Outworld: Awakening

Albany, New York, 2025.

"Yo, Adam. You still alive?" Mason asked.

"Dude, did you actually believe that nonsense?" Adam retorted, his attention focused on several windows displayed on his PC.

"Man, who knows? You did give him your soul. What if he was some kind of occultist? You're f.u.c.k.e.d man..."

"Dude, shut up. That shit isn't funny. Who'd believe nonsense like that? By the way, you what happened to Jimmy? Did he really go on the fishing trip with your dad?" Adam interjected.

"Don't know why he loves it, but no one can separate him from them fishes. Well, I'm not complaining. He is taking one for the team," Mason explained.

However, Adam only half-heartedly listened to him. The shuffling numbers on his screens piqued his interest.

"Dude, are you listening to me? Don't tell me you're gambling again?" Mason said.

Silence greeted his words.

"Dude, give up on that shit. Do you want to become an addict? I read..."

"Mas, it's easy money. I just won 15 BTC. This shit is too easy. Who said gambling was a risk?" Adam interjected. His eyes lingered on several pop ups covering his screen.

"15 BTC? Jesus! No wonder you don't want to go to college. That's like the fifth time this month. Jimmy and I could only rake in 4 combined. You gotta teach us your secret. Oh. That reminds me, can you help me with this..."

Partially listening to Mason's words, Adams fingers drummed on the wooden surface of his table. Apart from the several illegal gambling sites covering his screen, a muted news report played in the background. Ignoring the passionate news anchor, his eyes lingered on the numbers flashing at the lower end of the screen.

"Adam? Are you listening to me? Dude, did you mute me?" Mason said.

Adam completely ignored him.

'Today is not a good day to buy stocks. The market has been pretty shitty lately. I might as try real estate,' Adam thought.

With this thought in mind, Adam opened a new window. However, at the same moment, his hands accidentally clicked the mute button on his mouse.

Before he could correct his mistake, the voice of the news anchor reached him, "This just in. The Almondo, which disappeared at the outskirts of the Bermuda triangle, resurfaced today. However, none of it's crew was found on the resurfaced vessel..."

'What a tragedy. Why did those guys have to take their research to those waters? Especially since it has been unstable since 2020,' Adam thought, sighing slightly.

Just as he was about to close the window, another report reached him, "In other news, the infamous Menands Fiend, responsible for the murder of Staples family and Hayes brothers in the Albany area was apprehended this morning by the brave men of the New York Police Department..."

'What? There was a guy like that in our neighborhood?' Adam mused.

"F.u.c.ker?! Are you ignoring me? Please, man. I really need help with my project. MIT won't..."

"Mas, tune in to channel 22. Something pretty f.u.c.k.e.d up happened in our neighborhood," Adam interjected.

"Dude, this is Menands, what is the worst that could... Holy shit. The Menands Fiend? When did this happen?" Mason said, unable to hide his surprise.

"I'm just as confused as you. The most surprising part of the news is the names of the family involved. Staples is my last name while..."

"Hayes is my last name," Mason interjected. "Dude, this is some f.u.c.k.e.d up coincidence," Mason added.

"Tell me about it..." before Adam could finish his statement, a thunderous whip crack akin to that of lightning echoed.

Adam involuntarily shuddered, his chair falling on him as he fell to the ground.

'Was that lightning? No... no. It couldn't be,' Adam thought, as he shook his head.

In doubt, he rose to his feet while sprinting to his windows, covered by his curtains. Wasting no time, he parted the curtains. At that moment, the radiance of the sun fell on his pale white skin. With thick bags under his eyes, Adam hurried to block the sunlight like a vampire of old.

Behind him, the light illuminated his once dark haven, revealing his expensive PC set up, a king-sized bed adjacent to a beautiful white bookshelf filled with various comic books and novels.

"There does not seem to be any sign of rain. What the hell was that then? I hope something didn't not explode somewhere," Adam muttered.

With clear skies and an ever so normal, and familiar suburbs greeting his eyes; Adam, once returned the room to its previous state, blocking the piercing sunlight.

With light steps, he returned to his PC, only to be greeted with several messages.

'What the hell is wrong with this guy? Does he think I don't know what he is trying to do?' Adam thought as he stared at Mason's messages.

"Yo, Mas. Who put you up to this? Dude, you built a high-powered drone early this year, and you honestly want me to believe that you can't handle some shitty project?" Adam said.

However, silence greeted his words, and he could only hear a faint static from the other side.

"Did my mum put you up to this? Dude, what the hell? Yo, Mas, answer me!"

Like before, Mason did not respond, the same static echoing.

'What the hell is he doing? Did his mom come back already? No. That's not possible,' Adam thought, glancing at the time on his screen.

'Noon. Nah. She isn't back yet. The what... Noon? Lightning? No, no... no. That's not possible.'

Adam's body trembled as a sudden realization filled his mind. Reaching for his headset once more, he said, "Mas, don't play with me, man. Are you there? Answer me!"

Like before, only static greeted his words.

Apprehensive, a scowl distorted Adam's face as he ran towards his bed. Reaching for his mobile phone, he speed dialed, and the word 'Mum' covered his screen.

With each passing second, Adam's apprehension grew. Because, his mother failed to pick up. However, on the fifth attempt, a familiar voice filled his ears, "Hello, Honey. Sorry for not picking, it's been a busy day in the OR. Did something happen, honey? Hello? Adam? Are you there?"

Without saying a word, Adam ended the call, while sighing.

'What the hell is wrong with me? Hahaha. How could I panic like that. As if it's possible for someone to steal my soul."

With this thought in mind, Adam walked towards his setup. Sporting a more relaxed countenance than earlier. Just as he wore his headset, the static from Mason's end disappeared, with his voice echoing, "What the f.u.c.k, man. How many messages did you leave me? Can't a brother take a shit anymore?"

"Mas, didn't you hear the lightning?" Adam said.

'Huh? What lightning? Hahaha. Dude, I thought you said you don't believe in all those shit? Don't tell me you left all those messages because you thought..."

Before Mason could finish his statement, Adam muted him. The was too embarrassed to listen to Mason's words.

"Because of that YouTuber, Mason will never let me forget this day. I might as well accept his offer," Adam muttered.

"Adam, I can't wait until Jimmy gets back. In fact, I'll call him..."

"Wait! You got me. What do you want?" Adam interjected.

"Good. A man of culture. I like that. I don't mind getting 1 or 2 BTC. Oh, you got to help me with the project. Dude, you don't have to do anything. Just hangout and pretend to work. I told your mum that, I'd at least get you out of the house," Mason said.

'Why can't mum just leave me alone?' Adam mused.

"By the way, check this out."

Just as Mason finished his statement, an image depicting strange languages appeared on Adam's screen.

"What the hell is this? What language is this?" Adam asked.

"I don't know, man. Apparently, there is a reward for translating it. Thought you'd be interested in making some quick cash," Mason explained.

Saying nothing, Adam's eyes roamed across the image. Subconsciously, he furrowed his brows while muttering incoherent words.

'This language looks like a variant of English. Vahut... Saymhe... Enterai... Formark... Miskino... Randeri...' Adam thought.

"Adam, do you think you can translate it?"

"No chance. If I was serious, then maybe. But that's too much work. I'd rather gamble than waste my time on this," Adam said.

"But you can at least pronounce the words, right?" Mason asked.

"Sure. Can't you? They're pretty easy."

"Let's hear it. I'm not too confident with my pronunciation," Mason explained.

"All right. However, if I pronounce it for you, don't think of blackmailing me with those messages. Deal?"

"Deal!" Mason declared.

"Vahut, Saymhe, Enterai, Formark, Miskino, and..."

Before Adam could finish his statement, a whisper reached his ears, "Don't say it. If you do, I can't help you. Be patient, I'm coming to save you."

Instinctively, Adam rose to his feet. While removing his headset.

"Who said that?!" Adam said as his eyes wandered around his room. However, he couldn't find anything out of place.

"Adam, you there?! What happened? Who the hell are you talking to?"

Mason's words reached Adam's ears as he scanned his room, however, he had no interest in donning his gear yet.

"Dude? Are you okay? Should I call the cops?"

Again, Mason's voice filled Adam's ears. Like before, he had no intention of replying.

'Was I hallucinating?' Adam mused as he slowly wore his gear.

"Mas, did you hear that voice just now?"

"What voice? Do you want me to call the cops? Jesus you scared me," Mason said. Adam too sensed the apprehension in his voice.

"Don't bother. It's been a while since I've slept, maybe that's why I am hallucinating. Don't call the cops. Thanks, Mas," Adam said. "By the way, the last one is pronounced Randeri. You're good now, right?" Adam added.

"Sorry, Adam. Could you do it from the beginning one more time? I'm sorry, man. You know I suck at this," Mason said.

"Vahut, Saymhe, Enterai, Formark, Miskino, and..."

"Stop! Don't finish it. This is your last warning. If you do, I can't help you anymore!"

The same voice echoed in Adam's ears for the second time.

"Who the hell are you?! What do you mean?! Where are you hiding?!"

Silence greeted Adam's words.

'Damn it. Did someone hack me?'

Just as this thought filled Adam's find, Mason's voice drifted into his ears, "Dude, who are you shouting at? Are you okay? Do you..."

"Mas, I think someone hacked me. I keep hearing his voice. Dude, I get back to you. I have to take care of this guy," Adam interjected.

Before Adam could remove his headset, Mason retorted, "Wait! How can someone possible hack you? That's not just possible. However, I understand you have to go. But, please finish pronouncing the words."

"Dude, are you listening to me at all? How can you be so interested in some shitty words? We don't even know if it came from some occultic site or..." Adam paused without warning, a sudden thought filled his mind. Within seconds, his body trembled involuntarily.

Wasting no time, he removed his headset, before smashing in on the surface of the floor. After which, he reached for his PC.

"Oh. You finally noticed. Too late. I, Korgrath, have come to claim what's mine!"

Adam froze as he heard Korgrath's declaration. No matter how much he tried, his body wouldn't obey him. in that moment, Adam felt as if he were face to face with death. A spilled second later, the room distorted before his eyes, almost as if a vortex would come it and him along.

'Someone, anyone, please save me!' Adam made a silent prayer. However, nothingness continued to eat at the room.

With each passing second, Adam's life flashed before him, he couldn't even cry, fear had paralysed his senses.

As his vision grew dark, he could see the outline of a massive giant, covered in thorns approaching from the nothingness. He could neither see its face nor its legs; however, it was a sight that would leave every living being in the abyss of despair.

"No one will save you! Your soul is mine!"

After the hellish declaration, Adam lost his sense of hearing. As his vision grew blurry, tears streaked down his cheeks, "Mum, I'm sorry," he muttered.

A second before he lost his sight, Adam watched as a piercing white light tore through the darkness, piercing the abomination within, and then, his eyes closed.