I wasn't the type to have big dreams. School sucked, I had average grades... or so I think. My mom? At her lover's house. My dad? Never met him.
My classmates... there was a bit of everything: the typical bullies causing trouble, the smart class delegate, the pretty girl. And me? I was invisible to all of them. I just stayed home, watching anime, conspiracy theories, or romance series (maybe what I needed to find).
The details are mostly unnecessary... unless my best friends called me: Miguel and Diego.
Childhood best friends, we'd play guitar all day or video games (hmm... we were terrible).
The most anticipated date had arrived. The one that all schools lived with euphoria: the prom. The "goodbye" to an era. Everyone talked endlessly about their outfits, dates, the after-party (God, what a headache listening to them).
Honestly, I just wanted it to be over quickly. It was one of those things I felt I didn't belong to. But almost by obligation, I had to go.
"Damn it, I think I'm a freaking antisocial loser."
While I was getting dressed in a suit I absolutely hated, I got a message from Miguel, just a few hours before the damned party started:
"Leo, are you ready for the adventure? Miguel's already waiting for us."
I... I had forgotten.
"Shit, it's today."
"Yeah, I'll definitely be there."
"Hahahaha, you really are so forgetful. See you there," Diego said, hanging up.
We had made a pact at the beginning of the year, a pact I had even proposed myself!: on prom night, while everyone was dancing and saying goodbye, we would have our own "prom party."
The place wasn't a bar. It wasn't a brothel (where maybe we could truly become men)... no way!
It was something we had discovered years ago: a weird spot on Google Maps.
A secluded forest on the outskirts of the city. A place called "The Rift."
Some curious people left reviews of the place. They said compasses went crazy there, and if you went at night, the stars shone in a way you wouldn't see anywhere else.
A kind of forgotten zone, lost in time.
I ripped off the suit quickly and put on my most worn-out sneakers and my favorite jacket, then ran out, carrying a few compositions in my backpack. The plan was as simple as it gets: spend the night watching the strange stars, play a few songs, and tell stories.
Diego arrived with his classic bike and a backpack full of snacks. Miguel was already at the meeting point with his dad's old guitar. We looked at each other. There was no need to speak. Our excitement was palpable.
It was our night.
The path to "The Rift" was long. The wind blew strong, and the fog slowly began to spread, but that was the least of our worries.
As we ventured deeper, I felt like the trees covering us were transforming into skeletal hands. It couldn't be. I shook my head, and everything went back to normal.
"Hey guys, don't you feel like something really strange is happening?" I asked, a bit shaken.
"Hahahaha! Here we go with your paranoia again, were you watching horror movies or something?" Diego replied.
"The vibe does feel a little strange, but that's even more exciting," Miguel said.
We fell silent for a brief moment until a faint hum began to sound.
"Do you guys hear that?" Diego whispered.
We nodded, a little nervous. The hum grew louder and louder, like there was a wasp nest somewhere. The undergrowth glowed faintly.
Suddenly, the fog obscured our vision.
"What the hell is going on?" I said.
"No fucking idea!" Miguel exclaimed desperately.
"Shut up and calm down, just stay still!" Diego shouted.
We obeyed and stayed still. Suddenly, the ground began to move.
"Shit, seriously, do we have to stay still?!" Miguel asked frantically.
"I don't know anymore, damn it... run!" Diego yelled.
Instantly, the fog vanished. Our only light was the full moon. We noticed we were in an open area of the forest, but it wasn't like any other: it was a circular expanse of land, without trees, perfectly smooth.
"Alright, guys... what the hell is this place?!"
"Incredible... this place is a perfect circle," Diego said, impressed.
"I have to record this. Do you know how many people will see this?!" Miguel pulled out his phone.
"Hey... why is it off? The battery was at one hundred percent when I left! Damn Temu phone!"
"Look! What's that thing in the middle?!" I pointed.
In the center was what looked like one of those typical video game dungeons.
"Wow, it's pretty tall."
"There are symbols around it," Miguel said.
"Apparently, the door is sealed," Diego pointed out.
We didn't know if it could be opened, but we were already there. We tried several ways, but nothing worked, until...
"Open, Sesame," I whispered.
Silence took over the atmosphere.
"Huh? You think that super funny phrase is gonna work? Hahahaha!" Diego retorted.
"Let's just go, it's almost midnight. With any luck, we'll play a couple of songs," Miguel said.
The strange symbols began to light up, opening the seal immediately.
We approached and saw a staircase leading down. We exchanged glances.
"Alright... I don't know if this is right. Maybe it's dangerous," Diego said, a little scared.
"Don't be a wuss. What's the worst that could happen? Ghosts? What if there's gold? We'll get rich," Miguel countered.
I quickly looked at them.
"We became best friends because we had a lot in common, right?"
Miguel and Diego nodded.
"Our families are dysfunctional, we like music, video games... If we died, who would care? Not even the school, because today it ends. What would we lose by going in? Maybe we'll go to an isekai or something."
"Your speech was going so well... until you mentioned that isekai crap. Hahaha! But you're right," Diego replied.
"Well, then it's decided. Let's go in," Miguel said.
We went down the stairs. The echo of our footsteps sounded with every step we took until we reached a flat surface. In front, a portal.
"A portal! This definitely isn't normal anymore," Diego exclaimed.
"Remember, we have nothing to lose!" I said.
With a lump in our throats, we managed to pass through.
"Damn it, where are we now?" I asked.
I half-opened my eyes because of the light from what seemed to be a large lantern in the middle of a deep floor.
"Guys... it looks like it's daytime now, doesn't it?"
Silence filled the air. Then I opened my eyes completely.
"Wh... what?! What are you doing here?!"
Indeed, it was my schoolmates... and a mysterious woman in medieval armor who, at first glance, looked quite strong.