“Battery checked, water checked, mobile phone charger checked”

I tossed around my backpack searching for anything amiss for my journey to the portal.

What is this portal? Who made it? Nobody knows, it just showed up all over the world since a thousand or maybe two thousand years ago, the portal itself is not big, its only a size of double door. Sometimes the portal closed down and nobody can get in for a while. Supposedly theres no one ever comeback after stepping inside the portal. What we know about this portal is there is a binary code shown on the portal. 00110000... myself is not a big brain but it is widely known, heck you can even browse the internet nowadays and translate it into human language.

The message on the portal always the same and it reads as follows:

“If you want eternal life and power, step inside”

I was diagnosed with lung cancer stage 4 a few weeks ago and my parents both very devastated with the news, im 18 years old but already terminally ill. Since then my workaholic mom and dad stays at home, I told them to continue with their jobs like usual. I only know my mom and dad works in a company called AIDA Tech, I dont even know what they are doing there.

“Well, its time to say goodbye”, I put my goodbye letter on the living room desk and closed the door behind me.

“Bye mom, Bye dad, Bye lil sis”

its quite far to commute to the portal, the closest portal opened 50km away from my home.

Then suddenly I stopped in my track, there is a military truck parked in front of my house. A couple of bulk guy in military uniform approach me.

“Are you Marad Dominael?”

“No, you must have been mistaken, im Joe Darwin, I want to deliver the notebook for next week homework for Marad”, I lied shamelessly with straight face

“Nah, we got your picture here, nice try kid”,

“We need you to come with us quietly”, they rather insisting 

“What is this about? Do I need a lawyer or something?”

“Just get in before we use force”, the tone slightly increasing

“Okay, geez, no touching, im definitely taking your badge number, or dogtags or whatever you guys have” I took out my phone and took a picture of the two military guys.

“Allright my finger is a dead man switch, you guys do something illegal it should be sent to social media straight away”

I stepped inside the Truck and sit in the middle sandwiched by the two bulky guys.

“Dude, a little bit privacy please”, I whine

Then a girl voice can be heard from outside the truck

“Guys, I'll take it from here, go to the other truck”, She is not more than 29 years old if my age radar working correctly and she is a beauty, then she sit besides me

“How about now, is it better?”, she asked

“Much better, Thank you, now what is this about?”

“I dont have the authorization to explain it to you but its about the portal that just opened a few days ago, its not far, buckle up”

“Dont worry, we are here to ensure your safety” she claimed

Safety? Oh im in big trouble I guess.

-***-

After an hour riding on the military truck, we finally arrived on the portal site. Lots of tents erected just outside the military barrier. These tents are the portal seekers, they usually wait on a place of existing portal hoping to get inside the portal. Most of these people are elderly and probably sick people who willing to gamble their lifes by stepping into the portal.

But the difference this time is there is military camps surrounding the gates. Usually the military doesnt give a damn about whos coming inside the portal but what are they doing here.

The truck stopped and we arrived to what looks like a command center camp

“At ease”, the beautiful girl officer commanded to the 2 guards guarding the entrance to camp

then she makes a gesture to me “Ladies first”

I looked around and back and then pointed to myself “Me?”, She nods

I can hear those two guards holding their laugh behind me as I open the tent vestibule.

Inside I can see a bunch of computer monitors and a big rectangle table in the middle of the camp.

“Ah, welcome welcome, Marad Dominael I presume?”, an older male voice echoing from behind the table

“Yes Sir, if I may asked what is this about?”, im curiously asked

“In due time, im General Cosby, for now please have a seat while we wait for....” then suddenly the vestibule opened again and a big tall with blonde military cut came inside.

“Sergeant Harold Barnacles reporting for duty!”

“At ease Sergeant, okay now everyone is here let us begin”

“I believe everyone here already knew the history of the portals so let me cut this short”

“A few days ago, the portal near us opened with 2 messages instead of 1”, the General explained

“2 Messages? It never happened before right?” I asked

“Yes and the message is this”, the General shoved a tablet to other side of the table, I lean in to see whats the message

“If you want to save Earth bring Marad Dominael son of Martha Dominael and Steven Dominael, across the portal, and find”

“and find what? How on earth my name is there” I claimed

“We dont know the message abruptly stop there”, the General explained

“Now, I know we dont know whats on the other side of the portal, but we cannot ignore this kind of message, especially if it endanger Earth”

“We ask you to enter the portal”, the General's eyebrows furrowed, “This is not a request”

“These 2 Volunteers, Sergeant Harold Barnacles and Liutenant Catalina Avila will accompany you through the portal and they will stay true to the mission to protect you and Earth”

I look to my left and right and they nod as we making eye contact

“Are you sure you want to go with me to the portal? I heard its a one way trip” I scratch my head

“Well, to be honest, im terminally ill, I was diagnosed stage 4 cancer three weeks ago, I decided to go to the portal this morning before the beautiful Liutenant 'Catalina' showed in front of my house”

“Okay lets do it, but I have a request”

“What is it, I will do it as long as it within my capacity” the General claimed

“Tell my parents I will be okay, the military is with me”

“Consider it done, anything else?”

I shook my head “No, lets do this, im getting chest pain, I hope this works”

The General salute us, “God speed kid and good luck to you two”

Then we leave the camp and people already swarming in front of the portal.

“Queue up! Open the gate! Let them pass!” one of the guards shouted

Im first in the queue followed by Lt. Catalina and Sgt. Harold, there is also a grandpa behind us.

The buzzing sound from the portal grew louder and louder as I approach the portal.

“OKAY HERE GOES NOTHING! SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE” I shouted, then others at the back cheers back

I dont feel afraid, there are others with me

Then I step inside

TO BE CONTINUED