[????? POV]
"Abr... Abra... Abraham... ABRAHAM..."
"Urgh...."
I woke up startled by my mom's calling from the kitchen! Wait, what!? Mom is alive! No, Wait, what?! my name is...?
"wake up young man. Otherwise, you will be late again today for your school bus. WAKE UP."
"I am up mom, be there in 5."
I said it as if I said it over a thousand times, embedded in muscle memory, or should I say tongue memory, increasing my confusion further.
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The whole day was confusing like hell. More confusing than seeing Hitler giving a speech on how to protect democracy. Yes... Doesn't make sense... just like my situation. Only, mine is on steroids. In one life after dying multiple times, being brought back by magical means (read plot armours), being mind controlled, getting out of being mind controlled, going underworld multiple times, battling with demonic entities, ripping off my son's hand for more power, ripping myself in half, battling with my brother, then locking myself in the underworld to save humanity with my brother and then pass away of old age... now I see that it was all a Nightmare... or a dream if you are a masochist!
God! I better stop with these lame jokes. It's not like someone can hear them. I can still feel the stench of empusa on my mouth that accidentally went in my mouth once in that supposed dream. I assure you... it wasn't tasty.
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So, Where was I? Yes, the whole day was confusing. I had a vivid dream, where I lived the life of a half-demon half-human with daddy issues... and mommy issues. Long story short I tried to be strong only for the sake of beating my younger twin brother... out of jealousy for he got saved by my mother but I wasn't during the demon king's raid. A very petty reason it is, I know. But I was very young and it caused trauma I guess. Anyway, I got strong, real strong. Beat my brother quite a few times, he beat me quite a few times. I supposedly died sometimes, my brother died sometimes. But in the end, both of us survived one way or another. Now that I look back, it really feels like a video game's depthless story with forced plot armour. Maybe it was a dream after all. Now that is assuring.
Problem is, all the skills I acquired in that dream are still there. I can feel how dangerous or shady a person is just by a glance. My awareness of my surroundings is nowhere near what a 13-year-old like me should have. Even my bearing has changed around people has changed. Several of my teachers have asked if I am concerned. And I was concerned a little. Because my math teacher was f**king pedo, literally. And how did I find out? He reeked of semen, blood, and sweat of multiple girls... and boys. And one of the boys in our class smelled like him. The boy was also walking funny after the lunch break. I can bet 100 bucks no one walks like that usually. From this, I also found out that my nose and other sensory organs are working... in supercharged mode... if that makes sense. Which wasn't the case just yesterday. So, this is really concerning.
Anywho, after waking up from the said dream I am now Abraham Abelson. You run off-the-mill 13-year-old teenager. Goes to school, average student who plays badminton(?!), does the dishes and takes out the trash for pocket money. I have a mother who loves me , adores me.
Pretty normal for a kid, just like it suppose to be. More than average normal fit, since I school Badminton team.
My family only consists of me and my mother who is middle-aged with some streaks of white hair and some wrinkles around the eyes. Pretty odd now that I think about it since I am the only child. No matter how late she decided to have me this is highly unlikely. May be she is working too much on our family's small business. I should look into that.
As for my father, mom said he was a soldier who died on the battlefield when I was 3. So, obviously, I don't remember anything about him. According to her, he was a good man, good to me and good to her. She never said anything lamenting about him. I guess both of them loved each other very much.
In hindsight, thank God I don't have daddy and mommy issues.
-"Abraham, you alright honey?"
mom asked suddenly at the dinner table when I was absorbed in my self-thoughts. Looks like she noticed something is wrong with me. It would take me some time to figure out everything, I guess. Part of me feels I am an old man with supernatural abilities, but most of me think I am a 13-year-old boy who just had a vivid and long nightmare.
-"I am fine mom, but why ask?"
I asked her trying to act as normal as I can. I don't know why am I even trying to act normal, maybe due to my overdriving senses.
-"Well, you have been acting very... what can I say... very fidgety all day. Like an alarmed wild cat. Ready to pounce on any threat at a moment's notice. Scared to be found out with some dirty little secret. So, young man... tell me. What are you hiding?"
-"First of all, that is very poetic. Second, how on earth do you even know how a scared wild cat acts? Hmm, the steak is extra juicy today. This, I like."
I shot back at her as I stuffed my mouth with the beef steak. Ummm, her cooking hand is good as always.
-"No need to be shy. I am your mother after all. Since your father is not here, I am the one who has to give you "the talk" after all."
-"What talk?"
I asked confused.
-"You know... your voice starts to crack, hair starts to grow in places. You start to find girls funny. You start to dream funny..."
-"Oh for God's sake mom, they teach about puberty at the school. And no I am NOT having puberty-related problems. Thank you for asking."
-"If your boxers need washing you know where the washing machine is. Don't keep them dirty."
-"Oh God, MOM!! Urgh."
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I left the dinner table leaving my cheekily laughing mom. As I hit the bed after a very long day, I crazily found out that I am unable to sleep.
One question is bugging my mind, who am I? That dream was too real to be any normal dream, that is for sure I experienced for sure. Then again I am Abraham, your regular teenager, that is also true. So, I am missing some key information here. What is even defined as 'me'? Is it this body? My consciousness? Or something else?
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[???? POV]
-"?*?*?*?*, looks like there is no avoiding it."
-"I really wanted him to have a normal life though."
-"Since when do you get what we want? I am thankful since this is for the best."
-"Since there is no avoiding it, would you help him through it?"
-"I would try my best."
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[Abraham POV]
-"Abraham, looks like you got a C- for your test this week, do you have any particular reason to do this badly?"
Looks like my pedo math teacher has targeted me this time. Now how can I avoid this "sticky" situation?
-"I am sorry, Mr. Ted. I shall try my best to do better in the next test."
I said to get out of the situation despite knowing he set me up. I was supposed to get around B to B+ for this test for kids, I made sure to make some 'calculated' mistake so that I won't get A or A-.
-"Sorry will not cut it. You shall stay behind after class for receiving special one-to-one tutoring so that catch up with others. Or do you want me to call your parent?"
He asked giving a derisive smile. Looks like he enjoys tormenting and seeing teenage boys and girls being scared of him. Sadistic bastard, I can see it right in his eyes. Reminds me of quite a few ugly and nasty demons of hell.
-"Abraham. are you listening to me..."
-"No need, Mr. Ted. I would make sure to learn very well from today. Please take care of me."
-"Very well, as long as you understand."
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So, I was sitting in Mr. Ted's office who in actuality, plans to butt-f**k me today. Oh well, let's see how that turns out.
-"So, Mr. Abraham. You see... you have fallen behind your peers quite a bit. Do you have any particular plan on how to catch up?"
-"Not really, I thought you are the one who would do the planning since you generously decided to tutor me."
-"True, but you see... nothing in the world is free in this world. But I am very generous. If you just play along with me for a while, both of us can take it easy at our pace. How about it?"
He said with an ugly smile plastered all over his face as he got up from the chair behind his desk and on the desk beside me.
-"And what is it that I have to do, Mr. Ted."
I asked in an icy voice. It is pretty clear what is that he wants. I am even regretting coming here. It is taking all my willpower to not plunge the marker in his eye I hid in my sleeve before coming here.
-"It is nothing much. We are going to play..."
As he said up to that point and extended his hand towards me with a filthy and ugly smile, I grabbed his hand by the wrist and twisted his hand making him fall down on the floor. Keeping a firm grip on his twisted hand I placed my left foot on his right cheek keeping his head firmly placed on the floor.
-"Wo, wo, wo, Abraham what are you doing? You are hurting my hand. Release me at once. Or else..."
-"Or else what, Mr. Ted?"
I said with a smile that is not befitting of 13 year old. Seeing my calm and collected demeanor, the trash on the ground was confused and scared at the same time.
-"What is wrong with you Abraham? Please unhand me. I mean absolutely no harm."
-"Poor choice of word Mr. Ted."
-"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA...."
This time put more force on my hand and dislocated his right hand from the shoulder. He started to squirm like a worm on the ground holding his shoulder.
-"Why, why did you do this to me?"
He asked squeaking and crying as his face became covered with snort and tears.
-"Well, First, you wanted to screw my ass. Second, you deserve some payback for all the boys and girls you defiled. So, here is how this is going to pull out. You are going to go to the nearest police station and confess every single misdeed you committed your whole life. And before you say you can't and you would be finished, trust me. You would be begging to be finished if you don't confess to the police."
Even I got surprised by the way I threatened him. Just a few days ago I was just another normal teenager, not daring to threaten or exploit any adult. Looks like something did change inside me.
-"No no no no no... I refuse to accept this. You can't do this to me. No one can do this to me. EEEEAAAAAAA..."
Being delusional, Mr. Ted started to start screaming hysterically. But to my surprise... the air around him changed suddenly. I can't put my hand towards exactly what went wrong, but my enhanced sense was telling me to run for my life from every pore of my body. Maybe I was confused or scared as I never faced such a situation in my life or maybe in that dream I did, but I am not accustomed to this in this body yet, or it is already crazy that I am considering I faced such a situation before.
I was just a bit too late in deciding to make a run for it. Suddenly as if gravity itself became stronger by several folds, I was unable to move anymore. His face started to get blood red and swell in multiple places followed by his torso and lastly his limbs. After a few seconds, his clothes were torn apart due to his body swelling into a huge blob of deformed muscles. His skin started to tear and black blood started to come out of the openings. A foul stench of rotten blood pervaded the room. Looks like I also remember how rotten blood smells.
-What in God's name is that...
I exclaimed while struggling under tremendous pressure. As I said that, as if on the queue Mr. Ted, who is now a blob of muscle smelling like rotten blood, exploded. I along with the whole room was blasted away as I blacked out.
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Hearing a low growl of a beast, I got back to my senses. As I tried to move my body I realized I couldn't due to weakness and dizziness. After I opened my eyes I found out I was impaled through my stomach on a metal rod of the building column sticking out due to the blast. I was bleeding profusely all this time.
In the place where Mr. Ted was, now stands a creature, who looks like a creature from hell one would find in the game of Diablo.
-At last, I am free. Ha ha ha. Thank you, mortal, for hastening my descent upon this world. I a sign of gratitude I shall eat you and make you part of me. Now be thankful...
The creature said giving the same derisive smile Mr. Ted used to give. Well, I couldn't answer him due to my weakness. I lost too much blood. I am probably going to die either way. If I had any regret, that would be, I wasn't able to know what I am, what is my purpose, and what was the meaning of all this.
As the creature reach me and grabbed my neck to snap it, The whole world suddenly slowed down.
At that moment, a translucent dialogue box popped up right in front of me.
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[Malicious intent detected...]
[Initiate deduction.]
[Deduction complete.]
[Deduction: Imminent physical and mental trauma approaching.]
[Requesting fortification protocol....]
[...]
[Requirements unsatisfied.]
[Requesting protocol "Guidance"]
[...]
[Protocol "Guidance" initiated.]
[Quest: Path of the lost one.]
[Description: A lost soul chosen and purified to be the shining beacon for the world, you have satisfied all the requirements to be able to see the truth and nature of the world. Will you choose to not choose or not choose to choose?]
[Objective: Make a choice.]
[You have been chosen to be a "Guide".]
[Do you accept? /~Yes. /~No.]
[Warning: Choosing No would result in death.]
[Warning: Failing to choose within 0.000001367 s would result in death.]
[Warning: Failing to choose within 0.000001358 s would result in death.]
[Warning: Failing to choose within 0.000001345 s would result in death.]