Chapter One

Lights were dim in the pitch-black sky, covered by a haze of sulking clouds. The streets were akin to barren land, with no one in sight. Yet, in the dull streets which were walled in by buildings piercing the grey in the land above the ground, there was a single area, a single part of the towering buildings, where the light was not lost. It was bright, engulfing the dimness permeating from surroundings.

"Anything else?" A young man sat inside a light-filled shop. It was a simple, ordinary place, yet it exuded an aura of serenity and relief.

"Can I actually get another iced coffee? Just make it large. Thanks." The young man was slightly bronze skinned. His features were average, to say the least; black hair with maybe a few hidden silvers and inky eyes which showed a lack of excitement.

"Sure thing." The young man sat on a chair, slouching very slightly, his twig figure leaning towards a small laptop that constantly released rays of light and color. He was staring, not at this screen, but towards an older man who stood by him. This man wore a black shirt with black pants. Tied on his head was a dim purple ribbon. "Alright, I will bring it right over then."

Sitting silently, he refocused his gaze back onto the screen on his laptop. His eyes turned slightly red, as a small vein bulged on his forehead. "Fuck!" A silent yell escaped his heavy tone, but no one was around to hear it. "This score isn't going to get me into any residencies! How could I do so bad on the USMLE? I studied so hard!" His fists clenched tightly, and he couldn't help but lean back on his seat and silently stare at the ceiling. "Even if I ace the USMLE in the second attempt, which is unlikely, getting a decent residency will be almost impossible! Fuck, fuck FUCK!"

His breathing was slow, not rapid, yet his tanned skin became slightly paler.

"Sir, your iced coffee." The old man reappeared beside him. The young man closed the screen of his laptop and stood up. Grabbing the coffee, he smiled blandly at the old man.

"Thank you. How much is it?" Tucking the laptop under his left armpit and holding the coffee in his left hand, he used his right one to dig into his back pocket for his wallet.

"It's alright, sir. You're a regular here anyways, so it's on the house." Staring at the old man, the young man nodded his head.

Walking towards the exit, he left the shop while exhaling a deep sigh. "I can't tell anyone about this. If dad finds out, then I'm dead. Mom would probably get a heart attack or something. And if all my aunts and uncles found out, well there goes dad's reputation. Damn, he shouldn't have boasted before something actually happened." Using the blue straw to sip at his Ice coffee, he shook his head. "Should I even head back home? It's late, plus I just don't feel like it. Going now would just give me a bigger headache. I'll just head to the park and write for a bit." Making up his mind, he began to walk between the large buildings. Zig zagging through the smoky alleys which dripped with a cold liquid, he finally made it to a large grassy field. A few benches were laid out here and there, while the green grass, which looked somewhat dry, danced under the gaze of the wind. Finding a silent area, he quickly sat down and placed his coffee beside him.

"Since I feel like shit, instead of committing suicide, might as well create another character. Haha." He laughed at his own joke before opening up his laptop. Soon, he became engrossed in the light excreting screen, typing away at a quick pace.

Ring Ring

Suddenly, as he was writing, a ring began to appear from his pocket. With slight irritation, he picked up the phone. "Hello?"

"Alem, where are you? It's past 1 am now, you should be home now! Did something happen?"

"Relax mom, I'm planning to stay the night at the University, I have to study a bit. I will come home in the morning. Alright?"

"Why didn't you tell me sooner? I was worried sick! Drop whatever you're doing and come home, or else no one will be worse than me! I want you home by 1: 30 am at the latest!"

"Mom--" Before he could say anything more, the phone was suddenly disconnected. "Shit! Should I go home now? Or later? Either way I'm going to get beat, just the day it will happen will be different. Hehe." Although he spoke like this, Alem was already getting up from his bench and walking away. With his laptop in one hand his coffee in the other, he silently walked through the large park. He looked around at the darkness that illuminated the sky and the light that played hide'n'seek behind the trees.

"What a life, so busy and stressful." He sighed a little as he began to speak to himself. "Although I made a few bucks from my books, honestly nothing too great. I still have to work constantly at that fast food restaurant earning a shit amount even though I've made manager position. I barely managed to get into med school while working and barely graduated. And now, I did absolute shit on my USMLE, which means becoming a doctor, something I chased for the past ten or so years, worked so hard for, is down the drain. Shit. Although I'm not upset about becoming a doctor or not, just mad dad and mom's dreams aren't accomplished. Plus, since I chased after this, I have nothing else to go for. Even my bachelor's is useless. Fuck my life."

"So, your life is a mess?"

A voice appeared inside his head all of a sudden. Alem stopped walking, but not much fear was shown on his face. If anything, there was a bit of expectation.

"Yeah, it's kind of shit." He replied without leaving for a break.

"Should I help end this miserable life?"

His fists clenched, but not in horror, rather a different glint was seen within his eyes, yet also a bit of relief. "Do what you need, but at least let me finish my coffee. I paid good money for this, wait sike. I got it for free. Hehe." Although his voice seemed calm and his words seemed carefree, his legs couldn't help but tremble slightly. Although adding a bit of humor helped him calm a little, but really, it didn't do much. He quickly took a sip of his coffee and then turned around. Hoping to see who it was that wanted to end his miserable life.

"Weird, your reaction seems very accepting to say the least."

"I wouldn't really consider it a big deal. My life is kind of shit, but I'm reluctant to commit suicide since that would just smudge my reputation after I die. Plus, lots of people will scorn my parents for raising a weak child. So, if I die from an accident, or if I'm killed, atleast people won't insult me too much after my death. Haha." When he turned around, he couldn't see anyone, but he felt that they were nearby, so he didn't really get too shocked.

"You seem to care a lot about your own reputation. If you die, then will it really matter? You would be dead, so how much will it affect you?"

"True, but I only care about my reputation because my reputation will have a direct effect on my family. As my dad told me a million times, I am the next head of our small middle-class family. Not much there, but still, for small people, reputation and dignity is more important than money. If I ruin even such a thing, I probably won't die in peace." The more he spoke, the calmer he felt. It didn't feel like someone was going to kill him, rather he felt like he was talking to himself. "Anyways, since you're going to kill me, why are you taking so much time? I think it would be better to get it done quickly." Honestly, he didn't mind the idea of death, in reality it was a type of relief for him. Living with so much pressure his whole life, made him want to die for many years.

"Young man, I feel as though you are quite the weak character. Your life is a lot better than many people in this world, even less stressful. Yet, with such little stress in comparison, you wish to die, yet they wish to live. Why?"

"The answer is in your analysis. I'm a weak-willed person. I don't have that strong personality or that great motivation in life, I just want to peacefully leave this world behind so that I can be stress-free." He answered with a sigh, but his gaze never left the surrounding trees. "Alright, are you going to show yourself now or what? Why are you questioning me so much? This is very unprofessional of you."

"Since you wish to see me, turn around."

The voice became louder before it cut off. A gust of wind blew past him, causing his spine to tremble. This was it. He was going to meet face to face with his killer. He was worried it would be painful, yet relieved that it would happen. Also, a bit shocked that it was actually happening.

He turned around and saw an old man. It was shocking. Although based on the tone of the voice, he assumed that it would be a middle-aged person atleast, he never thought it would be an old man. Plus, this old man seemed so scholarly, intelligent, rich even. His hair was a deep black, similar to obsidian. Yet, the strangest part were his eyes. They were a color he had never seen, plus was proven to be impossible many times - Purple. It was not just a rare color; it was almost non existent. Although people have claimed to have it, he didn't believe it as it was medically not possible. Atleast as far as he was concerned. 'But what do I know? I didn't even do well on my USMLE.'

"You have seen my face, so…"

"Yes, yes, I know. Since I know what you look like, death is all that awaits me. Even if I blind myself or anything, you can't let me go since I know what features you have, etc. So, are you going to kill me or not?" Honestly speaking, his fear of death was very low right now. He just couldn't believe it was happening. Everything going on around him was very cliche to say the least. The dumb questions, the constant delay, and now the same old threat.

The old man looked at him weirdly before pulling out a small dagger. "So, you are ready?"

"My lord!" Alem felt his head become a little light headed. "Here, once you make up your mind, then please come find me." A little annoyed, he walked past the old man. His face was slightly red out of embarrassment. 'Did I just speak all of that bullshit to a random old man? Fuck, that's embarrassing as hell!'

"Wait!" Suddenly, Alem heard the old man yell from behind. With his face still slightly red, he turned around with a bit of irritation.

"Ye--" Before he could finish, he felt everything become a blur. The old man in front of him began to fade away like the light when the sun set. However, it wasn't just the old man that was vanishing from his sight, it was everything. 'What the hell is going on!'. Slowly, darkness began to envelop his sight, devouring everything.