Heavy rain poured down from the dark clouds above, the tiny droplets splattering against the muddy ground of the narrow road beneath my feet.
Thunder roared while streaks of purple lightning tore through the sky, each flash briefly illuminating my black-cloaked figure as I hurried through the mud.
Another flash of lightning revealed my reflection more clearly. I looked like a mess—black eyes slightly bloodshot, rough black hair sticking out in every direction, proof of yet another hectic day.
I slowed my steps before coming to a stop, my chest rising and falling as exhaustion caught up to me.
I bent down slowly, my hands splashing through the cold mud as I searched frantically.
"Damn it, Michael… where did you drop your glasses again?"
I muttered under my breath.
"Finally—found the stupid thing."
I huffed in frustration, brushing off my rant as I lifted the muddy glasses. Being unable to see without them had become a daily struggle, especially at night, when it feels like a bat stumbling through blinding light.
It still bothered me as much as ever, but right now, I was far too tired to care.
I slid the glasses back onto the bridge of my nose, pushing them up when they slipped forward from the rain. The moment I looked through them, it felt like I had been given new life.
Even though they were badly damaged—the frame crooked and the temples bent—they were still far better than nothing.
I really did need a new pair.
I picked up my pace and headed toward my home.
When I finally arrived at my single-bedroom apartment, I went straight to work. Living alone after graduation, surrounded by noisy neighbors, in a place barely large enough for my bed and a few chairs, was more than enough for me.
An old TV sat against the wall. Most days, I used it only to distract myself from boredom or escape my messy life, but tonight was different.
Tonight, I was anxious—anticipating something.
After paying my sister's monthly medical bills, the rent barely left me anything. She was sick, and I worked myself to exhaustion every day just to support her and my mother.
Sometimes, I didn't even come home, choosing instead to sleep at my workplace.
While my colleagues chatted or ate together, I stayed out of it. If not for my documents and the few belongings I kept at home, I wouldn't have bothered renting a place at all.
Several unfinished files lay scattered on my bed.
I walked over to a cabinet and pulled open an old wooden drawer. It creaked loudly as I grabbed the TV remote.
"Alright… let's see if there's anything new today,"
I said, pressing the green button at the top.
I headed into my so-called "kitchen," a small space carved out of whatever room remained after fitting in my bed and furniture.
"No junk food today,"
I muttered.
"I don't want Mom or my sister exaggerating about how skinny I look."
I smiled faintly as I pulled a few vegetables from the cabinet beside a rusty gas cylinder and began chopping them. Some looked familiar; others, I don't even remember their names.
I only knew I had bought them because of my sister's constant reminders to eat healthier.
The thought almost made me tear up—but the barbecue fish I had bought by the roadside helped ease the feeling.
I hated cooking, but I couldn't deny I was good at it. I tossed the chopped vegetables into an oiled pan and lit the stove with the automatic lighter.
Soon, the food sizzled as the fire danced beneath it.
I made extra preparations for my sister's meal, knowing visiting hours were from 7 to 9 p.m. With the clock barely past 6, I had plenty of time. For a few minutes, I moved around the kitchen like a professional chef.
Soon, the sweet aroma filled the room, signaling that the food was ready.
I lay on my bed with a plate of jollof rice and barbecue fish and turned on the TV—not to escape reality this time, but to face it.
The news.
My chest tightened as I switched channels, waiting. After a brief pause, a news broadcast appeared.
"…In today's headlines, an important announcement has been made. The world's richest Black man, Collins Osabiku, has officially launched a global VRMMORPG and released the list of its first official testers…"
"…With the launch, Mr. Osabiku has also announced free housing and accommodations for all official testers…"
"…And now, the selected names…"
Names rolled across the screen.
Quinn Talen.
Yuan Yuan.
Lith Verhen.
Hansen Parker.
…
"And finally—Michael John."
I stood frozen in front of the TV.
My mind went completely blank.
I had only applied in hopes of finding a better future for my mother, sister and myself— through some miracle the wealth the company offered.
I knew how impossible it was. Graduates flooded the streets, unemployed workers crowded every opportunity, and luck had never favored me.
I never once believed I would be chosen.
Minutes passed before I regained my senses, but the smile spreading across my face refused to fade.
I had grown up without a father since the age of ten, abandoned without warning. Since then, I have worked relentlessly to save money for my baby sister's surgery—an illness that left her crippled at sixteen.
For two years, she had been confined to a hospital bed, able to do little more than clean herself and receive drips. Watching her endure such a life tore me apart. No matter how hard I worked, I still felt helpless.
Until now.
Outside, the sky was bathed in moonlight, clouds drifting lazily overhead.
It was already this late…
As I prepared to head to the hospital, my phone rang. A company agent from the VRMMORPG informed me they'd be visiting my place soon. I decided to see my sister first—to tell her the good news.
For the first time in my life, I sat comfortably in an Uber without worrying about the cost. As the car moved, exhaustion finally claimed me. My eyelids drooped, and I drifted into sleep.
Even as I softly snored, the tiny hands of my wristwatch continued ticking.
7:59:57
58…
59…
60…
The ticking stopped exactly at 8:00:00 PM.
Suddenly, I was jolted awake by a deafening horn and a violent tremor that shook my entire body. I shot upright—
Before I could understand what was happening, a burst of blinding light swallowed everything.
…