I, Zayne Falken, was sitting in my cramped office chair, staring at the bright screen of my computer in a dimly lit room.
My fingers typed rapidly, trying to finish a small game project that I wasn't even sure would ever be successful. I was an indie developer, but not the rich and successful kind that people imagine. I was just a freelancer, taking on minor projects from clients whose names no one recognized. Every month, I struggled to make ends meet, barely scraping by on what little money I earned.
My phone vibrated. A quick glance at the screen. "Landlord."
Damn. I sighed before answering.
"Hello?"
"Falken, you're two months behind on rent. I've been patient, but if you don't pay by tomorrow, you're out."
His voice was firm, leaving no room for negotiation. I pressed my fingers against my temple.
"I… I understand, sir. I'll figure something out."
"Figure it out fast!, or I'll find a new tenant."
Click. The call ended.
I tossed my phone onto the desk and leaned back in my chair, staring at the dull ceiling. I knew today would be bad, but I didn't expect it to be this bad.
---
The clock read 7:00 PM as I walked home—or rather, to the rental apartment that might not be mine tomorrow. My steps felt heavy, my body exhausted, and my mind flooded with thoughts of how to survive this month.
I stopped at an intersection.
Two choices. Go home and stare at the ceiling while drowning in anxiety, or… find some fresh air on high ground and enjoy what could be my last peaceful moment before becoming homeless.
I chose the latter.
My legs carried me to the highlands on the outskirts of the city. This was the only place where I could think without feeling like a total failure. From here, I could see the city lights flickering in the distance as the evening sky darkened. The cool breeze calmed my overwhelmed mind.
I sat on a large rock, watching the fading twilight. I wasn't sure how long I had been there, but my eyelids grew heavy.
"Just for a bit… then I'll head home…"
And I drifted into sleep.
---
When I opened my eyes, the sky was completely dark.
"Shit, I fell asleep!"
I immediately stood up and dusted off my clothes. The night air was sharp against my skin, and the sound of crickets echoed around me. I had to get home before it got even colder.
But as I turned toward the path I had taken…
I froze.
Between the trees, something stood where nothing should have been.
A massive portal.
It was rectangular, its towering frame giving off an unnatural presence. The surface wasn't solid but a swirling mist of deep blue and black, emitting a faint glow.
The air around it felt… wrong. A mix of hot and cold, making my skin tingle. And then, I heard it—whispers. Faint, incomprehensible voices. Not coming from the portal, but from inside my own mind.
I struggled to find a logical explanation.
"Am I dreaming? Still asleep?"
I pinched my arm. Pain shot through me. Nope, this was real.
Hesitant but unable to resist my curiosity, I stepped closer. The closer I got, the more the strange sensation intensified.
"Maybe… a government experiment?"
I chuckled nervously, trying to reassure myself with a joke.
"Or some secret event from a game that hasn't been released yet? Heh, who knows?"
I reached out my hand, aiming to touch the glowing surface. It should feel solid, like glass or metal, right?
But it wasn't. My hand passed through.
I pulled back instantly.
"What…?"
Curiosity overpowered fear. I tested it again—putting both hands in, then pulling them out. Nothing happened.
Then, I leaned forward and stuck my head inside.
And the world shifted.
---
Space twisted around me. Lights flickered chaotically, warping my vision. My body distorted—I saw my fingers turn into cubes for a split second before reverting.
Panic surged through me.
I felt weightless, then unbearably heavy, then weightless again. It was as if gravity couldn't decide what to do with me.
Flashes of something appeared—a city? A structure? It was impossible to comprehend.
And then—
WOOSH!
I fell.
Too fast to think, too fast to react.
I crashed onto a hard surface. Pain shot through my body as I gasped for air. Slowly, I opened my eyes…
And saw a world that shouldn't exist.
A world made entirely of cubes.
To be continued…