To not clog up my blurb, I'll do it here. Quick disclaimers and stuff and for the peeps who like skipping through things like this, joke's on you.

This is an entry to the Open Novella Contest 2025, a Wattpad Ambassador-run event running from February to May. In a way, this is a standalone and will be understandable without reading any of my other works. However, I would greatly appreciate it if you checked my works as well. They're found at the latter part of this story called Back Advertisements!

Since this is an entry to the ONC, here are the prompts it is based on:

69 - Corporations dominate the world, stifling creativity with the force of the sterile police to eliminate any threat of unauthorized competition.

77 - In a world where art and entertainment are forbidden, you're born to challenge the system and change the world.

105 - Your childhood imaginary friend, who disappeared years ago, suddenly returns — only this time, they're real.

110 - 20 days of freedom.

111 - A single night can change everything. Even someone you thought you knew — like your closest friend.

134 - »You did more for me in six days than he ever did in seven years.«

This is an unedited draft. This is not line-edited so you'll see a lot of possible typos, some unflowy sentences, and most likely, some degree of bad phrasing. I see them all the time so don't worry, I'm way ahead of you there. No need to scream about it in my comments section.

This story is set in an alternate history setting. Everything comes from my imagination and should be treated as such. I have never experienced war and am only relying on what is available to me at the moment. I do my research and take inspiration from anything and everything, but if there's something you feel iffy about, some themes and details you think should not be there, please tell me so we can sort things out immediately. I will appreciate it. <3

With all that out of the way, I welcome you to the tale that is months in the making, and if you're not ready for tragedy, I don't know what you're doing here.

Sing your heart out because there may be a time when you can't anymore.