her authority.
'If not for the conversation that I overheard a few days ago I might of mistaken her for an ordinary old woman' Thought Erik.
"Nah, I was just thinkin' 'bout that urinal I accidentally ripped off the wall the other day.." Said Erik, a little smile creeping across his face as he reminisced.
"Pfft hahaha.." Jimmy laughed "How'd you even do that, uce?"
"A magician.. never reveals his tricks. You know that." Responded Erik, winking at Jimmy.
"I guess so.." Said the boy smiling.
"You should've seen her face tho, it was hilarious". Erik added in a calm, low voice while gazing at the palms of his hands.
"I'm sure it was" Responded the polynesian boy giving Lady Yuan a look.
"Wasn't that also the last day we saw Jason?" Jimmy wondered aloud, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
"I wonder if he got transferred because of you?" He glanced at Erik, a playful grin spreading across his face.
"Actually, I'm sure it was because of you!" Jimmy said, nodding to himself as he recalled all the times Erik had driven Jason to the brink of madness.
"Yeah, definitely because of you uce" He added, almost as if he needed to convince himself further, the memory of Erik's antics flashing in his mind.
"I'm sure he's happy wherever he is" Erik replied, a calculated glint in his eye.
'Who would've thought I'd end up here, in this world... In this body, with this power?' He thought.
'Erik Stevens, also known as N'Jadaka, destined to become the infamous Killmonger.'
'How did this even happen?' He wondered. 'I can't.. I can't recall some events from my previous life. Maybe a month before they ki..' His fist clenched to the memory some quiet anger burning inside him. 'I only remember some bribes of memory, it's fragmented. Did I die? I don't even know-Most likely ?'
- 1 Week prior - NY Queens - Orpahanage -
"Brandon?" Yuan's cold voice cut through the morning air as she scanned the list in her hands.
"Present!" A young boy responded promptly.
"Lisa?" She called next.
"Present!" A girl answered.
Every morning, it was the same routine.
The children were gathered outside, lined up in neat rows as Yuan the strict and unforgiving head of the orphanage took roll call to confirm their presence.
Her icy demeanor left no room for error, and the kids knew better than to cross her.
"Erik?" Yuan called, waiting for a response.
"Erik?" She repeated, her tone sharper this time.
When no answer came, she began scanning the rows of children in front of her a vein starting to throb on her forehead.
"Erik!" She demanded a third time, even though she could already tell he wasn't present.
Yuan pressed her fingers to her forehead trying to calm herself down.
Suddenly one of the workers came running up to her. "That little shit disappeared again—he's not in his room." He said.
Yuan's eyes narrowed as she turned to her colleague, his name was Jason.
"He's probably roaming outside." She said in Mandarin.
"Take Lei with you and check the perimeters around the orphanage. He can't be far." She then Ordered.
"Understood!" Jason replied in flawless Mandarin before rushing outside with Lei.
- At the same time in front of the Empire State University (ESU) in Mannathan -
Erik stood before the grand entrance of the University.
The thick stone walls surrounding the campus bore the name 'Empire State University' on them.
The ESU was founded in 1773 by William Pottersmith.
This place held a rich history.
In some realities, the likes of Norman and Harry Osborn. As well as Peter Parker had studied here.
Inside the walls, several buildings stood.
Their architecture seamlessly blended 90s renovations with a timeless, old-school charm.
At the heart of the campus was a large, green space, centered around an impressive fountain that added to the university's serene atmosphere.
'It's been a month since I took over this body, the body of the original Killmonger'. Thought Erik.
'I woke up just a day after his father was murdered by his own brother, the King of Wakanda.' As Erik started reminiscing, he recalled the shock of the memories he had inherited.
The realization that he had been sent to a Marvel world was almost too much to grasp.
But then he saw the news.. Tony Stark taking over from Obadiah Stane, becoming the youngest CEO of a Fortune 500 company in history at 21years old.
He realized everything was real and decided to accept it and move forward.
What else could he do? There was nothing he could change about his situation anyway.
That's when he was sent across the country, to New York. In this particular orphanage.
'But something was off about that place.' He thought.
"Too much weird shit going on there." He murmured to himself as he joined the crowd heading into the university. To the side, a sign read: ESU 1992 Exposition.
'The way they make childrens fight each other during those so-called martial arts classes, or the way they teach..
It feels like we're lab rats in some twisted experiment.
And then there's Yuan, that old bitch, who treats us very harshly.
If any of the kids refuses to do one of their ridiculous tests or participate in the fights, she'll beat them without a second thought.'
Erik continued to walk with the crowd toward the main building, where the exposition was being held.
As he entered the building. He couldn't help but smile, imagining the look on Yuan's ugly face when she realized he hadn't shown up for roll call.
"Well, a beating in exchange for seeing that ugly face twist in anger—seems like a fair trade." Erik thought, bracing himself for the punishment he knew would come later that day.