Chương 3: Rift Detected

Bang! Alex jolted to attention, throwing his headphones onto his desk. Startled, he looked up, trying to gauge the source of the loud noise. He spotted a group of coworkers leaving the office together. Through the glass, it was easy to see them laughing as they made their way to the elevator. The office door had a habit of slamming if someone didn't guide it closed. Getting his racing heart back under control, Alex glanced at the clock in the corner of his monitor. 1: 32 pm. Crap.

Lunch had technically been over for half an hour. I really need to stop losing myself like that. Either I can't get into a groove, or I'm so focused that something needs to physically pull me out of it. He rubbed his forehead. The strain of concentrating for a few hours crashed into him all at once. Mark would give me hell for skipping lunch again." Gotta keep your strength up, man," he'd say, usually while eating something greasy and delicious. Alex stood and stretched. I really should go grab some lunch.

With Mark gone for the next few days, I guess I'm on my own. Maybe I should grab a quick bite at the diner down the street. They make a mean cheesesteak. And okay, maybe the cute waitress who works the lunch shift also has something to do with it. He snickered as he called himself out and grabbed his jacket from the back of his office chair. A cold gust of wind hit him as he stepped outside the building. November in Hoboken meant the sky was the color of old concrete and held the threat of snow.

He pulled his coat tighter, burying his chin into the collar. The diner was warm and smelled like coffee and fried foods. It was a classic greasy spoon sort of place. All dark wood and red booths. They'd hit the perfect balance between looking vintage and not looking run down. Alex scanned the room, hoping to see a flash of dark hair and a bright smile. She's not here today? Fuck. Oh, well. There was just something about her, something about the way she smiled that always seemed so genuine.

Realistically, he knew she wasn't interested in him the same way. He didn't know much about her, and it was all just surface-level attraction, but it did make lunch nicer. He slid into a booth by the window, the leather creaking under him. Maybe it's the cheesesteak I'm here for, after all. The waiter greeted him, and Alex gave a tight smile before sliding the menu away from himself.

"Just the cheesesteak and fries for me, thanks." The server, a heavyset guy with a bored expression, scribbled on his notepad.

"Coming up," he said, then disappeared back into the bustle of the diner. Alex drummed his fingers on the table and scanned the other customers. His eyes felt the drag of the afternoon, even though it wasn't even two o'clock yet. Another day, another deadline. Another week, another round of Mom and Dad asking when I'm going to get a "real" job. The memory of this week's dinner made his stomach churn. It was the same fight every single time. His gaze fell on a flyer taped to the napkin dispenser.

"Join the Hunter's Association! Secure Your Future!" Alex's thoughts drifted to a grim and spiteful sort of fantasy. What would his family think if he left his current job to live in a fantasy world? He remembered his father's frustration and anger at the entire situation, thinking that it was some sort of political move. They'd never understand, but the thought of escaping their expectations felt enticing. Surprisingly, it was Sarah's voice that popped into his head.

"Alex, you're looking for an escape again. You always do this when things get tough. You dive headfirst into something new, something exciting, to avoid dealing with the real issue." She had this way of using her "psychology dark magics" to psychoanalyze him and give him really sound advice. It was so annoying when she was right. And she was right. He knew that. But there was something about these Rifts and about the possibility of something more. Something beyond the mundane grind of his everyday life...

it was an intoxicating thought. I mean, sweet Jesus. Who am I kidding? I don't play a ton of games anymore, but… Fantasy magic, powers, and monsters coming to Earth through portals? It's every closet nerd's wet dream. He pulled out his phone and loaded the Nexus Hub website. A slew of news articles, forum discussions, and recruitment ads flashed before his eyes. After Mark sent him the video last night, he couldn't go to sleep. He stayed up and read most of the recent articles on Nexus Hub.

Alex was surprised that there wasn't very much specific information there. To the point that he'd probably agree with Mark that the information was getting pruned from the site, either by the moderators or by a third party. There was some general information and definitely a lot of recruiting, mostly from the groups that were calling themselves different "Guilds." If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

Guilds seemed to be the people's version of the government's "Hunter's Association." They posted recruitment posts based on location as if they were sports teams, offering incentives through pay, training, and more. The previous night, Alex set up push notifications from the site, hoping to catch something posted with more details before it was pruned from the site—sort of like how Mark caught the video before it was taken down.

But so far, the notifications had just been reports of breaking news articles from other sources. Suddenly, as if summoned by his thoughts, his phone dinged, and he saw a small banner drop from the top of the screen. He almost swiped it up before reading it, as he was actively on the site, but his thumb froze as he scanned the words in all caps. RIFT DETECTED NEAR YOU // RANK E // COORDINATES: 40. 7289° N, 74. 0328° W The words halted his thoughts, and his heart stuttered.

He clicked the banner, bringing up a dropped pin in his Maps App. That… that's right here. Alex shoved his phone into his pocket and stood up quickly. It was like watching a car crash in slow motion. He knew he should look away, but he couldn't help but stare. Could this be my chance? I've read so many articles, and all I could think about last night was that kid using magic… I should slow down and think this through, right? What if I'm too late? What if the government steps in and closes it down? Cash. Table.

Gotta go. As he fumbled for his wallet, his eyes fell on the steak knife next to his half-eaten cheesesteak. Shit. If I'm really going to do this, I'll have to fight something. His heart picked up pace as he stared at the knife. Forcing himself not to overthink it, he grabbed it and quickly wrapped it in the cheap linen napkin before shoving it into his coat pocket. The weight of it felt both reassuring and terrifying.

Alex tossed some cash on the table, probably more than was necessary, but he couldn't bring himself to care in the moment. His hands trembled slightly as he stood, and he wasn't sure if it was due to adrenaline or fear. What the hell am I doing? He glanced around and half-expected someone to stop him, for someone to call out and tell him to drop the knife. But no one paid him any mind. The diner continued its usual bustle, oblivious to the chaos that was happening a short distance away.

The bell above the diner door jingled angrily as he shouldered his way through. Cold air bit at his face, snapping him out of his haze. He pulled up the notification again, his fingers fumbling against the screen. 0. 22 miles. Almost a quarter of a mile. What the hell does that even mean? How far is that? A few blocks? More? The map app showed a little blue dot pulsing on the screen. He started following the trail of digital breadcrumbs, making a beeline away from the diner and toward the Rift.

Don't be stupid, Alex. You're not really going to... are you? Despite the question, his feet continued to pound against the pavement. I want this. I need to experience this for myself. What if someone tries to stop me? Or worse yet, what if I talk myself out of it? The buildings seemed to press in around him, and he picked up the pace. As he closed the distance, he noticed a change in the air that made the hairs on his neck stand up. This is insane. This is completely insane.

But still, he kept running and loosened the tie around his neck. The closer he got, the more crowded the streets became. People were clustered on corners, pointing in the direction he was running. They all seemed frozen, standing behind cars, many of them holding their phones to their ear or held aloft to get a recording. He slowed down. Where he stood, there seemed to be an invisible barrier where people had stopped moving away and were willing to stop and look back to investigate from a safe distance.

He looked down at his phone, his finger hovered over the destination pin. Alex took off his tie and held it in his hand as he looked at the phone and took in ragged gasps of air. Damn, I'm out of shape. What am I even doing? The reasonable part of his brain screamed the question at him. But surprisingly, it was drowned out by a different, more insistent voice. This is it. This is your chance to see if any of it is real… to see if it is all real. Alex realized then that he desperately wanted it to be real.

He moved forward again, slowly at first. He was surprised that his body was able to act despite his fear. It was also surprising that he seemed to want to move toward the danger rather than away from it. Ahead of him, a woman pulled her baby from the stroller and abandoned the walker. She nearly knocked him over as she barreled past. With wide eyes, she kept running, and her baby started crying. She cradled it closer as if to shield it.

The last stragglers disappeared around the corner, leaving Alex alone on the sidewalk. He could clearly see the glowing portal now. Cars were abandoned in the middle of the street, some smoking or beeping from accidents. Other than the noises caused by abandoned vehicles and shops, there was no one around. It was unnerving to see in a city setting like this. It made him think back to some of the scenes he saw when watching The Walking Dead. A normal and functional world, up and abandoned due to panic and chaos.

Alex's feet continued to move without conscious thought, carrying him toward the pulsing blue dot on his phone screen. Each step felt heavier than the last like he was wading through water. The air around the tall blue portal crackled with energy, and buildings all around were cast in an eerie light. The portal hung in the air, just off the street. It was terrifying and beautiful. Tons of different hues of blue swirled toward the center, and the surface shimmered and sparkled like water.

His phone slipped from his cold fingers, clattering to the pavement. Alex barely noticed. His eyes were glued to the Rift, his entire being drawn towards it. He could feel it pulling at him, drowning out the last bit of reason that was whispering at the back of his mind. Don't be stupid, Alex. This is crazy. You have no idea what's on the other side. But to his surprise, he didn't care anymore. For the first time in ages, he felt free from deadlines and the weight of expectations. He was chasing something real.

He bent down and grabbed his phone without taking his eyes off of the portal. Then his feet were moving before he could talk himself out of it. The air grew heavier as he got closer to the portal. Looking down at his texts, his thumb hovered over Mark's contact. He'd talk me out of this. Tell me I'm being stupid and we need to wait until the government can figure out what's actually going on. Then Sarah's name caught his eye. She'd have a field day analyzing this decision.

With a grunt, he shoved his phone back in his pocket. He needed to make this choice for himself. Not have anyone else talk him into it- or out of it. One last look back at the empty street and the familiar cityscape. It looked surreal from this angle, empty and awash in an ethereal light. Alex clutched his tie tightly in his hand before stepping forward into the portal. This is it. No looking back now.

In a fleeting thought, Alex wondered if what he was feeling was any different from those who participated in extreme sports. He stood at the edge of something insane and dangerous; all of the logical parts of his brain were screaming at him that he should stay where he was in safety and not take that next step. Alex pushed those fears aside and he knew that he'd always be able to rationalize the safe and cautious choice. Not this time. I won't hesitate and miss the opportunity.

The world dissolved into a kaleidoscope of color and muted sound. He was weightless for a brief moment, then there was the feeling of falling forward through a narrow tunnel.