In a fleeting moment of pure instinct, Alice reacted. The pedestrian light was still a glaring green when the truck barreled through the intersection. Without a second thought, she shoved her little brother out of harm's way, absorbing the full impact of the truck herself.
As she lay sprawled in the middle of the street, time seemed to warp. The truck had flung her several feet away, and now a blinding white light bore down on her, making it hard to even blink. A ringing filled her ears, muffling the panicked voices converging around her.
The cold seeped into her bones, the asphalt beneath her felt damp. Through the haze, distant cries pierced her awareness—her brother, safe but terrified.
"I'm here," she wanted to reassure him, to tell him not to worry. Yet, her body refused to cooperate; her chest tightened, each breath a monumental struggle.
A surreal sensation of floating enveloped her. Was this what adrenaline felt like? She had always shied away from extreme sports, fearing a hair out of place or a broken nail. Ironically, she now wondered about her appearance, all astray.
As her consciousness began to fade, a whimsical worry crossed her mind. She hoped her parents would choose a skilled beautician for her. The black designer dress from last week's fashion show, which she hadn't had the chance to wear, flashed through her mind. Perhaps they would dress her in it. She wanted to look her best, one final time.
---
What had happened... to me?
She blinked rapidly, trying to clear her vision and make sense of her situation.
Looking down, she noticed she was clad in a simple white gown, enveloped by an endless expanse of white. "Is this the afterlife?" she murmured to herself.
Almost in response, a mechanical tone chimed inside her head:
Ding!
[Connected with the Host… Initializing basic functions… 2%... 5%... Error!]
She recoiled, taken aback by the unexpected internal announcement.
[Re-establishing signal with host… 4%... 20%... 70%... 100%]
[Connected]
The bizarre messages did little to ease her swirling confusion. An accident—that much was clear. But what came after? An afterlife with dubious tech support?
Before she could ponder further:
[Host, you don’t need to overthink this. You are currently in limbo.]
"What are you? Where is limbo?" she asked, her voice echoing slightly as she scanned the featureless expanse around her.
With a soft pop, a cat materialized in mid-air beside her. It landed on its feet with graceful ease, its fur a shimmering shade of gray.
[You can call me Little Meow. I'm a Guide System from the Teen and YA Department. Limbo is where some souls pass through before they are sorted. I’ve managed to carve out a section for privacy while you wait your turn.]
The cat twirled, its tail flicking with satisfaction, then fixed her with a grin that seemed too knowing.
[I saw you, Host, and immediately knew you were the perfect one! I wanted to make your acquaintance as soon as possible.]
Little Meow's enthusiasm seemed to fill the space, its voice brimming with excitement.
She stared, speechless, trying to process the absurdity of the situation.
“Is this some sort of joke?” Alice crossed her arms. “Next, you’ll tell me you’re recruiting me for a reality show.”
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
[No, Host! You are perfect for the Teen and YA Department. Your vibrant spirit is exactly what we need.]
"Really? ‘Vibrant spirit’? Let’s not kid ourselves, Little Meow.”
She sighed dramatically. "So, this is limbo? Looks more like the inside of a washing machine mid-cycle. And you're telling me I got VIP treatment for my ‘vibrant spirit’. Are you sure it’s not just a glitch in your system?"
[No, no, Host! You have a unique potential.]
"Save it for someone who buys into this whole set-up. Now, can we skip to the part where you tell me this is just a prank? I mean, come on, a talking cat? What's next, a singing lobster?"
Her sarcasm was sharp, but underneath, her mind raced to make sense of the situation.
[You-you know Gary?] The cat looked genuinely taken aback.
“…Do you have a screw loose, or is that a special feature of your system?”
[You can’t say that, Host! That’s a rude word and I am such a cute kat—meow.] The cat blinked slowly.
“I think you meant ‘cat’ with a c.”
[…]
[I chose you because you looked cool.] Little Meow's energy seemed to deflate; its whiskers drooped in an almost comical, melodramatic fashion. Despite herself, she felt a pang of guilt—it was like scolding a stuffed animal for being too soft.
“Look, how about we start over?” she suggested, her tone softening just a notch.
[I would like that very much—meow!]
She bent down and gently scooped up the little grey cat. Its fur was soft and fluffy, and it snuggled against her, radiating warmth.
---
Registration Office:
The cat poofed out of her arms, and the white landscape disappeared with it.
She found herself materializing in an office space in front of a white desk, where a woman in her forties sat typing.
“Name and age,” the woman stated.
“Alice, age 21.”
The keyboard clacked loudly in the otherwise silent room.
“Done. You’ve been registered. I have you at 1,004 Karma points. Would you like to redeem them?”
[I would like to offer her a contract of employment.] Little Meow materialized next to Alice.
Unfazed by the intrusion, the woman continued, “Ah, approached by one of our Guide Systems? Hmm, doesn’t look like it has been noted yet in the system, but the servers might be slow.” The woman finally glanced at Alice and Little Meow.
“What does this all mean?” Alice asked.
“Due to your low Karma points, you have a choice between reincarnating as a dragonfly in your next life, then a fish or a pig and so on before you have enough Karma to become human again. Alternatively, you can be chosen as a tasker and complete missions given by the respective Department and collect Karma that way. That tends to have a high-risk, high-reward system, where if you fail a mission, you forfeit your soul. But you have more options with how to spend your Karma points.” The woman explained slowly.
[Exactly, Host. If you sign the contract, you become a tasker for the Teen and YA Department. I believe you have the qualities to do well.]
“I’ll have to forfeit my soul if I fail or become a dragonfly if I choose not to be a tasker?” Alice reiterated, weighing her options.
[Yes. Being a tasker comes with multiple benefits. Your actual body will be put in stasis, and you can choose to return to your previous life if you wish. Time runs differently, so you don’t have to worry about the years spent completing tasks affecting your decision.]
Alice considered the proposition carefully. She still wasn't clear on her ‘unique potential’ or ‘vibrant spirit,’ especially with Karma so low. But she'd rather take a chance than not. Seeing her family again would be worth the risk.
“Before I agree, what sort of task am I expected to do?” There were still some lines even she wouldn't cross.
[You will be sent to various worlds and given missions to complete. The overall mission goal is to enrich the IQ of the female protagonists in Teen and YA works.]
“Enrich the IQ of hormonal teenagers? I guess I’ve always been a role model for the girls,” Alice mused aloud.
The woman shared a meaningful look with Little Meow. "Your Karma points are low because of your poison." She thought.
Little Meow’s whiskers twitched nervously, but it mustered confidence. [Yes, Host. You will also be entitled to a vacation world after every three missions. This will give you a chance to recharge your soul energy and spend points if you wish.]
“You don’t need to sell yourself in this desperate way. I would like to double-check the terms and conditions.”
Little Meow produced a holographic contract with clear terms as previously explained: high risk, but high rewards.
In the end, Alice agreed.
“So, what’s left to do now?”
[I will begin the Tutorial Mission.]