Evan Cross

Year 2085, Dawn Star Empire, the Northwest Regions.

At the northwest regions of the Dawn Star Empire was a city the size of New York. It stood erect as it reached out for many hundreds of kilometers. This place was Norkton City, a lively metropolis in the empire. Its skyscrapers stood tall like mountains as floating vehicles drove by occasionally, moving along the winding highways found at the core of any concrete jungle.

Listening closely, one could hear the distant rattles from trains that speeded along various tracks, adding more to the noisy scene of the crowded city. Still, as if it bothered no one, people went about their daily lives with ease, some dressed casually, others more formally as they hurried to their workplaces.

It was a typical day with nothing extraordinary, as many could call it just another day for the average man. Yet, unlike them, far away from this bustling region, one individual was only moments for a brand-new start to his life.

Within the outskirts of the city, a lonely place with sparse buildings and an old road in dire need of service. A prison stood as it occupied a vast region, surrounded by high fences. It was the punishment station known as the Norkton Prison. Looking at its large iron gates, one would see two bulky men standing quietly at guard. Their stern and strict faces looked as if they would give no quarter to even the tiniest fly.

Suddenly, there was a sound of gears turning, the gate soon after opening with a loud boom; afterward, a youth no older than nineteen appeared. He had clear brown skin with messy deep brown hair that fell to his shoulders, his face clearly defined by his slim cheeks, a straight nose, and wide lips.

Just by looking at him, one would think him to be another pretty boy in town, but though his features were sleek, he had a trace of sturdiness, as if he’d experience harsh conditioning.

The guards gave him a stern look but said nothing; it seemed that they were only warning him, sending him off with that mean look one would only see from a stern father.

Naturally, this youth was Evan, who had been detained and forced to perform community service. Today, he was expecting to be deployed once more as his term was a long way from completion, but much to his surprise, he had unknowingly been bailed out and offered freedom from service.

So, someone bailed me out of this hell hole? Who would even do such a thing? Would it even be that witch of an aunt? Tsk, like I’d believe that! Evan thought.

He didn’t even pay attention to the guards as he walked onward, moving towards the nearest bus stop, its sign full of rust with grass growing around it as if unmaintained for years.

While waiting around, he tried to ignore the searing heat of the boiling sun as he recalled the hell he’d been through these past few weeks. Soon, he looked up and squinted his eyes, wiping his now sweaty forehead as he took cover under the small roof of the bus stop.

“What do I do now? I doubt I’d be able to make it back to the city on foot. I’ll probably die of dehydration before I even get there,” Evan muttered with a tinge of helplessness in his eyes. He thought back to how he even got to be in these circumstances, a face of a young girl and an arrogant youth appearing before it faded.

Micheal, you’d better be ready, for when I see you again, both you and that sister of yours will suffer a great reckoning for framing me. Evan thought as he gripped his fist, feeling a surge of rage. He currently was in an awful mood, but soon, a vehicle pulled up from nearby, pulling him out of his thoughts.

“This is a Vulkan Model Five; it’s definitely of high class. Who is this?” Evan muttered as he stared at the similar but futuristic vehicle to classic supercars like the Ferrari. Soon, the door opened, revealing a fat youth with blond hair, well tucked behind his head, like a noble, his eyes of a vibrant blue as he sported a simple T-shirt and trousers.

“Hey bro, how have you been? It looks like you could do with a lift,” The fat youth said with a smirk, showing a few missing teeth, his arms placed in his pockets as he carried a laid-back manner.

Evan frowned as he didn’t quite remember who this person was, he had a vague idea, but it was not fresh in his mind.

“Who the hell are you?” Evan asked in a cold tone, showing a tinge of hostility.

The fat youth chuckled at this before replying, “Ah, I knew you weren’t that good with your memory. It’s me, Big Fatty, you know, Joe Goldsmith. I’m your former classmate.”

Evan thought for a while before his eyes flickered, recalling a young girl with blond hair, her features slightly like those of Joe’s; he asked, “Goldsmith? I see, then I suppose you’re related in some way to that girl I saved?”

“That’s right. She’s my twin sister. I have yet to thank you for that t—” Joe was about to say something, but Evan stretched his arm out and spoke, cutting off his words.

 “Stop, I don’t need your thanks, what I did that time was merely on the spur of the moment. Since you’re here, it’s clear that you’re the one who bailed me out. Listen here, I don’t like owing anyone favors, so let’s consider it as us being even. We no longer owe each other anything.”

After saying those words, Evan turned away from Joe and walked towards the direction of the city. Even though the sun was boiling hot, he didn’t seem to care about it.

Joe looked at Evan’s back with deep eyes and sighed while thinking, As icy as usual, if he didn’t help my sister, even I wouldn’t have noticed that his current act is merely a façade. Don’t worry, pal. Good people are deserving of aid. Since I decided to help you out, it’ll be through and through, even if we aren’t yet friends.

Not hesitating the slightest, Joe spoke, “Hey, you aren’t thinking of heading to the city by walking now, are you? Get in the car. It so happens I’m headed that way. Besides, you don’t need to consider this as a favor. It’s merely an act of goodwill.”

Evan halted his steps for a bit, showing a thoughtful expression. He soon sighed before turning back and answering, “Fine, you can let me off in the town. I want to drink and clear my head.”

“No problem. Let’s go,” Joe said with thumbs up. The two entered the Ferrari-like vehicle, which soon drove off onto the lonesome road, speeding towards the city with the distant echoes of its roaring engine.

✽✽✽

The night-lit scene of Norkton was vibrant, the neon-like hues lighting up various areas, as were the billboards and signs of different businesses hanging from the high-rises. At this hour, nightclubs were in full swing, and the bustling crowds gave one a feeling of a typical scene in the daytime.

Some individuals, mostly males, wandered certain districts, snuggling with women dressed in scanty clothing, a common sight at these hours. However, other than this crowd, the most abundant were those who sat around in bars to drink liquor. The rowdy laughter of men and women sounded across the night atmosphere, festering a mood of idleness.

Currently, Evan, who now looked a tad pale, staggered as he walked about the streets with no direction in mind. His manner was like a drunkard that had lost everything as he held a liquor bottle in one arm and laughed like an idiot.

“Hahaha, I’m … hiccup, such … an idiot … hiccup, my life … is no different from shit. That wretch … Micheal … that wench Nelia… che! I’ll get them both! You hear me! I’ll get them … hiccup!”

He rambled as he staggeringly walked until finally arriving at a nearby alleyway, but suddenly, while lifting the bottle of wine to drink, it had accidentally hit and spilled on a large man that walked before him.

A fellow with a rugged appearance had anger over his entire face as he looked at his soiled shirt. In his current state, Evan didn’t even seem to notice his manner. He continued to stagger about, but because of this, the man grew even more enraged.

“You little punk, you think you can stain my newly bought shirt and walk off like it’s nothing? Get your ass over here right now!” The man cursed as he ran over with heavy steps and a vicious shout before launching a kick towards Evan’s back.

Evan, unaware, was hit by the man’s leg. He flew forward headfirst into a pile of garbage, hitting his head onto the alleyway’s trash container.

“Haha, that serves you right. Next time, be more careful you little punk,” the man said with a mean tone before leaving as he hummed a tune. He felt refreshed after using force to solve his problems.

A few bystanders noted this, but no one paid any attention, an explicit show of minding one’s business in modern times.

Suddenly, with the sound of someone coughing up their guts, Evan now rolled over onto his back, resting it against the trash container. Having spit out a bunch of pungent fluids, he lifted his pale face and looked at the bright stars that shone in the night sky.

Unlike what one would expect, it wasn’t just the typical constellation. Yes, a familiar scene of stars shone above the heavens, but beyond that was a crack that seemed like a rift in space, so large that despite being an incredible distance away in the far-off universe, it still took out a substantial portion of the starry night sky.

This phenomenon was known as the Cosmic Tear, which had occurred a few dozen years ago, bringing alarm to the entire world. After years of research with no complete understanding, today’s humans have long since put it behind them, or at the very least, forgotten on the surface.

“Damn … that hurts. Such a ruthless guy. He didn’t have to hit so hard. I think I slipped my spine,” Evan said in rage, having come back to his senses, his back started to hurt him, preventing him from getting up.

Why me? Why’s my luck so bad? Can’t it kill the world to give a guy like me a break for once? Evan cursed inwardly, feeling down and out; he closed his eyes, trying to erase his thoughts.

But suddenly, a strange scene occurred. A pendant with unique inscriptions around Evan’s neck started to glow in a strange blood-red light, sending a jolt into his body. Soon, a vague but familiar voice sounded in the depths of his mind.

“Evan … wake up.” The female voice resounded at the core of his soul, a soft sound that seemed to have traveled from an angel itself.

That voice, why is it so familiar? What’s going …? Evan tried to think, but before he could even grasp it, something else occurred.

With a bang, an endless number of scenes flashed before Evan’s eyes. His mind surged with an immense amount of pain and memories, forcing him to grab it with his arms as he screamed, “My head … I can’t … argh!”

His scream of agony sounded through the alleyway, drawing a few eyes, but soon, his cry stopped as the pain suddenly faded away. Now, with barely open eyes, Evan seemed a bit different, his manner taking in the current world with a look of strangeness and an odd air around him.

“This place … am I dreaming? Did I … return to that time?” Evan muttered incoherently, but his consciousness soon faded as his eyes drooped ever so slowly. Soon, he heard some heavy steps as a familiar fat silhouette came into his fading sights.

“You are … Joe …” he said in a soft voice which only he could hear as his mind shook and his consciousness faded from the current scene.