I am burning.

My skin is melting till the consistency of rubber before turning as black ash. I watch the flames crawl slowly up my body while unable to escape. I suffocate on the poisonous air, as my lungs turn to liquid. There is no way out, no path to escape, no inclination of hope.

I wish I could die faster, yet am still clingy to life. Such a contradiction of my humanity.

The pain is unbearable.

how many of my nerves are crying out in futility?

I wish I could rip off my flesh, like it is the reason for my torment.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

The screams are shrill and loud like a woman's. The pain has stripped away my sanity, my physical ability, and my dignity.

Soon I'll be unable to even shout.

How much of my body has burned away?

 Why if there is a God, does he hate me?

my potential was limited by disease, sickness, and pain. I was never able to become the man I dreamed. Everything was limited by this weak body of mine.

 Hasn't God let me suffer enough?

why is it that my time of dying must be like this too?

Was I never supposed to be born?

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

The doctor once said I wouldn't live till twenty.

Four years later, it wasn’t disease that took me, yet still I die like a dog in utter agony.

Sigh

 I don't feel the pain anymore.

I've probably gone past the point of recovery, but that’s good.

no more pain....

....................................................................................................................................................

"Soul awaken" commanded a voice neither male or female. the sound reverberated through the room supernaturally, like a beaconing from a god. it was a sound that could awaken all manner of beings.

There was a brief silence in the space, in which no responses were heard. The silence as conspicuous has the original bellow.

"Awaken and answer me" the voice continued.

I could hear it, but I wasn't sure if it was near or far. I wasn't even sure if it was referring to me or another. It echoed throughout the room yet the trajectory was unknown.

"Adam Crane, arise to my call" the voice boomed and I felt a rush of wind on my face. I opened my eyes, and looked forward at what I couldn't comprehend.

The thing that called me can only be described as an apparition. A transparent and insubstantial existence, it was there in front of me, it was even holding me, yet none of my senses were providing me adequate proof of its position.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Incomprehensible, non-gender specific, an existential existence that made me question its validity.

 "God?" I blurted out my first thoughts.

The apparition shook its head. " no, I am not god Adam...my name is Lore I am the gatekeeper of the higher realms.”

I looked in the direction I believed the apparition to be standing "you mean heaven or hell?"

The apparition moved away from me before answering. It movement resembling a gliding leaf in the wind.

"Neither... while it is a different plan of existence, It is still governed by the souls." it said, while turning and pointing it arms forward....

" it is a place were souls rematerialize after their first mortal death." It pointed at the back of the room and space began to open till it resembled a basketball sized hole.

"We don't have much time to speak, so I will give you a brief explanation of my proposition," it said before continuing.

"normally, you would have already awoken in a new world, you're memories reset as to continue your test, but I would like to make a deal with you." it said while turning around to look at me.

I looked up at it with my thoughts in wonderment, failing to comprehend the value of making a deal with me.

 "what type of deal?" I asked ignoring the other questions in my head.

" you are a soul with a strong regret... In your mortal life, you were limited by your body never to live your life to your full potential or so you believed….”

Or so I believed, I wondered what it meant by that?

“I can give you a second chance... I can give you the chance to choose one aspect of your new body, I can even allow you to keep your memories allowing you to consciously shape your future from the very beginning."

Listening to the apparition I instantly felt like I had been shocked by lightening, my heart shivered in excitement.

" what do you mean by aspect." I asked, immediately my voice trembling.

It nodded at me

"the world you’re going too is full of many strange creatures, humanoid and otherwise, everyone having abilities and potential that could make them gods in your old mortal realm, strength, speed, intellect... powers coveted in the imagination of mortals make their appearance in the higher realms."

My heart beat quicker, could it be that realms like those in books existed, was I going to be giving the chance to be the main character of my own legend.

"choose an aspect... any power, and I will select a body capable of manifesting that aspect with high potential for your relocation..."

I don't believe I was breathing, otherwise my breath would have become haggard, I wanted to shout out yes immediately, but instead my imagination ran wild as I thought of what I could become.

It wasn't until my thoughts became calm that I started to question what it wanted in return.

What if this thing was the devil looking to make a deal for my soul?

While, wondering this I finally looked down at myself, I was surprised at what I saw or rather didn't see.

I had no body, instead a dark light was shining, and when I saw this light I felt like I understood myself more clearly. This light was my soul. As I stared into myself my mind started to become dazed and contemplative.

"Adam!" The apparition called me to my senses.

It was already beside me... I wondered when it got so close?

 "what do you want in return for this?" I asked.

to which it replied immediately

 " a favor.... I want you to promise that you will do something for me if I were to ask."

It was being vague, which made me uncomfortable.

" ...what type of favor?" I questioned, becoming more skeptical.

" It's for the best if I don't tell you now...this favor could affect you positively or negatively, at the same time I may not even ask you for it... I just want the promise that if I ask, you will comply." The apparition explained slowly and concisely, but I still couldn't help but be afraid.

 What would something like this want from me? It could be anything, the more I thought about it the more afraid of it I was.

"You don't want my first-born child or something like that, right?" I couldn't help but question half-jokingly.

" ..this is not a fairy tale story Adam, I have no need for your child."

I was relieved for a second, till more anxiety hit me. Then what did it need?

I wanted to ask the questions, but stillness of this apparition movements gave me a hint it  wasn't going to answer me.

My previous life already sucked. overthinking thing was probably a stupid idea.

Just remembering my past life made it impossible to pass up this deal.

"Alright " I finally agreed.

"Good Adam, choose your Power." The apparition grabs out and reached around my soul. Bringing me towards the hole in space in a rushed manner. I began to feel a turbulent wind against my soul.

" ....I don't ever want to be held back by my body again.... give me a body impervious to disease."  I yelled over the breeze.

Bringing my soul to the rip in space it asked, " are you sure? you must lose something to gain that power"

"Absolutely." I said. no matter what I choose, he would give me a body with great potential, I don't want to be limited by disease again. Without another word, he brought me towards the hole, and I disappeared in a flash of dark light.