"The order is ready."
A staff member at a bustling fast-food chain placed a wrapped parcel on the counter. A boy, around eighteen, stepped forward, picked it up, and left the building with a quiet nod. He hopped onto his worn-out delivery bike and began riding toward his destination.
His appearance was unremarkable, neither ugly nor handsome, just... average. Black, tousled hair sat over his forehead, and tired, raven like dark eyes stared blankly ahead. Heavy shadows beneath them revealed his sleepless nights.
That boy was Raven.
An orphan since before he could remember his own name, Raven had grown up in a government-sponsored orphanage. To survive, he juggled several part-time jobs.
'This life sucks.'
He cursed inwardly, lamenting the grind that had become his existence. If there was one word that could define him, it was... "lowlife."
He lived at the very bottom of the social ladder. No looks to stand out. No brilliance to show. No money to climb higher.
But he had something else. Something that kept him going.
Adaptability.
No matter the situation, Raven could adjust. He wasn't great at anything, but he was quick to learn the rules, to survive.
Eventually, he stopped in front of a tall residential building. This was his final delivery for the day. Grabbing the items, he walked inside. Just as he was about to press the elevator button, a notice greeted him:
[The elevator is under maintenance.]
"...Fuck. This couldn't be worse."
He sighed. Of course, this would happen now. He looked down at the sizable order he was carrying, then up toward the ceiling.
The delivery address was on the 30th floor.
With no other choice, he took the stairs. His legs started burning long before the halfway point, but he didn't stop. This wasn't unusual for him. Exhaustion had become routine. Life didn't hand him chances, he learned to take the blows without complaint.
After nearly ten grueling minutes, he finally reached the 30th floor. He paused to catch his breath, sweat dripping down his face. Just as he raised his hand to press the doorbell, he heard laughter, soft giggling and voices full of youthful energy.
Voices that sounded his age.
For a brief moment, Raven hesitated. A pang of envy stabbed his chest.
Same age. Different worlds. Separated by a thin line.
He turned toward the window in the corridor. The city stretched far into the horizon, buzzing, beautiful, and out of reach.
"Sigh~"
He hung his head for a second. He never liked this life. But this was the only one he had.
He finally rang the bell. Moments later, the door swung open. A tall guy with dyed yellow hair and a bright, easy smile greeted him. Seeing the man before him, he wondered if he had seen him somewhere.
"Hey, I know you! You go to the same school as me, right?"
Raven instantly recognized him. Of course, he did. Everyone did. Popular, charismatic, loved by everyone, he was none other than the leader of football team in his school, Eric. He had the kind of presence that would make anyone around him feel beneath him, but he was never the kind to treat anyone that way, cause if he had, there wouldn't have been so many people inside, all of them were enjoying being there,
But Raven?
They existed in different realities.
"No, you've got the wrong guy. I don't know you," Raven replied, handing over the order.
"Hey, don't lie. I've seen you before. I even tried talking to you once, but you walked away-"
"What's taking so long, Eric? Don't tell me you're- Oh, look who we have here." Another boy stepped into view, a smug grin plastered across his face. "Isn't this the carrier crow, Raven? This kind of job really suits a lowlife like you. Mind if I snap a picture? The chat group will love this."
Raven's eyes narrowed.
He knew this guy too, too well to be exact. He was a classmate and... a bully. Someone who used to target him for being an easy mark... until Raven snapped and gave him a beating he wouldn't forget.
Since then, the boy resorted to psychological attacks. He spread rumors... lies about Raven sleeping with old men for money, about shady encounters in strange cars. All false. But with the right connections, those lies spread fast.
That's how Raven became a pariah.
"Hey, quit it, will you? He's a friend of mine," Eric interrupted, trying to defuse the situation.
"Friend? Who? Him? Don't make me laugh, Eric."
The mocking sneer made Raven's blood boil.
"I've delivered your order. I'll be taking my leave now."
Raven turned around, not bothering to ask for a review or rating.
"Hey, Raven. I know it's random, but... wanna stick around? It's my birthday today."
Eric's voice was genuine. Maybe too genuine.
"I appreciate the offer. But I've got more places to go," Raven said, lying without hesitation.
It was his last delivery. But standing at that doorstep, looking in at the warm lighting, the laughter, the people who fit together like puzzle pieces, he felt alien. Out of place. Uninvited, even if welcomed.
He was, as they said, a lowlife.
Without another word, he walked away. There was no sadness in his steps, just the weight of silent acceptance. His only wish now was to get home, even though someone would probably be waiting there again to demand the rent... for the seventh time that week.
He reached his bike, slumped down, and closed his eyes.
The image of those people laughing, the warmth of that party... it flashed through his mind.
"There were girls too... how fucking embarrassing."
No matter how hard life was, Raven still dreamed of normalcy. Of having friends. Of maybe dating someone.
But that dream felt so far away it might as well be fiction.
"Let's just get out of here," he muttered, revving the bike.
As he made his way home, a strange sensation passed through him.
A massive wave tore through the streets, which did not go unnoticed.
His bike suddenly stopped working. The lights around him flickered and died.
With the momentum lost, Raven was thrown forward. The bike skidded across the road and crashed, taking him with it.
He wasn't alone.
Five colossal waves surged across the Earth at that moment, paralyzing all satellite networks and any tech-based machinery.
The apocalypse had begun.
And the one who heralded it…
Came tearing through the void in the sky.
***
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