Chapter 0: Dragged Into Where?!

One night. In just a single night, his life had, taken a course into strange and uncharted territory that Jude could not even see where he was headed at. Everything had changed ever since that night occurred.

It had changed so much that every time he opened his eyes to wake in the morning, Jude was reminded that he had taken an innocent life. The life of his childhood friend.

“Yet another dream about the past.”

Jude reached for his alarm clock and checked the time. Two minutes after five a.m. Early for most people, particularly for young men his age, however for Jude he was still two minutes late. Nevertheless it was time for him to get ready for school.

After Jude had taken his morning shower, he sat on his computer chair and clicked his monitor open. A girl with long black hair, smiling while embracing a compact pistol, greeted him as his desktop background.

Jude smiled. “Seriously… Out of all the gifts I could have given for your fifteenth birthday…”

Jude stopped reminiscing there. No more. There was no need to further dragged himself to the abyss of guilt. He moved his mouse towards the game he left idling overnight. He blinked and smiled. There were four mufflers missing from his vending list, three of which that weren’t even slotted, and all sold for the same price.

“Noobs.”

The moment Jude chose to be a merchant in game he sold himself to the devil. It was the harsh truth of playing games. One should always be attentive on the things they buy. Show a hint of naivety and that innocence would cost you precious gold.

As Jude thought over his next scam, the phone in his pocket rang on silent vibrate.

“This early?” Jude grimaced as he reached for his phone. “Hello, Dad.”

The voice on the other side spoke a deep and fluent American English. “Your voice sounds feeble, Kei. Have you been eating properly?”

“Yes. It’s just that school’s keeping me busy…” Jude said while lowering the volume of his game. He wanted to hide the fact he was playing, but he was too late.

“Kei, you’re a genius marksman. Stop wasting your talent with those games and enlist.”

“Dad, I’m no genius. If I was, Cynthia would still be alive by now.” Jude bit on his lip, a bitter memory from three years ago flashed in his head. His breath hitched for a moment then he continued, “And even geniuses need to train. I’ve been out of it for three years. Now… I’m just your average joe.”

Jude heard his father took a deep breath. “Understood. How’s the life in Japan?”

In his head Jude thanked his father for not dragging it deeper than he intended to then he answered, “Better. How’s things in New York?” Jude asked back.

His father chuckled. “Surviving on government money had never been better, son.”

Jude leaned back and stared at the ceiling. “Let me guess, them hookers keeping you busy?”

There was a moment of silence that ensued, but Jude remained tongue tied. He knew what kept his father from speaking another word. A poor choice of words for Jude, but now that it was uttered, there was no turning back.

“Do you hate it?” his father asked carefully.

“Dad, it’s been three years since Mom left us,” said Jude. “I think it’s about time for us to move on with our lives. Whatever you do with yours, I’ll continue to support you.”

“Thanks, son. And Kei… I’m sorry…” His father hanged up and ended the call.

Whatever could he be apologizing for? Jude couldn’t help but ponder the question in his brain. Although he wasn’t the best example a child could adore, he was far from being a horrible parent. Even his living conditions now was something his father had agreed to in exchanged for him showing good results in his studies. But Jude knew that it wasn’t just him, it wasn’t just his name, who had changed. That night changed his father too.

Jude checked his computer clock. His short talk with his father had taken all of his free time. He stood up and walked to his kitchen. He began to prepare breakfast while listening to the morning news.

There seemed to be another death. This time it was about a college student who crashed headlong onto a volvo. The driver blamed the student, the witness blamed the driver - the scene in his television was chaotic.

Jude switched the television off that instant and continued to making his breakfast. He mixed his omelets with his leftover rice from last night and added a hint of soy sauce. Nothing too special, due to his current skills and budget it was all he could afford. Once done Jude enjoyed his breakfast with silence as his company.

* * *

Jude donned his school regulated blazer and kicked his sneakers on. Before leaving his apartment, he glanced at the mirror. There he was, looking like a proper student. He picked a single black strand from his messy hairstyle and fiddled with it. Then he checked his height.

“Damn, I’m still at 171 centimeters?” Jude grumbled, complaining in front of the mirror.

For a growing young man, there are many things Jude could complain about. But even though it was something he hated, he still took pride in it. After all his black hair and shortness is a sign of his asian heritage - the characteristics he got from his mom.

“I’m leaving!” Jude said to nobody in particular as he trod outside his apartment and locked the door behind him.

The path to school is a very busy one. A few students pedaled down the bike path, some were rushing and running, while Jude just strolled in order to enjoy the scenery. He took a different path than others. A road that took him additional minutes to walk.

Why? No loud trains, no noisy neighbors, and the fresh morning air he could inhale - it was damn worth it to walk those extra minutes. Everything remained true to how they were in his head until he reached the old playground.

In the short time that Jude had stayed in this town, he heard many rumors. Rumors about a ghost. He wasn’t the type to believe in the superstitious, so he continuously used the same path. Disappointment had struck him when he realized there wasn’t any ghost to begin with.

“Ghost? What is this about a ghost—”

“Found you!”

Jude stopped. He was positive he heard a typical line said in those B-rated horror movies. Because he found it funny to turn around Jude ignored the female’s voice and continued walking.

“Hey, don’t you ignore me!”

Now Jude was positive those words were for him. He laughed inside and gladly spun around.

A foreigner. That was his first opinion when he saw her shimmering golden hair. She was definitely not Japanese, he thought. Her majestic gown that exposed her cream white shoulders was decorated with golden trimmings, seemed too fabulous to be worn as a daily dress. And her green eyes that captured his own were far more refined than any gem that carried the same tone.

Such beauty could only be described as “otherworldly.”

Jude rubbed his eyelids. It was not normal to be recognized by such a beautiful person. He rubbed more and blinked a few times to confirm. However, in the next instant, any traces of that angel was gone.

“Huh?”

Jude thought he was drowsy and blamed the occurrence to his breakfast. There must be something in those eggs he just ate, or maybe it was because of the rice. But before he could even decide, something bright shone in front of him. That bright light took the form of a mirror that was roughly about his size.

His interest in it peaked the moment he saw its crystal luster. Heeding his desire to know, he lifted his legs forward and approached. He reached a hand, and his hand sank inside which rippled the light’s surface.

“What?”

It was only up to his wrist, but the light then ate him whole!

“aaaaaaAAAGGHHH!!”

Jude was sucked in by an unknown whirlpool and his consciousness drifted away.

Never in his wildest dreams would he ever thought that he was actually dragged into a different world.

* * *

This is rewrite from my original series Dragged Into A Different World?!

Some things will remain, but some things will change, although this is just me trying my hand on third person.