The morning sun filtered through the expensive blinds of Jude's apartment. It hit the floor in neat, golden strips. He didn't rush to get up. There was no reason to.
His life was exactly where he wanted it to be. He had a career that most people his age dreamed of and a social circle that actually cared about him. He felt the soft, high thread-count sheets against his skin as he stretched.
He finally rolled out of bed and walked toward the master bathroom. He caught his reflection in the large, frameless mirror. Jude stood at 6,2. He had a lean, athletic build that came more from good genetics than hours at the gym. His skin was clear. His jawline was sharp enough to be noticed but not so much that it looked aggressive.
His hair was the main event. It was pitch black and short, but it was a total mess. It stood up in different directions like he had been through a wind tunnel.
He ran a hand through it to try and flatten it down. It didn't work. It just fell back into that same messy, effortless style. He liked it that way. It made him look approachable.
As he was splashing cold water on his face, his phone started vibrating on the marble counter. The screen lit up with a photo of a girl laughing.
Her name was Alowen. It was a name he always thought sounded like it belonged in a poem. She was, without a doubt, the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
He swiped the screen and put the phone to his ear.
"Hey, my soon to be wife," Jude said. He had a slight smile on his face.
"Hey, my big daddy," Alowen replied.
She said it with a clear, playful tone. It was a joke they had been running for months. It started after a bad movie they watched together.
Now, she used it just to see him roll his eyes. He could practically hear the smirk on her face through the speaker.
"You really need to find a new nickname for me," Jude laughed. "So, what are we doing? I was thinking we should go out. Maybe catch a movie and get some decent food. I want to actually spend some time with you today."
"I would love that," she said. "But I have to be at the office by 8:30 tonight for that late shift. Can you be here soon?"
"I am already on my way," Jude told her.
He hung up and moved with a bit more purpose. He grabbed his keys from the bowl by the door. He stripped off his sleepwear and went to his closet.
He pulled out a simple black Chrome Hearts shirt. The fabric was thick and high quality. He paired it with some black ripped skinny jeans. They fit him perfectly. He looked like someone who had money but didn't feel the need to scream about it.
He walked out to the garage and pressed a button on his fob. The lights of his 2026 Porsche 911 S/T blinked in the dark.
It was a deep, metallic silver. He climbed into the bucket seat. The interior smelled like new leather and a hint of expensive cologne.
He pressed the ignition. The engine roared to life. It was a deep, mechanical growl that echoed off the garage walls. It wasn't a high-pitched scream.
It was a low, powerful rumble that sat in your chest. He backed out of the driveway and headed toward Alowen's place.
When he pulled up to her house, she was already standing on the porch. She looked incredible.
He watched her walk to the car and climb in. The air in the Porsche changed instantly. It smelled like her perfume now. It was something light and floral.
"Nice car," she teased. "Still sounds like a beast."
"It gets me from point A to point B," Jude joked.
They started driving toward the theater. They talked about everything and nothing. Alowen told him about her boss being a headache. Jude told her about a new investment he was looking at.
The conversation was easy. It wasn't forced or awkward. They had that kind of chemistry where silence was just as comfortable as talking.
They spent the next few hours in a dark theater. They shared a large popcorn and laughed at parts of the movie that weren't supposed to be funny. Afterward, they went to a small Italian spot.
The lighting was dim. The food was incredible. They sat there for an hour just enjoying the fact that they didn't have anywhere else to be.
By 8:00 PM, Jude was pulling back up to her driveway. He leaned over and gave her a long kiss.
"I'll call you when I'm done with my shift," she whispered.
"I'll be waiting," he said.
He watched her walk inside before he drove back to his apartment. It was his off day, so he was feeling lazy.
He walked into his living room and sat down on the large, plush couch. He picked up the remote and flipped through the apps until he found his favorite anime.
He started watching Webagon Ball Z. He sat there with his chin in his hand. He watched the main character, Koku, struggling against the villain of the arc.
"Why doesn't Koku just turn Saiyan Super Instinct Ultra?" Jude muttered to the empty room. "He is just dragging it out for the drama at this point."
The apartment was starting to feel warm. The AC was struggling with the summer heat. Jude stood up and pulled his shirt off. He tossed it onto the armchair.
He kicked off his jeans too. He was just in his boxers now. He felt much better. He laid back down on the couch cushions and let his eyes drift shut. He was asleep within minutes.
It was a deep sleep. He didn't have any dreams. There were no flashing lights or strange sounds. There was just nothing.
When Jude finally started to wake up, he felt a strange sensation. His eyes were still blurry. He felt like his head was filled with cotton.
He reached out a hand to the side. He was looking for his phone. He usually left it on the arm of the couch.
His hand didn't find a soft fabric armrest. His fingers hit something hard. It was cold and rough.
He frowned. He shifted his body, expecting to feel the bounce of the couch springs. Instead, his back pressed against something solid. It felt like stone or old wood.
'What the hell did I do? Did I fall off the couch?'
He rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands. He blinked a few times to clear his vision. The blurry shapes started to take form.
He wasn't in his living room.
Jude sat up abruptly. His heart gave a hard thud against his ribs. He looked down. He wasn't on his couch. He was sitting on a hard wooden bed. There was no mattress. It was just a frame made of thick, dark timber.
He looked around the room. It was small. The walls were made of rough logs. The gaps were filled with dried mud. There were no windows. The only light came from a single candle flickering on a wooden stump.
The air was different here. It didn't smell like his apartment. It smelled like wood smoke, damp earth, and something metallic. It was cold. He could see his own breath in the dim light.
He looked at his hands. They were still his hands. But he wasn't in his home. He wasn't in his city. He wasn't even sure if he was on Earth. He raised his hand and slapped himself across the face.
The sting was sharp. It was very real.
'Am I not dreaming?'
He stood up. His bare feet hit a floor made of packed, cold dirt. He looked at the wooden door across from him. It looked heavy and ancient. One thought pushed through the panic in his mind.
'Transmigration?'