I woke up to the cry of my mom telling me to "get my butt downstairs before I'm late for school." Ugh, can't I just sleep in a bit more? I thought as I sat up. Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I got out of bed, took a deep breath, and I exhaled.
Today was the day that I would take the spirit bonding ritual. The words echoed through my head as I stood up to stretch. This day wasn't just any day for an 18-year-old. This day would decide my future. And this is a ritual I have to succeed in. Beyond this lies a world of power, purpose, and prestige—a world unknown.
I headed downstairs, the smell of breakfast was making my stomach rumble.
"Mmmmm, smells fantastic, mom. What did you make?" I asked.
"Morning, my sweetheart. There's eggs and bacon, and some toast if you want it," mom said, her voice was soft, the way she always sounded when she was trying to give my morning a gentle start.
The smell of bacon and buttered toast drifted towards me, comforting me. My stomach growled, yet beneath the hunger was a coil of nerves wound so tight I was afraid eating might snap it open. "Sounds delicious," I said as I settled into my chair. Saying it felt like slipping into a familiar rhythm I didn't want to break. My dad was sitting next to me, his morning coffee in hand.
He looked over at me, a soft smile tugging at his lips. "So, son, how are your studies going?"
My chest tightened in that familiar way—the blend of love and pressure, and fear of disappointing them. My throat felt tight, and I lifted my fork just to give my hands something to do. "They're doing just fine, dad," I replied, taking a few bites of my eggs.
Mom leaned in a little, her voice warm. "Ready for today?"
I hesitated. "Yeah. Today's the day of the spirit bonding ritual."
They both paused, sharing a quick glance.
"That's a big deal," Dad said. "Just remember that we are proud of you, no matter what."
Mom nodded, her eyes soft. "And sweetheart, you don't have to pretend that you aren't nervous. Anyone would be."
"I'm fine," I said, even though the three of us knew that wasn't the whole truth. How could it be? The spirit bonding ritual wasn't just some ritual—it transports a person's soul to the Astral plane in order for us to bond with a spirit. One ritual, and your entire future snapped into place. Whether you would earn the chance to train, to stand against the monsters beyond our walls—and the ones hiding within. Or whether you'd be left to struggle through the rest of your life, forgotten.
My mom gave me a small reassuring smile, but before either of them could say more, a knock sounded at the front door.
"I'll get it," I said. Rushing to the door. My best friend Nate Poger was there, backpack slung over his shoulder.
"You ready?" he asked.
I turned back towards the house. "I'm off to school. See you tonight."
"Be safe," Mom replied. "And remember to be back before dinner."
"Okay, mom," I said.
We started walking, the morning sun gently rising above the mountain tops. Shops opened as the city buzzed with people doing their morning activities. Birds chirped, dogs dashed around the neighbourhood. Kids ran around the street, playing tag.
"Are you ready for today?" Nate asked.
"I've been ready for years. And I know that my spirit has been too," I said.
Nate turned towards me. "You sure have a lot of confidence."
"Well, of course I do. I was born for this," I replied.
"Okay, man, but try not to get your hopes up too much; not many are found compatible," Nate said.
"Don't worry Nate, I'll still remember you when I become a powerful spirit user," I boasted.
Nate glanced at me, eyebrows furrowed. "Mark…"
"Well, look who we have here," someone said from across the street.
Nate and I turned around towards the voice, eyes wide.
"Josh, what are you doing here?" I asked. Shit, what was he doing here? I glanced around the alleyway that Nate and I normally took to school. And standing next to Josh were his friends, or the four idiots as Nate and I called them. These people never left us alone, they bullied us with their numbers.
"Haha… I was walking with my buddies when we saw you. And so I just had to stop by and say hello." Josh smirked.
"Great, seeing you today just made my day sooo much better," I jibed.
Josh's smile cracked for a moment, irritation flickering in his eyes. "Careful how you talk to me." But the edge in his voice vanished almost instantly, replaced by a practiced calmness. "So, what are you guys doing here so early in the morning?"
"That's none of your business," I replied.
Josh says "Oh, don't be like that Mark, we're good friends you and I." He and his friends burst out laughing.
A surge of annoyance shot through me, strong enough to override my better judgement. "Oh sorry," I fired back, the words spilling out before I could stop them. "It must've slipped my mind that I had a dumbass piece of shit as a friend."
This enraged Josh. Gazing sharply, he looked at his friends. "Well don't just stand there, hold them down," he barked.
They turned towards us, grinning. And charged.
I was surprised—they always moved much faster than I expected. Looking at the size of them, I always thought that they couldn't run at all.
Nate lunged at one of them, slamming his shoulder into the guy's chest. They tumbled to the ground, fists flying. Another guy came at me.
I ducked under his wide swing, landing a blow to his gut. He staggered back, gasping for air. Another one grabbed me from behind, arms locked around my chest. I stomped on his foot and elbowed backward—hit something soft and heard a grunt. He loosened his grip, and I twisted free.
Josh was charging now.
I had no time to prepare; his fist slammed into my cheek with the force of a hammer, knocking me off balance. Pain exploded across my face. I stumbled to the ground, but I gritted my teeth and got back up. He came charging at me, fist cocked back.
I met him halfway—and drove my fist into his nose with everything I had. There was a sickening crack. Blood burst from his nostrils.
He screamed. "You son of a—!"
He tackled me to the ground, fists raining down. I tried to block them, but two of his guys grabbed my arms, and dragged me to my knees. I tried getting up, but another knee shot towards my gut, stealing the breath from my lungs. All I could do was take it.
Josh loomed over me, smearing the blood on his cheek with the back of his hand.
"You think you're better than me?" he snarled, but there was a crack in his voice that he couldn't hide. "That a stupid ritual will make you special?" He sucked in a shaky breath, eyes wild—not only with rage, but with something closer to panic. "Hundreds of thousands take it every year—and almost everyone fails. You stroll around like you'll be one of the lucky ones?" His voice broke, trembling with rage. "You're nothing."
He brought his fist down.
And then again.
And again.
Each blow was worse than the last. My head snapped back with every hit. My vision blurred. I tasted blood. My thoughts scattered.
Somewhere nearby, I heard Nate shout—he was still fighting, still swinging. A grunt, a thud. Someone screamed in pain. I saw one of the gang members stumble back, holding his arm.
Nate broke free and charged Josh, shoulder-slamming him off me.
Josh stumbled, surprised by the sudden blow.
"Get off him!" Nate yelled.
But the other two were on Nate in seconds. They tackled him to the ground. One kneed him in the ribs. I tried to get up—but couldn't. My body felt like it was sinking into the ground, my every muscle screaming.
Josh walked back over to me, clutching his bleeding nose.
He looked unhinged, a storm barely contained behind his eyes.
"Time for some payback."
He let loose.
A flurry of fists smashed into my face, chest, and stomach. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't move. I was drowning in pain. Somewhere in the sea of pain, I felt something crack—maybe my nose, maybe a rib.
The world tilted.
Sound dulled.
I barely registered the last kick to my side before everything faded into blackness.
Then—
Silence.