David had always been a quiet soul.
Not by choice but by force.
A college student by day, a recluse by night, he carried the silence of an orphan's past and the invisible scars left by years of being bullied.
Every day he walked through crowds that never saw him, past classmates who whispered just loud enough for him to hear, and professors who spoke his name like it was a chore. The world didn't hate him, it simply forgot he existed.
So he withdrew. From the noise, from the people, from the life outside his door.
He lived in the glow of his computer screen, the hum of its fans the only constant in his small, dimly lit apartment. Books and games filled the spaces where friends and laughter should have been.
He was talented who was self-taught in programming and design, earning enough through freelance work to live comfortably, though he spent little on himself beyond food and internet.
And in all his escapes, nothing captivated him like a certain web novel.
"When Gods Abandoned Us"
It was a world of divine chaos, of heroes rising from nothing, of betrayals that shattered kingdoms and powers that defied fate.
Two male protagonists, one female lead. A cheerful, charming girl with modest abilities who, unbeknownst to all, was the hidden child of the gods. A beauty wrapped in humility, a quiet powerhouse waiting to awaken.
David devoured all 125 chapters. And then… nothing.
No finale. No resolution. Just… Chapter 125 and abrupt stop, the last line hanging in his mind like a breath held too long. The author vanished, leaving fans to scream into the void of abandoned forums.
"What kind of shameless bastard ends it there?" David muttered, slamming a fist against his desk. He paced the room, the bitter taste of disappointment twisting in his chest. He refreshed the forum again—no update. Just silence.
"Damn you, author…" he sighed, a tired laugh escaping despite himself.
Restless, he drifted to the bathroom, the cold tiles shocking against his bare feet. He didn't bother turning on the light; the hallway's dim glow was enough.
In the mirror, a stranger stared back, messy hair plastered to his forehead, stubble shadowing his jaw, and eyes empty as if the soul behind them had already gone.
"This can't be it… right?" His voice cracked, the words barely more than breath. "Just an empty room and an unfinished story?"
The silence answered.
With a sigh, he twisted the shower knob. The pipes rattled, then gave a steady stream, steam curling into the air. But as he stepped back, a strange sound made him freeze.
The light overhead flickered, the old exhaust fan groaning louder than usual. A low hum vibrated through the walls, deep and unnatural.
"What the hell…?"
His eyes fell to the geyser. Near its base, a frayed cluster of wires touched the damp tiles. A faint spark hissed where water had pooled. His pulse quickened.
Then, a sharp crack split the air. Light exploded in his vision, white and merciless.
Agony exploded through him as electricity tore into his body. Muscles locked, breath caught, vision burst into white. Every nerve screamed. He tried to pull away, but his limbs refused to listen, the current chaining him in invisible iron.
"This… can't be…"
His thoughts fractured. The world dissolved.
No final breath. No last words. Just the faint smell of burning plastic. And silence.
And somewhere far beyond that silence… a story was waiting to begin.