Aldrich groaned as he stepped off the bus, his shoulders slumping from a day that felt like it would never end. Work had been especially tiring today—numbers, clients, and deadlines all blending into a monotonous blur. The cool evening air of the city nipped at his skin as he trudged toward the apartment complex he called home.
The building wasn't much to look at—peeling paint, a creaky staircase—but it was home. Aldrich took the stairs two at a time out of habit, despite his weariness, and unlocked the door to their small, cozy apartment on the second floor.
"I'm back," he mumbled as he stepped inside.
From the kitchen, his mother, Aileen, peeked out with a smile. "Have you eaten? I can heat something up—"
"I already ate outside, Ma," Aldrich lied smoothly. He wasn't in the mood for a lecture about spending money.
In the living room, his father, Ben, was perched on their old couch, newspaper in hand. The pages rustled as he glanced up. "Don't forget to wash up before bed," Ben said gruffly, his eyes returning to the article in front of him.
"Got it, Pa," Aldrich replied, nodding as he shuffled toward the shared bedroom.
Their apartment was small, with just two rooms: one for his parents and the other he shared with his younger sister, Elle. The familiar sight of their bunk bed greeted him. Elle was already fast asleep on the top bunk, her soft breathing filling the room. Aldrich sighed as he set his bag down and changed into something comfortable.
After a quick rinse in the cramped bathroom, he sat down at his desk, powering on his computer. The hum of the fan and the glow of the screen were comforting. His fingers flew over the keyboard as he opened a messaging app, sending out a quick message to his usual gaming group.
"Anyone up for a few games?" he typed, hopeful.
The responses came back quickly, but not the ones he wanted.
"Not tonight, bro."
"Busy."
"Maybe tomorrow."
Aldrich sighed heavily, muttering, "Figures." He leaned back in his chair, glancing at the screen. League of Legends was already open, the bright colors of the client lighting up the dim room.
"Well, guess it's solo queue again," he mumbled, slipping on his headphones. The familiar click of the mouse and the thrum of music from the game menu filled the room.
Time passed quickly as he lost himself in the game. The world outside faded away, and all that mattered were the champions, the strategies, and the thrill of outplaying opponents.
It had been three hours. He was deep into customizing his runes and spells for a new champion when something strange happened. A faint glow filled the room, brighter than his monitor. Confused, Aldrich glanced toward the window, but before he could react, the source of the light streaked through the sky—a blue, glowing object descending faster than anything he'd ever seen.
"What the—"
The object smashed through the ceiling with a deafening crack, landing squarely on his forehead. A blinding shock coursed through his body, and for a moment, the world disappeared in a burst of electricity and light.