Rise Of The Hoarder

Chapter 2 How It Began

“This world sucks… Everything sucks!”

Jeremy muttered to himself as he grunted on his bed. He turned slightly, placing his head on his comfy pillow as he wrapped his entire body with the thick duvet which seemed to be twice his size.

Covered in a blue overall, with stars designed all around the pajamas he wore, he yawned and smacked his lips.

Suddenly a loud ringing noise, followed by stereos of music and the jingles of a melody Invaded the silent, dark room. Jeremy could hear the cheers and squeals of people, making him cringe in discomfort.

“Urgh! Shit, not again!” Jeremy groaned as he tightened his face in disgust and frustration.

He had shut everywhere, covered all the blinds, and even covered himself in his favorite duvet, yet the noise of celebration still managed to reach him.

Glancing over the wall, he saw a large calendar hung there, slightly bent and looking unkempt. It had several strikes on it, showing the days that had passed. And the dates that were left without any marks, were the days he was yet to live through.

His eyes caught the number beside the marked one… The present day’s date.

“December 25th… Christmas…” He muttered.

When one mentions such an occasion, it is usually with joy, vigor, and anticipation, but not for Jeremy. His eyes were tired and groggy looking, evidence of being up for nearly three days straight watching his favorite anime and reading light novels and manga.

He used to enjoy playing his favorite games, but due to the electricity bill, he had to cut costs.

“Tch, fvcking cheapskates”

He shut his eyes and tightened the thick material around him in order to escape the sound that seemed to pervade the entire space.

His room. His street. His state. His country… The whole world!

“Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells…”

“Noel, Noel, Noel…”_.

“Long Time Ago, In Bethlehem…”

The carols were irritating to his ears and all he wanted was peace and quiet.

“Just shut up already! Just what is there to celebrate?!” He shouted in a muffled tone, underneath his highly insulated duvet.

He decided to let everything fade away, and let himself solely focus on one thing… The sweet smell of his room, the ambiance of safety, and how he was protected from the pestilence of the world outside the four walls of his haven. Other than the noise, nothing else could reach him here.

This was his world, cut off from the rest of reality.

“Too bad it can’t remain this way forever…” He thought to himself painfully.

Soon he would need to resume school, attend the mind grueling classes, and once again be subjected to the endless bullying and mockery he received from his peers, his seniors, and even his juniors.

He was the dreg of dregs, the worst person alive… And he hated himself for it.

“Why am I even alive?” He often asked himself.

However, being alone in this place protected him, albeit temporarily, from the harsh world that awaited him once his brief moment of solitude was over.

“Christmas Time Is Here, Time For Joy And Time For Cheers…”

Jeremy heard the melody of the song as it slowly danced through his ears, as the tender beat of the songs seeped through his skin.

He couldn’t help but chuckle sarcastically.

“Cheers indeed… Bah Humbug!”

And with that final statement, and a resolve to say goodbye to the world for the entire day and celebration, he fell into a deep sleep.

<Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells>

Jeremy heard sounds of bells, coupled with carols sounds. They slowly and steadily entered his consciousness, as though waking him from his slumber, but he ignored them all.

<We Wish You A Merry Christmas>

He ignored that too, turning on his bed as he kept enjoying his solitary engulfment into the realm of unconsciousness.

Bell sounds kept ringing, songs kept playing, over and over and over again. However, Jeremy refused to open his eyes, stubbornly deciding to enjoy his sleep.

After all, when he ends up waking up again, he would have another marathon to go through.

“I wonder If I can manage 5 days this time…” He slurred.

Slowly, the music faded, disappearing into the background. What was left was a dead silence, with not even a peep to be heard. Jeremy smiled in satisfaction and continued his beauty sleep.

Meanwhile unbeknownst to him… He slept throughout Christmas day!

[Moments Later]

Jeremy slowly opened his eyes, closing them back slightly as a result of the light his eyes took in. He covered his face with his hands, still trying to adapt to the bright environment.

“That’s weird… Didn’t I shut the blinds? Everywhere should be dark, right now…” He muttered.

As he rubbed his eyes and tried to adapt to the surrounding, his blurred vision was slowly restored. His mouth dropped open as he witnessed everything his eyes took in.

“What the fvck!” He mumbled.

The entire place was filled with white colors, decorated with golden designs, sparkling like nothing Jeremy had ever seen before. Tears flowed from his eyes due to him just being roused from sleep, however, such beautiful scenery was enough for him to be dumbstruck.

“W-Where am I…?!” Jeremy muttered.

This definitely wasn’t his room.

He stared about him and continued to appreciate the breathtaking view he enjoyed greatly. With his pajamas still on him and the pillow he always had with him being hugged by his hands, he slowly walked around, wearing nothing on his legs except his socks.

It was almost as though he was in a manga world or that of a Light Novel.

“Have I been…” Jeremy asked himself, considering the possibility of being summoned to another world.

If that was true, then his happiness would be beyond measure. However, Jeremy had gotten countless dreams similar to this in the past, so he wasn’t going to let this sight make him jump into conclusions.

“Or maybe I’m just dreaming, just as usual…Shit!”

As he was still observing the area, a white light, appearing to be in the shape of a man, approached him. Jeremy was so preoccupied with the area that he failed to notice the sentient light beside him.

“HOW SURPRISING…” The White figure spoke gently, however, its tone was deep and authoritative.

This sudden sound shocked Jeremy, causing his skin to jump as he retreated from his position in reflex.

“Gahhh!” He yelped.

“CALM YOURSELF, HUMAN” The light responded.

Having no mouth, or any other organs, with only the humanoid shape in its possession, it stood opposite Jeremy, who had kept a distance between them. Jeremy looked at it suspiciously, his heart beating faster in slight fear and apprehension.

“W-Who are you…?!” He asked in a shaky voice.

The light being kept quiet for a moment and looked at Jeremy closely. It shook its head and seemed to sigh.

“I AM AN ENTITY YOU ALL REFER TO AS GOD… AND, YOU ARE CURRENTLY IN THE PRIZE ZONE.” The being referring to itself as God said.

“Prize…?”Jeremy mumbled, repeating the words of the God, but with a look of hesitation and confusion.

“YES, FOR THE PRIZES EVERY HUMAN RECEIVED FROM ME YESTERDAY, ON CHRISTMAS DAY.” It added.

This made Jeremy even more confused. This was getting too complicated to be a dream, and he also had a feeling that something was strange.

“HOWEVER, WHO WOULD HAVE EXPECTED THIS? ESPECIALLY AFTER I PICKED THE PERFECT TIME FOR EVERY HUMAN TO BE ACTIVE WITHIN THE SPACE OF 1 HOUR… IT WOULD SEEM, YOU WEREN’T AMONG EVERYONE ELSE…” The being known as God continued.

“FOR YOU TO HAVE SLEPT THROUGH A WHOLE DAY, ESPECIALLY ONE SUCH AS CHRISTMAS… YOU ARE DEFINITELY AN ANOMALY”

Jeremy kept hearing the rambling of the sentient light. However, there was only so much he could take since he felt so mystified and confused.

“Hey, what the fvck is going on here?!” Jeremy finally responded in a raised tone.

This made the God he saw cease its own deliberations and look at Jeremy’s distraught face.

“MIND YOUR LANGUAGE… YOU STAND ON HOLY GROUND!” God stated with a condescending undertone.

This made Jeremy whimper, timidly withdrawing to himself. He rubbed his hands together slightly, feeling uncomfortable and nervous in the strange space.

“HOURS AGO, DURING THE CONVERGENCE, I SUMMONED ALL HUMANS INTO THIS PLANE. FOR ONE HOUR, DURING THE 25TH OF DECEMBER, IRRESPECTIVE OF THE TIME ZONES AND THEIR DIFFERENCES, EVERYONE WAS AWAKE. I USED THIS EVENT TO BRING THOSE PEOPLE INTO THIS WORLD AND GRANTED THEM ALL ‘GIFTS’.”

“W-What? I don’t understand… Gifts, as in powers?” Jeremy muttered, having a shocked look on his face.

“POWERS? I SUPPOSE YOU COULD CALL IT THAT. I GAVE THEM THE DIVINE SYSTEM, AS WELL AS SPECIAL PACKAGES, UNIQUE TO EACH PERSON.”

With everything he was seeing, it was difficult not to believe what he was hearing. Even if it could very well be a dream, he wanted it to be real.

“T-Then… Now that I’m here…Does that mean…?” Jeremy muttered.

“YES, UNFORTUNATELY, YOU WERE NOT SUMMONED AMONG THE OTHERS. YOU WERE NOT ABLE TO RECEIVE THE DIVINE SYSTEM, NOR A GIFT. THAT IS WHY THE WORLD REJECTED YOU AND FORCEFULLY TRANSPORTED YOU JUST AS YOU BEGAN TO REGAIN CONSCIOUSNESS.” God answered.

“I-I don’t have any Gifts?” Jeremy muttered.

“YES, AND AS LONG AS YOU DO NOT HAVE ANY GIFT, YOU ARE UNABLE TO RETURN TO THE WORLD. IT WILL SIMPLY REJECT YOUR EXISTENCE.” God answered.

“I won’t be able to return to the world again… I’ll be stuck outside Earth…” Jeremy mumbled, ruminating on the new reality dawning on him.

“INDEED, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU MAY BE DISSATISFIED WITH THAT, AND…”

“Are you kidding? Why would I be?” Jeremy’s face suddenly beamed with a wide smile?

He had a relieved expression as he jumped for joy.

The only reason he remained in his world was because he was a coward, too scared to even take his own worthless life. With the world filled with everyone possessing powers, it would definitely be the worst and most dangerous place for him.

Compared to going through such hardship, he would rather take his chances with this God.

“WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?…” God asked, appearing confused.

“I don’t want to go back… I’m staying here… With you! After all, I don’t have a gift… Right?” Jeremy smiled.

“Everything is trash in the world anyway… But now I no longer have to live in it!”

Had he finally reached paradise?

Unfortunately for Jeremy, he couldn’t have been more wrong.