CUBING

Chapter 2

Tyler sat at his desk, the familiar clack of plastic filling the room as his hands moved with practiced precision. The Rubik’s Cube in his hands twisted and turned, colors flashing as he attempted to solve it for what felt like the millionth time. He was fast—lightning fast, even—but not fast enough.

Tyler had been obsessed with cubing ever since he stumbled upon a competition video online. Watching the pros solve the cube in under ten seconds had left him in awe. He’d begged his parents for his first cube, and after weeks of practice, he’d completed his first solve. That victory had ignited something in him, something that wouldn’t let go.

Now, five years later, Tyler was preparing for the National Cubing Championship. He wasn’t just in it to compete—he was there to win.

He dropped the cube on the desk and ran his hands through his messy brown hair. He had been stuck on a personal best of 12 seconds for weeks, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t break past it. The frustration gnawed at him. "I’m not good enough," he thought. The top solvers were consistently breaking the 10-second barrier. If he couldn’t improve, he’d never stand a chance.

That night, Tyler sat on his bed, staring at the cube in his hand. He was thinking about quitting—about how maybe this was as good as he’d ever be. But then, something strange happened.

As he drifted into sleep, the cube began to glow faintly in his hand. He blinked, wondering if he was dreaming, but the light only grew brighter. Suddenly, he felt the cube shift on its own, spinning and twisting with an energy that felt almost alive.

“What the…?” Tyler whispered, sitting up straight.

The cube stopped moving, its colors now aligned perfectly. But this wasn’t just a solved puzzle. The cube had transformed, its once familiar stickers now shimmering with an otherworldly glow. And then, from within the cube, a voice spoke.

“Tyler.”

He jumped, nearly dropping the cube. “Who—who’s there?”

“I am the Cube,” the voice responded, calm and steady. “I have watched you for years, seen your dedication and struggle. I can help you.”

Tyler’s heart raced. “How… how can you help me?”

“With my guidance, you can unlock speed and precision beyond anything you’ve known,” the Cube said. “But there’s a cost.”

“A cost?”

“To be the best, you must be willing to push yourself beyond what is humanly possible. Are you ready for that, Tyler?”

Tyler hesitated. Was he? Winning had always been his goal, but at what price? He looked at the glowing cube in his hand, and then down at the calluses on his fingers from years of practice. He had already given so much. But this… this was different.

“I don’t know,” he finally whispered.

“You must decide,” the Cube said, its glow fading slightly. “Greatness awaits, but only if you are willing to pay the price.”

Tyler sat there, the Cube heavy in his hand. Part of him wanted to throw it across the room, to run away from whatever strange power it held. But another part of him—the part that had pushed through sleepless nights and countless failed attempts—wanted to know what it felt like to be the best.

After a long moment, Tyler spoke. “I’m ready.”

The Cube’s glow intensified, enveloping the room in light. Tyler felt a rush of energy flood his body, his mind suddenly clear and focused. He knew, instinctively, how to solve the Cube—how to twist and turn it with a speed that defied logic. His fingers moved without thinking, the colors falling into place in less than five seconds.

He stared at the solved cube in awe. He had done it. He had broken the 10-second barrier.

But something felt… off. His hands trembled, and his heart pounded in his chest. He realized then that the Cube hadn’t just given him speed—it had taken something from him. The cost, he thought, the Cube’s words echoing in his mind.

As the days passed, Tyler’s solves became faster and faster, and he quickly rose through the ranks of the cubing world. But with each victory, the price he paid grew steeper. He found it harder to sleep, his hands shaking uncontrollably when he wasn’t solving. He became distant from his friends and family, obsessed with the Cube and its promises of greatness.

The night before the National Championship, Tyler stood in his room, staring at the Cube in his hands. He had everything he had ever wanted—speed, skill, the chance to win. But at what cost?

As the Cube pulsed in his hand, Tyler made his decision. He took a deep breath, then placed the Cube on his desk. He turned away, walking out of his room and leaving the Cube behind.

Tyler didn’t need the Cube’s power to be great. He had everything he needed inside him already.

The next day, at the National Championship, Tyler stood on the stage, the crowd buzzing with anticipation. He didn’t know if he would win—but he knew one thing for sure.

This time, it was all him.