my name is William Ashborne, and this is how my life changed forever.
Moving to a new city should have been exciting. It should have been a fresh start. But as I hauled the last box up the stairs of our modern, sprawling house, all I felt was exhaustion.
"Whew… I'm tired," I muttered, wiping the sweat from my forehead.
"Good job, William," my mom said, her voice soft and proud. Her hair shimmered in the late afternoon sun, braided neatly at the back.
My dad chuckled, clapping a hand on my shoulder. "Yeah, you really did a lot. I needed the help. Thanks, son."
I smiled, trying to hide how much this move had worn me out. "No problem."
"Why don't you go check out your new room?" Dad asked. "It's upstairs, to your left."
I practically sprinted up the creaking wooden stairs, each step echoing through the house. My room was bright, with white walls, a blue-shaded bed, a ceiling fan spinning lazily above, and a flat-screen TV mounted on the wall. A mirror near the window reflected the afternoon sun, making the room glow.
I jumped onto the bed and let out a long sigh. "Finally… a soft bed. I can get used to this."
Dinner was another story. My mom called me down, and I had to slow my usual sprint. "Don't run down the stairs!" she scolded, though there was a hint of a smile.
At the dining table, a steaming tray of lasagna, garlic bread, and a salad waited. The smell made my stomach growl.
"What's got you smiling so much?" Dad asked, a playful glint in his eyes.
"I really like this house," I admitted, taking a big bite.
"Well, you'll be living here for good," Mom said. "This is your home now."
I swallowed, feeling a warmth spread through me. "Really?"
Dad nodded. "Yep. No better job offer than this. We're here for the long haul."
I could barely contain my excitement. I jumped in the air and grinned. "This is amazing!"
They exchanged amused glances as I devoured the lasagna, my fork moving faster than my thoughts.
That night, sleep should have come easy. But it didn't.
I was pulled into a dream, a world of chaos. Arrows whistled past my ears. Fire licked the horizon. Buildings crumbled, screams filled the air, and shadowed figures moved like smoke across the battlefield.
Four warriors stood against one terrifying figure, cloaked in darkness. The leader of the four raised a hand, shouting with authority. "You will not destroy this world! Not now, not ever. The Dragon Keepers will stop you!"
The dark figure laughed, a voice like grinding stone. "Foolish children. Your courage is meaningless. I am the end of all things, and despair is my gift. Watch as everything you love crumbles into ash."
I tried to look closer, to understand who these people were, but the shadows twisted and shifted. The dark figure's gaze locked onto me, and I felt it pierce straight through my chest. A cold dread filled my body, and I woke up gasping.
The clock read 3:00 a.m. My heart was racing, my body drenched in sweat.
I tried to sleep again, but the visions lingered. When morning came, it didn't feel like a new day. It felt like the calm before a storm.
The next morning, I dressed for school, trying to act normal. My parents were already gone, off to work. I grabbed my backpack and stepped outside. The city was alive. Cars honking, neighbors greeting each other, clouds drifting lazily in the sky.
Walking to Redwood High, I passed kids playing football. My stomach twisted with nerves, and as if the universe wanted to punish me, a football smacked me right in the head.
"Watch where you're going!"
A boy with dark hair, sharp eyes, and a smirk stood before me.
"What?" I muttered, rubbing my forehead.
"You just got in the way," he replied.
I frowned. "You threw it at me."
"I'm Shin," he said, pushing past me without another word.
Great. My first day and already someone making life difficult.
Inside the school, the halls buzzed with energy. I followed my schedule: Economics 101, room 215. As I walked, a kid with a project slammed into me, scattering papers across the floor.
"Oh! Sorry!" he said.
I helped him pick it up. "No problem. I'm William, the new kid."
"I'm Zach," he said, a faint grin forming. "And don't worry about Shin. He's a jerk."
We exchanged a nod before I continued to class.
I slipped into my seat just as the bell rang. All eyes turned toward me. I face-palmed. Perfect.
"Name?" the teacher demanded.
"William Ashborne. Sophomore."
"Take your seat," she said.
Next to me, a girl with soft brown skin and long hair glanced my way. She smiled warmly.
"You're new?" she asked.
"Yeah," I admitted, a little nervous.
"I'm Ava. Don't worry. Mrs. Maldiva's strict, but she's fair. You'll survive."
I smiled. "Thanks. I'm glad someone's friendly."
The class began, but my thoughts drifted back to the dream. The fire. The shadows. The words of those warriors. Something was calling me, though I didn't understand why.
Lunch brought more chaos. Shin harassed Zach, shoving him and destroying his project. I stepped in.
"Leave him alone," I said, voice steady.
Shin turned to me, eyes narrowing. "Or what?"
"Or you'll have a problem," I replied.
Just as he swung a fist toward me, the principal appeared, breaking up the fight. Shin vanished into the crowd with a sneer.
Zach looked at me with awe. "Thanks."
"No problem. Come eat with me?" I offered.
He nodded, and together we walked to the cafeteria.
Across the room, Ava sat quietly, her expression thoughtful. I didn't dare approach
don't even know why you like her, he notice me staring " Zack says, shaking his head. "Seriously. Yeah, she's cute—but what else?"
I stare at him like he just insulted my dog. "Okay, yeah, she's cute. But did you talk to her? She's smart. She's funny. I don't know… it just felt like we clicked."
Zack snorts. "You're delusional."
"Maybe," I admit. "But if she's dating Shin, then yeah—no chance."
"Exactly," he says, changing the subject. "So what's actually good here to eat?"
I shrug. "Come on. I'll show you."
We head into the cafeteria. The smell of food hits us immediately. Today's special flashes on the screen above the counter: Tempura shrimp with chicken and rice.
Zack grins. "This. Every day. Trust me."
"All right," I say, grabbing a tray. "If this sucks, I'm blaming you."
As we move down the line, Ava steps in behind us.
"Hey, William," she says. Then she glances at Zack. "Hey. I'm… sorry about earlier."
Zack barely looks at her. "Sure you are."
He walks off toward a table.
I sigh. "Sorry about him. He's still mad about his project."
She nods. "I get it. But Shin isn't all bad. You just have to give him a chance."
I almost laugh. "Yeah… I don't think that's happening. But—uh—I'll see you around, Ava."
She smiles politely before heading off.
I sit down across from Zack. He's clearly still annoyed.
"The nerve," he mutters. "Apologizing for him."
"At least she tried," I say. "That's something."
Zack scoffs. "He still broke my project and punched me."
I grin. "Yeah. Knocked your glasses clean off."
He glares at me. "Not funny."
"My bad," I say, holding up my hands.
We eat in silence until the lunch bell blares.
"All right," Zack says, standing. "See you after school."
"Yeah."
As I head to my last class—Math 101, first floor, room 111—I realize something.
I made a friend today.
That alone makes it a win.
Math is… math.
Numbers. Letters pretending to be numbers. Absolute nonsense.
I sit next to a kid quietly sketching in a notebook. Anime characters—clean lines, insane detail.
"That's really good," I say.
He looks up. "Thanks. Wanna see what else I'm working on?"
He flips the page.
A massive creature—wings spread wide, eyes sharp, almost alive.
"Dude," I say. "That's insane. Can you draw something for me?"
"What do you want?"
"Naruto."
He grins. "Easy. I'll bring it tomorrow."
"I'm William."
"Mike. You're the new kid, right?"
"Yeah. I'm getting used to hearing that."
He laughs. "Figured."
The bell rings.
Zack and I walk home together. Same streets. Same noise. Cars honking. People everywhere.
We pass Ava and Shin on the sidewalk. I look away. Zack does too.
Then—
Someone bumps my shoulder.
Hard.
An old man. Long beard. Dark eyes.
Before I can react, he grabs my arm.
"You are a dragon's keeper."
Pain explodes through my forearm.
He grips tighter.
"You are a dragon's keeper."
I shove him off, heart racing. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
He vanishes into the crowd.
Zack looks at me. "You okay?"
"Yeah," I say quickly. "Just some crazy guy."
We part ways at his house.
⸻
I get home alone.
Upstairs. Door locked.
My arm still burns.
I pull my sleeve down—
And freeze.
A dragon-shaped mark, etched into my skin, glowing faintly red.
My breath catches.
"What… the hell?"
And somehow, deep down, I already know.
This isn't a coincidence.