No Way

Adrian spent the following weeks making arrangements and securing contractors to begin renovations on the old foster home.

Despite his diagnosis, he felt a renewed sense of purpose in restoring the dilapidated building to its former glory.

The first crew arrived in late September, the autumn chill signaling the impending Midwestern winter.

Adrian watched from the sidewalk as they assessed the property, making notes and marking areas of major concern.

Over the next two months, the house underwent a dramatic transformation.

The roof was taken off and new charcoal gray shingles were put on, And all the windows were changed to double-paned, to be more energy-efficient.

Exterior walls were re-insulated and covered in fresh pale blue siding.

The yard, which was once overgrown, is now beautifully landscaped.

There's a flagstone path leading to the front porch, which has been rebuilt with tapered columns and fresh coat of white paint.

Inside, decades of grime were scrubbed away as contractor crews installed new electrical, HVAC, and plumbing systems, Crumbling drywall was removed and replaced.

The hardwood floors were carefully refinished to look shiny and warm.

The kitchen was renovated with granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, and bright ceramic tile floors.

Bathrooms were upgraded with walk-in showers with glass enclosures and relaxing soaker tubs with brass fixtures.

True to his vision, the attic space expanded into a lavish master suite, complete with a private bathroom and walk-in closet.

But Adrian's was especially happy with the basement, which he personally oversaw in converting into his private laboratory and library sanctuary.

By late November, the renovations were finally complete at a total cost of $425,000. But to Adrian, it was a worth every penny as a place to spend the rest of his life on.

He celebrated the completion of the renovation by sampling a bottle of Glenlivet he brought from the city, toasting to his good fortune before the familiar fatigue began settling in once more.

The initial few weeks back home passed dreamily as Adrian familiarized himself with the rhythms of small-town life once more.

He took long walks revisiting childhood haunts, dined at the familiarly greasy spoon diners, and basked in the comforting silence of his new home.

Winter soon enveloped McLevinson County, Icy winds howled through drafty windows as freezing rain pelted the dormant trees.

Adrian spent most days huddled under thick blankets, occasionally stoking the living room's fireplace when pangs of restlessness hit him.

It was during one such evening that Adrian decided to finally begin unpacking the boxes of chemistry equipment and glassware.

Planning to organize his basement workspace in preparation for revisiting his work once spring arrived.

As he rummaged through dusty barrels and battered cardboard, a peculiar object caught his eye, a small transparent cube, slightly larger than a Rubik's Cube.

Thin veins of dark blues swirled and pulsed lazily within its Crystal like structure.

Warmth seemed to radiate from its surfaces as Adrian's hand instinctively closed around the Cube.

In that moment, a hushed voice reverberated from inside his Head.

*Ding*

[Binding has been completed, Host acquired. Congratulations You have been bound to the Cube of Infinity ^v^]

"Bind to what now?" Adrian exclaimed confused by the sudden voice.

A series of system windows blinked into existence, hovering expectantly in Adrian's field of vision.

He nearly dropped the pulsing cube in shock, wondering if his mind was playing tricks or a side effect of his medication.

[Welcome host. I am the System and you are the first being to be bound to the Cube of Infinity in over 10,000 years ╹⁠▽⁠╹⁠ ]

The words hung suspended in the air, gently rotating, Prompting Adrian to respond.

"Now wait a minute,"

He blinked, then rubbed his eyes, trying to clear his vision.

Pinching himself gently, he looked back at the holographic display.qp

Adrian said, his voice tinged with disbelief, "am I high right now?.."

He tentatively waved a hand through the holographic display, mesmerized as the glowing letters distorted and scattered around his fingers like disturbed fireflies.

"What is this? Some sort of advanced AR interface?" He muttered aloud, thoroughly bewildered of what's Infront of him.

[Negative. I am not a virtual construct, but rather a system linked to the Cube of Infinity.]

As if to demonstrate, the cube in Adrian's palm began shifting and transforming.

Melting into thousands of molecules then shifted and shimmered in a spiral, like a tiny galaxy forming in his hands, spinning slowly.

Adrian gaped in awe at the miniature galaxy before him, Many brilliant supernovas flared and died in miniature, their light sailing across it.

[The Cube is a container of infinite dimensions, realities and possibilities.]

[Think of it as a Cube from which entire universes can be made by your command!]

"You're saying...I can create whole worlds? Inside it?" Adrian couldn't believe what he was hearing, but Yet it was right Infront of him.

[Correct Host, you are able to create your own World within the Cube]

The miniature galaxy imploded in a blinding fractal display of scattering stardust before reverting to its original cube form.

Adrian quickly set it on the workbench with shaking hands, his mind utterly in shock.

"I-is this actually real?, and what if I don't accept it..." He eyed the system windows warily, "And whats the purpose? Why was I specifically chosen as your host?"

[Affirmative, Host what your seeing right now is 100% Real, Refusing to accept The Cube will end with the Hosts Death.]

[As for the purpose i do not know as I am only here to guide you on how to use the Cube, and you being chosen is due to reaching the Cubes requirements]

Adrian's eyes widened in disbelief, his mouth slightly agape. "What... what do you mean, refusing will end in death?"

He added, "And what the hell even is the requirements for me to be this unlucky!?"

[Host please calm down, Due to the Cube binding into the soul of The host it is impossible to removed the Cube from the host without causing Death]

Adrian took a deep breath after seeing the systems words, trying to calm the panic rising inside him.

"Okay, okay, I'm trying to calm down," he muttered to himself.

Looking back at the screen, he asked, "S-... so if I understand correctly, once I accept the Cube, it's with me for good? Like, forever?"

[As I've said host, you are Bound to the Cube it will be with you until your inevitable death]

"_"

"Is there really no other way?"

[There aren't any host ╹⁠▽⁠╹⁠]

"Okay then" he sighed heavily, a defeated expression crossing his face. T_T

[Don't worry Host it's not like you have much life left anyways.]

Adrian nearly spat blood, the system statements hitting him like a punch to the gut.

"You mothe-" before he could finish his words the system interrupted him.

[Host there is a way to cure it, if you use the Cube! ╹⁠▽⁠╹⁠]

"Wait You're saying...there could be a cure for my cancer?"

[Correct Host, The probability is non-zero, but how you achieve it entirely depends on you.]

[Like I said before the Cube is a container of Infinite dimensions, full of Infinitepossibilities, all within your grasp!]

[Host are you ready to do it?]

Adrian's head spun as his thoughts washed over him, right now floating before him is a Cube that could potentially extend his life.

Although his not sure how exactly but he is hooked, after all who would refuse a chance to extend their own lifespans.

Certainty not him, clasping his head with both hands, mouth opened he exclaimed.

"No Way!"