“Where am I...?”
Whoa, that's insanely weird! I said that aloud but it was rather like felt would be a more adept description. Like an echo throughout my entire head!
“What is this place?”
Again! What a strange sensation this is. It’s as if I'm not talking outwardly but rather in my own head. Like a thought but yet very, very different at the same time.
“Hello?”
Hmm, nothing. No response anywhere... no light either. Nothing at all?
"Am I blind… Wait, I can’t feel anything either!! What's--"
A box like object is zipping itself towards me at a blurring speed and stops right in front of me; I guess I should be grateful, it at least confirms I’m not blind.
..The strange little box looks like an RPG message window from a classic SNES game, complete with pixelated text. The message is displayed in a blue-ish box with ‘Okay’ written in another box inside the original one. I felt myself giggle with nostalgia as I read it--
[You have died]
"Wait!? I’ve died?"
Impossible! The last thing I remember... I was on that bus watching.. Ah, that cute girl on her phone. Oh.. yeah, that lorry. Yep, definitely dead alright. Guess that explains why I can’t feel my extremities or see anything but blackness, this strange place, and of course, this message box no matter which way I face.
I assume it wants me to press on the ‘Okay’ box here… Not sure how I’m meant to be doing that though lacking hands and all.
Erhm.
>Press
Oh, so if I imagine pressing the button, it gets touched. Okay then--
"A new message hmm?"
[What was the meaning of your life?]
...Seriously? Is this some kind of elaborate joke or something? I mean, what kind of question is that?
>"To replicate."
[What was the meaning of your life?]
>"To die."
[What was the meaning of your life?]
Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
"Aargh fine! Let me think about it then! It doesn’t look like I can go anywhere for now anyhow!"
I suppose 'no one knows' wouldn't be an acceptable answer and besides, the question looks strangely pointed and not a generalisation of life as it didn’t accept my first two answers… Let's go with this then.
>"To support those I care about however possible while furthering my own goals of obtaining knowledge and doing something meaningful."
A simplistic answer but it’s not like I have a laptop and can write a 400-page essay on the subject matter after all.
[You have failed. Would you like to be reborn and try again?]
[Yes | No]
"Wha--"
Bollocks I have! I supported my family, however, I could and was always there for them! I never did anyone wrong who didn’t do me wrong first! ..Petty, that may be, but I like to think I was one of the wisest in my field and helped my friends company go from a small indie to a large powerhouse! I most certainly did not fail!
…Sure I didn’t cure cancer but what the fucking hell!? Failed my backside! You can forget it; I'll stay here until I speak to management!
Bugger off!
– Sometime later –
After you get used to it, it’s really rather peaceful here. Sure all I can see is this message box so there’s no view pa-say but it’s how I would imagine floating in space would feel like..
– Twenty-four hours after that –
Hmm, I guess I really am dead..
To be completely honest, I wasn’t too convinced at first. I thought, 'this must be a prank', but now.. I mean, its been like three days now right? With all this darkness and no sunlight, I can’t really tell, but anyway, I don’t feel any hunger, thirst or a desperate need for the toilet… which is a plus I guess.
"..."
I wonder if I died on the bus or at the hospital? I keep trying to think back, but the last thing I remember was that lorry.. I don’t remember any pain or anything that could be considered a flag for my death.. I wonder if I should just ask?
“Hey, message box thingy! How did I die?”
"..."
Figures, no response. Well, at least it couldn't have been painful... unless that's the reason I can't remember?
– A few hours after that –
“Maybe message boxy doesn’t know how I died either…?”
Yes, I watch anime.. watched? Anyway, I'm a culture fan. Bite me. A fan is a correct term as I don't know Japanese at all...
– A few more hours after that –
“Heeeeeeeeelllllllllooooooooo!”
“I am not pressing either of these okay~!”
“If you think I'll crack, you’re wrong. I’m extremely strong willed~”
– Three hours more –
“Oh~ I know a song that will get on your nerves, get on your nerves, get on your nerves~”
“I know a song that will get on your nerves, get on your nerves, get on your nerves~”
“OH~”
...
Come to think on it, why am I talking to myself like this. I never was one for an internal monologue. I have to say though that it is helping to keep me sane. I guess I'll treat it like a diary.
“Day 47 in the Big Dark House and er. Barry! is sitting in the Darkroom”
“Hey Big Dark House. I’ve been contemplating this stupid message box now for the past 18 months waiting on a propa' answer.”
...I don’t know where I’m going with this.
Ah ha! Incoming!
I knew it! A new message box. I win, mwahaha--
[Stubborn aren’t you? Fine, I can use that. How would you like to revive in a new world instead? You and your memories intact with a new body?]
[Yes | No]
Strange, this message is in a green-ish box not blue.. I get the feeling this is from someone, or perhaps something would be more apt, and not the same being or deity as blue boxy?
..Well whatever, if it gets me out of here and sticks it to blue box then ‘Yes’ it is!
>Yes
Immediately after pressing [ Yes ], a voice that I thought would kill me..again, shook me to the core.
“SO BE IT. IT IS DONE”
Oh my, that was loud! I guess this is why they use boxed messages to communicate!