Alex's heart sank as he overheard the conversation between Serena and the boy next to her. The boy, with a sly grin, continued speaking.
"Babe, your body looked perfect last night. Why are you worrying about gaining extra weight? Even if you do, we can burn it during our nightly activities."
Serena responded. "Elyan, you only think about s*x, but you know that I need to focus on my studies right now."
Alex stood there, frozen in place, a whirlwind of emotions swirling within him.
He had imagined his reunion with her for years, hoping to see Serena again and rekindle their deep connection. But now, seeing her with someone else, he felt a mix of disappointment, confusion, and a tinge of jealousy.
As Serena and Elyan walked away, engrossed in their conversation, Alex's thoughts were in turmoil. He had believed in their promise, in the dreams they had shared as children. But seeing her with Ethan made him question everything.
Taking a deep breath, he reminded himself that people change, circumstances shift, and promises, however sincere, could be left behind in the wake of life's unexpected turns.
He shook off his Initial shock and decided to focus on what he had come to college for—his education and not pursue his dreams anymore. He had worked tirelessly to earn his place here, and he wouldn't let this unexpected encounter derail his ambitions.
Alex made his way to his first class, determined to immerse himself in his studies.
The college campus buzzed with activity as students hurried to their respective classrooms. As he walked, he couldn't help but overhear snippets of conversations around him.
"Have you seen the new physics professor? They say he's a genius."
"The campus library is massive! I can't wait to explore it."
"I heard there's a club fair next week. We should check it out."
These words of excitement and anticipation filled the air, reminding Alex that college was not just about academics but also about forging new friendships and exploring new horizons.
His first class, an introductory physics lecture, was both fascinating and challenging. The professor's enthusiasm for the subject was unmatched, and it reignited Alex's passion for learning. He diligently took notes, his mind absorbing the intricate concepts like a sponge.
As the day progressed, Alex attended various classes, met a few fellow students, and began to settle into his new routine. Each class presented an opportunity to learn and grow, and he approached his studies with renewed determination.
During a break between classes, he received a text message from his mother.
"Hope your first day is going well, sweetie. Remember to stay focused and enjoy the journey. Love, Mom."
The message brought a smile to Alex's face. From her words, he knew his mother was rooting for his success and happiness.
As the day drew to a close, Alex found himself in the library, poring over his textbooks and immersing himself in the world of academia.
****
After studying in the library for an extended period and checking his watch, Alex realized that it had grown late, and he needed to head home. With his bag packed, he began his journey back, traversing the dimly lit streets of the hillside neighborhood.
The late hour and the hilly terrain should have meant that few people would still be out on the street, but to his surprise, the streets were eerily deserted. It looked like no living being lived in this area.
A growing sense of unease gnawed at him. He scanned the surroundings left and right, attempting to shake off the unsettling feeling.
Abruptly, he stopped in his tracks and cast a glance into a nearby shop's glass window. What he saw sent chills down his spine. His reflection was not his own; it had transformed into that of a stranger. The stranger had silver hair and piercing silver eyes, a jarring contrast to his usual appearance.
Shaken and bewildered, he blinked and rubbed his eyes, but when he looked again, his reflection had returned to normal. He smiled thinking that it was all because of exhaustion from a grueling day at college and decided to continue his journey home.
As he pressed on, navigating the deserted streets, an unforeseen calamity struck. A car hurtled toward him with devastating force, smashing him into the glass window of a shop. The impact was shattering, but the car didn't stop there. Surging forwards and backward, it trapped Alex beneath its crushing weight, transforming his small, fragile body into mincemeat. His small body ended up scattered and mutilated all across the shop floor.
Inexplicably, his head remained intact amidst the chaos, though his body was destroyed beyond recognition if what was left could even be called a body.
For reasons unknown, there was still life left in him, but that was for a few fleeting moments because, His vision started getting blurred, and his breaths grew shallow. Just as he felt his life slipping away, a familiar voice broke through the chaos.
"Enough! Stop it. He would have died even if you had stopped crushing him. There's was no need for you to turn him into mincemeat," the voice declared.
A softer, gentler voice, that of a girl, chimed in, "But I want every trace of him erased from "this" universe."
With his eyes closing and darkness encroaching Alex could see the figures to which the voices belonged and it was undoubtedly, Serena and Elyan.
Alex couldn't help but wonder why Serena and Elyan had been in that car and what had driven them to this gruesome act. His final breath left him with a single haunting question: "Why?"
*As he lay dying, the last thing he could feel was the sensation of warm liquid flowing down his face. Then he died.
***
As he was drowning in the darkness of the Abyss, an ancient voice echoed, conveying enigmatic prophecy in cryptic language that Alex couldn't decipher.
"When realms collide and souls traverse,
In cycles of life, through realms diverse,
A *****'s essence, a timeless grace,
Shall awaken to a cosmic embrace.
But as cosmic tides and gods entwine,
The hero must heed the cosmic sign,
For at the edge where universes blend,
A final stand against time's grasp shall rend."
Alex could not help but become confused wasn't he dead why was he still able to feel his surroundings?
"What are you talking about can you talk in English please, first I lost the love of my life and even ended up murdered by the same girl and her lover, and after that even in death here you are talking in this f**king cryptic language Can you give me a break" as he spoke, he stared to get angry because of his situation.
He tried asking multiple times what voice meant, what it was trying to tell him but the ancient voice only told him, and this time in a language he could understand.
"You will understand the meaning of this prophecy when that time comes, And when you do, please don't forget to help that foolish child like you did last time"
"You now speak my language, yet you withhold half the information. At least tell me the prophecy, who needs help, and what happened last time. Whoever you are, I am not in a position to help. I am dea..." and before Alex could say anything else.
Suddenly, he felt a powerful pull like someone pulling his soul and his eyes shot open. He found himself sitting up on the bed, his body still intact. However, as he glanced around his room, he realized that something was drastically different.
Glancing into the mirror on his wall, he encountered a bewildering sight. His face remained familiar, but his eyes had transformed into a mesmerizing silver hue and hus hair had turned silver. His once slender physique had undergone a remarkable metamorphosis, taking on a well-defined and fit appearance.
Suddenly a notification sound broke the silence, and a translucent screen materialized before him. And as he read the message, the gravity of his situation sank in, and he couldn't help but only mutter two words, "F**k seriously?"