Fantastopia: The New Life (Part 1)

I just met evil

I was in no rush to get back to my dorm since it was Saturday, so I took my time changing back into my normal clothes as I left the locker room with my backpack hanging on one side of my shoulder. I was about to rub my ring when a thought came to me as I gazed down at it. Will the ring always take me to a different spot whenever I transport back? Or is there a way I can control it? The ring seems to take me to the castle whenever I need to go to Fantastopia, but can it do the same thing when I go back to my world?

The next time I see Wren, I really need to ask her that. Unless she makes another surprising stop at my college which I still need to get used to. Besides, people are gonna give her weird looks since she’s the only Goth girl to be seen on campus. Though after many years of being immortal, I’m sure she’s used to it.

So after rubbing the ring, once again, it took me to a different part of my college, always in a place where no one could see me, thankfully. I suddenly noticed how dark it’s gotten, the sun had set and there was barely anyone outside. I really needed to hurry back to my dorm, for all I know, I could get attacked by goblins again. Thankfully, I still have that four-leaf clover charm Wren gave me, but I don’t have any weapons on me. I seriously need to put that dagger in my backpack instead of hiding it in my room.

Let’s just hope I make it back in one piece.

With the four-leaf clover charm hanging around my neck by a chain of an old necklace I used to wear, I began to make my way down the path of the campus with the lamposts lighting my way. It wasn’t too dark so I wasn’t that worried, but still, I couldn’t help but feel goosebumps coating my skin whenever I would hear something behind me. Although that reminds me, I need to come up with a plan. If residents from Fantastopia can enter this world, and I mean the bad ones who know about me and could try to kill me, I need to come up with a plan of action.

I know a dagger isn’t gonna do much, especially if I could get attacked by something big and strong, I need a sword. Unfortunately, not only am I still learning how to use a sword, but it’ll be too noticeable on campus, plus, I’m still interested in using Defender. But of course, I can’t use it until I’m ready for it. Damn, this just got hard.

All I have at the moment is the ring that I had placed in my backpack and a four-leaf clover charm, that’s not enough, I need something better. At least Wren cast that protection spell on my dorm, but even that doesn’t make me feel safe all the way. I really need to come up with a schedule that can balance my life out. Something that organizes my class time, my studying, my time in Fantastopia, and my safety all into one. Looks like it’s time to get to work.

Well, maybe tomorrow would be better considering how late it’s getting.

By the time I made it to my dorm building, I was itching to get inside seeing how much darker it’s gotten during my walk. All I had to do was walk in and I should really be safe.

“Hey, Jesse!”

Whoever suddenly called me happened right before I could enter the building. When I turned around, I was surprised to see that it was one of my professors standing in the darknesses, Professor Lambert who taught History. He was one of the youngest professors to teach at the college, I think he’s in his late thirties or so. But I don’t know what he was doing outside at this time, perhaps he was finishing some late work or something like that.

“Professor Lambert,” I greeted him with a smile “Um, hi.”

“You’re out kind of late,” he remarked, still standing in the shadows.

“Oh um...” I quickly tried to think of a good explanation “I just returned from my home.”

“It’s a good thing you arrived on time or else the dorm would’ve locked you out.”

“Yeah.” I snickered “Although if that does happen, I can always sleep in my car, it is pretty comfy.”

He chuckled when he slowly began to make his way towards me.

“Hey listen,” he began, “I need to talk to you about something.”

“Okay.”

But as he stepped into the light from a lampost, I quickly saw something that made my blood run cold. When the light exposed down on him, I could’ve sworn a saw a flash of red in his eyes. I thought I was seeing things at first, but when I took a quick glance down, I noticed that he didn’t cast a shadow.

Oh s**t, it can’t be? Could it?

“What’s the matter, Jesse?” he asked me with a small smirk across his face “You’re shaking a little.”

I was shaking a little, and my heart was pounding rapidly. If I had my ring on, it would surely be glowing right now.

“Hey um-” I began to mumble while slowly reaching my hand to the doorknob, hoping he wouldn’t notice “It was nice seeing you, but I really gotta-”

The moment I had my hand on the doorknob, I suddenly heard a click that made my heart sink. I tried to open the door, but just as I thought, it was locked. Now I’m really in deep s**t.

“So you’re really him, huh?” the Professor, or should I say Z spoke, “Richard’s grandson, the new master of the ring.”

“Um...” I nervously muttered while avoiding eye contact “I guess so.”

I desperately wanted to run away, but with the door locked and him blocking my path, it knew it was no use.

“And you must be him,” I decided to point out, keeping my back against the door “The unnamed ruler of evil.”

“Well, apparently everyone’s been calling me Z.” he noted, “I don’t know why, but I really don’t care.”

What was he gonna do to me? I knew he couldn’t kill me when he was in a different form, but that doesn’t mean he can’t do any other harm to me. I was still shaking in fear as he kept my hand near the doorknob, waiting for the moment to hear it click again so I can run in. Although I doubt that will happen as long as he’s here.

“There’s no point on keeping your hand near the doorknob, Jesse.” he stated with a smirk “You’ve got nowhere to run.”

“Then what do you want?” I demanded after lowering my arms.

“I just wanted to meet you. I always like to meet the new chosen ones before I do my work.”

“And let me guess,” I frowned, “You do that so you can find out their weaknesses and how to defeat them?”

“Oh please,” he snickered, “I never do that at the first meet. I like to observe the chosen ones to see what kind of people they are. I remember that every one of your ancestors was different in their own ways, and I do like a good challenge.”

“And yet, you kept on losing to them” I mentioned.

“I know, but that doesn’t mean I won’t give up. I can do this for all of eternity, one of the perks of being immortal. I never get tired of this, one day I will get my hands on that ring. Which by the way, where is that ring? It’s not on your finger.”

“You’re right,” I glared while crossing my arms “It’s not on my finger. And don’t even think about me giving it to you.”

“I know you’re not gonna give it to me, I’m not stupid. But I also know that it’s in your backpack.”

A felt a pit in my stomach as he gripped onto the backpack strap that was hanging on my shoulder.

“I could take it from you right now you know?” Z declared, “But unfortunately for me, I can’t with that clover charm around your neck.”

Phew! Thank you, Wren!

“Do you like it?” I smirked while holding up the charm “It’s pretty, isn’t it?”

“That enchantress sure knows how to keep you safe,” he scowled “But you can’t be safe forever. I want you to know something, Jesse, this long war between me and the chosen ones can go on forever. Nothing can get rid of me, I can’t be killed for I’m already dead.”

“So... you’re a ghost?”

“I wouldn’t call myself a ghost.”

“Then what are you exactly?” I questioned, “Are you a special type of ghost? A shadow perhaps?”

“I’ve never told anyone what I am and what my name is, and I prefer to keep it that way.”

“Suit yourself,” I shrugged, “Looks like I’ll just keep calling you Z.”

“The point is,” he continued with a frown “Since you’re new, I wanna see how well you do. For all I know, you could be an easy one.”

“Well,” I gave him a bogus smile “Looks like you won’t know until you find out.”

“Correct,” he suddenly smirked, “And I can’t wait to see when that happens.”

As for me, I can wait until that happens. But when it does come, I sure hope I disappoint him if I can show that I’m not an easy one.

“So, are we done here?” I asked him, “Because I really gotta get inside. So can you unlock the door please?”

“Ugh!” he groaned when I heard the door click.

“Thanks,” I grinned as I opened the door.

“I’ll see you around, Jesse.” he warned, “I’ll see how well you do.”

He gave me one last glare before walking off and disappearing into the darkness. The moment he was gone, I hurried inside and shut the door. Thankfully, the lounge was empty as I dropped myself on one of the couches while taking deep breaths. I cannot believe I just met the ruler of evil, the same one that has battled against my grandfather and the other heroes, and thankfully I was still alive.

After catching my breath, I placed my backpack on my lap and took out the ring. I needed to find a better place to put the ring, I can’t always keep it in my backpack when I’m not wearing it, someone can easily take it. That’s another thing I gotta remind myself to ask when I see Wren.

But as I stared at the ring, I can’t help but wonder about the many dangers and death it has brought all because of this Z guy and many others who had wanted to get their hands on this. Now I’m the one responsible for owning it and protecting it, and I could actually die because of it. I might become one of the unlucky heroes who lost their lives because of this piece of jewelry. Man, I just got chills running down my back.

I don’t know what will become of me in this new life, but whatever happens, I just hope I’ll be prepared for it, death and all.