"Death is a stripping away of all that is not you. The secret of life is to "die before you die" --- and find that there is no death."

― Eckhart Tolle

It clung to him, not letting go. That was the darkness. Alaric didn't find himself scared or confused...but calm. It was quite a strange feeling as he opened his eyes, not being surprised by the mass amounts of darkness surrounding him. What was strange to him though, was the fact that he could feel his body, and with that he stood up, or so he thought he did. He then looked in each direction, wondering where he was.

He then began to look for way out of this dark, enclosing place. And so, he walked......and walked, and continued to walk. Soon, he felt his feet hurt, then his arms, and then his whole body hurt as he crumpled to the 'ground.'

He thought of giving up. To just stop and be left alone in this cold dark place.

" 1, and a 2, and a 3, then a 4! 4 little piggys hanging on the door!"

His ears perked up at the sound of what seemed to be a little girl singing a nursery rhyme. He looked around, trying to find the source, but found none do to the lack of visible sight.

He then stood up and began to walk again, this time in the direction of the child's voice.

Unlike last time, his search and walk began to bear fruit, and soon he began to see a light appear in front of him. Elation filled his body as he suddenly found himself with new vigor and began to run towards the light.

As he got closer, he began to squint do to the increasing intensity as he ran through the light. When it began to dim, he opened his eyes, and was confused at what he saw....A house

He began to walk towards it as he felt something rising up as he stopped, his hand reaching out towards the knob. He took a deep breath as he then knocked on the door, waiting for an answer, but none came.

Suddenly, the door swung open, making Alaric jump back as he saw a little boy run out, pulling a little girl behind him.

"Alaric, don't stay out late!" A motherly voice called from inside.

"I know mom!" The boy giggled, pulling his sister along, "We have to hurry Kate, AJax is waiting for us!"

As if he was a ghost, the boy and girl ran right through him, although this didn't bother him do too what he heard earlier.

He took a deep breath as he walked into the house, stopping as he looked down at the women in front of him, his mother. He began to feel the urge to cry, but pushed it back as he slowly walked over to her. He kneeled down at the women, who seemed to be picking up a bunch of toys as his hands reached out to touch her, but instead phased through her.

He closed his eyes at this as he bit his lip. "I'm sorry mom....it's my fault."

He closed his eyes as he remembered the event, the screaming, cries of pain...and the blood. Then the aftermath, he jerked himself back to reality, or whatever he was in and stood back up.

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"They really made a mess, I really need to teach them better." His mother sighed as she continued to pick up the displaced toys.

Alaric stopped as he reached the door, and smiled at his mom.

"You did"

He knew she couldn't hear him, but he still felt he needed to say that. He then walked out the door as he looked up at the sky, which was complete black just like the void he was just in, or still in. He didn't understand what was going on, maybe the so-called life flashing through your eyes? Although it wasn't like that at all.

"It happens today huh?"

Alaric sighed as he remembered the familiar day, shaking his head as he walked off.

"Nothing I could do about it I guess."

The door was still open as he left, but was soon closed by his mother as she chuckled. Alaric was now walking towards where his younger self and sister ran off too.

He soon found them at a familiar hill and field as they were running around with a boy similar to their age.

His steps were light as he watched them as he walked down the hill. He wasn't surprised as they kept on playing innocently, or was he surprised when they wanted to race down the hill.

He wasn't surprised when they got into an argument. He wasn't surprised as they started getting into a fight. He wasn't surprised as his sister got punched by accident, falling to the ground with a bloody nose. He wasn't surprised that they started freaking out when she fainted. He let out a sigh as he walked over, kneeling down as his hand went to reach out for his sisters forehead.

"Wow....she's so adorable, even when shes in this state."

Alaric quickly turned around, facing the new voice as he saw a girl behind him. His words were lost as he was entranced by her raven black hair, and sapphire blue eyes.

"Oh ho, what's this? Have you fallen for me already?" The girl asked, giggling.

Alaric shook his head as he slapped his cheeks.

"What do you want?"

"Is that how you ask a lady? Can you be more polite?"

"No..."

"......"

Alaric sighed as he ran a hand through his hair as he stared at the girl. "What do you want?"

The girl smiled as she held her hands behind his back. "Well, as you probably guess, you're dead."

"Figured that."

The girl leaned forwards as she poked his nose. "How would you like to come back to life?"

"Like that zombie undead type stuff? Hell no" His response was quick as he now ignored the younger trio.

"Hmph! What use would I have for a just rotten flesh and brains?"

"Don't ask me" He shrugged.

"You won't, I'll even give you something."

"And why are you doing this?"

"Entertainment? Fun, maybe something else?"

"Cut the bullshit, I don't have the time for being your entertainment, go find someone else." He glared at her, now standing back up.

"Fine Fine, you're no fun anyways."

"Was I supposed to be?" He grew irritated, now approaching her as he pushed her onto the ground, wanting to get rid of her as his hands curled around her neck.

"Don't you want to protect your sister?" She choked out as she gasped for breath. Hearing that he stopped and let go of her neck, but still pinned her to the ground.

"Elaborate."

"If you just agree to my conditions then you will be able to protect your sister and friends, and not to mention prevent further harm to her." She smirked as she was obviously confident, knowing he wouldn't disagree.

"Fine, I agree to your conditions, what are those again?"

"Simple, just entertain me and we have a deal."

"Fair enough" He snorted, not seeming quite happy.

The girl giggled, as her hands grasped his head and pulled him close as their noses touched, "What are you do-"

"What? Did you think I was going to kiss you?" She smiled at that, giggling as her hot, warm breath hit his face."

"Of course no-" His sentence was cut short as he suddenly screamed in pain, falling backwards as he clutched his body, more accurately, his eyes.

"By the way Alaric, Call me Lisa." The girl smiled as she stood back up, dusting off the grass off of her clothes.

Alaric didn't try to question how she knew his name or even how he got there as he gasped for breath. He continued to tremble as he soon blacked out.