Trials of an Outsider

In the human world...

Perspective: Zack Williams

"Good morning Sudden Valley!" went the radio from my room, "This is your morning news crew, bringing you the news and music for your morning start. This just in, local scientists are looking into a space time anomaly that has been mobile through out Sudden Valley. They are advising to be cautious when walking outside."

"Great, just what I needed, scientists telling me that the world's about to end," I sighed. Oh, where are my manners? My name is Zack Williams. I'm a 17 student for an online school, which is currently celebrating summer vacation. I live by myself in a small shack which has most of my basic needs. A roof over my head, a place to sleep, and a place to prepare food; not the best living conditions, but it's what keeps me going.

My world has been a roller coaster of problems and tragedies that I've went through, and survived. My mom died in a tragic car accident while driving home 11 years ago. the other car she hit had an alcoholic driving it, and he also didn't survive. After that, my dad fell into a deep depression and practically wanted nothing to do with me. My sister went to his side, but she sends me a letter or two once a month. My cousin was lucky enough to get me a job, three years later, in the mailing and shipping business that he works at, for a good pay. I found myself a small apartment with a low rent and moved in about seven months later. After that, I've been on my own, living and sustaining my life to the best of my ability. But there are some up sides to my life.

My old science, and chemistry, teacher Mr. Warrens, keeps me going through the hard life I'm going through. He's been coming to my apartment to help me with other classes, learn life lessons I needed to know for my future, and he even taught me how to drive and helped me earn my licence. To me, he's the father figure I wanted, but I never got. But since it's the summer, he's spending more time with his family than me, which I don't mind at all. But it's nice to have him around sometimes.

Today was one of the times that he's spending time with his family, which gave me time to do what I normally do. I got dressed and grabbed my favorite red, white, gray, and black digital colored fedora I bought during my 16th birthday and my car keys that were connected to a matching lanyard that I bought with the fedora, got in my car, and started driving to the local park. I do this whenever I need to think about things that are complicated and whenever I need time to myself to write stories and pass the time. Luckily, the park wasn't crawling with kids and parents watching them, which was the perfect opportunity to work on some stories I've wanted to work of for a while.

Working non-stop is one of my strong suits, because I block out anything that is deemed unnecessary for me to listen to while I work. I usually work for at least five hours, due to the fact that kids start showing up at 11:30, and leave for home. Today however, no one was there due to the anomalies the scientists were worrying about. I didn't bother to show ans sign of fear about these anomalies. It's like I said, I block out everything else and focus on my work.

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I've been working for at least eight hours, only stopping once to get a mocha from a local cafe, when Mr. Warrens sent me an e-mail regarding the anomalies.

These anomalies are not something to worry about. They're saying that they can cause rifts in time and space, and that whoever goes in, never comes out. Get back to your apartment where it's safe for you.

I ignored him and continued working for another four hours, until something didn't feel right. it was considerably colder than what was said on the weather report this morning, but I realized it was just because of the anomalies, so I continued on working.

____________________________________________________

It was starting to get late, and my laptop's battery life was at 15%. I hated going home just to charge my laptop, so I tossed it into my car and went for a walk. I love just walking around and enjoying a walk with nothing else to bother me. One thing's for sure though, it does feel ominous that I'm the only person in a park walking alone. I never really had anyone to do this with because most of the people think that I'm some weird kid that lives alone with nothing better to do in his life. Which come to think of it, I guess they're right. I spent most of my time shutting off any way of contact from anyone else than Mr. Warrens. I used to be great at making friends, but that was before my mom died.

I kept walking on, thinking about what I've done wrong in my life that I should've done differently. It never seemed simple to me, the fact that my life never has an end to the spiraling despair that lead me to this point. I shook my head; my life couldn't possibly get any worse than this.

Suddenly there was a flash of light blue coming from the center of the park. My curiosity got the best of me and I went to see what was the cause of it. Who knows, It could've been aliens or something.

As I got to the center of the park, I saw what looked to be like a portal of some sort. I looked at it up close and at multiple angles, noticing it's flat and only has one side that was visible. I decided to do the right thing and take a picture of it. As I looked at the picture, the portal was still there, clearly visible, which means that I wasn't seeing things. I then decided to take one more picture of it, but this time, with me in the picture as well. I also started a video recording of this on my phone.

"If anybody is watching this," I started, "then you are witnessing the same thing I am. What I'm about to do is so scientifically impossible, that it should be dismissed by any professional. I am going to go through this portal and see what happens. I... I don't know what's going to happen to me, but this is for science and knowing the unknown! Goodbye Earth, I see you soon. Hopefully." I stopped the recording and places my phone and a note saying, "send this to Mr. Warrens."

I returned my attention to the portal. I was kind of nervous, but at the same time excited. I poked the portal, causing it to ripple. I went to touch it again, but as I did, It latched onto me. I was startled a bit, but didn't really freak out about it. I took one last breath, and walked into the portal, and as I did, I fell unconscious and drifted off.

______________________________________________________

My eyes opened to see what appears to be a navy blue cloud of something. Wait, am I in a nebula?! Then how am I breathing? this must be some sort of effect when I went through the portal, sending me through space and time, and showing me the images of the universe. It sounded pretty cool.

I shook my head and refocused; where am I?

"You are at the passageway to a new world and dimension," a voice from the nebula looking cloud spoke out. I was startled at first, but regained my composure.

"Who are you?" I asked, projecting my voice towards the cloud.

"My name is Kronos," he replied.

"Kronos, as in the one from Greek mythology?" I guessed.

"No, that Kronos is different than I," he answered, "I am a being of more special importance."

"What do you mean?" I asked, "Are you some sort of gatekeeper or something?"

"If you put it that way," he stated, "then yes, I am like that. You see Zack, the portal you saw can only be accessed by you and you alone."

"How do you know my name?" I asked, still wondering how was projecting that voice.

"You are the one that will save this dimension and yours from certain destruction," he replied. My mouth dropped; me being the savior of two worlds?! That has to be wrong! I'm not special; I can't fly, I don't have super strength or speed. Why me?

"I know you are wondering why you were chosen," he went on, "and that you don't have anything special about you. But that's where you are wrong."

"What makes you say that?" I asked, "Are you saying that I have special abilities that others do not?"

"Yes," he replied, "You have the ability to shape shift." That phrase caught me completely off guard. A shapeshifter? I've always wanted that power though, but I actually have it?

"When can I access this ability of mine?" I asked.

"Once you arrive," Kronos replied, "But there are things that you must learn to even further your skill."

"Like what?" I thought.

"At this state you are at now," he started, "you can only hold your form for at the most of five minutes. But with training, you can lengthen that time and stay in a form for up to 12 hours."

"Okay, but who do I go to for this training?" I asked.

"When you arrive in the realm, you'll see me waiting for you," he replied, "but until then, stay strong." The nebula that the voice was coming from turned into a vortex and started to pull me in. I didn't fight it, but I just let it carry me towards it. I didn't know what to expect, but I was excited to see what was in store for me.

"Well, unknown realm that I'm heading towards," I thought to myself, "here I come!"