"Henry, today you're going to lose. On C District, only our secret will prevail."
While scratching his ear, Henry replied in an irritated tone, "Hey, stop barking—my ears are already hurting."
Without warning, the guy in front lunged with a punch. Henry caught the blow effortlessly, a wry smile playing on his lips as he taunted, "That's all the strength you've got? And you dare to think you can rule C District with that power?"
In a flash, the man threw another punch with his other hand. Henry intercepted it with such precision that he twisted his own head against the attacker's, causing a thin trickle of blood to escape from the man's nose.
Staggering back slightly, the attacker roared, "Attack him!" In an instant, over a hundred boys, already lined up behind him, obeyed the order. With fierce shouts, they surged toward Henry.
Many more gathered behind him as well. Henry said nothing, but the onlookers moved on their own, chanting "Attack!" before, in the blink of an eye, the narrow alley transformed into a full-blown battleground.
Fists and feet clashed as chaos erupted. Some fighters brandished weapons while others, displaying remarkable skill, battled with the precision of seasoned professionals. In moments, that once quiet lane had become a veritable war zone.
Henry was an eighteen-year-old high schooler, but he was rarely seen in class. He spent most of his time outside, usually getting into fights or goofing around with his gang of followers. Within the school, he had formed a powerful group—over fifty kids who followed his every word. Today, he was in the middle of a fierce battle with a rival gang from his own district.
This wasn't just a random street fight—it was a war to determine who ruled over C District. A few moments ago, chaos had erupted all around. Kids were fighting with fists and fury, no one had weapons, but the intensity was still brutal. At the center of it all stood Henry, locked in combat with the opposing gang's leader. The crowd had stopped fighting, now watching the two with bated breath—waiting to see who would win.
And then it happened. With a final punch, Henry sent his opponent crashing to the ground—unconscious.
Cheers erupted. His gang surged toward him, shouting in victory, surrounding him in a whirlwind of celebration. But in the midst of their joy, Henry felt something... strange. He looked down—
Someone had stabbed him in the stomach.
Time slowed. It's said that when you're about to die, your life flashes before your eyes like a movie reel. For Henry, this was that moment.
Pain surged through him. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth as he collapsed to the ground. The circle around him broke—panic replaced celebration. Sirens wailed in the distance. Police. The crowd scattered like ants.
Through the haze of pain, Henry spotted the boy who had stabbed him trying to run away in the chaos. Straining to see his face, Henry locked eyes with him. Everything started to blur.
"So… it was him..."
"Guess they were right. Bad actions lead to bad ends."
Breathing heavily, his thoughts whispered, "Am I dying? It's… cold."
A faint, trembling voice escaped his lips, "If I get another life… maybe I'll do something better."
And then—darkness.
—
Henry's eyes fluttered open.
He was lying on a bed. A soft bed.
He blinked in confusion, glancing around. Machines hummed softly. A hospital? His gaze scanned the room in disbelief.
"I'm… alive?"
A smirk crept onto his face. "Of course. I wouldn't die from just one stab. But… I'll probably be stuck here a while. That wound was pretty deep."
He reached for his abdomen, but then paused.
"Wait... why doesn't it hurt?"
He quickly lifted his shirt. No wound. No scar. No trace of the stabbing. Nothing. Just smooth skin.
And something else—
"Wait a second… where are my abs?!"
His once-toned six-pack had turned into a soft, chubby belly. He stared at it in disbelief.
"Was I in a coma? But… how did I gain this much weight?"
Frustrated, he looked around again.
"Where's my phone?"
Then his eyes landed on a smartwatch on the nearby table. He picked it up. It was sleek, futuristic—nothing like what he remembered.
"Wow... this looks brand new. But who left it here? Is this for me?"
With a deep breath, he smiled faintly.
"Must be a get well soon gift… probably from Mia."
His cheeks turned a little red as he thought of her. Mia was his close friend—sweet, brave, and the only person who really saw past his tough-guy image.
He liked her. A lot. And he had a feeling she might've liked him too.
Right after winning the gang fight, he was planning to confess to her… but fate had other plans.
And now? Everything had changed.
But this was just the beginning.
Henry let out a deep breath as memories of the past swirled through his mind like smoke. He glanced at the watch lying on the table and thought, "How do I start this thing?"
He picked it up, examining the sides for any visible buttons, but found none. With a shrug, he tapped the screen.
To his surprise, a glowing fingerprint scanner-like design lit up under his finger. And then—
A sudden flash of blue light burst from the watch.
A holographic screen emerged right in front of him, hovering in the air.
Startled, Henry stumbled back, pressing himself against the wall behind his bed. His eyes widened in disbelief as the shimmering hologram flickered before him, silently floating.
Curious and cautious, he reached out to touch it.
His palm passed straight through the screen, distorting it briefly like ripples on water. Gulping nervously, he extended a single finger this time, tapping the surface more gently.
This time, he felt something. A faint resistance. A tingling sensation.
He gasped. The screen responded—like a futuristic smartphone. Multiple icons and applications lit up across its surface.
He stared in awe.
"Technology's… advanced this much?" he whispered.
A cold sweat ran down his temple.
"How long was I in a coma…?"
He swiped through the apps until he found one that looked like a calendar. He tapped it.
Date: August 12, 4050.
Henry froze.
His mouth opened, but no words came out.
"This has to be a joke," he muttered, laughing nervously. "Some sort of prank..."
He stood up, legs still a little shaky, and walked toward the room's door. Slowly, he pushed it open and stepped into the corridor.
Everything seemed… normal.
A hospital, just like any other.
Doctors walked by with clipboards. Nurses were wheeling in patients. Monitors beeped softly in nearby rooms.
He sighed in relief. Maybe it was all just some tech demo.
But then—
A nurse rushed up to him, concern etched on her face.
"Sir! Are you alright? Why did you leave your room? Your medical check-up isn't complete yet. Please return and get some rest."
Henry blinked.
She was dressed like a nurse—but her uniform was sleek, made of some shimmering fiber he'd never seen before.
Her ID tag blinked in neon colors.
He stared at her, then looked around again.
Something was… off.
This wasn't the world he remembered.
This wasn't 2024 anymore.
This was the year 4050.
And Henry had just woken up in the future.