LIMITLESS TROUBLE

Chapter 1: The Book from the Stars Jason stared blankly out of the classroom window as his teacher's monotone voice echoed in the background. The endless routine of school had worn him down to the core. Every day was the same: wake up, rush through breakfast, attend a school he loathed, endure the bullying of classmates and seniors, and finally return to a small, cold house that barely felt like home. His father had passed away years ago, and his mother worked two jobs just to keep them afloat. His grandparents, though kind, were old and tired, and they too worked part-time jobs to help the family survive. His clothes were hand-me-downs, patched and faded, and his shoes were scuffed with holes. The other kids at school never let him forget it. They sneered at his appearance, laughed at his old backpack, and sometimes, shoved him in the hallways when teachers weren’t looking. “Hey, loser,” came the familiar voice of Tyler, a senior who took particular pleasure in tormenting Jason. Today, Jason had made the mistake of lingering too long in the schoolyard after class. Tyler approached with his gang of friends, sneering. “Nice shoes, Jason. Did you find them in the trash?” Tyler smirked, kicking dirt onto Jason's worn sneakers. Jason clenched his fists but said nothing. He had learned long ago that standing up to them only made things worse. Instead, he just ducked his head, shouldering his heavy school bag, and walked away. --- Home wasn’t much of a respite either. The small house he lived in was cramped and old, with peeling paint and cracked windows. His mother worked late hours at a factory, and by the time she came home, she was too exhausted to talk much. His grandparents, though they tried their best, were also stretched thin. Jason felt invisible, a shadow in his own home, swallowed by the drudgery of everyday life. But despite the bleakness of his reality, Jason’s heart burned with an unshakable desire. He longed for adventure. Every night, as he lay on his worn mattress, he dreamed of distant lands, heroic quests, and unimaginable treasures. He wanted more from life, something different, something exciting. He had always felt like he was meant for something more. There were times he’d gaze up at the stars, feeling as though they were calling out to him, promising secrets of the universe he had yet to uncover. But in the harsh daylight, those dreams always seemed out of reach. --- One particularly dreary afternoon, as Jason walked home from school, a strange flicker in the sky caught his attention. It was faint at first, just a glimmer on the horizon, but soon it grew brighter, like a star falling from the heavens. His heart raced. Was it a shooting star? No, it was moving too slowly. As it grew closer, he realized with wide eyes that it was a meteorite, hurtling toward the earth, blazing a fiery trail through the atmosphere. Jason’s breath caught in his throat. The meteorite seemed to be heading toward the woods behind his school, that dense, untamed stretch of land where no one ventured. No one, except Jason. He had always been drawn to those woods, ever since he was a child. The other kids were terrified of it, whispering about wild animals, especially the bear that was rumored to live there. But Jason had no such fear. He knew that the woods held no danger for him. In fact, he had befriended the bear when he was younger, after stumbling upon the creature as a cub. They had formed an unspoken bond, a friendship that no one else knew about. As the meteorite streaked across the sky, something inside Jason stirred. This was the adventure he had been waiting for. He could feel it in his bones. Without a second thought, Jason broke into a run, his feet pounding against the dirt path that led to the forest. His heart raced with anticipation as he followed the fiery trail, hoping to reach the meteorite before anyone else did. His school bag bounced against his back, the weight of his textbooks momentarily forgotten. The sky above him turned a brilliant orange as the meteorite disappeared behind the trees. Jason’s pulse quickened. He pushed through the dense underbrush, branches scraping at his arms, but he didn’t care. He was close now. He could feel it. After what felt like an eternity of running, he emerged into a small clearing. And there, at the center, was a smoking crater. Steam rose from the earth, the grass scorched black around it. Jason approached cautiously, his heart hammering in his chest. He expected to see a hunk of space rock, something charred and lifeless. But instead, lying in the center of the crater, was a book. Jason blinked in disbelief. A book? Of all things, why a book? He took a step closer, the smoke clearing slightly, revealing more details. The book was large, bound in a strange, dark leather that seemed to shimmer faintly in the fading light. It looked ancient, as though it had been buried beneath the earth for centuries, yet somehow preserved. Without thinking, Jason reached out and touched the cover. The leather was warm under his fingertips, as though it still held the heat of the meteorite’s descent. His heart raced. What was this? Who—or what—had sent it? He glanced around nervously. No one else had arrived yet. He could hear distant shouts from the town, but they were still far away. He knew it wouldn’t be long before the authorities showed up, or worse, the bullies from school. Jason made a decision. He had to take the book. This was his discovery, his adventure, and no one else was going to steal it from him. With a quick glance over his shoulder, Jason snatched up the book and slipped it into his backpack. The weight of it was heavier than he expected, but he didn’t have time to linger. He had to hide it somewhere safe, somewhere no one would think to look. He knew exactly where to go. --- The woods behind Jason’s school were thick and overgrown, but he knew every inch of them. He had spent countless hours exploring this place, making it his own personal sanctuary. Deeper in the forest, hidden from view, was his secret spot: a small clearing surrounded by tall trees and underbrush, a place where he could escape from the world. And most importantly, it was where his friend lived. As he made his way through the familiar paths, Jason’s mind raced. What was this book? Why had it come to him? His heart thudded in his chest, filled with a strange mix of fear and excitement. For the first time in his life, he felt like something extraordinary was happening to him, something bigger than the mundane routine of school, homework, and bullies. When he finally reached the clearing, he stopped to catch his breath. The trees loomed tall and silent around him, and in the center of the space, sitting on its haunches, was the bear. The massive creature was a deep brown, its fur thick and wild, but its eyes were gentle as they met Jason’s. The bear had been his companion for years, ever since he had stumbled upon it as a cub, lost and alone. They had grown up together in a way, two misfits in a world that didn’t quite understand them. The bear snuffled the air, sensing something different. Jason smiled, patting the creature’s head as he set his backpack down on the ground. “I found something,” he whispered to the bear, pulling out the book carefully. The creature huffed softly, as though curious, but not alarmed. Jason sat cross-legged on the grass, laying the book in front of him. It looked even stranger now, out in the open, its dark leather cover gleaming faintly in the fading light of the day. Jason hesitated for a moment, then slowly opened the cover. The pages inside were filled with symbols and writing he didn’t recognize. They glowed faintly, like the embers of a fire, as though they were alive. Jason’s heart raced. He couldn’t understand any of it, but he knew—he just knew—that this was the beginning of something incredible. Something extraordinary. The bear sat beside him, its presence comforting as Jason stared down at the strange, glowing book. For the first time in his life, Jason felt like he was on the edge of an adventure, a real one. And whatever secrets this book held, he was determined to find out. Tomorrow could wait. His new life was about to begin. --- End of Chapter 1