Gabriel Rolls, a 21-year-old engineer, stood proudly beside his parents, Lukose and Marylyn Rolls, as they accepted the award for Best Upcoming Entrepreneur of New York Weekly.
Gabriel has a lean, athletic build, dark brown hair, and piercing olive green eyes that seem to hold a deep intensity. His chiseled features and strong facial structure give him a ruggedly handsome look that is both captivating and intriguing.
"Congratulations, son!" Lukose exclaimed, beaming with pride. "We're so proud of you!"
"Thanks, Dad," Gabriel replied, grinning. "I couldn't have done it without your support."
Marylyn hugged Gabriel tightly. "We're just happy to see you succeeding, sweetie. You deserve it."
As they walked off the stage, Gabriel's friends, Alex and Ryan, rushed over to congratulate him.Alex is a firefighter with a striking Hispanic features, sporting curled dark hair, expressive eyes, and a warm, golden-brown complexion that radiates a vibrant energy and Ryan is an engineer with a strong, chiseled face, dark black hair that's often neatly styled, and expressive brown eyes that sparkle with a sharp, analytical mind.They have been childhood friends.
"Dude, that's amazing!" Alex exclaimed. "You're a genius!"
"Thanks, guys," Gabriel said, laughing. "I'm just glad I could make it happen."
The party was in full swing, with music, food, and drinks flowing. Gabriel mingled with the guests, chatting with his parents' colleagues and friends.
"Gabriel, your UV light-harvesting motor is incredible," said Dr. Patel, a renowned engineer. "How did you come up with the idea?"
"Thanks, Dr. Patel," Gabriel replied. "I was experimenting with different materials and technologies, and I stumbled upon the idea of harnessing UV light to generate power."
As the night wore on, Gabriel found himself getting more and more drunk. He stumbled around, laughing and joking with his friends.
"Gabriel, slow down!" Marylyn warned, laughing. "You don't want to overdo it!"
"I'm fine, Mom," Gabriel slurred. "Just having a good time."
Gabe's world was spinning, his vision blurred. He vaguely remembered stumbling to the bathroom, but now he was on all fours, his head hovering over the toilet bowl. The contents of his stomach churned, threatening to spill out.
Just as he was about to retch, a sultry voice whispered in his ear, "Well, well, well. Looks like someone's had a little too much to drink."
Gabe turned his head, barely registering the presence of Anora, the stripper arranged by Alex and Ryan. She was a vision in red, her barely-there outfit leaving little to the imagination.
Anora straddled Gabe's lap, her hands tracing the contours of his face. "Don't worry, baby," she cooed. "I'll take care of you."
Gabe's head spun, his senses reeling. He was vaguely aware of Anora's lips brushing against his ear, her breath sending shivers down his spine. But his body was beyond responding, his mind numb from the excesses of the night.
Gabe's eyes closed, and he felt himself falling into a dark pit. The sensation was overwhelming, like being pulled down a rabbit hole with no safety net. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself surrounded by a vast, white space. The emptiness was deafening, and the only sound was the creaking of his own mind.
The space began to spin, and Gabe stumbled, trying to find his footing. But there was nothing to hold onto, no anchor to keep him grounded. He was alone, adrift in a sea of white.
Suddenly, a crack echoed through the space, faint at first, but growing louder with each passing moment. Gabe's heart racing, he tried to locate the source of the sound. And then, he saw it.
A figure emerged from the distance, its features slowly taking shape. It was a robot, or at least, something that resembled a robot. Its body was burly, like an astronaut's, but only half the size. One eye glowed bright, while the other was a gaping hole, wires dangling like entrails.
Gabe's gaze was transfixed on the robot's left leg, which creaked with every step. The sound was like a metronome, marking time as the robot walked in circles, its path eerily predictable.
As the robot drew closer, its eye locked onto Gabe's, and he felt a jolt of electricity run through his body. It was as if he'd been pushed outside of his own skin, his lungs on fire, his breath burning with an otherworldly intensity.
The robot loomed closer, its presence suffocating. Gabe's mind screamed, but his voice was trapped, unable to escape. With a Herculean effort, he pushed the robot away, and it stumbled, falling into the dark pit that had swallowed Gabe whole.
As the robot disappeared, the white space dissolved, and Gabe found himself back in his bathroom, screaming at the top of his lungs. Anora, the stripper, rushed out of his lap, her eyes wide with fright.
"What the freak is wrong with you?" she exclaimed, backing away from Gabe as if he were a wild animal.
Gabe's screams slowly subsided, replaced by ragged gasps. He lay on the cold bathroom floor, his body shaking like a leaf. Anora muttered something under her breath and hastily exited the bathroom, leaving Gabe alone in his terror.