The Other Side

Chapter 1

"Where were you last night?"

"Nowhere, I was here."

"Bullshit."

I rolled my eyes and flopped onto the couch, taking out my phone to check the notifications I had missed. "It's not like you're any better," I threw at my roommate Hunter. He was two years younger than me, not that anyone could have guessed that, the guy looked like a beast. We were both guys, but he might as well have been a completely different species from me. He was probably half a foot taller than me at the least, with dark brown skin, short, coiled black hair and brown eyes, and was nearly 100% muscle. His muscles had muscles.

"My nights are spent with my girlfriend at home, not a random string of guys in bars and hotels, Alex."

I snorted, laying down sideways. I had to steal to live because getting a job without magic was just too tough in this world. Especially for someone with basically no skills and who dropped out of high school. And rich guys seemed to like me. "How is she, by the way?"

"She's alright, started interviewing for some new jobs." His face dropped a little bit, "Although I won't be able to see her as much after she gets hired."

"What a shame she won't get to be torn apart by The Hunter Abell as much," I said with feigned sympathy.

Hunter smirked and crossed his arms. "Jealous?"

"Of Kira?" I scoffed. "I may be a gay slut, but I'm not crazy. I don't know how she's still in one piece."

Hunter threw a balled-up shirt at me, laughing wholeheartedly. "Don't talk about my girlfriend like that!"

I chuckled and batted the shirt away. "What? I'm being serious. I've seen yours; I don't think even I could handle it."

He shrugged and walked into the kitchen with a laugh. "Not that you'll ever be lucky enough to find out."

"Damn, my efforts have been thwarted again," I said, sarcastically snapping a finger.

I could hear him laugh from the other room. My phone buzzed then, drawing my attention away from our lighthearted banter. It was a text from my friend, Devin. She wanted to talk.

Is it urgent? I asked.

Yes. Meet me at the tower.

I sighed and got up, my sore muscles whining at me for the movement. "I'm heading out to see Devin, dunno when I'll be back. You can eat without me."

"I'll put yours in the fridge. Don't stay out too long, you need sleep," Hunter called.

I smiled. "Thanks, mom," I said as I grabbed my coat and walked out the door.

Unfortunately, it was still raining. Not that I expected anything else, considering the fact that I lived in one of the rainiest places in the country- if not the entire world. I started up a swift pace, heading to the old broadcasting tower in the middle of a nearby forest that Devin, Hunter, and I lived by.

The forest marked the end of the city, and beyond it was The Barrier. It was a mass of magical force, set up hundreds of years ago, during the first, and hopefully last, Demon War. The Mages, guards appointed by the King who had been born with magical power, refreshed it twice a year, on the summer and winter solstices, days when Demons had the least power. I'd never seen that kind of magic first hand, not many commoners got to. Not unless they happened to run across a Mage refreshing The Barrier.

I made it to the tower faster than I expected to and started to climb up, careful not to slip on the wet metal ladder.

"Hey, Alex."