**Chapter 1: Meteorites** On the rooftop of a towering public hospital, a stout young man struggled with every ounce of strength he had. Beads of sweat glimmered on his chubby face as he clawed his way onto the parapet wall, each heave of his body sending jolts of anguish through his limbs. His arms trembled as if the very weight of the night threatened to pull him back down to the unforgiving ground below. But a final, desperate push propelled him over the edge, and he clung to the parapet, heart racing in triumph. “Finally! I made it!” he gasped, panting as he caught his breath. Then he looked down. A wave of nausea crashed over him as he realized how far the pavement lay beneath him; one misstep would end his life in a heartbeat. His fingers gripped the cold, rough concrete with white-knuckled desperation. Trembling from the effort, he steadied himself, the resolve igniting his spirit. Tonight, he had vowed to escape. He would drink beer and gaze at the stars, if only for a fleeting moment, as if they held the power to erase all his troubles. It was reckless, undeniably so, but Theo felt as if fate had already spun its cruel web. If he were to tumble, maybe that was simply how destiny played out for him. Breath held tight in his chest, he carefully shifted his balance on the precarious ledge. The world around him faded away as he managed to find his footing. Success! “This is nice!” he murmured, a bittersweet grin curling his lips despite the ache that gnawed at his chest. “Guess I still have more years left to suffer…” he muttered, reaching for a cold can of beer. With a sharp hiss, he cracked it open and let the bitter liquid dance on his tongue, momentarily drowning out the noise of the city below. As he looked up at the expansive night sky, stars twinkled like promises—unreachable, yet captivating. Yet beneath him, a crowd began to gather, their murmurs growing like a storm gathering strength. Fear and concern flickered in their nervous glances, but Theo? He didn’t care—not tonight. A flash of amusement crossed his face when he spotted a police car pulling up, followed by emergency responders who hastily set up a safety net. He adjusted his broken glasses, peering down skeptically. “Won't that thing just tear to shreds if I jump?” he grumbled, irritation dripping from his voice. A commanding voice broke through the night air, rich and deeply resonant. “You do realize that jumping from this height doesn’t guarantee a swift death, don’t you? You could be alive but broken, leaving your family with burdens you can’t even imagine. Adding to your suffering instead of ending it.” Theo scoffed, taking a long swig of his beer. “What, are you the designated negotiator? Sent to talk me down?” His gaze shifted, and he frowned at the police uniform. "Ah, so you're a cop." “Yes, indeed. Officer Lyndon Spears,” the man replied, a disarming smile softening his stern demeanor. “Please, get down from there. It’s not safe.” He gestured toward Theo’s bruised arms, urging empathy. “Let’s get those wounds treated.” Theo blinked, momentarily distracted from the throbbing pain coursing through his muscles. For a fleeting moment, he registered the discomfort, but with a dismissive murmur, he replied, “You’re wrong. It’s safer up here…” Up here, he was away from the demons that haunted him. Officer Spears took a cautious step closer. “Let’s talk. Share what’s going on with you. Who hurt you?” But instead of responding, Theo inhaled deeply and simply stated, “You can leave, officer. I’m not jumping. I just want to sit here and drink.” “Understood,” the officer acknowledged gently. “But you’re attracting too much attention. Come on down. We can find a quiet table, share a drink, and maybe you can open up a bit. I’m here to listen.” Theo scoffed, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. “This world is ruthless... Some people are born with luck, and others like me? We just learn to survive.” He licked his lips, the taste of blood still lingering. He was one of the unlucky ones, forced to adapt to the harsh realities of life since the moment he opened his eyes. Suddenly, a sharp, irritated voice pierced the tension. “Let him jump, Gramps! If he wants to die like a loser, let him. Saves us the trouble.” Theo’s gaze shifted to the young female officer standing with arms crossed defiantly in her uniform. She looked to be around his age, her expression icy. “Lexa!” Officer Spears scolded her, a warning note in his voice. She shrugged off his concern, eyes still trained on Theo as she read from her tablet. “Theodore Luther. Age twenty-two. College graduate from Metropolis University with highest honors. Just an hour ago, you were at a graduation party for your classmate, Beatrice Smith. An incident was reported—let me guess—you’re the one who got his face smashed in?” Theo clenched his jaw, a surge of anger bubbling within him. That damned Rey and his gang. Of course they had targeted him again. “I just brought her flowers to congratulate her…” he whispered, his voice barely a whisper against the chaos of the situation. Lexa raised an eyebrow, skepticism etched on her face. “Well, according to the report, you tried to kiss her. That’s why Rey and his thugs went after you.” “That’s not true!” Theo retorted, impatience flaring. “I didn’t try to kiss her! She hugged me to thank me!” Lexa scoffed, scrolling through her tablet with a mix of disdain and disbelief. “We’re still waiting on a statement from the Smith family. Beatrice hasn’t said anything yet.” She scoffed again, the disdain in her voice palpable. “So, go ahead. Jump. Prove everyone right that you’re nothing but a pathetic loser.” “Lexa, that’s quite enough!” Officer Spears interjected sharply. Unbothered, she put her hands on her hips, unapologetically shooting daggers with her gaze. “What? I get that he might be the victim here, but he’s also too much of a coward to change anything about it.” “Only a coward thinks death is the easiest way out,” she spat, revulsion tainting her words. Dark clouds rolled into Theo’s expression as he gritted his teeth in frustration. Pushing himself off the parapet wall, his body swayed precariously. “That’s not true! I’m not a coward! I told you... you’ve got it wrong! I’m not jumping! And for the record, this isn’t the first time I’ve had a drink up here!” The truth spilled out of him, unguarded. He had always sought refuge in this very spot, away from the world and its relentless pressures. The hospital rooftop had been his secret haven, a place of solitude. But tonight was different. He had dared to sit on the ledge. But then, an unexpected commotion caught his eye. Bright lights streaked across the sky—a brilliant, mesmerizing display. No... they were falling. Without thinking, he pointed skyward, awe overtaking him. “Are those… shooting stars?” His breath hitched, heart racing as he gazed upward, chills running down his spine. Then, he felt his body betray him. The edge of the ledge shifted beneath him, his balance shattered in an instant. “No!” Lexa’s voice cut through the chaos, fear piercing her composure as she lunged forward, hands outstretched to catch him. But it was in vain—he was plummeting. Time slowed to an agonizing crawl as Theo felt gravity's embrace envelop him. The sky erupted into chaos above, a shower of fiery lights cascading all around. “Meteorites? Or is this just my mind playing tricks?” fear gripped his heart. Just then, a deafening boom resonated, echoing like thunder through the air. He could hear screams—his own voice swallowed by a roar. The intensity of something beyond comprehension crashed into him, a blazing light striking him like a bolt of lightning, tearing through his very being. Pain erupted, muscles seizing, mind spiraling into the unfathomable abyss of darkness... Yet, within that darkness, an alien presence stirred, whispering a cold, unfamiliar proclamation, echoing infinitely in the void. [Congratulations! You are the Pioneer of the Mutation Abyss. Brace yourself—the Apocalypse begins now.]