The leading black-robed figure stepped forward, clasping the carcass of the beheaded small white monkey reverently, the monkey's fresh blood spilling onto the dark ritual's altar in cascades. Strange chanting began resounding across the dark cathedral. At first, it was barely audible, as if a slight whisper caressed one's ears. As more and more of the poor monkey's blood spilled, the higher the chanting rose. It felt like the whole world was repeating the vile, unknown language.

'...Where the hell they got a monkey from? Ah, never mind that, how did I even end up here?!'

Theron tried to think back, trying to remember his day's activities.

'It's my first day of college…I attended classes and went out later in the evening with a group of students I had just met, hoping I could mingle a little... it's just my luck, bonding with deranged cult members!'

Theron didn't dawdle to think what it said about his personality and the vibes he let out, that the one group of friends he managed to acquaint himself with turned out to be bat-shit crazy.

Daring a quick glance around while trying to avoid having the poor monkey in his line of sight, Theron noticed he and the cultists were standing in a circle surrounding the bloody altar.

'Oh god, am I considered a criminal? I didn't kill the monkey, but I was a witness! Is there any monkey missing from a nearby zoo?'

While Theron contemplated his life decisions and whether he should bolt from the dark cathedral and pretend nothing ever happened, the chanting reached its crescendo.

'What even is this foul language? I've never heard anything sounding even remotely like it.'

Wind picked up in the dark cathedral, the black robes of the cult members flopped furiously.

For the first time since the start of the ominous ritual, Theron couldn't hold it anymore. He had to talk to someone. The wind inside the dark cathedral felt unnatural…it felt wrong. Theron poked the cult member on his right with his black robe-covered elbow, whispering to him urgently.

"Uh yo? My man, isn't it a bit windy? And also…you guys got something against monkeys?"

"Quiet!" The cultist answered fervently.

The oddly sensitive cultist on his right continued after closing his eyes zealously.

"I can feel it…'he' is escaping 'his' shackles, the blood of the Deviant Ape truly is powerful…."

The foreboding wind picked up even more, turning into a miniature tornado. Theron had trouble remaining upright, fighting the swirling wind. He refused to be swept up. At the center of the tornado was the altar and the leading cultist figure who clutched the "Deviant Ape." As Theron glanced at the two figures at the center, he was startled to see that said figures started to float gently upward, the tornado gradually coalescing onto the top figure and the ape. The chanting was deafening; it felt as if the whole world quaked.

'What in the fuckity fuck?!'

Theron broke from the circle's formation, hurriedly backing away. His mind couldn't understand what had transpired right before him. Giggling hysterically, he croaked:

"Everyone says their first college day is memorable, but this…this is too much!!!"

A black cocoon formed slowly around the two floating beings. Its tapestry looked unfathomable. Theron had a gut feeling that he shouldn't look up, or else the consequence would be dire.

Suddenly, the chanting stopped, and seconds later, the tornado evaporated, and the air grew still. In the dark cathedral, the silence was more deafening than the tornado was; not a single word was uttered from the cultists, but there was an underlayer of a low humming sound coming from the center of it all - the floating black cocoon.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Trying to make a run for it, Theron attempted to sprint to the dark cathedral's entrance, only to find out it was somehow sealed by an invisible force…as if an invisible wall prevented him from taking the few more steps to his freedom. Trying very hard to keep calm, Theron closed his eyes. He took one deep, long breath, trying to clear his mind and figure a way out of this horrific predicament, only to be interrupted by a new chant from the deranged cultists. Although Theron still couldn't make sense of the foul language the cultists used, the new chanting felt immensely different from the deafening chanting he had heard previously. The tenderness in which it was spoken felt almost…angelic.

'I can't even gaslight myself into thinking it's just a dream…I can't even dream of ridiculous shit like this even if I wanted to!'

Theron's vision blurred. His head felt like it was splitting in two. In a panic, he once again glanced at the cultists who zealously whispered the angelic chant. They had blood oozing from their eyes, ears, and nostrils; it was a truly horrifying sight. as if every orifice had become a conduit for their agony. Yet, he could have sworn he saw a few blood-filled smiles on the faces of some cultists. They did not stop their majestic chant. The low humming that reverberated throughout the dark cathedral intensified into a resonant rumble, and when Theron couldn't bear it anymore, something changed. All the black-robed figures who were part of the chant flopped to the ground simultaneously, unmoving. They all died, every single one of them. The resonating rumble stopped as the chanting stopped, and once again, the dark cursed cathedral was left in utter silence…as if a tranquil bliss shrouded the space within.

Theron started hyperventilating. He couldn't even inhale properly; he was frozen in place ,unable to move. The only sound he could hear was his heartbeat thumping furiously like a mockingbird's. His pain-filled gaze fell on the black caccoon, which was unraveling before his eyes slowly; the black unfathomable tapestry disintegrated, revealing a human-shaped semi-translucent silhouette shrouded in deep darkness. Once Theron laid eyes on the mysterious 'him', unimaginable pain assaulted every inch of his body as if he was being incinerated from within.

"Aghhhhhh st-stop, plz I will do-" Threon continued, screaming in utter agony. "I will do anything! L-Let me live!"

Theron flopped down on the ground uncontrollably, spasming as he screamed.

The higher existence finally gazed at the pitiful human drenched in body fluids, an ethereal voice boomed in Theron’s head.

"ANYTHING? YOU JUST MADE THINGS ENTERTAINING, MORTAL."

The higher existence snapped his fingers nonchalantly, and dark tendrils of unfathomable aura engulfed the pathetic Theron. Just like that, the higher existence erased Theron from reality, effectively killing the poor wretch.

…………………………………

…………………………………

…………………………………

[You have died.]

"…huh?"

"But 'he' said… at the end there, I thought 'he' just might spare me…"

"…Wait, if I'm dead, does it mean I'm in the afterlife? Heaven? Oh shit, is it hell? I mean, ugh, I wonder if it's hell…"

Theron took a look around. Everything around him was a boundless darkness with nothing else in sight. It's not that there was a lack of light to see. It just so happened that everything there was to see was darkness.

[Dark god Tenebrous has granted you the power of one reincarnation.]

[Which of the following two would you like to reincarnate as in Tenebrous' realm:]

[Magical seahorse: a rare and unique creature that roams the abyss. The mere sight of this majestic creation is said to bring fortune and good luck. It has no predators, and they usually die from old age. ]

[Dark wraith: a low-tier being made out of pure darkness; unlike most of its kind, you will retain your self-consciousness and memories. Picking this option means consenting to slavery in Tenebrous' library till demise.]

Theron read carefully every word on the life-like runes made out of pure darkness.

Furiously, he ranted:

"So 'he' had the nerve to kill me for no apparent reason other than being at the wrong place at the wrong time, and the 'mercy' to grant me reincarnation? Talk about a hypocrite bitchy god."

'Wait…can 'he' hear all of this?' the dark thought gave cold dread to the young man.

In a panic, Theron tried to remedy the situation, just in case.

“‘Ah Tenebrous’ was it? Thank you kindly for the opportunity, sir. I-I mean god!"

Theron tilted his head to the side, analyzing his two options thoroughly.

'Isn't it obvious? The first option sounds amazing… living a good and free life as a majestic creature, now that's the dream! which is why…'

"I choose Dark wraith!"

[...]

Cleaning his ears quite graphically, Theron glimpsed at the swirling runes.

"What?"

[...How did you know?]

Theron sighed heavily, rubbed his throbbing temples, and started ranting.

"damn it, I'm dead and still able to get a headache? What in the godly fuck? Let a man die in peace, will ya?"

[...]

"Fine! I'll tell you. It's not like you will leave me alone if I won't. the magical seahorse sounds fantastic, truly a magnificent reincarnation that people can only dream about and write books on, its as if you intend to steer me purposely in that direction. While the Dark wraith, on the other hand, sounds like it was put there by mistake, it might be the most garbage option you could possibly give! I mean, who in his right mind would choose slavery?!”

Theron’s voice dropped, his face turned cold and menacing “This means something is wrong with the magical seahorse, something you didn't bother telling me, yet might be inferred…since this Tenebrous guy doesn’t seem like a god that plays fair at all. So, weird runes, could you tell me the lifespan of this so-called magical seahorse you tried so hard to sell me?”

[...Two days. Two glorious days.]