Jason strolled along the aisles of the book store. He had come to run an errand for his cousin, picking up some books needed for his research. Realizing it was going to take a while to get them, he decided to explore and look for some new books.
Despite never being much of a reader, his year-long stay with his cousin had sparked an interest in books, especially in the fantasy genre. The store was filled with the rustle of pages and the sounds of soft conversations. As he approached the fantasy section, the ambient sounds slowly died down, and strangely, there was no one around. Brushing off the unusual silence, he began scanning the shelves.
"Oh, they have a whole section for trashy isekai novels," he muttered to himself, admitting his guilty pleasure for the genre the trashier, the better.
Suddenly, he heard footsteps behind him. As he turned, he saw a peculiar man looking at the shelves. The man's presence exuded an air of enigma; he was clad in a meticulously tailored black suit, emphasizing his slender yet imposing frame. His unnaturally pale skin seemed almost otherworldly, creating a stark contrast with the darkness of his attire. Silvery-white hair mirrored the colourlessness of his skin.
"It's rude to stare, you know," the man said still going through the books.
"I, um... didn't mean to. Sorry," Jason replied, a bit embarrassed. The man turned to face him.
"Interesting genre, that one. Though I find it too repetitive" he said, his gaze fixed on the books.
"I guess you're right about that," Jason chuckled, looking back at the books. To his surprise, the man had disappeared when he turned to face him again.
"What the hell," he cursed loudly, a shiver went down his spine as an unsettling feeling took hold of him. Startled and slightly freaked out, he wasted no time in locating the store employee. He quickly retrieved the books and promptly made his exit from the store, eager to distance himself from the strange encounter.
It was already dark outside, and the streets were illuminated by the warm glow of the street lights lining the sidewalk. He noticed that there were barely any people out at all. As he walked, he looked around and realized there were no people around at all. The air carried a peculiar stillness. The pavement beneath his feet seemed to shift subtly, and he couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.
His steps quickened with subconscious urgency as he approached the edge of the sidewalk. He cast a cautious glance in both directions, confirming that there were no vehicles on the road. He began to cross. Suddenly, the world around him accelerated into chaos. The blaring sound of a truck's horn pierced the air. Time slowed as he stumbled backward, a reflex born of sheer survival. The truck roared past him.
"Where did that come from?" he thought. There were no vehicles; he had looked. It seemed to have come out of thin air.
As he collected himself, a voice echoed from behind, exclaiming, "Damn, that was close," it accompanied a tone that carried a hint of disappointment.
Turning around, he was startled to see the pale man from the store, now even more imposing than before. The moonlight reflected off his pale features, adding an eerie aura to his presence. His heart raced as he stared at the man who had somehow appeared again. The man's eyes glowed faintly in the dim light, and a chill ran down Jason's spine
"I… How did… How?" Jason stammered, his eyes wide with disbelief.
A sly smile appeared on the man's face. "Let's just say I have a knack for being in the right place at the right time." He looked in the direction the truck had sped past. "I wanted to try out the classic approach, but you seem to be a lucky man, Mr. D'Sousa. Let's hope that luck stays with you; you'll need it where you are going."
"How do you know my name?" he demanded.
The man let out a soft chuckle. "Ah, Mr. D'Sousa, i know more than just your name. I'm well acquainted with your interests, fears, and your deepest desires. A man with no ambition, no direction in life.
"You don't know me," Jason said, his voice breaking.
"Don't I?" The man's enigmatic smile persisted, his eyes gleaming faintly in the dim light.
"But let's just cut to the chase, shall we? I think this will be a good experience for you, that escape from the monotony that you always wanted."
Jason's body instinctively started moving backward; he noticed the street lights flickering, his legs trembling he sprinted away from the man. The world around him seemed to twist and distort; the air seemed to get colder as a blinding light engulfed him, causing him to instinctively shield his eyes. The ground beneath him trembled, making him to lose his balance and tumble to the ground. Disoriented, he struggled to regain his bearings as darkness gradually enveloped him.