Ha, so fun fact: I did a last minute name change but realized I'd already made the cover art so this chapter title is staying^^'

ALL CHAPTERS (I forgot when I first posted this)
imgflip.com/i/9elb3q

“Guys, hurry up!” As Alain and Ned dragged their feet behind her, Rika practically sprinted, eager to start the day.

Ned and Alain were far less enthusiastic about the internship. “Rikaa..” Alain groaned. “It’s only nine in the morning. Not all of us get up and instantly have the energy to run a mile or two.”

Rika paused, running in place. “S-sorry, got carried away, y’know? Just can’t wait for this, I think I might just explode.”

Ned closed one eye, struggling to stay awake. “I think so too,” he muttered as he rubbed his eyes. They had finally made it to the entrance of the lab. The brick walls were obviously in a state of disrepair, ivy creeping up the walls like the slowest army of leaves about to ambush whatever’s at the top.

Alain blew out a huff. “So, what’s this run-down place got that has you so excited?”

Rika did an excited spin. “Well, we get to meet creatures from other dimensions. Didn’t you guys read any of the things I sent you? Tell me, what is this research program for?”

Alain shot a look at Ned, who answered, “They’re studying that weird space anomaly thingy. The Nexus. That. I think the website said they have magic there?”

Rika grinned, happy that someone at least knew what she was so excited about. “See Alain? Somebody listens to me. Yeah, so they’ve been studying that place for a while. It’s relatively new, only like four thousand years old. And we get to check out their research on it. Aren’t you guys hyped for this?”

Alain cracked his neck. “Yeah, seems a little interesting, at least. Dunno if ‘hyped’ is the right word for what I’m feeling right now, but I’m definitely not uninterested.”

The three of them walked into a large theater-like room, a professor standing on the stage, holding a tablet and tapping at something. “Ah! The rest of our interns! We can start now.” The professor smiled as he very confidently tapped something on his tablet. Nothing happened. Everyone stewed in the awkward silence, as the man on stage frantically tapped away, hoping for something to happen. At last, the screen behind him turned on and a slideshow flashed onto it.

“Alright, finally!” The professor nervously laughed. “So, uh, time to introduce you all to what we’re doing here. So, Project Nexus! What’s that, you say?” Silence filled the room once again and somebody fake coughed to try to break it. “U-uhh, so!” The professor began. “Approximately four thousand years ago, several universes collided and began to overlap,” he tapped his tablet to change the slide, “to make this.” The image on the screen showed a beautiful purple mass with bright white and yellow stars visible within it. Many audience members made noises of awe.

“We call it the Nexus, and the way everything works there is interesting. All the beings born there can use magic, and some people who go there can use magic, but others can’t. We’re working to figure out why the magic works this way, how to gain it, and how to wield it. To do this, we also need to create more efficient methods of travel. That’s why you’re here. You will help with our research and help to progress society!”

Some of the interns began to speak amongst themselves. “You think we could learn magic?” Ned teasingly asked his friends as he poked Rika with his elbow.

Alain brushed his hair out of his face and furrowed his brow. “I mean, it might be possible? Probably won’t be the weirdest thing we’ll see here.”

Rika was buzzing with excitement. “They’re working on portals and shit! I can’t wait! I just can’t f**king wait!” Her eye twitched slightly as she tried to calm herself down. She wobbled in place as one of the scientists began walking around handing schedules.

When Alain, Rika and Ned get their schedules, they say goodbye and each go off to do their new duties. Alain was tasked with sorting paperwork. An entire filing cabinet of paperwork. It took him HOURS to get through all of it. The sun had set by the time he’d finished and met up with the others, and he was exhausted.

“Ughh, that was awful,” Alain groaned. “All I did was sit next to that filing cabinet going through all the paperwork. I dunno why they don’t keep all that shit on a computer or something.” He stretched out his sore back and sighed. “I honestly thought this would be more fun.”

Rika averts her eyes with a guilty expression. “Yeah, it hasn’t been great so far.. But it’ll get better, I’m sure! Probably.”

They awkwardly stood there for a moment, silence setting in as they had all run out of things to say. They each were tired, hungry, and unwilling to socialize for more than five minutes longer. And as Alain was about to suggest that they leave, a chilling screech pierced the air.

The three of them began whipping their heads around, and Alain spotted the source of the noise out of the corner of his eye. It was a skeletal beast, with a long snake-like body that split off at a certain point to form tentacles of sorts. It had a skull reminiscent of a large reptile, but with spikes on the back. The holes where eyes should be were completely empty, and two arms branched out of the body, ending in long, heavy, sharp claws that the beast dragged with it as it floated down the halls, scraping them along the floor.

This thing was some sort of ghost or spirit or SOMETHING, which was made obvious by the weird shadowy aura that seemed to come off of it. Nobody saw it come down from the hall. It just manifested itself into existence, and now it was staring them down with empty sockets. It screeched once more, before it rushed at them, floating a foot off the ground, and fast.

.....nightmare fuel-

Not really, but appreciate the compliment ^^

Alr lol. I say that bc imagine that crawling at you at 3 am at full speed

I guess, but my writing isn't good at making nightmare fuel
More, mildly uncomfortable if you put your imagination to work

Yep. I have a wattpad story up im writing