[New York 11:47 Pm, Rain Falling Streets Wet A Strange Restlessness In The Air]
As Willson A 21-Year's Old Was Walking Briskly Down Rain Slicked Streets Of New York.
His Face Looked A Little Tired But His Eye's Held
A Certain Spark As If He Was Dreaming Of A World Much Bigger Than This One.
Handsome Absolutely. Tall Lean Messy Brown Hair And Smile That Could Steal Hearts In a Second.
But Life ?
That Was A Mess.
Ash Was An Orphan, Grew Up In Foster Homes, Working Part-Time As a Waiter.
Struggling To Pay College Fees.
Fuck This Life Man He Muttered Often When Anyone Asked If He Was Okay.
Tonight Was No Different.
Rain Droplets Bounced Off His Hoodie As He Headed
Toward The Subway Station.
His Headphones Played
Some Old-School Rock Music
But His Mind Was Elsewhere
Thinking About Shadows.
Yes, Shadows.
Since Childhood Ash Had Felt That Shadows Around Him Weren't Normal.
They Watched Him, Whispered To Him Sometimes.
When He Was Alone He Could Swear He Heard A Voice Whispering Into His Ear.
But When He Turned Around No One Was THERE.
What The Hell Is Wrong With
Me?
He Muttered To Himself Forcing A Laugh.
But Deep Down He Knew Something Was Off.
"Man... Just Work. College And These Stupid Shadows"
Ash Muttered While Adjusting His Bag.
He Reached The Subway Entrance Neon Light's Flickering In The Rain.
People Rushed By. Some Under Umbrellas, Others Hiding Beneath Jackets.
A Typical New York Night
Chaotic Cold And Slightly Melancholic
He Checked His Phone.
11:50 PM. "if I Miss The Last Train... I'm Screwed," He Said
Tightening His Hoodie And Hurried Toward The Escalator.
As He Descended A Strange
Feeling Gripped Him-Like Someone Was Watching.
He Turned-Nothing.
Just The Usual Crowd,
A Homeless Man Strumming A Guitar 🎸 In The Distance.
Yet Ash's Heart Pounded.
He Pulled His Hoodie Cap Low, Trying To Hide The Feeling.
"Relax, Ash.... It's Just Your Mind Playing Tricks," He Told
Himself. But This Wasn't The First Time. Lately, It Had Been Happening More Often-As If His Shadow Itself Was Trying To Tell Him Something.
In The Dark Of Night, It Seemed..... Different. Darker. Alive.
"What The Hell, "He Laughed Nervously, But His Smile Didn't Reach His Eyes.
A Train Announcement Echoed Through The Platform.
Ash Took A Deep Breath,
Adjusting His Headphones.
But Standing At The Edge,
Somthing Else Caught His Attention. A Black Truck l,
Parked On The Street Beyond.
The Headlights Were Off, Yet
It Gleamed In The Rain.
one Second Glance, And A Chill Ran Down His Spine.
"What Hell.... Is This A Movie Shoot Or Something?"
Ash Muttered, Masking His Unease With A Laugh.
Train Noise Drowned Him
Out, And He Looked Away.
But Then-A Loud Horn Blared.
He Turned-And In A Single Heartbeat, Everything Changed.
BOOM.
The Truck, Speeding Straight, Smashed Through The Railing Toward The Platform.
This Wasn't An Accident. People Screamed, Ran But Ash's Feet Felt Glued To the Ground.
"What The Fuck?!" He Yelled,
His Voice Swallowed By The Train's Roar. The Truck's Front Was Mere Inches Away-on The Grille, A Strange Symbol Glimmered.
A Circle With A Shadowy Figure Inside.
His Mind Froze: What Hell Is This?!
Impact.
Ash Flew Into Air, Crashing Into The Platform. Pain Shot
Through His Body, Mind Blank. Blood Mixed With Rain On His Face. People Screamed For
Help-"Ambulance!-But Ash
Heard Nothing. Just A Strange, Eerie Clam.
Then A Voice
"At Last.... I Found You, My Master."
Not A Normal Voice. It Came From Inside His Mind, Deep,
Dark, Ancient-Like A Long-Lost Power Calling Him.
A Strange Energy Surged Through Ash, But His Body Refused To obey.
He Tried Opening His Eyes-
Everything Was Blurry.
only One Thing Was Clean: His Shadow, Moving In The Rain, Alive. Waching Him.
"What What..? Ash Whispered Barely Able To Speak. His Heartbeat Slowed, Body Growing Cold. From Within Shadow, A Figure Emerged-a Dark Humanoid Form With Glowing Red Eyes . Not a Normal Shadow.
Somthing Else Entirely.
"You Have Been Waiting For Me, Ash Willson. The Time Has Come. A New World Awaits You."
Question Swarmed His Mind.
"Who... Who Are You? What Is Happening?!" His Voice Was Now only In His Head.
His Body Freezing, Rain Mixing With His Blood. And Then, One Final Moment-His Shadow Reached Out And Touched Him.
Darkness.
The Platform, New York, Everything Vanished. Ash's Mind Drifted Into Void- No Time, No Space, only One Sound Echoed:
"Welcome To Umbraworld,My Master."
Then.... Nothing
Ash Willson, Once Just An Orphan Walking The Streets Of New York, Was No Longer On Earth. His Story Hadn't Ended -It Had only Begun.
To Be Continue...