Crossing the Threshold
Chapter 0: Crossing the Threshold
The cold wind whipped against Rudra’s face as he stood at the edge of the school rooftop. Below him, the playground was empty, the laughter and shouts of classmates replaced by an eerie silence.
He gripped the rusted railing, his knuckles white. His chest heaved as he fought back tears.
“I’m done,” he muttered. “There’s nothing left for me here.”
The weight in his pocket shifted—a vial of strange chemicals he’d stolen from the lab. He had planned to use it for an experiment, but now… it didn’t matter.
Just as he stepped forward, a faint, squelching sound stopped him. He turned, startled.
A blob of translucent green goo shimmered in the corner, pulsating like a heartbeat.
“Don’t,” it said, its voice low and resonant.
Rudra stumbled back, his mind racing. Was he hallucinating? The slime oozed closer, its glow intensifying.
“Why do you care?” Rudra spat, tears streaming down his face. “You’re just a—”
“I can make you strong and give you a reason to fight. Take your revenge.”
The slime’s words pierced through the fog in Rudra’s mind. He stared at it, his heart pounding.
“What are you?” he whispered.
The slime quivered, almost as if laughing. “Your only chance.”
