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Chapter 1 - Chapter 1 Welcome Glitchborn

Michael slouched in his seat, eyes fixed on the cracked corner of the classroom ceiling. The hum of conversation buzzed around him—half-hearted gossip, last-minute homework panic, and the occasional burst of laughter from the back row. Monday mornings always felt like static: loud, pointless, and impossible to tune out.

He tapped his pen against the desk, not to keep time, but to drown out the noise. Mr. Kaden was late again. No one seemed surprised.

Ava was already scrolling through her tablet, earbuds in, lips curled into a half-smile at something no one else could hear. Michael glanced her way, then looked down before she noticed. He didn't know her well. He didn't know anyone well, really. But he liked the way she seemed untouched by the chaos.

His phone buzzed. A message from his mum—just a reminder to eat lunch. He didn't reply.

Outside, the sky was the color of old paper. Inside, the lights flickered once. No one noticed.

Michael did.

But he didn't think much of it.

[Target Acquired!!!]

The school day is over, sighed Micheal and he decided to go to his regular afterschool coding club where he would meet up with his friend.

In the computer room Jayden is seen to be already working on something as Micheal enters. The two exchange greetings as they described how their day went. The light flickered again but this time twice and this didn't go unnoticed as Micheal looked up at the lights and started thinking as to why they've been acting up in similar ways, But he didn't pay too much attention to it.

The two students were going over their line of code. Each of them going over their own codes racing to see who could finish building their own utility software first. To no surprise Micheal finished first, then a minute later Jayden completed his as well.

[Target Locked In...]

The 2 friends leaned towards Micheal's Laptop to see his finished project. As soon as Micheal hit the play button to run his code, this was the opportunity for what was lingering in the currents to enter the vulnerable system running the code.

Jayden turns to look at Micheal who is smiling and says; "I've got to give it to you, you are like the smartest guy i know. Even i don't think i can do what it is you do". Micheal's phone starts Buzzing as his mum calls.

He sighed, then picked up.

"Hey," still half-focused on the code window.

"Michael," her voice came through, calm but scatty. "Are you still at school?"

"Yeah. Coding club. Just finished something cool."

There was a pause. He could hear the faint clatter of dishes, maybe the kettle boiling.

"I need you to come straight home after," she said. "No stops."

Michael blinked. "Why? Did something happen?"

"No," she said quickly. "Just... I'd feel better if you were home early today."

He looked up at the ceiling lights. They flickered again—twice. Not subtle this time.

"Okay," he said slowly. "I'll head out soon."

"Promise me."

"I promise."

Her voice softened. "Good. I'll see you soon."

The call ended. Michael lowered the phone, staring at the screen for a moment before slipping it into his pocket.

Jayden raised an eyebrow. "Everything alright?"

Michael nodded. "Yeah. Just my mum being... mum."

But something in his tone didn't match the smile on his face.

I think I'll start heading home. *bye*

The 2 said their goodbyes as Micheal left the room. After some time, He gets home and calls out to his mum who's still in the kitchen.

"Hey mum I'm back " Micheal called out, but no response.

"Muuuummmmmm!!!" Micheal calls out again, but to his surprise there was no answer.

Micheal now feeling the eerie atmosphere begins to tremble as he slowly walks towards the kitchen to check on her. He opens the door and sees her holding her phone, but something doesn't seem right. Now he's staring at her and she's as still as a statue, he taps her but still nothing, Micheal takes a look at her phone but he can't quite make up why all he can see were black and white lines on the screen.

As the situation made no sense, all Micheal was thinking about was a way to wake her up from this mysterious trans. He immediately gets water in a bowl and splashes it on her as she regains her consciousness. 

"Mum!!!" Micheal said sniffling, I thought something horrible had happened to you 

"Micheal, what are you talking about" She says when did you get here and why am i wet 

Micheal now confused, just apologized and went upstairs to his room.

He pulls out his phone from his pocket and connected it to his ear pods to listen to his favorite artist Sammyville. He laid down on his bed and closed his eyes and soon enough he drifted off to sleep.

[Transfer Activated...] [Status Report : Hid in classroom light current, Travelled to Computer room lights, Intercepted laptop code, Through the phone call and lastly through the ear pods]

Now Micheal laying down helplessly unaware of what's going on begins to twitch, He sits up and then looks around. When did i even fall asleep he asked himself, He walks towards the mirror as his eyes felt stingy as he looks at his reflection he screams in terrror.

[Human awake!!! ]

[Human awake!!!]

[The host is unstable ]

[Crash Install]

[Terminate]

Micheal could hear all these words but didn't know what to make of it, He just held his head and continued to roll on the ground. His mum runs upstairs to check on him only to find out that the door is locked. She calls out to him but before he could say a word he realized his mouth already moving, speaking for him.

"Mum I'm fine I just slipped it's okay".

 Okay sweetie said his mum as she headed back down the stairs. Now Micheal at loss for words, gets up and looks at his reflection in the mirror. W-w-w What happened to me as he sees that he's undergone some form of metamorphosis. What am I, Who am I, I can answer that said the voice :

[You are now a Glitchborn]

[Takeover Failed]

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