Chapter 1

"This world sure is beautiful."

As I was looking towards the starry night sky, people seemed to be heading home after a long day of whatever activities they might be doing. People just go about their days without paying attention to the world around them and all live completely different lives. Some have a life full of struggles while others have their lives handed to them in a silver platter.

If you think about it, all of them are protagonist to their own story with varying level of "difficulties." This would surely be a great way to think of everyone as but alas, I believe that not everyone will ever get to see the spotlight. Some will be villains while others will become backgrounds or side characters. I am the latter.

I sighed and chuckled a bit.

Sitting on a park bench, I sat just enjoying the scenery that brought me peace time and time again. It was a routine I was familiar with. It was by no means the fanciest view you have ever seen but it was what I was used to. The walkway was made of concrete with some visible cracks on it showing just how old it was. The trees were planted following the path in an attempt to emphasize nature's beauty.

I was wearing a black hoodie with some black joggers. I had standard gray running sneakers which looked alright with my outfit. In terms of clothing, I opted to wear dull colors as I liked to call the least attention possible.

I was your standard college student with an average of everything in between. I was never really good at anything but never really bad at anything either. In the looks department, I would be considered on the uglier side of average. I had dark brown eyes which exuded the aura of disinterest and short black hair that was a bit messy. 

Even so, I didn't really mind it as I don't think I really need to be great at anything as long as I get by.

Yet these feelings are always being tested. I never had people to call friends nor had any real relationship to speak of. Others had money yet I was as broke as one can get. My job is far from desirable and on top of that, my luck is absolutely atrocious which you could say is something I excel at. Absolutely hilarious. Man, I sometimes wish I had something great.

One can say that I could try to make friends if I really tried. Guess what? I suck at continuing a conversation and let's just say, I'm really not someone you would want to be friends with.

Dark Secret?

Not at all.

At the very least, one can say I am quite attached to myself and don't feel the need to consider others but myself.

I looked around the park just to notice that it was now empty with only the park lamps illuminating the surroundings.

"It's getting pretty late, I guess. Wait, what time is it?"

I glanced over at my phone and jumped.

"11:55pm! Shit! I'm going to be late for work!"

I quickly got up and start to run towards the exit of the park.

I ran for 3 minutes.

Then for 8 minutes.

"I don't ever remember the park being this big. Am I crazy? Also, where is everyone? Running for 8 minutes with no one in sight is quite rare."

The bench that was previously behind me suddenly was right in front of me.

"There is something definitely wrong here."

I am not delusional enough to think that everything is fine, and I went into complete alert mode.

I have read enough stories to know that the repeating scene is always something to be weary of. Still, I want to dismiss this and just say I am crazy, but I can't stop myself from being weary.

I started to furiously look through my pockets to find something that can be used in the situation if an attack were to pop-up, but I obviously had nothing.

"Fine, let's call the police. Hopefully they come even if I do sound crazy. At the very least, I will gladly take the name of a 'crazy' if it means removing this feeling of dread."

There was no phone.

"I swear I had it! This is not good!"

I started sweating profusely, cursing my terrible luck for the situation.

"Haha! Well, there is no use worrying and doing nothing. Let's look around. At the very least, whatever is happening here, doesn't seem to pose an immediate threat other than being strange." I exclaimed as I made an awkward smile.

The trees were at a standstill and no living being could be heard. Only the sound of my breathing was apparent.

Out of nowhere, behind the bench, a distortion in the world seemed to have taken place in the form of a static crack.

"Well, that looks Eerie. Not touching it. No way in hell is that something that should be happening IN THE REAL WORLD. Hopefully I can just wait it out and everything will be back to norma....?"

All of a sudden, the distortion that appeared started to grow wider and wider and reached me before I had enough time to react. As if eating me, I was engulfed by it.

I only managed to take one last glimpse of the world that I used to know.

"So only I am affected? Typical." I muttered as I laughed at the absurdity.