I’m sweaty. Sticky. The black void stares back at me. Taunting me. Tempting me. I feel so drawn to it as if it’s physically pulling me towards it. My entire life I’ve craved the adventures the characters in my books and video games go on. I wanted an otherworldly experience. An otherworldly life. But as I stand here directly in front of this darkness I’m shaking. There’s a pit in my stomach and I feel at any moment I could lose my lunch. All of the courage I always assumed I’d have in these moments is nowhere to be found. Maybe I don’t have to do this. Maybe I can turn around and go home and forget I ever found this door or portal or whatever it is.

And then suddenly and without warning the choice is stripped from me as a force shoves me forward from behind, plummeting me into darkness.