Failed author.

The new year was drawing closer but the festivities were held on a grand display. The Christmas trees were lit, the snow was flaky yet cold not to mention the harmonic singing of carols.

During this period one person unlike the rest had a grim expression painted on his face, his eyes lifeless with his thoughts roaming around as he layed on a roughened mattress.

His name was Hyosung slay, an unemployed freelance writer who hadn't tasted the sweet feeling of success since he started his career yet managed to keep himself together "Barely"

His talent for writing was nothing to Scoff and it's been recognized by many online readers which lead to the birth of some of his novels fan bases.

People genuinely loved his book however in his 3 years writing career he never acquired even 1 contract, and it's not because he's bad at writing....... but mainly because he refused to write system novels which was a trend in the community.

His hatred for the genre was immense as he claimed it was "A repetitive mess" since then he's never landed a contract no matter how many books he applied for, even his fans generously offered donations were to little to live off by after fans can and will be stingy.

Realizing the mistake he made choosing writing as a career Hyosung placed all his ongoing books on a hiatus in search of a job only to fall flat on his face and get spammed by with disturbing death threat's by his fans.

"Another year...... Another unfulfilled resolution, I thought I'd have accomplished something better this year but nothing's changed" He spoke calmly, though the regret he felt was evident from his shaky town and stiffened face.

[Bing! Bing! Bing!]

"Damnit! I wouldn't be surprised if it was another death letter from a fan or something. This really is....... tiring"

Hyosung wasn't willing to respond at first, he was too busy sobbing over getting fired after spending only 5 minutes as a bar waiter. Indeed his life sucked

"Sigh!"

Despite having contradictory thoughts Hyosungs body jumped off the mattress on instincts, springing him towards his computer in almost the blink of an eye and before he knew it he'd sat down on his chair with his eyes fixed on the computer.

Seconds passed barely yet the dreary expression he had..... left his face with his eyes locked in on the screen, His attention focused on every written fan mail he received forgetting the grief of being an unemployed...Broke and nearly homeless 24 year old man.

[Bing!Bing! Bing!] his writer's account received an additional message to it's already packed inbox but unlike the rest of the cringe and toxic fan mails the message had something capable of peaking the interest of any free lance writer.

Curious about it's content Hyosung scrolled to the bottom of his inbox and opened the mail straight away since he had no intention of reading all the mail either way

"what's this? Is this from.......no way!" His eyes widened with shock, barely holding on to his breath as he gasped with his face stiffened in one expression staring at the text on the screen which stated in bold

[Dear writer Hyosung slay, we send this message to inform you we've taken notice to your work and talents as an author. We would like it if you accept this contract to work as an official author in our publishing corp....]

"This is a joke there's no way I wrote novels for 3 years..... never got a contract from a low-level publishing site..... and now....all of a sudden.... one of the countries biggest novel publisher's want me?" Tears welled up in his eyes as they slowly streamed down his cheeks, His expression dulled and his mood darkened.

"Please.....if there's something out there that loves me or someone out there that has me in their best wishes then please.....I beg you...." He whispered with his head bowed staring at the cold tiled floor where is tears gathered. "LET THIS BE REAL!!" He yelled with a violent roar.

Disbelief filled up his heart but rather than let it hinder him he faced his fear and applied for the contract ignoring his insecurities.

"Bing! Bing!Bing"

[You're contract has been approved please visit our website for more info]

"It's real?? This is so.... Awesome! Whoever my guardian angel is thank you so much!"

His mood brightened and so did his apartment which was usually grim and gloomy. His happiness knew no limits as he jumped from side to side till he eventually crashed on his bed due to exhaustion.

His sweat filled face was indeed messy but his smile could light up the city. "when last was it that I actually accomplished my dream?" He asked himself.

"No! There's no need to think about such negative things cuz now is the time I actually celebrate something" He spoke rushing towards a small piggy bank hidden in his closet.

"The time has come......I shall now use my 2 years savings to celebrate my success"

[Knock! knock knock!]

"Who is it?"

"I live downstairs bro I've been trying to watch the football game but you keep messing up my ceiling"

"My apologies I'll be leaving you now so don't worry" He responded in a calm voice.

"Well then it seems you won't be coming back Hyosung.slay." the man's voice dropped yet his words had weight to the extent even the hears of Hyosung could grab from the distance triggering his reflexes.

He dashed at high speeds through his room yet was unable to meet the shadow of whoever was at his door. The entrance was without a single presence with nothing in view except for the scenery of flowers and the luminescent Moon.

Whether the presence meant it as a joke or as a threat was unknown to him however it was meant to be his night of joy not worry so without a second thought he cleared it from his mind and left his apartment.

"I think I'll start with a stroll, then maybe hit up a few local restaurants....or should I hit the bar?" He murmured to himself as he strolled out his home and left his street without even turning his head to look at his home.

He strolled through many places enjoying the view and reminiscing till his mind flashed at the fact his pockets were empty. "I forgot all my money at home and after I'd walked so far too" He said in a frustrated voice letting out a short sigh afterwards.

"A shortcut is the best solution NGL" The thought suddenly popped up in his mind, immediately recollecting a short route to his home through an alley way. He wasted no time sprinting in the direction of the shortcut but after his adrenalin reduced his body froze.

Something about the moon wasn't right that night, the silence of the streets, the pitch darkness which hung and clinged to every wall and alley. Despite his hardest he couldn't shake the feeling of fear which was fueled by the deardful atmosphere.

[Clink.....clink.....clink...] The sounds of iron clashing against the wall was fierce though one could only wonder why iron would be colliding against a solid surface repeatedly.

"Is that iron?" His fears grew though how could he be blamed? If it wasn't constant fierce hitting of iron nor the undisturbed solice of the black clocked alley that caused his fear then one could argue he was a man amongst few true men but unfortunately the latter is false.

"Is there someone there?.... This is a bad time to prank someone especially through an alley way...... I can use you for this y'know....I could actually use the money"He spoke in a shaky voice "ha ha ha ha. You can stop now"

His steps were slow yet calculated heading in the opposite direction of where the sound came. Suddenly a dark silhouette appeared behind him and before he knew it....

"What is this? I can't feel my body anymore"

Something strange was oozing down his skin though it felt mainly liquid, his clear vision blurred in and out with his body's balance waning beyond control till his body could no longer bear it's own weight and dropped

Laying flat on the floor he gathered all the strength he could muster to regain his stamina but his arms slowly went numb however the silhouette disappeared but in it's place was the legs of a barefoot man.

[Klank!]

"Did that fall from my back?? an injection! was I poisoned with an injection?!" His thoughts rambled. Nothing made sense to him anymore, reality gained distance and his heart couldn't stop racing as it slowly gave out the last bits of life it could offer.

His veins rose with his eyes and face swollen beyond recognition. Hyosung had never done anything to deserve such from anyone so before he went he couldn't help but ask the one question racing through his failing mind "w........wh......why me" His voice dulled and shook with the words barely escaping his lips.

"Hyosung you bastard! You shouldn't have you shouldn't have you shouldn't you shouldn't have! YOU RUINED EVERYTHING! THIS IS WHAT YOU DESERVE" A woman's voice yelled noxiously in clanging irons direction.

"This wouldn't have happened if you didn't discontinue it. Why did you?? You never Did anything right but make that 1 novel and you couldn't even finish that? Yet your out there living a good life without giving your fans what they want" The voice of the silhouette added.

"I waited 2 years, Tails added purpose to my life yet you abandoned it meaning you abandoned my life as well! You're not a good person your not a good person your not a good person! Anyone who doesn't care for the life of another doesn't deserve to live! YOU PIECE OF........."

Half conscious Hyosung was able to hear little of what both said before their voices became overshadowed by a strong ringing noise only he could hear. The sounds of everything became distorted until finally the blur left his eyes giving way to the peaceful silence and black void that preceded.

"Tails? I can't believe it..... did my own dream just end my life?" He wondered as he felt his body floating aimlessly in the dark abyss

"NO! IT WASN'T MY DREAM ITSELF! But the result of being half-assed about it. Non of this would have have happened if I just completed the novel right?? Nah that's not right, even if I did following my dream never really brought me any joy and when it did I didn't even enjoy it."

"Was there even any point writing novels to help change people's lives if it only bred monsters and insecure psychopaths?? If I had chosen a more secure job would my 3 years after still end the same way? Can anybody tell me.....please??Was my brother right??"

"If you want to follow your dreams then you can but remember follow your brain not your heart. There are some dreams in life that makes no sense to chase after that's why logic exists.....to help people differentiate what is real and what is a lie. If you follow a dream without logic then you'll just be an addition to the list of fools made victims by the world and it's logic" His brothers words came flooding back in his memories however there was something he said which Hyosung understood at that moment though it was too late...

"Hyosung! Listen to me and head my warning, Don't be counted among the list of fools made victims by the world! Abandon the dream with no foundation which you wish to attain and follow a more calculated path which is grounded and

realistic! Aim higher to sky but never above the clouds."

"I get it now He was right"