Lucid Veins

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CHAPTER 1 : The Truth

The calendar on my wall hung silently, its numbers looking at me, asking for attention. Six years had gone by since the world ended in 2012, and here I was, stuck in a place that felt like a memory of a life I once had. Shadows of past memories flickered in my mind, whispering truths I could hardly understand.

I was an eight-year-old boy, or at least that's how everyone saw me. I played cricket in the sunny field, laughing and running with my friends. But deep inside, I knew I was different. While they enjoyed being kids, I came from a broken world, carrying the heavy truth that our real world lay in ruins. I alone felt how weak and fragile our lives were, and that truth weighed heavily on my small shoulders.

When I first came to this parallel world, I was just a two-year-old—too young to express the big truth I wanted to shout, to warn everyone that we were living in a lie. My young mind couldn't find the words. Instead, I learned to live this new life, pretending to be a child while my heart ached with secrets I couldn't share.

Then, I had a vivid and haunting dream that showed a twisted future. On my eighteenth birthday, I would become a dreamwalker, gaining the ability to travel through books, each one a door to new skills and knowledge. This power brought hope, but it came with a scary warning: our parallel world was also set to fall apart by 2030, threatened by aliens lurking just beyond our understanding.

The people around me were real—they had blood, tears, and laughter, just like me. But I knew they couldn't see the whole truth. They lived happily, unaware that we were memories of a world that once thrived. I felt connected to them, yet there was a distance between us. The clock was ticking, and I had to prepare them for the storm ahead.

There was a cruel twist to my fate: I had to wait until I turned eighteen to unlock my power as a dreamwalker. Knowing what awaited us felt like a ticking time bomb. The years stretched ahead like a long, unyielding desert. I had to endure this life until 2028, trapped in a child's body while the world around me moved toward destruction.

As dusk settled over the cricket field, painting the sky in orange and purple, I allowed myself a moment of peace. The laughter of my friends sounded like a beautiful song, a temporary comfort for my restless soul. I joined their games, playing the carefree child, but even as I laughed, my mind raced with plans.

I would not let this world fall without a fight. I would become the dreamwalker I was meant to be, using the knowledge of countless worlds to protect those I cared about. I imagined the power flowing through me, the ability to jump through stories and learn from them. I could gather allies, learn strategies, and get ready for the battle ahead.

With each passing day, I would find ways to prepare and grow stronger. I would train my mind, sharpen my instincts, and wait patiently for the moment I could step into my true power. Though I was just a child now, I carried the heart of a warrior—a protector of a world that needed saving.

As the sun dipped below the horizon and the stars began to shine, I made a silent promise. I would not let this parallel world slip into nothingness. I would use the dreams yet to come, and when the time arrived, I would rise to meet the challenge. Because in the end, I was more than just a boy in a field—I was a beacon of hope in a world on the edge of despair.

10 Years Later .....

Nicolas walked through the school gates, looking around at the crowded hallway. He just wanted to go fast and avoid trouble. But trouble found him anyway.

Joseph and Logan, the school bullies stars, blocked his path. They taunted at him, and Nicolas knew he was in for a beating.

"Hey, Nicolas, what's up?" Joseph taunted. "Still think you're a superhero?"

Logan joined in, by gripping his fists towards Nicolas. "Yeah, or maybe you're just a freak who can't defend himself?"

Nicolas tried to stand up for himself, but the bullies were too strong. They hit him again and again, until he fell to the ground.

As they walked away, Joseph called out, "Hey, Nicolas, let's get some ramen! You can buy it, loser!"

Nicolas struggled to his feet, his nose throbbing with pain. He made his way to the school infirmary, where the doctor looked after to his wounds.

After this , Nicolas headed home, feeling sad and alone. It was his eighteenth birthday, but it didn't feel like a celebration

to him.

When he got home, his little sister Anya ran to hug him. "Happy birthday, Nicolas!" she exclaimed.

Nicolas forced a smile. "Thanks, Anya."

As they ate a simple birthday dinner, Anya asked, "Nicolas, do you think Mom and Dad would be proud of us?"

Nicolas looked at her and said, "Absolutely, Anya. They'd be proud of us for being brave and taking care of each other."

Later that night, Nicolas lay in bed, his little sister Anya snuggled up beside him. As they drifted off to sleep, Nicolas felt a sense of peace washing over him.

But his peace was short-lived. Nicolas fell into a deep sleep, and his dream began.

He found himself standing in a vast, dark land. The ground beneath his feet was dry and cracked, and the air was thick with an eerie silence.

A figure stood before him, shrouded in shadows. As Nicolas drew closer, the figure slowly turned to face him.

Nicolas's eyes widened as he took in the sight of the person before him. The man wore a long, white coat, like a scientist.

"Welcome, Nicolas," the man said. "I have been waiting for you."

Nicolas felt like he knows him but he cannot remember him so after long thinking he asked directly "Who are you?"

The man smiled. "I am a guide," he said. "And you, Nicolas, are a dreamwalker."

Nicolas's mind reeled as the man's words How does he know that I am a dream walker in my dream ?

Nicolas was confused. "How do you know I'm a dreamwalker?" he asked.

The man smiled again. "It's easy. I can figure it out, because I am watching you from many years Nicolas

Nicolas asked, then you said you are a guide them "What kind of guide are you?"

The man replied, "I can answer any question you have."

Nicolas thought for a moment, then asked, "Who am I? And who are you?"

The man's expression changed. "You are a result of a failed experiment," he said. "You were created by mistake. And I'm the head scientist who created you. But I'm not alive anymore. I'm just a consciousness."

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