As far as humanity knows, the supernatural was just a myth or fantasy. But in the year 2XXX, something extraordinary happened: a star exploded. Most scientists and government officials believed another sun would be born, but in truth, what came to be, nobody could have ever predicted. It was all over the news; everyone was talking about it and how beautiful it's color was, shown on the footage taken by Jasa, a space corporation responsible for outer space expeditions and other astrology-related things. The colors shown were like a magical being in the shape of clouds. What people didn't know at the time was that this magical exploding star would be a part of their daily lives. About three months into keeping track of the exploding star, Jasa confirmed that because of the distance, Earth would not be affected. They also said it was strange because they could not predict the measurement of the gravity of the exploding star, people later started to call it Mother Mary, or Mother M for short. After a year, people had forgotten about Mother M, deeming it old news, while Jasa continued to study it, believing it would become either a black hole or something similar to the sun. Instead, it strangely vanished, becoming headliners for every news company around the world.
They said Mother M had suddenly vanished, while others said it was the work of God, showing he exists. No one knew where it went or what became of it until a few months later. A shadow formed around Earth in a large area, enough to cover half of Earth, which made 90 percent of Earth in total darkness. Panic arose, calling it impossible.
Was Mother M in the galaxy? The ocean erupted like large tubes, the water of the ocean connected to Mother M. The next five days were called Mary's Embrace. What occurred was something taken out of a storybook. The first change was that land mass started to form inside the supernova called Mother M. Then clouds, which they speculated meant the atmosphere was breathable on Mother Mary. The second change was Earth's day and night cycle, which was altered because of the orbit of the newly formed planet called Mary. Consequently, Earth no longer had its former time zones, with 90 percent of the planet experiencing the same time zone, weather, and climate, causing many changes. The third change involved the moon; its gravitational pull was altered, causing it to move further into the galaxy. The fourth change involved countries nearly starting a war over the newly formed supernova planet.
It was agreed that the first to step foot on Mary would become its ruler. Sadly, that was not the case because by the last day, the final change was that new life forms called external sheep were discovered on Mary. Because they were identical to the sheep on Earth, the name "sheep" seemed reasonable. They had the intelligence of a human, and some were said to have even higher intelligence. They were categorized by their colors: seven colors, including pink, yellow, black, light blue, brown, grey, and white, with white being the highest. The first to enter Mary was a team from JASA.
When they came back, it was one month after. How they entered was through one of the water tubes connected to Mary. What they explained and showed were jaw-dropping superpowers. They said some showed casting lightning out of their hands, and others turned into human-form animals, like in dark fantasy novels. What was most shocking was that everyone who entered Mary would gain these powers, and that the external sheep were like guides, unable to physically hurt or come in contact with anyone who entered Mary. They were also said to be indestructible to any form of attack. After this, the world flipped. Everyone rushed to go to Mary, and it became the new norm. People who went to Mary and came back were called hopers/jumpers. On the third attempt, a selected few were sent to Mary; a third of them didn't come back and were confirmed dead. It was said the first 30 days of Mary were like a game, and the sheep made the rules and provided rewards. It was magical and unexplainable. Most journalists called it a gift from God. People still went.
Ninety percent of those who entered Mary and returned gained powers and powerful weapons and artifacts. The unlucky 10% died in the trial of the 30 days. It was required to sign a death waiver and be of the age of 18 to enter Mary, but it wasn't free. Government officials began building ports around each tube that was connected to Mary. With the help of Jasa, technology gained from the artifacts retrieved from Mary advanced Earth technology by five times. It was stated that those who gained superpowers could only use 10 percent of their full power because their abilities were connected to some type of energy given off by Mary, like oxygen. It was invisible but able to be felt and sensed with a little bit of focus or concentration. All governments issued a special ID to those who had awakened powers, calling it the Hopper Identification. Also, for all first-time individuals, it is required to buy a ticket to enter or be a part of the JASA program. Even if you were a part of the program, there are thousands of people trying to get a chance to go to Mary. It was said that Mary had levels, and each time you survived a level, you would advance to the next. Each level lasted a month. Upon failure, the consequence is death, so everyone knew what they were getting into. For me, it was a pipe dream. It's been two years since the creation of Mary, and only twelve levels of Mary have been completed so far. I'm the son of a janitor that works at one of JASA's ports. I was able to get a security job because of my father. My mother died when I was young, so it's all a blur. Father said she worked at JASA and went out on expeditions after the world changed. The currency began to change for the worse, making only the rich or hoppers were able to live a life without stress. Those who weren't lucky had to work twice as hard as before.
My job is to ensure anyone who uses the port is certified by Jasa or the officials of the government; hey, dio, got a minute? Said the middle-aged man. The man in front of me was my father he had broken his knee so he walks with a limp luckily he wasn't fired from his job because of this, so dio I heard the 30th expedition of port 4 had a unique hopper that returned said to have the power of the Phoenix she can heal anyone no matter the injuries I wish I had enough money to pay her to heal my leg, don't worry father I will save enough money soon, no no diomante you've been saving that money to buy a ticket one more year and you should have enough to get one said my father with a pale smile. As my father said, I've been saving all my earnings for a chance to buy a ticket to go to Mary. I have to go now to see you at home.. I hope he doesn't die before I buy the ticket, later that day I got a piece of news as if my tongue had power my father met in an accident he was then said to have one year to live and was stuck in a vegetative state I lost all hope that night and use 70 percent of my savings to get my father the best medical treatment possible I started gambling the rest in hopes of winning big and being able to pay the hopper with the Phoenix ability.
Still, I failed miserably, falling deep into guilt of being unable to save my father. I was kicked out of my apartment and had to live in cheap motels. Well, Tonight is my last night gambling and my last chance of winning; hey, sir! Said a man in a suit,have you heard of some rich guy giving away a ticket to a lucky winner in a lottery event that's said to take place in half an hour? My face lifted as I realized I had just enough money to buy a ticket for the lottery I then ask the guy who was handing out flyers to sell me a ticket as I waited the 30 minutes felt like hell my head was beating, my heart was racing very fast as the last few minutes came to pass they begun announcing the winning number, my number was 1738. The first number was 1 then came 7 and 3 right after, my head lifted as a smile came on my face then I heard the 0 which devastated me, all my hopes had faded and I had no way of paying for my father medical bills that was due in a month as I was about to leave I heard the speaker on the TV saying there as been a mistake the number 0 was a error it should've been a 8 I fell to the floor as I began crying and screaming afterwards I fainted and woke up in the local hospital, with no hesitation I rush to the port where I worked.
~to be continued