Chapter 2

A low hum of background music can be heard across the room as Marcie tapped away at her keyboard in the office. On her screen was windows up for writing software code. Marcie was just wrapping up her work when her cell phone next to her keyboard rang. 

An exacerbated moan escaped when she recognized the name on the call display and picked it up begrudgingly. 

"Hi Aunt Kathy…" she didn't even want to give this insidious woman even the basics of pleasantries over the phone. 

"Marcie, do you know why I am calling?" Marcie saved her work and shut her computer down with her phone tucked between her cheek and shoulder. 

"I assume it has something to do with the house or inheritance again?" Marcie and her Aunt had gone over this more times than she could count. She is fairly certain, these weekly phone calls are now just a brazen attempt at emotionally wearing her down. 

"Gosh this child… listen, your cousins need to be going to the best of prep schools to get them ready for college. You already have your career and home sorted out so there is no need for you to have that house or that insurance money." Marcie made an expression of both shock and disgust.

"Your uncle and I have not been able to earn as much as we would like for our kids and you also share a responsibility in that as a member of the family." What load of horse shit was this woman spewing? Family? Seriously? They have never once behaved like family towards her.

"Kathy, I don't know how many more times I need to go over this with you. You, nor your husband or kids have any claim to what I received in the will. You already received your share of it which should have been more than enough to put those two through prep school." Marcie held the phone away from her ear as if on cue when the voice on the other end began to raise in pitch and volume. Instead of listening to the horribly illogical shouting, she just hit the hang up button. She hadn't considered those toxic people family for many years now.

Closing her eyes, Marcie started to take in a few very deep breaths to calm her riled nerves and wheeled over to the front door where her swim gear and bag were. The weather was indeed really nice today. 

The streets were rather busy that day for some reason, she soon found out why. A crowd of protesters complete with homemade t-shirts and picket signs marched about. They were protesting the unfair hours and severe understaffing for the Emergency Dungeon Response Organization. They were basically the first responders for when dungeons suddenly popped up. But it's not like it is a beneficial job like the Hunters Guilds. Marcie scoffed under her breath at them. She knew what sort of job theirs was, which was a far more cushy job than a majority of people, and you had to be awakened to be in a response team.

The only part that was understandable about their frustration was that it was a very dangerous job since they were going into unknown places rife with creatures and beasts of potentially unimaginable horror. Marcie thought back to a certain someone from her past and sighed.

While crossing the street along a well-tread crosswalk, Marcie was forced to come to a halt. Something was blocking her and the other pedestrians from continuing to move forward. Marcie began to worry since the crossing light wasn't going to remain on forever and didn't really notice a bunch of people turning around to find another way across. 

As the crowd began to part, she caught a glimpse of a group of protesters actively blocking the street and putting their weight into pushing people back as though to claim that part of the block for themselves like some gang. Marcie was getting nervous. She needed to get across. The other path to the recreation center was an uphill one. 

"Excuse me, may I please get past you?" She called out to them. One of the protesters huffed and cussed out at her, maintaining their stance. She could tell that they were the type to get hostile to even an old senior citizen should they breathe wrong. They are probably already wound up really tightly… I better not provoke them…

Marcie fumbled with her wheelchair to get it turned around to go back. The protester had a nasty smug look on their face, but was quickly snapped away when everyone's attention was turned to the crackling sound and blinding light that suddenly burst out in the middle of the intersection.

A familiar sound that put Marcie into a frozen state of fear as she recalled a horrible memory. Wind gushed forth with a strong violence towards the portal as it began to form and began sucking in nearby people. The entire area was raised in a flurry of screaming and shouting with people running from the portal like a herd in a stampede. Marcie would have been just out of its reach if it hadn't been for someone, in their panicked state, pushing her towards the portal as though trying to use her as a barrier for them to get away faster.

When Marcie looked back at who it was, her eyes widened when she realized it was the protestor who bullied her moments before. But it was too late now. Marcie crashed in the air into another person as they were pulled through the portal and blacked out.