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THE REALMS DIVISION

🇳🇬Okpiafoh_Divine
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Synopsis
A story about how young boy who has spent his whole life as a misfit discovers his destiny that awaits is beyond this world. He struggles to get a grasp on his new found powers, learn to trust people and become more responsible and to escape an unknown yet familiar evil that is hell bent on using him to awaken a greater evil
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Chapter 1 - CHAPTER 1: TIM

The city at night was a shadowy playground, and Tim had learned its alleys, rooftops, and hiding spots better than most. The trick, he'd figured, was to keep moving, never let anyone get too close. Trust was a liability when your life was lived dodging social workers, cops, and anyone who wanted to tell you what to do. So Tim had kept his freedom through his wits, a little charm, and, when that failed, by being fast on his feet.

Tonight, he was testing all three. A few hours ago, he'd tried his luck with an upscale tourist who looked distracted, fumbling with her map. He'd almost gotten away with it too if she hadn't spun around right as he slipped her wallet from her bag. Now, he was on the run, familiar heat flooding his veins as he dodged through a tight alley, weaving around dumpsters and stacks of boxes.

"Come on, Tim," he muttered to himself, grinning as he cut through another narrow street, his laughter echoing around him. "Still got it."

He'd known other kids on the street who didn't have a choice but to be tough, cruel, or desperate. But Tim was different. Sure, he'd hitched rides, pickpocketed, and even dabbled in breaking into locked cars, but he did it with flair, maybe even a little too much flair. He had a reputation now among other street kids as the cheeky one—the one who cracked jokes in the face of danger.

When he was sure he'd lost the cops, he leaned against a brick wall, trying to catch his breath. It was then that he heard voices from further down the alley. Tim stiffened and peered around the corner.

Three boys were cornering a kid, barely a teenager, who was clutching a bag like his life depended on it. Tim recognized the kid, knew he was one of the regulars who panhandled near the market. The sight was almost funny, three bullies against one skinny kid, but Tim's laughter died quickly. He'd been in that position one too many times himself, and he knew that desperate look.

"Hey!" Tim called out, sauntering toward them, his hands in his pockets like he hadn't a care in the world. "Isn't it past your bedtimes?"

The boys turned. One of them, a hulking teenager with a busted nose from a previous encounter, narrowed his eyes. "Walk away, Tim. You don't want this."

"Actually, I'm here for the entertainment," Tim said, grinning. "Mind if I watch?"

Busted Nose glared, shoving the kid aside to step toward Tim. "Think you're funny, don't you?"

"Oh, I know I am." Tim shrugged, but his eyes flicked to the scrawny kid, who took his cue and ran. The bully didn't notice. His attention was all on Tim now.

Tim's usual strategy was to rely on speed, not strength, but tonight was different. Maybe it was the thrill of getting away from the cops, or maybe he'd just had enough of bullies. But when Busted Nose swung a fist at him, Tim ducked and, without thinking, swung back.

To his surprise, the guy went flying. Not just a stumble or a fall, but a full-on launch, crashing into the dumpster with a heavy thud. The other bullies stopped, their mouths hanging open, but Tim didn't waste time celebrating. He glanced at his fist, shocked.

"What the…?"

Before he could try to make sense of it, the remaining boys attacked. This time, there was no strange burst of strength, and Tim found himself struggling. They managed to land a couple of punches before he slipped from their grip, stumbling backward with a laugh. "Guess I got lucky with the first one," he panted, but he winced as a bruise formed on his cheek.

The bullies seemed satisfied enough, sneering as they walked away. Tim staggered to his feet, shaking off the pain, confused by what had just happened. The idea of possessing some kind of strength didn't make sense. His whole life had been a series of tough breaks, so why would anything change now?

He brushed the thought away and set off for the quieter streets, his footsteps echoing into the night. But even as he tried to shake off the weirdness, he couldn't ignore the vivid images that started to fill his mind. Visions that came every night, each one more detailed than the last.

There was always a tree, huge and ancient, with leaves that sparkled as if dusted with tiny jewels. It was breathtaking, almost otherworldly. And then there was the gate—a magnificent, towering structure with a single leaf symbol embedded at its center. It was strange, yet somehow familiar, like he'd been there before in some other life. When he woke from these dreams, the images lingered, taunting him.

This morning, he'd even found a small, green leaf next to him. It looked like nothing special at first, but on closer inspection, it had a faint shimmer, the same quality as the leaves in his dreams. He'd tucked it away in his jacket pocket, feeling a strange connection to it he couldn't explain.

"Maybe you are my bad luck?" Tim muttered to himself, pulling out the green leaf he had placed in his jacket. Groaning from the pain the bullies had left him with, he started down an alley, his footsteps echoing through the quiet night.

He was about to take a turn into the open road when he caught the sound of sirens. He groaned; the cops were probably still looking for him. 

"Over there!" He had heard an officer call out. Moving quickly, he headed down another alley, ducking through a maze of pathways until he found himself in a part of town he didn't recognize.

That's when he saw it—the gate from his dreams. Just standing there, massive and imposing, at the end of a narrow passageway. He took a step closer, barely breathing. It was the exact gate from his visions, down to the shimmering leaf symbol in the middle. It didn't make sense, but none of this had been making sense lately.

The sirens were getting louder, and Tim's sense of reality blurred. Part of him wanted to turn back, run back to the city streets he knew. But the other part, the part that had lived his entire life feeling like he didn't belong, wanted to know what lay beyond that gate.

"A mysterious gate or a chance at the cops?" Tim muttered to himself staring at the gate as the sirens grew louder. "Maybe a break from jail will do me some good." 

He took another step, then another. His fingers reached out, brushing the leaf symbol, feeling a strange warmth radiate from it. With a deep breath, he pushed the gate open and stepped through.

In an instant, the city, the sirens, the night air—all of it vanished. He felt a rush, like plunging headfirst into ice-cold water, and then... silence. Pure, unbroken silence.

The last thing Tim saw before everything went dark was the faint shimmer of leaves, and then he was gone.