In a dark alley, a frail young man looked up into the darkness, his eyes wide with perplexity as a whirlpool of complicated emotions surfaced on his face. A sense of foreboding forced him to take a step back.
Questions 'What the hell happened?', ' Am I dreaming?' formed in his head. Those questions gradually filled his entire mind. With realization of what happened, he looked around in fanatical manner. With hope that it might just be another nightmare he pinched himself to escape so called nightmare. He even resorting to eating literal dirt from ground. Unfortunately, it was still dirt and even worse it had hair in it. He swiftly spat it out.
Reality was harsh as cold realization of what happened already sank into his mind like sharp blade stabbed into heart of a person. More than that endless regret, his longing for his friends, family and beloved pierced his soul to its core outweighing sudden excitement and leaving only pain. His own helplessness and sharp pain overtook his rationality as tears run down his face dropping onto ground. Soon, tears grew into cry of sorrow while silence became screams of despair.
From the distance two old man who had rugged cloth looked at scene with worried and gloomy expressions. Here it wasn't that rare to see people go insane. Most of the time people who were at their limits would go insane and next day they will be found dead at some dark alley.
It was pitiful and heartbreaking sight for two old mans to witness. However, they found not only sadness in this situation but also hope. Hope that they could survive if they robbed this guy.
One with hunched back completely white hair and beard said, "If we can get something from this guy we can finally survive this winter. He is going insane and won't be living for long. So, it is better to rob him. It will even benefit him. Relieving him of pain sooner." to quite tall skinny looking elderly man with bald head beside him.
Bald old man nodded agreeing with him "It is true. Though I still feel bad for him."
After some discussion they sneaked behind young man. Old man with hunched back distracted young man while tall skinny looking elderly man swung rock he picked up. When it was about to hit young man tall skinny looking elderly man hesitated stopping momentum for second. However, wave of desperation hit him and wave of shame in his heart clashed. The next moment closing his eyes he swung rock, hitting young man in head.
Hit was precise and with one swing young man was knocked out. Immediately, both of them started searching his for something and eventually they found some rotten food and money they desperately needed right now.
After robbing him both of them started running of the place leaving young man unconscious alone.
...
In the vast space of darkness memories flied across mindscape of young man. Their bright colors and radiance showed their memorability.
They were continuously being replayed in mindscape. Most of their color and radiance was grand representing his quality of life, how much he cherished those moments, and how much he wanted to go back and experience them once more.
In the center dazzling light was emitted from strongly etched memory cloud. What was peculiar about this memory cloud was that it produced only 2 colors black and white. It condensed and then dispersed from moment to moment. When it did it would turn into text "Theodore Grant". It was name of young man. To be specific of his past life.
Theo himself wasn't here thou; he was currently in one of the memories.
...
With sun's rays shining into Theo's room his sleep was disrupted. He rolled from one place to another, covered himself with blanket and tried changing to cold side of pillow. Unfortunately, it did not help him to go back into sleep. So, he did only rational thing: he got up from his bed.
'Quite early for me to get up' he made remark in his mind obviously displeased. Still, he stood up as he stretched.
As he moved his dizziness dissipated while his energy rose making him quite energetic and ready for the day ahead.
In bathroom, he opened cold water, filling his hands with it. Then, he splashed it to his face completely waking up. His jadelike eyes were most remarkable feature he had. Other than that, his brown hair complemented his eyes making him charming. His overall features weren't bad either his skin tone was pale ivory, his quite slim cheeks showed his jawline better, and at last his fresh pinkish lips displayed his vitality.
Remembering that he was a student, Theo asked himself 'Do I have school today. Ugh. I have to check it. If I skip one more day my mom will kill me for it and I might miss a lot of fun.'
To be frank Theo was quite a good kid. He would usually go to school without missing any assignment and classes. His performance in athletics as rugby team leader was excellent proving his leadership skills and strength. Furthermore, grades indicated his educational capability and presence of intelligence in those brains. Not even his relationship wasn't bad. He had beautiful girl called Emilia by his side who would always lecture him about his safety because he liked to play rugby rough, giving his all to it.
Moving to present moment, he found his phone at table near his bed, turning it on and checking date. It was Friday 6:23 at the morning. Looking gloomy he remarked 'As I said quite early. I could have slept for another hour.'
Following he sat at his desk and started reviewing his homework and rereading readings he was given 'Not going to lie. Math is so easy once you pay enough attention. It basically becomes 1+1=2 with extra steps. Thou I can't say same for Math in University.'
After finishing he threw those thoughts aside. Then, he got dressed into his usual school unform and got down to kitchen.
Right now, he wasn't particularly hungry. Still, choose to eat whatever his mom cooks him. Because it was delicious made by most loving person on world who would not hesitate to risk her life saving him. Other reasons were that he would get beaten by the cold tone of his mother the next second he refused to eat what she cooked him. When Theo was served his breakfast, his eyes were shining. His breakfast was 3 eggs, 4 pieces of bacon and some veggies. He loved it. In fact, it was his favorite dish when he had no energy or mood.
After, eating everything up Theo got up from his seat hugging his parents and patting his little sister who were still eating. At front door he looked up to his lovely family as light smile spread across his face. Waving his hand, he said aloud "See you, Mom. See you, Dad, and see you Ruby behave yourself at kinder garden today. Ok? I don't want to hear another complain." His sister immediately answered him shouting back "Okay Bih Brother." His father looked at him and gave nod of approval. His mother on the other hand said "See you. Stay safe," while taking care of Ruby. With soft smile he got out and closed door after himself finally leaving to is school.
While walking Theo had earphones in his right ear. He was now listening to audiobook of famous web novel Reverend Insanity. Even when he had so much to do in a day, Theo always found a way to listen to some fiction he liked. Till now he had already read Lotm and listened audiobook of it. In Lotm world building and power system attracted him most while in RI he loved characters and plot twists. Other than that, hat he also have read Shadow Slave. However, around 2000 chapter when he ran out of chapters he started stacking. Till this day he didn't read any new chapter.
Coming back to present.
Because of autumn streets were quite muddy, making Theo's shoes get dirty quickly. But he wasn't particularly worried about it. It was normal for him to get something dirty since he was child. 'Anyways, I have wet wipes. I can just clean it at school.'
While walking he noticed that today was a bit sunnier and it wasn't raining. He was quite surprised by seeing streets not drenched in rainwater but in light of sun.
'What should I do today? Sheldon, Carl and John would probably go to the party by the riverside. So, I don't have to train them today' he thought, continuing his inner monologue 'I can go to the library or on a date with Emilia. To be honest, I want to relax today. Emilia would surely be happy if I will take her to that cafe.' He had quite free time today. Why spend it on studying when he can spend it with his close ones? He already studied great and surely wouldn't die if he relaxed just one day.
Arriving to his school, he was quite surprised that he got here so quickly. Remembering how long he was lost in his thoughts he wasn't shocked by it now. However, his heart jumped the next moment he was time in his phone. He was late. Even though his first class was history with his history teacher being humorous and understanding person, he still felt a bit of shame for being late. His history teacher was chill dude who loved to talk about his passion and this passion was history. He was truly passionate sometimes putting up nights of hard work just to make presentations for his students to learn. Often, people in class would be laughing their ass from his jokes. His favorite line was "It is truly unfortunate that I became historian. You know that I could have applied for Art school and made history myself instead." He was Australian making his joke funnier.
He rushed running through hall while greeting his friends who also were late for classes and teacher who were still going to their respective classes.
Finally arriving to his classroom, he opened door and immediately looked at teacher.
Meeting his eyes his history teacher asked, "Theodore may I know why you are late?"
Smiling a little Theo said, "Sorry teacher I had left my homework at home. So, I had to go back."
His teacher wasn't harsh, so he let go of him saying "Okay. You can sit down Theo. Next time try checking if you got everything."
With node of approval and short "Okay teacher," Theo sat down at his seat.
Rest of the day was boring without any remarkable thing happening. Theo most of the time talked with other took notes and openly flirted with Emilia. Making her blush in embarrassment every time.
Now, Theo was heading back to his home. To change his unform, eat his lunch and get himself ready to go out with Emilia.
He was walking quietly listening to music, when his intuition spiked up, making him feel as though something ominous would happen the next moment.
Instead of seeing if something is wrong, he shrugged off to another one of his false intuition alarms.
He continued walking. Coming near to random alley ominous feeling intensified. This time it made him worried still it wasn't enough.
The next moment he got near that alley. Someone with hood on rushed to him. In his hands edge of knife shined as that person got closer. Theodore's mind raced trying to dodge sudden attack. Since, Theo didn't expect anyone would attack him now, he failed to dodge attack properly. Knife which was aimed at heart pierced his stomach.
For few breaths of time nothing happened. Then sudden pain struck Theo. It was more painful than anything he experienced 'This... Hurts. This hurts. Shit. Shit! SHIT! Why is someone trying to kill me out of nowhere?' hundreds of questions filled his mind.
He looked up to see who was trying to kill him. His gaze landed on person in hood who actually was one of his classmates. His name was Albert. In school no one knew much about him and no one talked to him. Most of the time he would sit quietly. Even if someone tried to approach him, he would speak so little that people lose their interest in him soon after.
But now Albert looked different from his usual cold attitude. His eyes were wide open. His smile extended to horrifying degree and now he was talking to Theo in crazed manner "Hello our most popular, most beloved and best student in the school. Did you know how much I have suffered seeing how everyone saw you as good ? Even Emilia was fooled by you. Now, how does it feel? How does it feel when someone stabs you? Does it feel good? No? Exactly, this how I felt same when filthy bastard you started dating my girl, Emilia. You filthy bastard took her away from me! This is now what you get for ..." precise punch to jaw of Albert took him down instantly. He now was lying at ground motionless as blood was coming out of his nose and mouth. Near his face his tooth were scattered.
It was Theo who punched him. He did not want his life to end by the hands of some crazed kid who lost touch with reality. So, first thing that came up to Theo as instinct was to fight back. This is why his punch was so powerful.
He tried to get up, to run to nearest place to get first aid. Trying again and again he failed as each time pain took him down to his knees. Even adrenaline rushing through his couldn't block all of it.
Now, at ground he tried to stop bleeding, but it was useless now. Even after trying to stuff cloth into his wound didn't help. Instead, it made pain more intense, making him scream a top of his lungs in pain.
In the moment of life and death he pleaded for someone to coma and save him "Please! Someone help me! Save me! AGHHH. PLEASE!"
More and more blood was seeping out of his stomach area. It was agonizing and frightening to watch let alone experience for oneself.
"No. Not now. I can't die ... I can't die like this. I still have my future, family and friends who I want to be with!" he said while attempting to cling into tiny hope left in his heart that he soon could be saved surrounded by his loved ones.
Reality thought otherwise. Blood flowing out of his stomach area painted in deep red as it spread. His last movements in hopes of survival were in vain as he slowly grew motionless and coldness embraced his body.
He died, alone at some alley.
[Author Notes: I want to warn you guys that. Any and I mean ANY mistakes made in english here are made purely out of hatred and spite for language English.
Other than that I plan for this fanfic to be loooong even if I won't complete it and sometimes chapters may take a lot of time to come out (I'm student after all). Thanks for your attention and have a nice day or night depending on when you are reading.]