There's not much time to lose. You zip up your bag, but not before stuffing two bricks inside: noodle and clay. You may never know when you might need these.

BAGVENTORY (12/50 SLOTS)
- APARTMENT KEYS (1 SLOT)
- WEEK-OLD HAM SANDWICH (3 SLOTS)
- TECH DECK COLLECTION (5 SLOTS)
- RAMEN BRICK (1 SLOT)
- BRIGHT RED BRICK (2 SLOTS)

It's time to go. You put your phone in your pocket (well-charged since you plugged it in while you were in the bathroom) and quickly head out. You keep a cautious eye on your surroundings, making sure that Mr. See No Evil isn't nearby. It looks like the coast is clear, so you make a beeline for the bus stop.

It's dark outside. Really dark. You look towards the city skyline, and it just seems to glow. You feel a clashing mix of peace and unease. According to the bus schedule, the next bus will come by in about 10 minutes. It's also the last bus, so when you get to the station, you'll have to continue on foot.

As you wait, you take a moment to reflect on your day. This afternoon, you were turned into a psychic, threw up blood, talked to the Earth, and bent a spoon. This evening, you somehow narrowly escaped death (?) and are now headed towards your sister's strip mall store. Your mind is filled with disquiet as you try and imagine what is to happen. Before today, you had a pretty good idea what the next day was going to look like. Wake up, bus, Big M, bus, sleep. Now, the future is in your hands. LITERALLY. You're supposed to stop some big demon thing? Why would you agree to that?

Your head hurts. Dozens of voices fill your head, each one of them calling out for a slightly different course of action. You look to the city again. You're bound to meet new people on your journey. You can't win on your own, apparently. You wonder what they'll be like. Suddenly, you're illuminated by a sharp light.

The bus is here. You step inside.

END OF CHAPTER ONE.