Nick Jones sat in his small, dimly lit apartment in 2025, surrounded by an array of old technology—disjointed wires, half-empty coffee cups, and the glow of a vintage computer screen. The weight of the world seemed to rest on his shoulders, yet the screen before him flickered in dull indifference. Nick had worked tirelessly as a software engineer, dropping out of Sequoia State University years ago. He had thought his degree would be his ticket to success, but life had different plans.
Despite his job, he felt stifled. He had a passion for writing and often escaped into the pages of his favorite books—those grand adventures and epic stories that spoke of ambition, power, and the rise of the underdog. His most treasured novels were novels like Harry Potter, but there was one thing that gnawed at him: He was a failure, and he couldn't shake that feeling.
In 2025, Nick's life was a far cry from the riches he imagined he would one day have. His parents, wealthy in their time, had passed away. Their estate, which had once seemed like a safety net, left him only with a sizable inheritance but no real guidance. And now, as a 58-year-old software engineer, he was still struggling to make ends meet.
The memories of his parents haunted him. They had left him a two-story house in Santa Barbara, California, a modest Chevrolet in the driveway, and a bank balance of $100,000. The money should have been a blessing, but it only reminded him of his failures. His heart longed for more—he craved fame, recognition, and most of all, impact.
As he sat back in his chair, Nick's mind wandered to his days in university. He had dropped out before completing his degree. His peers had moved on to careers in tech giants, while he remained stuck. That's when the idea hit him—the world didn't just need more wealth. It needed stories. Stories that would leave a mark on the world. Stories that would be remembered for generations.
Suddenly, he wasn't in his apartment anymore. His vision blurred, and before he knew it, he was there—standing in the living room of a house that wasn't his, yet felt strangely familiar. The faint aroma of wood, the soft light filtering through a set of curtains… this was not 2025 anymore.
Nick blinked.
The calendar read February 5, 1985, and everything around him screamed the past. His eyes darted around—this house was different. It was bigger, older, and brighter than anything he had ever known in his life. But what hit him the hardest was the overwhelming sense of displacement. His reflection in the mirror revealed an 18-year-old boy, still with his features but youthful—someone still in the process of becoming.
He was back in 1985.
The realization hit him like a tidal wave. He wasn't in his world anymore. He wasn't even in his own time. Nick had been reincarnated. The weight of the inheritance on his shoulders seemed suddenly less important compared to the weight of his future.
His parents had died in 1984. They had left him everything. The house, the Chevrolet, the money—$100,000 in a savings account. It was almost too good to be true. Yet, Nick knew better. He had been given a second chance, but with it came the realization that just money wouldn't be enough. Not anymore.
As his mind raced, he realized that this—this chance—was more than just about wealth. It was about fame. Nick recalled the stories he had read as an adult, stories that hadn't been written yet. Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, Twilight, A Song of Ice and Fire—books that had the power to change the world. Nick knew these books hadn't even been written in his previous life, but he knew their potential. What if he could write something just like them—something that would carve his name into history?
He could see it now: Nick Jones, the author of a legendary series that would live on for centuries. This was his destiny. He wouldn't just be a tech mogul. He would be a creator of worlds. His novels would resonate with readers across generations, just like the books he had once read. And it wasn't just money that he craved—immortality through his words.
He stood at the window, his mind swirling with ideas. The sun of California shone brightly, lighting up the view of the distant hills and the calm blue ocean. This was his second chance. This time, he would rise above the noise and become not just a wealthy man, but a legend. He would make sure the world would never forget his name.
With a new sense of purpose, Nick took his first step toward the future.