"Ven is that you?" a familiar voice said to Ven right before he called the elevator.

  The voice made him freeze, he looked behind him and saw a fellow patient named Rudy.

  "Oh hey Rudy. You scared me thought you were a nurse," Ven whispered.

  "Where are you going?" asked Rudy.

  "Well..." Ven scratched his head with embarrassment. He knew the kind of guy Rudy was, so he was somewhat hesitant to tell him of his destination.

  Rudy was a patient that was suffering from a brain condition. He had frequent seizures and was subjected to various brain surgeries. Ven's ill heart and Rudy's sick brain were the only reasons why the two even occasionally hung out with each other. Ven was a pessimist, yet he still let hope speak to him sometimes. Rudy on the other hand seemed to be an even bigger pessimist than Ven.

  "I'm going to the twenty-first Emergence site Rudy. That superhero blog site I told you about... some guy claims to know where it'll be and it's at the Malaika convention center. Apparently, he's a very credible source," explained Ven.

  "Ven really!? You can’t be serious!?" Rudy frowned. "Have you told anyone you were leaving? Are you going with someone?"

  "Well... I haven't told anyone because I know nobody will be willing to take me. I'm going alone," answered Ven.

  "Are you kidding!? It's too dangerous! You just had heart surgery, what are you thinking!?" yelled Rudy.

  Ven looked around in fear when Rudy raised his voice. Nobody appeared to be arriving, to Ven's relief.

  "Can you please keep it down, I don't want a nurse to come."

  "Maybe that would be good! If you go you'll just get your hopes up,” said Rudy.

  "What do you mean?" asked Ven.

  "I mean that nothing will probably happen! You might not even make it to the site because you're too sick, look at your walker! Also, that credible source you're talking about probably isn't even real. Now, let's say everything goes according to plan and you get to the Emergence and you get superpowers. Your heart will still be sick! You'll just be a sick man with superpowers."

  "Wh- what about all the conversations we've had about becoming superheroes," Ven shuttered. "This could be our chance! Come with me."

  "Ven, you still don't get it do you," Rudy softly chuckled.

  "Get what?" Ven asked nervously.

  "You don't get the fact that we'll never become superheroes!" griped Rudy.

  Hearing those words made Ven put his hand on his new heart. He didn't want to accept Rudy's words, but they certainly stung deep. Somewhere inside, he believed those negative words.

  Rudy took a deep breath. "As much as I would love to be a superhero, I realized that you and I will never become superheroes. We're two sick men, cursed men actually. Cursed men like us have only one purpose, and that's to wait here until our time comes."

  "What's with you and your pessimism!?" Ven yelled. "How can you say our only purpose is to die? Now we might have a chance to change everything! How can you be so hopeless!"

  "Ven, you're just as hopeless as me. I remember all of the hopeless words you've told me. You wished that you died during one of your surgeries, now you're trying to go get powers? You're better off going back into your room and waiting for the enviable. You and I are the same. We're both cursed men and absolutely nothing will change that," said Rudy sternly.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  Ven looked towards the hallways to see if anyone was coming again. He knew why Rudy was so hopeless. They both suffered immensely at young ages, how can a man that bathed in agony have hope?

  "You're right Rudy. I am cursed," said Ven.

  "Glad you've finally accepted it. You should go back in your room and hope that new heart of yours doesn't fail you... though it probably might. You and I have had enough disappointments."

  "You don't get it Rudy," explained Ven. "I may be cursed but I'll do everything in my power to take every opportunity that could rid me from it. No matter what, I'll look for a way to get rid of my curse... even if it kills me," explained Ven.

  Ven barely believed those words himself, it was like something in him rose up and refused to accept Rudy's words. He forgot that he and Rudy used to celebrate their hopelessness together. Perhaps the thought of having a way out gave him hope.

  "Whatever Ven. Once you come back tomorrow, just remember I told you so," Rudy said as he walked towards the restroom, slamming the door loudly.

  Ven called the elevator with tear filled eyes. Rudy's words heightened all of his fears—perhaps the quest to the convention center would be pointless after all. He wanted to go back into his room, however, being in front of the elevator only urged him to continue his journey. He believed Rudy’s words, but he was forcing himself to not accept them.

  As the elevator doors opened, Ven stepped inside, wiping his moist eyes with one hand. He pressed the button labeled "1," and observed the doors slowly close.

  "Is someone right here."

  Ven shuddered upon hearing the voice of the incoming nurse. He quickly peeped through the closing elevator doors and caught a glimpse of her approaching. Just in time, the doors closed completely. He was now on his way to the first floor.

  The long descent made Ven gulp with riveting anxiety. He was actually going through with this stupid plan; he couldn't believe it!

  When the elevator opened, he cautiously maneuvered his frail body and walker towards a side door. He wanted to avoid the front exit, a nurse could see him if he didn’t. Quietly, he opened the door and made his way to a blue bench outside of the hospital. Every snail-paced step sapped more energy from him, but he pushed on. He was almost unaware of his own exhaustion, as he continued mindlessly toward his destination.

  By the time he made it to the bench, he was gasping for air. Beads of sweat were trickling down his ailing face. He grabbed his water bottle and took a few desperate gulps, trying to steady his breathing.

  Perhaps I've made a mistake, he thought as he placed his cold hand on his bruised chest.

  He titled his tired head up towards the dimming night sky as he contemplated his raging anxiety. It had been awhile since he felt that uneasy, now there he was... scared and alone in the dark, all for the sake of a supposed Emergence.

  Glancing back at the humongous hospital. He yearned to return to the safety within its walls, however in reality, he was never truly safe. That bleak truth became apparent to him when he went into sudden cardiac arrest years ago. It definitely wasn't a day for the books.

  He reached into his pockets for his medication, only to discover he had forgotten to bring it along. Although he had taken a pill just an hour ago, it made him feel more relaxed with them on hand.

  He pulled out his phone and ordered a rideshare. He hadn’t used the app much before, but hopefully it wouldn’t take long. A moment later, a notification popped up—his driver, someone named Daudi, was just three minutes away. After briefly closing his eyes, Daudi arrived ahead of schedule.

  "Vendel?" Daudi the driver asked.

  "That's me," said Ven nervously. He had hoped the driver would arrive a bit later, giving him extra moments to mentally prepare for the adventure ahead.

  "Come on in!"

  With trembling hands, Ven made his way towards the large, sleek black car. After opening the back door, he carefully unfolded his walker and positioned it beside him on the seat.

  "You are a patient here?" Daudi asked while staring at Ven through the rearview mirror.

  "Well... yeah, but I have permission to leave anytime I wish," lied Ven.

  Of course he probably could leave anytime, as they couldn't force anyone to stay against their will. It would just be strongly unadvised to venture out in his condition. If he was caught, he'd receive an earful from his mother and Doctor Tiba (which would really suck). They’d also probably successfully talk him in to not going anywhere.

  "Alrighty! Malaika convention center right!?" Daudi asked with excitement.

  "That's correct," said Ven while looking at his shaky hands.

  "Wow I'm surprised they're open this late. Who knew!" exclaimed Daudi.

  "No kidding," said Ven as he stared at the window as Daudi slowly began to drive away from the shielded hospital.

  He closed his sad eyes and inhaled huge deep breaths in order to attempt to calm himself down... there was no backing out now.