1 No Other Choice

I had to do it; there was no other choice.

I pushed the girl out of the way that night, and the last thing I saw was the bright lights of the truck, and my world went black.

-----

"Dan! Check the breaker! I don't know what's up, but my phone is off as well!" Darius, my boss, called right after all the lights went out.

"I don't think it is a breaker. My phone is out as well. Did you look outside?" I asked as I made my way to the front of the book store.

I was almost done work anyways, and this would get me back home sooner. Even if the power was out, I had some new books that were delivered yesterday waiting for me.

This would give me a good excuse to dive into them.

"Looks like everyone's power is out, but it's already five-thirty. You should get heading home, and I will lock up. I don't need you in till after lunch tomorrow; we are getting a load of books in the morning. I will price and sort them, and then I will need your help putting them away in the afternoon. Anya will be watching the front in the morning," Darius told me, and I nodded.

Hopefully Darius would go home after he was done, and then I would get some time with Anya.

The boss didn't know, but his daughter and I took our breaks together. Most of the time we did things that he might not approve of, but you only get to live once in this life, and I was a sucker for bookworms.

"Thank you. I will see you then, Mr. Holdt," I said and walked over to the rack where my black and white winter coat was hanging.

My walk would take over an hour to get home, but it was nice to be outside. I lived alone in a single-room bachelor apartment, and I was able to make due, so the walk was a small sacrifice.

There was no reason for me to make do, or to work, but I enjoyed this life I lived. Plus, if I didn't work here, I would hardly see Anya.

"I wonder what is causing this? Strange that even our phones are off, right?" Darius said, and I nodded as I pulled my phone back out.

It was still dead, but not like I was missing much. The social media platforms were all just distractions from my reading.

"I don't really know something that could do this, but maybe a strong solar flare?" I asked, and Darius gave me a strained look and then waved me off.

Darius liked books as much as I did, but we had varying interest, and he only read the fantastical to complain about it most times. If he did find something he liked, it was usually something that bent your mind in ways it didn't want to go.

"Just get going so I can lock up. Looks like cars are still working, so I could give you a ride back if you want?" Darius asked me, but I shook my head.

"I prefer the walk. Plus, I am in no rush to get back to a dark place," I said with a smile as I pulled on my coat and headed out of the store, saying, "Have a good night!"

I left the shop and turned the corner, starting on my long walk home. I almost pulled out my earbuds, but remember, it was pointless.

I zipped my coat up and looked around, but the place looked strange without the lights. This part of the city was pretty quiet, so I didn't think there would be many accidents, but I wouldn't want to be downtown.

Nothing I could do about it, and about a half an hour into my walk, it started to snow heavily. It was late November now, but this was only the second snowfall we had, and it was coming down hard.

I pulled up my hood, tipped my head down to keep the snow out of my face, and started walking up the long hill that was close to my apartment. The snow started to get heavier, making it hard to see, but I was almost at the top of the hill.

"Excuse me! Can you help me? My phone isn't working, and I don't know where I am!" A woman's voice called from the other side of the street.

I turned to look in the direction of the voice, and there was a woman in a pink parka and she was starting to walk across the road. That was the exact moment that light peaked, over the hill, barely visible, and time seemed to slow down for me.

Everything happened at once as my mind sped up, and time slowed. I was no super hero, but my adrenaline amplified everything.

I had a split second to decide what to do; the woman was already in the middle of the lane. I either had to try and push her out of the way, or watch her die.

There was never really a choice for me. My body moved of it's own accord.

I dashed forward and pushed the woman back, and the lights in my peripheral started getting very bright. I knew I wouldn't make it, but at least she would have a chance to make it home.

My head turned to the bright light, and my world went black as I started to fall into what seemed like endless darkness. I felt no wind, but I could feel a force like gravity pulling me down.

"So, look at you! Just a regular joe with no ambition and a love for the world of fantasy that you love to read about. Then, given the chance, fate gives you a choice! But for you, there never was a choice was there?" A strangely cheerful voice asked me, and I shrugged as my body seemed to slow.

"I would do it again," I said, but I felt so tired.

Maybe I could just close my eyes and then have a short nap.

"No, that won't do! I know that you will do it again! Wonderful! I am so excited to see so much more of this selfless hero stuff! Just so exciting for me to know I picked the perfect one! I mean, there were a lot of options! You should be the one thanking me for picking you!" The voice called dramatically, but now I was beyond confused.

"What are you talking about? I am dead, right? I got hit by a truck! I am also not selfless. She was a girl, and my girls would have never forgave me if I just stood there and watched her die!" I growled, but the voice just laughed at me wildly.

"You really are a riot! Nothing but a little flesh wound for a man like you! Oh boy, we are going to have so much fun, Daniel Brighton! You have no idea just how long I have been waiting for this!" The voice chimed.

"Okay, can you knock off all the lunatic talk and just tell me what's going on?! Am I dead or not?" I asked, starting to get annoyed with this voice.

"Oh yes, that little part. Well, do you like those heroes from the stories you read?! I am going to make you into one of them! Or I am going to give you a tool to become the instrument of justice! I have reviewed your past; pretty sad, am I right? You are so average; it was painful! So! I am going to give you a special thing called a System. I would explain what it means, but that would ruin all the fun!" The voice explained.