Under clear skies with loud streets of Austin I was walking across the street with a phone in hand preparing for bible study when I saw a girl with a cart full of cookies behind her. I decided to go buy some, while reflecting on the sadness that is child labor in our world. I’ll give it to David down the road, I was already going there to give him lunch anyways. Hope his interview went well, perhaps soon he’ll be able to get an apartment and get off the streets...
As I went over to the young girl with a strap of what looked like girl scout pins, I realized that the street light was still green, and how that 18 wheeler was definitely not stopping. I threw my backpack full of textbooks to the side and sprinted towards her, trying to save the girl. The sound of the truck’s horns filled the air while the attempt at stopping only had it swerving instead. It was already too late, as the girl who couldn’t be older than 10 turned in shock like a deer in headlights. I managed to barely reach her, and shoved her out of the way. Does this count as my daily good deed? I kept sprinting to move out of the veering truck...Until I suddenly tripped. Ah, guess this is where my life flashes before my-
Chapter 1.5: The end. Have a good one folks
Death only lasted a few seconds. A few seconds of pure, agonizing pain, until… Peace. I floated in an utterly beautiful peace in a black void, where even the experience that just caused my end seemed to have smoothed out as though it were but a dream. I still had a body, though it was naked. I closed my eyes to see yet more of nothing, and waited to be brought to heaven. All those years, all those I’ve helped and all the hours I’ve put into making a better world, it’s finally over. I can think now.
So I sat there, waiting. And waiting.
And waiting.
Until I became worried. Even if it’s not as though I could have asked anyone, I’m pretty sure that this is how the whole dying thing works. Sitting there wondering if I was missing something, A dark glowing violet suddenly broke in, as though a crack through space was opened. Dark Obsidian pillars reflecting a light that wasn’t there grew from a floor that didn’t exist, and I was filled with a deep, confusing terror. All I could think of is how I could escape, yet there was nowhere to go. I’m fairly certain this is no God of mine, yet as a ‘something’ started materializing, my mind understood that I was before a power that has been here before time could have even been perceived.
One second it was an eldritch horror so large that it felt like its image was being forced into my eyes, another it was a collection of swirling energies that it was made up of, but no matter the form, I could feel my mind shattering trying to comprehend it. I found that I could not cry, nor scream, but I did clutch my head as not even closing my eyes let the being escape me. This isn’t heaven, is it.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Then, it decided to talk. A collection of a thousand different voices made into one, clearly suited for my meek understanding.
After Witnessing and watching, it has been decided
A life worth one thousand you shall live in another world
A journey worth more than a million men you shall make
A story worth more than any conceived fiction you shall create
Accept, and be brought to a world not your own
Hearing its voice, a fuller understanding filled my mind, fracturing it further and causing it a pain that made getting run over feel like a small bruise. Yet I kept through, for I had to think. Though he spoke only a few sentence’s worth, it was like the thing in front of me forced a full conversation’s worth of plans and futures in my head, and that future had me brought to a world where I would have powers that could only be dreamed of in fiction, and be able to indulge in power and prestige unknown to even kings of my world or the one I’ll be going in, in spite of the challenges such a life may bring. I understood that I was truly not special, and that it had more or less picked me from random, albeit with minor requirements, whatever those were.
Prestige, Power, Indulgence… Even with pain filling my mind, I understood that it made no room to refuse. God, the pain… No, I have to try. I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. It understood. It laughed. It spoke.
To live simply for an afterlife
To give up all that it means to live in order to be happy in death
To not focus on yourself, but on the beliefs of ancestors long past
That promised afterlife will not be given. It never existed. Not for you.
Among the pain and the fracturing and the struggle my mind and body were put through, it all paled in comparison. I can’t do it. I can’t live that kind of life, yet I can’t pass on. Was it all for nothing? The pain hurts. You can’t live for yourself, r-right?
...And yet you still wish to not change into the fitted future. Very well
As you try to wish for nothing, you will soon desire all
As you can still not live on your own wishes, you shall serve another
As you wish to never indulge, you will indulge
Abandon life through suicide again, and punishments shall be placed
A death found through other means, and I will allow you to see true death
All this can change, yet the narrative is now set
And so it will be so. Leave.
I blinked, then lay on a green field upon a sunny day. I didn’t move, and tried to piece back my mind. That was the second time I’m sure the mental scarring from the pain was forcibly removed, as I wasn't any more insane than usual, yet even with all that, the phantom fracturing seemed to still linger. Even with a slightly healed mind, I didn’t move, as I was left to linger with what I knew couldn’t possibly be a dream. So it really was all for nothing. I won’t end my life, not that I even can at this point. But suddenly that small comfort that had filled my heart for so long, a promise that was sworn to be fulfilled for all my effort, simply disappeared. And so, what now? I still believe in living in kindness, in humbleness, yet… I can’t seem to get up to pursue those thoughts. And I didn’t even get to say goodbye to anyone.
Welcome to Fazrinth! New Quest: To make a choice in a set narrative