A sunny weather after a sudden downpour last night. The birds are chipping outside gleefully under the bustling sound of noises from the vehicles and people minding their daily lives.

  "Of course, it's Wednesday morning, another rush hour, yet I'm still sleepy.."

  "But I don't want my other cheek to get another dose of slap and go to school looking like a cotton ball.."

  I just muttered to myself while slowly eating my breakfast. Truthfully, I am ashamed that I'm this lazy. If only I can have a long and peaceful sleep for once! Then, maybe I won't be this lethargic.

  Alas, I have been plagued by these nightmares for quite awhile now.

  "Lei won't be happy that I didn't show up at her house on time again today. I just hope she'll forgive me, maybe a bar of chocolate will do?"

  "Also, I can't just let her bully me whenever she wants! She's been like that ever since I became close to one of my seatmates, Bea."

  Twiddling and lost by these thoughts, I became unaware and lost track of the time. I just snapped when I heard the hastened footsteps coming from upstairs, that I am sure of, from my mother.

  With a sudden strong surge of purpose not to be beaten to pulp, I force myself to eat at breakneck speed.

  Chomp, gulp, chomp, gulp!!

  I feel like vomiting, but I have to persevere. Ughhh-- I can definitely taste the bile surging.

  "What a mess!" She loudly spoke, hugging a full laundry basket.

  "Yeesh maah??"

  Gobbling and masticating my food all at once is my specialty, and I end up with hamster cheeks. I immediately turned my head just to make sure she was not holding one of her legendary sandals.

  "Stop dawdling, finish your breakfast and hurry yourself to school. I'll be going out now, remember to close and unplug the TV when you leave."

  "Uh-huh.." I replied mindlessly.

  "Say that again?" She responded coldly. I can foresee a pinch approaching towards my soft ear.

  "Yes ma'am! I'll even clean the table and wash my plate!"

  I uttered loudly.

  "Good boy, I'll buy you a nice dinner, if you can do your homework later. I'll be off now."

  "Take care mom! Please come back safely..."

  She nodded with a smile, and went on her way.

  As I saw my mother leaving, memories flooded my mind of how blissful our family used to be. I understand why she's giving her best to discipline me. She just doesn't want me to go off rail and lose track. I wish I could play again with dad. The on-going case of my father's death has not borne any fruitful leads. The one who did it was still nowhere to be found.

  Hatred spurred my thoughts, seeking vengeance. Although I don't know where to start investigating. The crime scene was already swept clean by the local police.

  I could only sigh as I grit my teeth with despair.

  "Enough with these thoughts, I'm gonna be so late in class!" I firmly said and hurriedly prepared myself while listening to the TV news.

  "We are on a momentous day everyone! This is the day of solemn anticipation from all around the world, December 12, 2012. Most people believe today will be the end of the world. Hold my beer for this one! As you know folks, the b'ak'tun, a 5,126-year cycle from the Mayan calendar. It was a complex system that tracks time in cycles. But now the count will come to its last tick very soon and a lot of speculations rose up from the masses, believing that this is the fated day. Although, Mayan scholars confirmed that there were no basis to these assumptions, and just a mere misinterpretation of the people. Back to you, Rachelle!"

  "Thank you Martin for that--"

  I rushed outside as I hurriedly unplugged the TV without turning it off.

  "Off I go, but just to make sure she's not waiting outside their house.. maybe I'll just pass by quickly and see if she's still there."

  I can hear the loud chatters from old wives clumping just beside a juvenile mahogany tree that me and my father planted when I was still six outside of our fence.

  "Will you look at that, even birds can't beat how early gossip flies these days!"

  I haughtily yelled as I glared at them intently until they left. With my good ol' rustic bicycle, I pedalled my way towards another disaster.

  Their house is just a few blocks away from mine. She's my childhood friend. With long black hair, light brown puppy eyes, and a welcoming presence. When I was just five, my mother would leave me in the park to play as she goes off to work. I first met her doodling on the sand alone and since then we played together every afternoon. We would spend all our time riding seesaw, playing tag or building sand castles. She's very joyful, laughing whenever we have fun playing. As I was a loner and couldn't socialize well with other children, I found comfort in her company.

  But as we grew older, she became more and more erratic. Most of the time she's pretty chill, but other times she doesn't want to see my face at all. She doesn't want anyone to be close with me or she'll burst out whenever someone takes my attention away from her. I realized that, maybe it's because we've been friends ever since we were children running with a long snot on our face, that she opt to close herself to people outside other than me.

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  She came from a well off family but her parents were never really at home to give her the attention and care she needed. She is living in a big house, with a hollow home as they say.

  That's why, I can't leave her when I know she needs me.

  "I'm already close to their house though, but I don't see her outside."

  As I quickly approached their gray colored gate. The house is a two storey building inspired from modern Europe, with intricate designs and a touch of class.

  "Hmm... I don't see anyone here. Maybe she already left and went alone without me.. ehe." I whispered to myself.

  "But, it's almost 8 o'clock. So I'm pretty sure she's gone ahead of me. I just pray that I can make it to the school gate on time!!!"

  Well..

  Yep, I didn't make it.

  As I looked at the firm gate slowly closing, when I was just yards away and that smug look from the fat ass guard gazing at my failed attempt.

  Late students can still enter the school grounds after pleading and kowtowing in front of the guard, but they will be given a late ticket. And for every late mark the student has, the ticket compensation will be compounded.

  "There's no way I would kneel and cry in front of that sorry fatass, never again!"

  And this is my 4th time being marked as late too. If I get another one, and can't pay the fee, I'm certain that they will call my mother. If that happens, I can't imagine what she will do to me after we go home!

  Shuddered by the thought of me turning into a living and breathing punching bag. I turned my bike swiftly and rode off towards a creek beside the road, where I often hangout with Lei under the silhouette of a well-aged tree as we talk and play video games.

  "She's not here too.."

  The ground is covered by fluffy grass where I lay my back as I fervidly watch the flocks of birds dipping their heads to quench the fleeting summer heat. Listening to the rushing sound of the running water, I brought myself back again to what I dreamt last night.

  "Wahhhhhh.... It felt so real.. it's been a week since I have these kinds of dreams."

  Tidbits of phantasm that haunt me every time I close my eyes. I murmured at the birds, looking towards me with their spaced-out eyes.

  That grotesque monster, every dream I had, appearing always out of nowhere. Towering flames as far as my eyes could see. Dead bodies piling up like skyscrapers almost reaching the horizon. And the deafening screams from the people deepening stupor as they get butchered wantonly by that vile being.

  "Did I get too absorbed watching that horror movie last time? I guess that explains it. I'll just avoid any jumpscare movies for now. Lei won't be happy for sure..."

  I spent a long time hugging the comfort of the tree shade before deciding to go back home.

  "Mom often comes back home late, so.. I'll just pretend I went to school today and pray she won't notice, hehe" I hop at my bed, splendidly landing like a lazy panda.

  "Guess I can close my eyes for a little longer, it's still two hours before noon. I can just reheat the leftovers from morning later."

  Yawning and with drowsy eyes, I fell asleep again, unbeknownst to the wicked plan that will beset upon humanity.

  12:12:12

  Time stopped immediately, halting the countdown. A sharp and gritty, metallic sound pierced into my head.

  At the same time, everything trembled as if there was an intense earthquake. I jolted from my tranquil dream, which I only had for the first time and landed square flat, face first in the dirt.

  Dirt.

  And the sudden pain in my face and neck, making me wretched.

  "I am pretty sure I went home and flopped in my bed, not on the creak side." I whimpered as I rubbed my cheek again.

  "Greetings! You have been picked as one of the great Emissaries of Doom. Now that you have been chosen, you'll be carrying out His will and push mankind to extinction."

  An unfamiliar clanking voice echoed, like a robot with metals churning its throat.

  I hurriedly opened my eyes towards the source but to my surprise, there was no one.

  I mean, there's nothing within my sight but barren wasteland.

  Nothing.

  Not a single trace.

  The ground I fell down flat was not our house floor but a barren dirt.

  The trees and plants, the buildings and even the people, are all gone. As if they never existed.

  "What's happening?!" My voice faltered as I tried to process my situation, mindlessly grabbing the dirt, trying to ponder reality.

  "Oops~ it looks like you got left behind."

  The robotic voice chortled.

  I weaved my head looking for the source once more but still saw no one.

  "I'm in your head, dimwit."

  "Wha- what, how...?" I fumbled whilst touching and checking every corner of my head in case anything weird is protruding.

  "I'm sending an electromagnetic pulse to communicate telepathically with you, dummy." The voice replied.

  "Oh.. where am I then...? Where's everyone??" I frightfully asked.

  "I'll explain to you the dire situation you are in just once, so listen well. Your world is but a countless replica of parallel worlds, and are all governed and controlled by the Supreme and Benevolent Ruler. With His will, the Overseer used a small fraction of His power to send everyone and everything into various planes devoid by light to hasten the evolution of all living once again. Sadly, you missed the train, hahahaha!" He chuckled and continued.

  "I'm curious if humanity can survive once again. Running by four, standing by two. How far can they progress this time? Or will this be the end of them, same as the others? I can't wait to see the result!"

  The loud creaking of mechanical laughter from a robot was very agonizing to hear. I feel like my head is going to crack inside out.

  "As for you, you have been chosen as one of the Emissaries of Doom! Lucky you! Without it, you'll be stuck in this world until you die, which would be pleasing to watch too. A boy left alone in a barren world. Woo-hooo!"

  "Anyways, you can access your powers through interwave, called the Doom System. It's built by yours truly, a round of applause please! It is modeled to what humans are more familiar with, an RPG system. You can bring the status window using your interwave by just a thought." It added.

  I did what the voice told me and in an instant, a glowing red status window in front of me appeared out of nowhere like those from the video games I played.

  "Also, you can see other beings' status and such just by focusing your thoughts. You can also read the noobie guide I made for twerps like you in the side tab of the status window. I'll cut off the communication now as further exposure will implode your head."

  "For real???" I blurted out loud.

  "For real." the voice mockingly replied.

  "With your powers, you can rip space to jump to another parallel world. If you're lucky, you might see your mother and childhood friend once again. If not, then it's your pleasure to have me as the last being to talk to. And with this, my Introductory Ceremonial event for you has come to an end."

  Left alone, I stood up and opened the system intuitively.

  "So, it says here that I have to reach out my hand and imagine like I'm tearing an invisible blanket of fabric."

  As I moved my hand outward ripping on nothing, I could feel countless stings on my fingertips, like I'm being electrified though it doesn't hurt at all.

  [Skill: Void Rend]

  With a swift motion, I forcefully rip the fabric of space, creating a spatial rift.

  The Void.

  A black hole, as the system described it, is an interlink between two physical planes, parallel to each other.

  A gash of cold breeze exudes within the rift. Faint growls can be heard from a distance and rabid howling accompanied by a bellowing roar, as I firmed myself and took my first step towards the unknown.

  Hi everyone~

  I'm new to the writing scene, I just want to explore and hone my skills so I may be able to make this as one of my only masterpiece. The shown artworks are all made by yours truly. This novel, is only currently posted in Royal Road.

  Thank you.

  PS. Your honest criticisms are more than welcome and will help me improve. Ciao.