I'm Glad it Worked Out

Hart’s POV Look, I never wanted any of this. I take it back! I just want to spend my time watching random clips from the internet and read comics after school. I was probably an epitome of simplicity and the perfect example of being subtle. My life was, you could say, ordinary until a freaking vortex devoured me and my room out of nowhere. It all started that morning. Cinematic covers were blaring on my earphones as I head down to my classroom, feeling like an honorable knight in a hoody and baggy jeans. I could feel the weight of all the comics I just bought in my bag, reminding myself to show it to my friends. Yes, I do have friends. I’m not some lonely anti-social freak who lives in his parent’s basement, okay? Other students shuffled on the hallway as I locked my eyes on the floor, never wanting any kind of attention as I grit my teeth in annoyance every time my shoulders brushed against other people. Yes, I’m that kind of snob. Distinctive chatter and infuriating laughter met me as I went inside the room before sitting down. “G’morning, Hart.” Amir grinned as he approaches with Nari. “An nyeong,” She greeted. My two bestest friends, I still can’t believe they’d hang out with me despite my snob personality. Introducing them would be the least thing I could do for our friendship. Amir Farooq, was the most popular kid in our class which made me think twice why the hell he would want to be friends with a nobody. His skin was an ochre’s color, like the mild-brown light that bathed the forest. He has thick lashes, perfect brows, and dark piercing green eyes that would make a girl drool, he also has this accent which made him ridiculously attractive compared to me. Smiling beside him was Nari Soo-Yun, she’s a transferee student from South Korea. I was in awe that she was able to speak English fluently in a matter of weeks and to top it off; she had this radiating beauty that clearly tells everyone she wasn’t joking around. She had a fair porcelain skin that was just as delicate as her facial features that represented the beauty of the Asian countries. And then there’s me, Hart Louis the Great… loser. “I brought the goods,” I winked at them before they gave back a smile. I want to chat with them but our teacher came in. Our classes went on as I doze off thinking about worlds beyond my understanding. I always had a fascination with magic and adventure, dangerous quests, and risky journeys similar to the comics, and novels I’ve read and adored. Just one day I sighed before startling myself as the bell rang. The teacher bid us goodbye as everyone shambled on their feet. “Let’s go,” Amir nudged me as the three of us hurried to the library with our bags. We found a perfect spot before I handed them the comics. Nari squealed in excitement as she smells the brand new pages. “This is so addictive,” She sighed and caressed the comic like an infant while Amir widened his eyes in wonder. “These are the new chapters!” He said. The three of us were bounded by this one comic series about an exiled knight trying to clutch his glory days back. This was the reason why we met each other. We all saved up our lunch money to buy them since the volumes were so expensive. Our heads were side by side as we read the pages. I was thinking about reading one volume beforehand so we wouldn’t press ourselves but that would mean cheating so we figure. Nari sat silently in the middle as she turns the pages. It had been 4 months since I had these guys but it felt like I’ve known them for a lifetime. They were like siblings to me. I never had genuine people who were unusually interested in things I like too despite our obvious differences. I smiled promptly before saying a silent thanks to the author of this comic. “No way!” Amir said as we gasped at the plot twist. “I knew it, it had always been her!” Nari sneered. “I had a feeling this was coming too,” I blurted out and got angry at a fictional character. We were so immersed that the librarian scolded us for staying at the library after school hours. We bid each other goodbyes as I walked home. The light of the moon shone and made it easy for me to go home when I stopped my tracks. Uncle’s truck He’s home! He wasn’t supposed to be home! Background check. My parents died in a plane crash when both of them were on a business trip leaving me orphaned at the age of 10. I lived in my uncle’s house now and he isn’t really much of a softie. I hurriedly went inside before checking if he’s around. I had a bad feeling about getting caught like those movies I often see. I sneaked into my room anyway and nothing happened. I threw myself in the bed and sighed. I was tired but feel satisfied. I threw my bag on the floor when something fell off. It was a single worn paper with weird scribbles. Must be one of those extra freebies, I thought. I wasn’t surprised by promotional catalogues. I studied the paper and made a sour face. This isn’t Japanese. Russian? Certainly not. I read further before coming across romanized words. “What the heck is this?” I tried reading the stuff and figured it was definitely Latin. “Nope,” I threw it away. I’ve seen enough movies to know what Latin verses would do. But This was a comic advertisement! I must be hysterical. Maybe it’s a teaser for the upcoming chapters. What could go wrong? I picked the paper and began reading the lines; Numen fati, ego audiam vocem tuam. A pugiles enim vocationem ad videre. Accipio vocacionem vestram, Nunc ego facere negotium. Fac me dignus: Et interrogavit quid faciunt. I winced before closing my eyes and waited, “HARTTTTT!!!” I startled myself as I scrambled. “Coming uncle!” I said and threw the paper away. He then gave me a sermon about being late and I just stood there feeling relief. I was being paranoid. When he was done, we started eating dinner before I washed the dishes and head to my room right after. I immediately felt sleepy whenever I was full. I grabbed my stuff and began doing my homework. I was just complaining at myself for not listening since I didn’t understand anything when I noticed a faint light behind me. What the heck? The paper was glowing faintly. How in the world is that possible? I picked it up and saw that the letters weren’t there anymore! The paper still radiates this warm golden glow as I held it when new inscriptions appeared. CONFIRM? “Confirm what?” I said to myself. Now, I’m talking to it. I must be crazy by now. The words were glowing gradually that it hurt my eyes. I covered the words and the soonest my skin touched the paper, a large purple whirlpool appeared in front of me. I screamed and flailed but the tug was too strong. I tried to clutch to my bed but I was too late as the gush of unknown strong force consumed me whole. I could only hear my screams as my head starts to spin. I’ve never been a brave guy nor would I try to pretend to be one. My thoughts were in chaos but my fear was soon replaced with nasty vertigo. I could feel the sour acidic liquid building up in my throat. My sense of knowing which is where vanished as the strong gush of mystic forces twisted me around. “I just ate!” I complained before I couldn’t handle it anymore. I spewed most of my dinner and sprayed myself with it. “You have got to be kidding me!” Despite the dizzy trip, I could still smell the stench. I continued suffering the passage when something hard hit my head. Well, there goes my life.