Chapter One
"Need a ten to one down!" A voice could be heard over the many beeps of the kitchen of a famous burger joint. Millions upon millions served. Stephen sighed as he dropped the frozen patties onto the grill. The sound of sizzling filled his ears as he pushed a button to let down a large clam shell cooker. Steam erupted from the grill as the sizzle intensified.
"Ten to one down!" He called back to the voice. Working at McDonalds was the last job Stephen ever expected to take on. But, in this economy, one can't be too choosy. For six and a half hours, he slaved over a hot vat of oil dropping bags upon bags of frozen nuggets and chicken patties, then flipping over searing hot hamburger patties to apply salt and toss them into a warming tray for the other people to assemble the many sandwiches such a place had to offer.
His eyes kept drifting to the clock. It was his Friday, and he could not wait to get home so he could get the much needed rest he so deserved for working from dawn to God knows when. More beeping filled the air as he turned toward the sound of the beeping. Round eggs were next. He quickly strode to the cooker and flipped the top open, only to be splattered by hot water in the process. "Hijo se madre!" He cursed as he wiped the water from his hands. One of the many burns he earned from working there.
"Four to one out!" The same voice called out. He rolled his eyes and yelled back affirmation in response. After two hours, another employee tapped his shoulder as a supervisor told him it was time to go home. Heaving a heavy sigh of relief, he shed his apron, hung it on the dirty hook and strode to the front registers. He quickly tapped in his ID number and passcode to clock out. The screen read out his times.
Nodding, he walked out of the lobby and into the parking lot of his work. His feet almost dragged as he made his way to his car. The day seemed to drag on and on. From breakfast to lunch, he stood with spatula in hand ready to serve America the burgers they so desired. Stephen unlocked his car and sat down in the drivers seat. He groaned from the pain in his back and feet. Being also kinda chunky never helped his lower limbs, but you try working out and staying committed to it. Not one has tried and succeeded without help.
Stephen sat in his car relishing the fact he was not on his feet. He swore he would get some insoles for his shoes. He started his car and drove away from the establishment. He managed to pull his phone out and select a playlist from YouTube. Setting the phone down, he listened to the playlist as he drove home.
Twenty minutes went by as Stephen finally pulled into the parking lot slot of the apartment complex. He heaved his heavy legs out of the door of the car and headed inside his apartment. His eyed were half lidded as he plodded along the sidewalk. He unlocked the door and went straight for the bathroom. After voiding his bladder, he stripped and went to bed. He pulled the covers over him and he moaned like a cat in heat as the blanket shrouded him in a warm embrace.
Sleep came mercifully quick. Black was the only thing he saw. But then, suddenly, a scene spread before him. Trees of every size, shape, and color appeared, as well as hills and mountains, and land. Stephen looked around as he took it all in. He smiled in content. This is nice. Too bad its a dream.
The sound of a twig being broken ripped him from his admiration of the sky. His head whipped around to look at the perp. The figure stood almost frozen as they stared each other down. It wore a dark trench coat and a black fedora looking hat. Its eyes, hidden by the brim of the hat, almost seemed to bore into him.
"You have been summoned." The figure said.
"Who are you?!" Stephen demanded. Suddenly, the world went dark, and he felt himself being dragged into some hole. He scrambled for purchase on the ground, but the force holding him was too strong. Try as he might, nothing he did was able to stop what had happened. He blacked out.
A beam of warm light casted itself across his face. Stephen grumbled as he turned in his bed, his hard, no covers bed...
Stephen bolted upright only to smack his head into a low slung over hang. He held his head and groaned from the pain. One hand he pulled away. No blood, still hurt like hell. He looked around to find himself in a dank looking jail cell.
"The hell?" He stood, once again hitting his head, this time on the ceiling. This was getting weirder by the second, and he's had some screwed up fever dreams. Sharp steps could be heard. Stephen pushed against the barred wall.
"Guard? Guard! Can I speak... to... you?" His half cry puttered to a stop as he stared. Only coming up to his chest, clad in gold armor and white fur, stood a pony.
"Oh good, you're up. Our princess wants a word." The guard pony said. Stephen backed away, only to stammer and point as he tripped over the cot he was in prior. He hit the floor hard. As the room spun, the last thing he saw was two more sets of eyes as he blacked out.
(( Well, here's another. Starfall seemed to be going nowhere. Oh well. As always, please leave helpful comments and follow if you want more. I'll do my best to update this story as ideas are sporadic for me, and work keeps me busy otherwise.))