It was late at night and rain was fiercely pouring down from the sky. Yet, under the harsh pour were people crazily running.

"Come here, you little thief!" The leader of the group yelled as they ran after a boy covered in rags.

He halted, placing his hands on his knees as he began to pant. His boys also stopped, following his action.

"Don't just stop, fools! Go after that thief and make sure you catch him!" He yelled and the boys grunted and began to run again despite how tired they all were.

They have been chasing the boy for a while now and have been unable to catch him. The boy was too fast for them notwithstanding his short legs.

Meanwhile, the ragged boy darted through alleys and side streets, his bare feet pounding the wet pavement. His chasers gained ground, their heavy footsteps echoing off the buildings. The leader who was now back to his feet again, snarled, "Faster, you idiots! We can't let him escape!" The boys surged forward, their exhaustion momentarily forgotten.

As they turned a corner, the boy stumbled, his foot slipping on the slick surface. He regained balance, but his pace faltered. The man's eyes lit up with triumph. "We've got him now!" The boys closed in, their grasping hands mere inches from the boy's back.

In desperation, the boy made a break for the main road, not noticing the speeding cars. The man's cry came too late. "No, fools get him before he enters the road!"

The boy sprinted onto the asphalt, directly into the path of an oncoming car. The driver slammed the brakes, but it was too late. The car struck the boy with a sickening thud, sending him flying across the pavement.

Mr. Tony and his boys halted, frozen in horror. The rain continued to pour down, drumming against the pavement as the boy's limp form lay motionless. The car's headlights cast an eerie glow on the scene. Mr. Tony's face paled, his eyes wide with realization. "What have we done?" he whispered. "No, we must leave here now! Everyone, return!" He yelled and him and his boys ran back immediately.

The driver, shaken, leapt from the car, rushing toward the boy. "Oh no! Is he...?"

>>>>>

After a fleeting moment of time, the lifeless boy opener his eyes and the first thing his eyes caught was the clear blue sky above him.

"It's no longer raining," he said and looked around. He realized only now that he was in the express. "Damn it! How did I end up passing the night on a place like this?" He grunted and stood up from the ground.

The people passing by were all staring at him somehow and he didn't like it.

'The heck is with all these people? Is there something on my face or is it the way I'm dressed like a mad man?' He grunted internally. "Hey, you all should fucking piss off and stop staring at me like that! You hear me! Idiots, peasants!" He yelled but it seemed like no one was able to hear him as they continued to stare at him and check their heads.

Funny enough, no one stopped by. They just shook their heads and walk pass like nothing ever happened. This infuriated him the more.

"I need to leave this damn place," he said and blindly stepped into the road. Without warning, a moving vehicle on speed came right him again but before he could realize what was going on, the car struck him but instead of sending him flying like before, it just went through him and continued it's speed.

"What just happened?" He mumbled, shocked beyond words.

He turned and gazed at the car that was still speeding. He wondered how the car was able to pass through him like he wasn't there at all.

"Just hold on!" He exclaimed and turned around. Behold, he saw his body lying there motionless. The rain from last nightust have washed away his blood but there were still traces of blood under his body. His left leg was twisted behind with his head twisted to the right side. A look of shock and sorrow evident on his lifeless face.

In that moment, memories of what happened last night came flooding his head. He remembered how he was being chased by those men and how he ran into the express without thinking of the consequences. He also remembered how he was struck by a fast-moving vehicle which led to his abrupt end. It was a wild realization for him.

"How can this be?" He muttered unable to understand what was happening even though the truth was right before him.

"You are already dead, accept your fate," a voice spoke to him from above and when he looked up, he saw a misty figure hovering in the sky.

"Who are you?" The boy asked him. "And why can you stand in the air?" He had never seen anyone capable of standing in the air.

"Nux, you have been chosen," the figure said, its voice resonating with ancient wisdom.

Nux struggled to comprehend. "Chosen? For what?" He asked.

The figure raised its hand, and Nux felt an immense surge of energy flow through his veins. "Fate has deemed you worthy and you will serve as the savior of Eldorica."

As Nux's vision cleared, he beheld a realm of breathtaking beauty. Rolling hills of emerald green stretched toward crystal spires peircing the sky. Creatures unlike any he had ever seen fitted about, their forms shifting between lifht and shadow.

The misty figure stepped closer. "Eldorica faces darkness. Shadows seek to consume its essence. You, Nux will wield the power to save or doom this realm. You have the right to make any decisions of your choice but you must not disappoint your maker who has given you another chance in life."

From the figure's tone, Nux understood the essence of the journey he was about to take. It was not an easy one but for someone like him who loved taking up challenges, backing away was out of the option.

"I'll accept this challenge," he said to the figure.

The figure nodded. "Then let your journey begin!"

A shimmering portal materialized behind the figure. "Step through, Nux. Your destiny awaits you."

With a deep breath, Nux stepped into the portal and was consumed by the darkness within.

"Remember, whatever you do, you must not die yet until you awaken your powers!" The figure said but the information came too late. Nux was already gone.