The young guy opened his eyes and realized that he was lying on a cold, hard side of the road. Dawn had just begun to illuminate the sky, and his gaze instantly fell on a fuel tanker, the black smoke of which swirled just a few steps away from him. The first rays of the sun framed this catastrophic picture in a golden frame. He lay there, bewilderment and emptiness in his eyes, reflecting the guy’s general well-being.

The young man could not remember his name or how he ended up here. There were no memories, neither about myself nor about the world around me. And there was certainly no fear. There was an alarming pulsation in the ears and a chilling pain.

At that moment, when the flames engulfed the fuel truck, accompanied by ferocious flashes and roars, the guy felt like a grain of sand in this picturesque but deadly picture. And then, as if lightning had struck his mind, there was an explosion. A wave of heat washed over him, but he only blinked. Even the heart didn't skip a beat. Only a moment, and then the measured sound of footsteps somewhere on the border of consciousness.

The guy opened his eyes and saw a strange humanoid creature in front of him. It was tall, with thin, metallic shining limbs and a body surface black as night, as if created from pure absolute darkness. The eyes of this creature sparkled with a mysterious blue light, like stars in the deep sky.

Behind him, the flames from the fuel tanker were still raging furiously, but seemed to suddenly stop in front of the border, not daring to come closer. The fire swirled in flames, emitting angry roars, but not daring to violate the ban on passing the invisible border.

The creature approached the guy and its blue eyes fixed on him, as if his whole essence was penetrating through him. With a mysterious and incomprehensible purr it said:

- You are rejected by Death, and you are the first in a new time. - the creature’s voice sounded like the harmony of hundreds of wind instruments, saturated with strangeness and majesty.

- I died? - the guy’s voice was a weak whisper, as if an echo of his own doubts.

“Yes and no.” - answered the creature. His voice sounded like a strange symphonic chord, like a merging of hundreds of voices into one majestic choir. “Between the worlds of life and death there is an invisible but powerful Border, and you find yourself on the threshold of the unknown. Ready Will you continue your journey with me?

The guy felt a shiver run down his back, as if the wind had thickened and become a tangible, quivering thread. His voice stuttered as he whispered:

- But... If I don’t want to?

- This issue is resolved. The only thing that matters now is whether you come with me or decide to test yourself. - The creature held out its hand, waiting for a decision. The guy was still stunned, but with a slight trembling he took his hand. The touch was cool, as if a fire was burning away all the warmth in the world, but at the same time it brought the promise of new beginnings. The guy felt how this incomprehensible essence blossomed in him, like a seed in good soil.

He was abruptly raised to his feet, causing his head to spin, and then, without words, the creature walked into the heart of the flame, leading the young man behind him. Hot waves enveloped them like fireballs, but did not burn them, but enveloped them like a protective cover. The guy felt tongues of fire swirling around, blinding him. He had to close his eyes and just walk, holding the hand of the strange creature. The warmth suddenly disappeared and the young man opened her eyes. The world around them began to unfold in shades of gray.

The guy entered the world of the Edge and his feelings were simply indescribable. A gray landscape spread out around him, like a canvas on which time literally stood still. The distant contours of rocks and trees seemed to be crumbling, like old photographs covered with a soft veil of memories.

A haze of ugliness lay like a heavy blanket on this earth, creating a feeling of mystery and mystery. Every step on this solid ground was like a step into the past and the future at the same time. The guy felt his own being pulsating in this incomprehensible world, as if becoming part of its secret corners.

He saw gaps pulsating with light in the eye-catching center. There were a lot of them, no matter where you looked, you could notice them.

There were piles of ash on the ground with daggers sticking out of the top. These mysterious artifacts emitted a slight haze, as if the souls of past travelers had left their mark on this place. The boy felt their presence filling the air, like voices whispering stories that were forgotten but not dead. All this was like an obsession, which the young man hastened to reject, shaking his head.

- Welcome to the line between life and death. All those whose body can still accept the soul back come here. This is where their fate is decided. Wandering for years indecision, hoping not to lose my mind. Searching and finding a way back. Or meeting her. With Death itself.

- With death itself... Am I dead? Or am I in a coma? - the guy was perplexed by the creature’s words. He, in turn, looked at him with his blue eyes, which seemed to reflect the faces of people, and then replied:

- You are a special case, the first in a new era. You are alive in reality, but your soul is here with me now. Now you are connected to this world.

The guy, still stunned and perplexed, could not shake the feeling that this was all unreal. He continued his dialogue with the creature:

- So what is this place, and how can I be here and there at the same time?

- This place is the line between life and death. Your body is now in the world of the living. Without your soul, but only with a connection with it, it functions, lives, if that’s more familiar to you. Your soul is different, something unique. She is part of your essence, your being. And now she is in the Edge, in this intermediate world that exists in parallel with the world of the living. The soul is you yourself.

- But I see my body. Here are the hands! Cloth! - the guy paused, examining himself. He saw and felt that he still had his physical appearance. His arms were strong and youthful, and the clothes he wore seemed real. He was dressed in ordinary casual clothes: a light T-shirt and jeans, which showed dust from the journey. His eyes darted and he looked anxiously at his body, as if trying to understand how this was possible. The creature, in turn, smiled.

- Your body here is like a projection, like a shadow in this world. It exists thanks to the connection with your soul, which is here in the Edge. You can see and feel your physical body, but it is not real, as you used to think. You are here and there at the same time, but your soul is you. And to be honest, you look a little different in reality.

The young man suddenly began to fall with a sharp pain in his right leg. He managed to regroup and collapse without additional injuries. His gaze was directed first at the creature, and then at his body. He felt his heart beat faster as he looked down at his feet. His right limb was bent at an odd angle and blood was oozing from several deep cuts. The burns distorted the skin on his leg, leaving signs of severe trauma.

He felt pained and stunned, realizing that he had survived the accident and explosion, which had left its mark on his body. At the same moment, a sharp pain pierced his head from trying to remember the accident itself, but nothing came of it.

Trying to distract himself from the rush of thoughts, he looked at his hands and noticed that they were covered with abrasions and burns. The fingers were covered in small cuts, and the skin was red from burns. His clothes were soaked with dirt and dust, and there were traces of blood and flames on them. The young man felt fear and anxiety overcome him, realizing what he had experienced and what he was left with.

- I think this is a sufficient demonstration. - the creature blinked, at the same moment, the guy’s body was fine. He gently touched his leg, but there was no more pain. The muscles were full of strength. The guy rose to his feet, looked the creature in the eyes, and then ran away. Emotions overwhelmed him.

The young man raced through the gray landscapes of the Edge, his physical suffering from his injuries gone, but they left a mark on his mind. Every step was a challenge, and his feet stumbled over the unevenness of this dark world. He felt a strong dizziness gripping him, and painful attempts to remember his own name only led to a severe headache. His mind was instantly full of confusion, as if parts of his past life had been erased and his memories were jumbled in his brain.

Suddenly, in his painful delusion, the guy collided with someone. He fell to the ground. Acting on instincts alone, he grouped himself and extinguished his impulse with a somersault. Raising his head, his gaze met someone else's eyes. He was a tall man, struggling to his feet. The strange man was dressed in a shabby suit, as if he had been in some kind of trouble. His black hair was long and covered part of his face, and his eyes were cold and strange. The young man felt as if he was looking into the eyes of a beast.

- Sorry, I didn’t mean to... Are you okay? - the guy rose to his feet, rubbing his shoulder. He moved closer to the man when the man suddenly, as if out of nowhere, pulled out a dagger and stabbed the young man in the side.

The moment felt like an eternity as pain and shock pierced the guy's body. He felt the tip of the dagger enter his flesh, and the world around him began to blur. Painful shock and fear instantly took over his mind, but he did not fall. Following his fear, he was overtaken by a frightening composure.

The young man felt adrenaline rush through his veins as the man pulled out his dagger for the next blow. He watched the movements of his attacker, his eyes recording every slight change. When the attacker moved his shoulder, starting a new movement, he took action.

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

From his point of view, everything moved slowly, as if in slow motion. He grabbed the attacker's hand like a well-oiled machine and began to control its movements. The guy’s fingers, as if they always did this, carefully squeezed the attacker’s wrist, leaving him no chance to complete the attack.

The guy used his own strength against him. Turning his body sharply, he continued to move his hand, guiding the man, sticking out his leg to lightly push the attacker, like an experienced fighter, snatching the support from under his feet. The man with the dagger, suddenly unbalanced, fell to the ground, and his ominous weapon was knocked out of his hand.

Like an animal that had reached its prey, the guy did not let him catch his breath. He placed his knee on the attacker's throat, preventing him from getting up. The man's breathing became increasingly heavy, his attempts to struggle became increasingly weaker, until finally he lost consciousness.

- Kill him while you have the chance. - the creature appeared unexpectedly. The guy was sure that there was no one where he stood a couple of seconds ago.

The young man removed his knee from the attacker's neck, gradually realizing the aftertaste of the struggle. His breathing became heavy, and his fingers trembled treacherously. He felt pain from a wound in his side and a heat engulfed him, as if a fire was flaring up inside.

The creature watched him, its blue eyes radiating calm and observation. It whispered like a devil with sweet words:

- You can finish this now. He is no longer a threat and his life can be taken. You dominate him.

The guy slowly walked away from the man, swaying and feeling like everything was spinning around him. He looked at the man who was lying on the ground, his face pale and motionless. The feeling of adrenaline began to fade, and the pain became more and more acute. He felt sick and knelt down, pressing his hand to the wound on his side. The creature continued to insist:

- You can kill him. By leaving him here, you are only dooming him to great torment. He will no longer be able to return to the world of the living. He is mad, and such people do not find a way to life. This is a noble act that can save other lives.

The guy suddenly realized that his soul was struggling, not wanting to make a decision. “This is a living person, why should he kill him?” - this thought came to him first. He could have believed the creature and done it by stepping over himself, but deep down the decision had already been made. He looked from the man to the creature.

- No, I won't kill him.

The creature did not express any emotions, but the words were more eloquent:

-You made the wrong choice. The weakness in your behavior shows that I chose the wrong person. The fearlessness I was looking for seemed to be a matter of circumstance rather than grit. My mistake.

The creature blinked, at the same moment, a black liquid began to flow from the man’s mouth, seething like smoke, and it slowly dissolved into the air. The man jerked, but didn’t have time to do anything else. He was dead and no longer a threat. The guy, feeling pain and weakness, felt empty. It seemed that someone else's death affected him more than he expected.

The creature continued to watch the guy, as if assessing him. A feeling of emptiness and loss reigned inside the young man. He didn’t know him, but somehow it put an unpleasant pressure on him, as if he was spiritually empty. It was as if not only the man had died, but also a piece of his own soul had died.

- You don’t understand and don’t realize what awaits you. You are the first in a new era and I made the wrong choice. You will all come to an end. - the creature, without blinking, looked somewhere into the haze of fog. “If I hadn’t promised Him, I wouldn’t be standing here with you.” And I'm afraid I won't have enough time before you die. This is my unplanned gift to you.

The creature blinked as a slight glow seemed to emanate from it. At first there were quiet flashes of light, like a gentle touch that embraced him completely. Gradually, the pain began to fade away, and the intensity of the light, on the contrary, began to increase. His body felt relieved. The wound in the side was healing, like other injuries. He felt calmer and something seemed to click in his brain. The guy said carefully:

- Alexander Stepnov... - only a first and last name, but it caused an indescribable feeling of happiness. He remembered, at least a little, only two words, but which ones.

At this time, the creature, having completed the healing process, slowly approached the dagger, discarded in the heat of battle. With a slight movement, it raised the weapon and carried it towards the handful of ashes left after the man's death. With a slight movement, he thrust the dagger into the handful of ashes that formed after the man's death. A light smoke began to emanate from the resulting structure, as if the soul of a dead man began to pass into another world.

- A handful of ashes with daggers represents the souls of the dead, locked in this world. They strive for Death, but cannot completely leave, as if they were lost in this labyrinth. Each of them is a fragment of life, a remnant of the soul chained to this place.

The creature raised the dagger it had just inserted, pointing at its blade, which seemed to change its black texture, forming understandable images.

- These are the last moments before plunging into the Edge. The soul is the key to getting out of here, holding the memories of how their death happened. Sometimes, the soul holds within itself the best piece of memories from a past life. These and other moments become eternal in her memory. You can see the faces of people close to this soul, hear the last words, feel the pain of leaving. All this is captured in a small dagger, like a drop of life in the ocean of time. And you can touch it, the main thing is not to lose yourself.

The creature ran its palm along the haze emanating from the ashes. The gray thread stretched towards a luminous tunnel, the middle of which attracted and forced people to go towards it.

“Besides, these souls are living torches that allow us to escape the tunnels of Death itself. The dead reach out for peace that they can never get, suggesting where Death is waiting to take them to the other side. This haze and haze reminds us of the vast inevitability of Death and forces us to remain vigilant. After all, meeting Death face to face is not something that can be endured. She will definitely try to caress the lost soul.

The creature continued his story:

In addition to lost souls and those who should not be disturbed, this world is inhabited by beings of a higher order. - He slowly glanced through the thick fog, as if seeing something in it that was inaccessible to others. - These entities can turn out to be both allies and dangerous opponents. For example, Grim River, he is easy to miss in this fog, tall and thin, his body is covered in darkness and haze, as if he himself is the fog. His empty eyes are able to see through time vortexes and predict the approach of Death. For a fee, he is ready to inform you about the most important moment of your life and allow you to change it.

The creature slowly raised its hand, as if trying to grab something invisible in the air.

- There is also Dark Mirage, a girl in a dress made of stardust. Her face is hidden under the darkness of the hood, and only her eyes sparkle like two stars in the night. Servant of Death. She protects the edges of this world and those who find themselves here by chance. She has been watching us since the moment we got here and if it weren’t for me, she would have already shown herself. She dragged me to Death with her tricks. For a fee, he will lead you out of the deepest abyss, even when it seems that there is no way out.

The creature slowly lowered its hand and continued its story.

- You will probably meet Charon, a trader between worlds. Despite his creepy name, he looks completely normal. It can be confused with a wandering soul. He is a man with a gray beard and wrinkles, as if he wore his years like battle medals. He always wears clothes whose color blends with the shades of this world. Charon provides services and items that can resist Death itself. However, it always has its price, and failure to pay can lead to unpredictable consequences.

The creature looked at Alexander with a warning:

- Remember, every service in this world has its own fee. You should never forget about this. Now let’s go, I’ll take you through the tunnel to the world of the living.

The creature took Alexander by the hand and directed him towards the glowing rift that stretched ahead, like a torch in the darkness. They passed a couple of exactly the same faults, but they kept their path strictly to a specific one. The guy walked towards this rift, feeling his heart starting to beat faster. Only when they stopped for a moment in front of the shaking haze of the passage did Alexander think that perhaps all this was unreal. Only a consequence of the blow. Hallucination.

Before he had time to think, they entered the rift. The light surrounded them on all sides, as if lovingly hugging them. Alexander walked along this path of light, his legs seemed to fly by themselves, and he felt himself trembling in excitement, although he felt that the weight of the world of the dead was leaving him. The light became brighter with every step until it was completely blinding. The last step and he hears the familiar sound of the world of the living and opens his eyes with difficulty.