Rodney's laughter still echoed in Ted's ears long after he walked away.
Ted stood frozen on the sidewalk, trembling with shame, anger… and something else. Something that had been building for years.
Why does he always get to win? Why do I always walk away? Why am I always the one swallowing pain?
His breath shook. His hands tightened. A roaring filled his ears.
And then—
A thought snapped into place.
You know what? If I perish… I perish.
Ted didn't even realize he had spoken the words out loud. The bitterness in his voice startled even him. His pulse pounded so loud it felt like thunder in his chest.
Before he could change his mind—before fear could drag him back—Ted moved.
First a step.
Then a walk.
Then a half-run.
He charged toward Rodney, who was only a few meters ahead, talking to his friend and laughing like the world belonged to him.
Ted reached him.
Tapped him sharply on the shoulder.
Rodney turned, half-annoyed, half-amused.
"What now, Ted—"
He didn't finish.
Ted's fist flew.
It connected with Rodney's jaw so hard the bully's head snapped to the side.
The shock on Rodney's face was priceless—wide-eyed, stunned, a man who never imagined the weakling could even lift a hand against him.
People nearby gasped.
Rodney stumbled a step, holding his jaw, disbelief flooding his features.
Ted didn't wait.
He spun on his heel—
And ran.
Hard.
Fast.
Like every breath was a decision between life and death.
Behind him, he heard Rodney roar.
"TEDDY! YOU'RE DEAD!! DO YOU HEAR ME?! DEAD!!"
The sound of rapid footsteps followed—Rodney giving chase, fury exploding through every stride.
Ted's heart slammed wildly as he sprinted through the street, dodging people, cars, anything in his path.
But even as he ran for his life, even as fear flooded him…
A small, wild smile curled at the corner of his mouth.
Ted didn't look back.
He just ran.
His legs burned, lungs screaming, but fear pushed him harder. He darted across the busy road, nearly getting hit by a bike, earning curses from strangers—but he didn't stop.
Up ahead, towering into the sky, was a massive hospital—glass, steel, sunlight blinding off its surface. One of the biggest in the city. A skyscraper.
It was the first building his eyes locked on.
And without thinking— he sprinted toward it.
The entrance doors slid open automatically, and he burst inside. The lobby was packed—patients, nurses, doctors, security—but nobody paid attention to a terrified young man darting through the crowd.
Perfect.
Ted weaved between people, his heart hammering so violently it felt like it would tear out of his chest.
*Let him just end it.*
*Let everything just stop.*
*What's the point of living when every road leads back to pain?*
He found the emergency stairs, shoved through the door, and ran up—floor after floor, his breath ragged, sweat dripping down his face. His legs shook, but he didn't stop.
When the door to the rooftop finally burst open, sunlight hit his eyes like a slap.
Wind rushed past him.
The city spread below him—cars, buildings, life happening without him.
Ted stepped onto the edge of the roof.
His toes curled over the concrete. His body trembled. His mind went blank.
*Maybe this is freedom.* *Maybe this is peace.*
Behind him, the rooftop door slammed open—BAM.
Rodney's voice tore through the air.
"Teddy! You idiot! Get down from there!"
Ted's heart rate spiked. He glanced back to see Rodney emerging, breathing hard, fury still etched on his face.
"Don't—don't come closer!" Ted shouted, his voice breaking. "Rodney, I swear, I will jump!"
His chest heaved. His fingers shook. Tears he didn't even want rolled down his cheeks.
Rodney slowed, raising his hands slightly, but anger still burned in his eyes.
"Ted… get down. Don't be stupid."
The wind pushed against Ted's back. The world below looked endless.
*Maybe ending it is better… maybe living has nothing left for me.*
His life—every humiliation, every beating, every rejection—played across his mind like one long cruel movie.
Ted took a shaky step backward—closer to the edge.
His heel almost slipped. His breath hitched.
"Ted!" Rodney barked, taking one step forward despite his raised hands. "Get down from there, you idiot!! This isn't funny!"
Ted's eyes burned.
His chest felt tight.
The wind tugged at his clothes like invisible fingers.
He looked down again.
The distance was terrifying…
but strangely peaceful.
Maybe this was the only moment in his life he had full control over.
Rodney cursed under his breath.
"Ted, stop! Don't—"
Ted closed his eyes.
"I'm tired…" he whispered.
"I'm so tired…"
And then—
He let go.
His fingers slipped from the ledge.
His body tipped forward.
Rodney lunged, too late.
"TED!!!"
The world tilted—
the wind roared—
the sky spun—
the ground rushed upward like a hungry beast.
For the first time in years…
Ted felt light.
He felt free.
And as the hospital rooftop vanished above him—
everything went black.
***************
"What's going on…? I thought I died…"
Ted's eyes were shut tight. His chest heaved as if he had been running for hours, though he hadn't moved. Panic gnawed at him.
"What… what's happening?"
Suddenly, his eyes snapped open. A sharp gasp tore from his throat. He blinked rapidly, trying to adjust to the light.
He looked around.
Nothing felt familiar.
He was lying on a soft bed, covered in crisp white sheets. The air smelled sterile, cold, and faintly metallic. Hospital-like, but… not any hospital he had ever been in.
Ted raised a trembling hand and touched his face. The skin felt different—smoother, warmer. Then his fingers slid into hair—shoulder-length hair, soft and dark.
Wait… when did my hair grow this long?
Panic rose in his chest. He swung his legs over the side of the bed, feet hitting the cold floor. He stood, body stiff from what felt like hours of lying down.
His heartbeat quickened.
That was when it appeared.
A sudden chime—soft, mechanical—and then—
A glowing blue screen materialized in front of him, floating in empty air.
Ted's breath caught.
"Wh—What the hell is this?"
The interface was transparent, glowing faintly. Lines of text shifted and rearranged like a hologram. He blinked hard, wiped his eyes, even shook his head.
It didn't disappear.
He wasn't hallucinating.
He wasn't dreaming.
The screen flickered—and words formed.
---
[System Booting…]
[Scanning Soul Signature…]
[Host Accepted]
---
Ted staggered back.
"H–Host? Accepted? What do you mean accepted?!"
Another line appeared.
---
[Original Owner Detected: Luxion Vale — Status: Deceased]
[New Soul Identified: Theodore "Ted" Norman — Status: Integrated]
[Synchronization Level: 8% … 12% … 27%…]
---
Ted froze.
"…Luxion Vale…? Who… whose name is that?"
His heart raced. He wasn't a gamer. He didn't play VR. He didn't even own a decent phone to run games. Yet here was a screen straight out of a fantasy RPG hovering in front of him.
He licked dry lips.
"W…Who are you?" he asked, voice shaking.
The reply came instantly, cold and mechanical:
---
[Hybrid System Online]
[I am the Interface guiding the Hybrid Vessel.]
[You have been chosen as the new host.]
---
Ted stared, numb.
Chosen?
New host?
Hybrid?
"What… what do you want from me?"
The blue light pulsed. Then:
---
[Survive.]
[Adapt.]
[Evolve.]