Chapter 1: The Return and the Discovery

Chapter 1: The Return and the Discovery

Thak Lattia sat in the dimly lit room, the only sound the quiet hum of his desk lamp. It was his 15th birthday, the day everything changed. The air was heavy with the usual tension he felt every morning, knowing that it would only be a matter of hours before he was once again the target of mockery and scorn at school.

It wasn't as if he didn't expect it. In fact, he had been living in this oppressive cycle for as long as he could remember. He had resigned himself to it long ago, accepting the reality of being a punching bag for his classmates, particularly his bullies, including Marcus, Jason, and Lara. It wasn't just the physical bullying that crushed him—it was the constant emotional torture, the feeling that there was no escape. And then, as if fate had a twisted sense of humor, he woke up today, on his 15th birthday, in a world that was eerily familiar... and yet, something was off.

Thak rubbed his face, trying to shake off the strange feeling gnawing at the back of his mind. The memories of his previous life—the torment, the endless bullying—came rushing back, each detail sharper than the last. His mind was a fog of anger, frustration, and a gnawing sense of futility. But the strangest thing about today was that nothing seemed real, not in the way it should. It felt like he had been dropped into a past version of himself—almost like he had rewound time.

He stood up abruptly, pacing the small room. His eyes darted to the corner of the room, where a stack of old notebooks and papers lay in disarray. There, tucked away under a pile of textbooks, was something he hadn't noticed before. A small, unassuming notebook, the cover a plain black leather with no title or markings. Curious, he reached for it, his fingers grazing the smooth surface of the cover.

As soon as he touched it, a strange jolt ran through his fingertips. His heart skipped a beat, and he opened the notebook without thinking. The first page was blank, and he turned it, expecting more emptiness. But then, on the next page, a simple sentence appeared before his eyes:

Write down the name of someone, and I will change their memories.

Thak's breath caught in his throat. He blinked, wondering if he had imagined the words. But no, they were there, plain as day, inscribed in neat, precise handwriting. His mind raced with disbelief. Was this some kind of joke? A trick? Or worse, a hallucination? He rubbed his eyes, but the words remained.

He hesitated. There was no way this could be real. The idea of having the ability to change someone's memories—erase them, manipulate them—seemed absurd. Yet, the words on the page seemed to hold an undeniable truth. What if this was real? What if it could change everything?

His mind flashed to the people who had tormented him his entire life. Marcus, the bully who thrived on making others feel small. Jason, the sadistic friend who reveled in others' misery. And, of course, Lara—the one who sat at the top of the food chain, controlling everything and everyone with a cold, calculating smile. These people had made his life hell, each day a reminder of just how insignificant he was in their eyes.

But now... what if he could make them suffer? What if he could rewrite their memories, destroy their sense of control over him? The idea sparked a sense of dark, forbidden excitement within him.

Thak's eyes narrowed as he stared at the page. His fingers trembled slightly as he picked up the pen. If this was real, if this notebook really did give him the power to change memories, then he could finally take control of his life—he could finally have the revenge he had dreamed of for so long.

The thought of erasing the torment, of undoing the humiliation he had endured, filled him with a surge of power. He could make them pay. He could make them all regret ever crossing him.

He wrote Marcus's name on the page.

The moment the ink hit the paper, something inside Thak shifted. A wave of dizziness washed over him, and he staggered back, barely managing to keep his balance. The room seemed to spin, and for a split second, he thought he might pass out. But then, as quickly as the sensation came, it faded. He blinked, feeling the weight of the moment settle over him.

Nothing had physically changed. The room looked the same, the quiet hum of the lamp still the only sound. But Thak knew something had shifted. He could feel it deep in his gut. The power was real.

He didn't waste any time. He grabbed his phone from the desk, dialing Marcus's number. His fingers felt cold as they hovered over the screen, but he couldn't wait. Marcus had bullied him relentlessly for years, and now, he would make him pay.

The phone rang for what felt like an eternity before Marcus picked up.

"What do you want, loser?" Marcus's voice came through the speaker, filled with the usual condescension and disdain.

Thak's lips curled into a small smile. He didn't answer right away. Instead, he focused, concentrating on the new ability he had at his disposal. He reached out mentally, as if trying to physically grasp hold of Marcus's memories. He imagined Marcus's past—his weaknesses, his insecurities—and he focused on them with all his might.

He wasn't sure how it worked, but it didn't matter. All that mattered was that Marcus's voice on the other end of the line suddenly faltered.

"I—I don't know what's going on," Marcus said, his voice wavering. "Something's not right..."

Thak's smile deepened. The fear, the uncertainty in Marcus's voice, was everything he had hoped for. For once, he was the one in control. And Marcus... Marcus was the one who was confused, unsure, vulnerable.

Thak's mind raced as he tried to think of the most effective way to further manipulate Marcus. What would break him? What memory could he rewrite that would shatter Marcus's sense of security?

But then, just as quickly as the feeling of power had come, it began to fade. Thak's grip on Marcus's mind slipped, and the fear in Marcus's voice turned to frustration.

"Why are you doing this, Thak?" Marcus spat, his tone suddenly harsh again. "What do you think you're playing at?"

Thak blinked, the connection breaking as Marcus hung up on him.

He stared at the phone in his hand, heart pounding. The power had worked—for a moment. But it wasn't enough. Thak didn't fully understand the extent of the Memory Note's abilities yet, but one thing was clear: it wasn't as easy to control as he had hoped.

The note didn't give him complete control over someone's personality. It was more like a tool to manipulate their memories—altering their perceptions of the past, planting new ideas, erasing old ones.

But what if he could break Marcus's confidence? What if he could make him question everything, every relationship, every decision he had ever made?

Thak looked back down at the Memory Note, a thought stirring in his mind. He could do this. He had the power. He just needed to figure out how to use it properly.

As the evening went on, Thak's thoughts turned darker. He had a lot to learn about the Memory Note, but he was ready to dive deeper. He had been given a chance to rewrite his past—to erase the pain and suffering, to take control over his tormentors, and to build a future where he wasn't the victim anymore.

And with that thought, he smiled darkly, the first seed of his revenge beginning to take root in his mind.