The Time Traveler

Chapter 1

Here I was, lying in bed in a familiar place. Nostalgia washed over me as I glanced around the warm and bright room, a place that felt close to me. I looked across the room and saw a beautiful maiden smiling at me, giving the room a joyful ambience. Everything felt surreal. Everything felt like a dream that I didn’t want to end.

But good things eventually come to an end. Suddenly, everything changed. Everything I thought was a dream abruptly turned into a nightmare. Just as quickly as the dream ended, the surroundings turned dark, transporting me into an occurring war. And there, I saw the lady lying on the cold hard ground, barely moving. Her blood was splattered around her. She was struggling to gasp for air, seconds away from oblivion.

Pain and regret filled my heart as I watched her took her last breath. Tears quickly filled my eyes. There was nothing I could do but let out a gurgling scream. My forlorn face was smeared by her blood as I smothered my face in despair.

“No! This can’t be real!” I wailed and looked at the dark gray skies. Agony washed over me and tears escaped my eyes like a never-ending waterfall.

“Why?” My voice broke. My heart shattered into a million pieces. I felt nothing but the feeling of overwhelming sadness. I could barely breathe as I looked at her cold, lifeless eyes.

With shaking hands, I touched her face. “I’ll save you…”

There were warriors around us hurdling spears at one another, impaling their opponents. Blood splattered around as they wielded their grim swords. They slaughtered each other mercilessly without so much as a tinge of hesitancy. The ongoing battle was gruesome, to say the least.

Explosions erupted in different areas. Flames roared as they blasted canons upon their rivals. But all the sparks from those ignitions succumbed to the darkness in everyone’s eyes as they unceasingly slay each other.

“I’ll save you no matter what.” I promised with a hopeful heart. Swords and weapons were wielded left and right but none of those didn’t matter to me. My eyes were devoted on her. I didn’t want to avert my gaze even just for a moment.

Suddenly, everything around me started fading away. Every warrior around obliterated into dust. The surroundings brightened. I couldn’t see a thing, blinded by the blistering light. There was nothing but light until a voice called out to me. A voice that was warm, soft, and endearing. A voice I was familiar with.

“Oliver! Wake up!” Someone shouted as I opened my eyes.

“You were having a nightmare. You were groaning in your sleep.” He added. I was panting hardly as my blurry vision gradually adjusted.

Even though I didn’t see his face, I’d recognize him immediately. The voice that awoken me was Andre Bryne’s, the closest thing I have to a friend. My tensed body eventually relaxed at the sight of a familiar face. I took heavy breaths as I stared at him with confused eyes.

“You good?” He asked in a concerned tone.

I glared at him.

“You woke me up.” I said coldly then pushed my blanket away from me. He grimaced. “Oh, come on. You looked like you were in pain.” He childishly bantered which I just brushed off as I made my way to the living room. He just followed me as I walked towards the fridge.

Andre is the only person in this world I can tolerate. People, in simple terms, were nuisances I’d rather not engage with. It was a wonder how he is able to put up with me, even if I am an asshole to him most of the time. Well, I was pretty much an asshole to everybody.

I took a beer from the fridge then hastily gulped it. I don’t know what to make of the dream I just had earlier. It was peculiar. Sure, it was just a dream but it felt too real to just be one.

“Go easy on the booze, Oli. Today’s the first day of our senior year.” He smirked then sat on the couch.

“Don’t call me that.” I glared at him then took another beer from the fridge right after the other one.

The living room was adjacent to the kitchen, with no walls separating them. I lived in a small and crappy apartment. The wallpapers were scratched off and a few pieces away from being completely torn off. The furniture was cheap, which I got from a discount store on a sale. The appliances were funky and defective, and the water kept having shortages, despite of the many complaints residents of this crappy unit gave.

I was orphaned just at a very young age. I’ve been passed around in foster homes but was always kicked out since I wasn’t to anybody’s liking. I ended up in an unstable home with a drunkard as a father and a mother who gave more attention to her love affairs than her husband abusing their adoptive child.

I grew up resenting them. I got acquainted with gangs who delivered illegal drugs for a living. I joined said gangs, making money and aiming to earn enough to get out of the hellhole I lived in, which I did eventually. I left the gang I was in and never contacted them again, knowing too well that it’s bound to end bad.

The moment I turned eighteen, I searched for my own apartment. I was already independently living in my own. Although, I can’t say it’s easy. I can barely afford the bills and I sometimes skip meals just to get by.

“Why the gloomy face, Oli. It’s the first day of our final year of high school! Who knows how many more cute girls we meet?” He enthusiastically said with a ridiculous smile on his face.

“I couldn’t care less.” I said then threw the bottles to the bin across the room.

I barely had money to spare but I was still lucky enough to afford school. When I was thirteen, my adoptive parents already paid my tuition fee for the entirety of my high school. It was the one good thing they did when they were still on top of it all. Until all the crippling debts and gambling habits came rolling in.

I didn’t like going to school. In fact, I abhorred it. It was a place full of hormonal, immature teenagers and overbearing teachers. The only reason I put up with all of it is to get a diploma and start finding a more stable job.

“Well, at least make it quick. We’re already running late.” He even pouted, thinking as if it was cute when in fact, it was a horrid sight to behold.

“Whatever.” I said dismissively then made my way to the bathroom. I stripped off my pajamas then let the cold water flow down my bare skin. I let my fingers caress my muscular arms. It was studded by many tattoos, put there by the initiations I had in the previous gang I was in.

Minutes passed and I was finally done. I wrapped a towel around my waist then went out of my bathroom. Immediately, I saw Andre eating a snack from my fridge while he was seated on the couch. It was supposed to be my breakfast but I just let him devour it anyway.

He glanced at my direction then looked at my abdominal muscles. He then looked at his stout belly. I raised a brow at him.

He quickly stood up then threw the snack in the garbage which irritated me. “Why the hell are you wasting my food? At least finish it.” I growled at him.

“Chill!” He raised his hands. “I mean, look at you then look at me. You look like some model while I look like a talking teacup. You make me feel guilty nibbing on some snacks.” He complained relentlessly which I just rolled my eyes at.

“You complain too much.” I commented then made my way to my room. “Not fair. I have plenty things to complain about.”

“Keep me out of it, will you?” I said sarcastically as I rummage through the floor for my uniform. I put on tattered jeans then the white button-down shirt with the school logo on it. The first two buttons of it were destroyed which is why I just left it open. I didn’t bother checking how I look in the mirror before walking out of the bedroom.

I found Andre seated, shifting impatiently as he waited. “Took you long enough.” He grinned. I picked my backpack up from somewhere on the floor then went out of my apartment, not even waiting for him.

“Hey, wait up!” He said as he scurried towards me. I just shook my head then chuckled softly.