Chapter 1 - Chosen

[Do you remember your death?]

That was the question currently printed in golden letters on a blue translucent screen. It was the first ounce of color that graced the pale eyes of the male spirit in a long time. Until now the only thing he could see was the bright white surrounding him as he stood on what felt like an invisible platform. There was a brief moment of silence as the spirit tried to gauge whether what he saw was real or not. Nothing like this had ever appeared since his arrival which felt like ages ago to him now.

"It happened after my nineteenth birthday," he whispered tentatively. As the spirit spoke, the surrounding area began to change. Off colors and odd shapes twisted and bent within the blank space until they molded themselves into scenes mirroring what the spirit described. A boy in his late teens with curly brown hair and a striking pair of olive eyes stood staring at a large building.

"Go on Ashton, you don't want to keep all those new opportunities waiting," a feminine voice chirped. Next to the somewhat nervous-looking boy appeared a taller older-looking woman with similar hair and darker eyes. That was his older sister, the woman who raised him after their mother passed away. "Go on now," she said again, gently pushing him toward the stairs. Ashton looked at the scene with a wistful look before speaking again.

"I had just finished orientation when I was approached by some girl I'd never met." Another female figure appeared this time with short black hair and an enthusiastic smile. "She told me more about the place and even offered to take me to my first college party free of charge. She seemed pretty friendly at the time and like a fool, I accepted the offer."

The scenery shifted, filling the room with vaguely humanoid figures that moved with an artificial rhythm. The only ones with any detail were Ashton and the mystery girl.

"I stuck close to her, and I was actually having a nice time for a while. That was until I left to use the bathroom." Ashton watched the figure representing him walk away while the girl stood in place. She stood in place for a few more seconds turning her head occasionally as if making sure the coast was clear before pulling out a featureless bottle. The girl poured something into a cup and waited for his return. Ashton looked at the memory still a little shocked that something like that could be done so blatantly.

"I came back, and she handed me the cup with a smile before picking up one of her own. She drank hers, and I did the same not knowing any better. Then I started getting tired." One by one everything faded away leaving Ashton in complete darkness. But it didn't last as long as the spirit felt himself being illuminated by a light that sent chills down his spine as much as it warmed his phantom skin. It was the flickering glow of lit torches. "I woke up with cuffs on my wrists chained to a table. I panicked and began pulling, but all my effort was met with laughter."

The room followed his words and flooded the space with raucous howls and deafening chuckles."I opened my mouth to say something only to receive a kick in the teeth from an unseen person." Ashton's hand went to protect himself almost out of reflex until he realized what he was looking at.

"I was beaten, tortured, and humiliated in front of a live audience for what felt like years," Ashton explained, causing the room to change again. It split off into different sections all involving him going through different forms of torture. He was beaten with rusted pipes and injected with various drugs, one panel even depicted him being operated on while several figures watched. "I was broken by the time they were done with me. I finally felt myself dying when they finally tossed me in some ditch." Everything in the room returned to normal and the spirit was once again left in silence. There was another screen but the words were different.

[What would you do if you had a second chance?]

Sparks of hope and curiosity could be seen glimmering in the spirit's eye. "Can I get my life back? Will my sister be there?" So many ideas ran rapidly through the mind of the spirit he didn't know which he wanted more.

[You need to calm yourself, all questions can be answered. But to do away with the ones you just asked, no you will not be returning to your past life in any capacity. Do you still accept the offer?]

'I'd never get to see Mariah again,' Ashton thought with a somewhat downcast look. A few memories briefly flashed across his mind of all the time he and his sister spent together. Then his mind went back to the last thing she said to him. 'You don't want to keep all those new opportunities waiting.' Mariah's voice echoed in his mind filling him with a mix of sadness and contentment. "What do I get if I accept?" Ashton asked, looking at the screen.

[You would be allowed to explore worlds that most people would kill to get a glimpse of. But be warned once you accept there will be no going back.]

There was a moment of silence as Ashton contemplated his answer. "I accept your offer," he eventually answered with an excited smile. The words on the screen disappeared as the frame of a door formed north of where Ashton was standing.

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[Please enter the door ahead of you to meet our patron and begin the spirit cleanse.]

'Patron? Spirit cleanse?' Ashton mentally questioned taking his first uneasy step. It felt like he'd been standing in that one good for ages. He eventually made it toward the door and when he crossed the threshold everything behind him disappeared. Then a voice echoed throughout the space, the first physical voice he'd heard since he died. "I've been expecting you for some time, Ashton."

- - -

Ashton looked at the being who currently had their back turned to him and struggled to find words. Ahead of Ashton stood a somewhat young-looking girl with long streaks of pearlescent hair. "Welcome to my domain." She took a step causing the void to be briefly filled with a wash of prismatic light.

"I'm sure you have many more questions." Another step and another spray of vibrant color. Earthy greens spread along the ground bringing all manner of vegetation in their wake. Multiple waves of blue and white leaped through the air until they formed a cloud-filled sky.

"I know you've given up so much." The girl took one more step and in an instant, she appeared in front of Ashton. "But you're about to gain so much more."

They were now so close that Ashton could feel the latent energy radiating from this mysterious girl. "Allow me to introduce myself," she said, leaning into a grandiose bow.

"I go by many names. The Great Dreamweaver, She who Walks the Cosmos, Thought's Mistress, and Goddess of Dreams. But you, my new friend, can simply refer to me as Klyscha." Ashton took a few seconds to absorb all that was said before finally speaking. "Does that mean you're also the goddess of cliches?" All the tension that had been built up was immediately dashed.

"I am not a cliche!" The now visibly upset girl harrumphed. "I am a powerful being capable of things most mortals such as yourself would literally only dream of achieving," Klyscha declared confidently. Sensing he struck a nerve Ashton quickly tried to shift topics.

"You said something about gaining more in exchange for what I lost." Ashton's question seemed to get things back on track much to his relief. Klyscha huffed once more, her demeanor relaxing a bit.

"Ah yes, the deal you've agreed to. Well to keep everything concise what I am offering you is essentially the ability to travel to any world in the multiverse. This of course barring the return to your previous life, but you should already know that."

Ashton took in the information for a second time accepting his choice. "Is there anything I need to do?" Klyscha smiled and held out a hand. "I'd brace myself, this may hurt a fair bit," Klyscha added, tightening their hold once Ashton complied.

“What do you mean?” Ashton asked, now looking somewhat afraid.

"I'm about to begin the spirit cleanse which is a very painful process." Ashton was a bit hesitant, but he already agreed and there was no going back now. "I'm ready," he nodded, trying to tense his arm as best he could.

Klyscha's hold tightened causing Ashton to let out a small wince that turned into pained gasps as a burning sensation shot through his arm. The heat shot up his forearm before spreading to his chest and finally, to the entirety of his being. It felt like fire was being slowly pushed through his veins. Ashton looked at being in front of him, a mixture of fear and pain clear on his face. "What are you doing to me?"

[Cleansing Process 10%]

The burning increased again as did Klyscha's grip on his hand. "This process involves me filling your body with trace amounts of pure divine energy that will purge any sin you have committed. It's something that every soul goes through during reincarnation. Though most tend to lose consciousness around twenty percent." Ashton wanted to respond but when he opened his mouth no words came out, only empty air. “Hmm, I guess you're just too choked up to answer. But worry not, the procedure won't last that much longer and soon you'll be free to do as you please."

[Cleansing Process 20%]

[Cleansing Process 30%]

[Cleansing Process 40%]

Eventually, all the heat Ashton felt course through his body subsided as he found himself absentmindedly watching the numbers tick up on the screen until they reached one hundred. When the procedure was over Ashton ripped his hand away and looked at Klyscha defensively while the goddess continued smiling. “Don’t be such a sour soul. The next part is the fun part.”

[Process complete, your soul has been cleansed of all previous mortal sins. You are now clear for registration.]

Ashton looked at the screen expecting something to happen only to find another screen in his face.

[You have been registered in the Second Chance System. This system has been designed to allow you to survive in whatever hellscape you may end up in. If you play your cards right, you could become more powerful than you could have ever imagined yourself to be. Your first world will be selected at random but after that, it’s up to you to make the choices. But to make it a bit easier you will also be equipped with a companion to assist in getting the hang of things. If you are prepared to depart, please step through the door ahead of you.]

“I told you,” Klyscha said, causing Ashton to shoot her a glare. “What? Don’t look at me that way, I was just doing my job.” Ashton took a deep breath and thought about everything he’d had. He thought of his mother, his idiot friends, his older sister, and all the other things that once made him happy. ‘I’ll surely miss them all.’ With that last thought of everything he left behind Ashton released his breath and walked toward the door.

“Good luck Ashton!” Klyscha watched the young man walk away waving the whole time. “You’re going to need it,” she whispered in a low voice.