CHAPTER: 1 "Death is just a concept: 1st Paradox"
The sky above appeared grayer, the world ahead paler, devoid of colors, lacking an important essence of this world called Life. The vibrancy I used to feel while looking at the scenery atop the mountain was now replaced by a sense of decay. The only sound I could hear was that of the deathly wind hitting my unkept silver hair.
My screams directed to attract the attention of others, dissipated before it even left my lips, thus remaining unheard. My attempts to inflict physical harm were futile, the result being quite laughable. No matter what I did, nobody noticed me, nor did anyone realised I was in front of them. My body was getting colder but not uncomfortable, it was as if the world was giving me the answer I was trying to avoid.
Confusion and panic clouded my thoughts for days — maybe even weeks or months, but as time went by and seeing my grave being dug in the family graveyard realization dawned upon me or you could say ; I got tired of running away.
'Yes, I am...' I began my thoughts, before being interrupted by a particular someone from behind.
"Dead, right?" A voice carrying certainty completed my unspoken thought, I turned my head to see a familiar face. A young-looking blue-haired girl squatting behind me, her personality as unnatural as her hair color. She had a bob haircut that exuded a sense of unreliability in me.
Turning away from her I began pondering over my situation. It was true and I had realized long ago that I had died, but I didn't had the courage to accept this reality. What about my family? My friends? My dreams? These questions that pained me in some way or another painted my mind with the color of desperation, but I soon pushed them aside.
"Grey Wolff, you know very clearly that you aren't alive anymore, right?" The girl whose name was Blue inquired with a skeptical tone as she settled beside me.
I affirmed with a weak nod; it was my sign of accepting reality.
"Then why are you still sticking to this mortal plane? Just accept your Golden Gate. If you have any regrets, tell me; I may help you with them!" She exclaimed excitedly, but I was in no position to accept her offer.
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She kept babbling on and on about how the afterlife was not that bad compared to what we believed, and how we just got to live like normal, as if we never died in the first place, how after your number came you could be reincarnated, and so on. But none of that convinced me. I just wanted my normal life back, I just wanted to be happy like she had requested me on the day she died. How could I call it living when I was already dead?
Her nonstop chatter grated on my nerves until, unable to hold it back, I erupted.
"Just...just leave me alone already!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, though I didn't have any. My face was burning from irritation and my head ached from her constant babble.
She fell silent with a suprised expression, then quietly rose with a smile disappearing with a gentle poof, scattering smoke that had the lingering scent of the ocean. In her absence all I could hear was the sound of a lonely decaying wind, yet again with the slight rustle of my hair.
Everything was quiet again—no noise, no people, nobody to talk to, I was..... all alone. The scenery started to look more unpleasant and my current mental state was not helping, I felt really lonely at this point. From the moment I died till now Blue was always by my side like a friend. No, not from the moment I died, but right before death the last person I saw as a living human was her.
"Are you there?" I whispered, the sound barely audible, not expecting any answer.
In a swift swirl of smoke that made a construct similar to mini tornado, she reappeared bowing, like how a gentleman would while escorting a Princess, her smile still bright and unwavering. Raising her face with bright confidence which soon crumpled into distress.
"Grey, are you crying? Why are your eyes are red," she observed, concern etched upon her face as she leaned closer, bombarding me with questions. Did I feel sad? Was I in pain? Despite the combo of multiple questions, I found solace in her presence. Somehow talking to her wasn't as bad as I considered, it felt calming.
Touching my moist cheek it seem that I was actually crying — alot. It was weird for me to suddenly cry like that, the feeling was like meeting a friend after decades of seperation. A smile formed on my face as I felt something akin to nostalgia from Blue.
Wiping away my tears and pushing away my stray thoughts, I voiced my uncertainty.
"Blue, can I truly be reincarnated if I follow my Golden Gate?" Who knows, maybe anxiety was the only emotion on my face at that moment as I awaited her response.
Blue paused, seemingly taken aback by the sudden question. As her gaze met mine, her deep obsidian eyes seemed to see through my mind, opening the uncharted realm of my subconscious. She stood up after few seconds, bent in my direction and with a smile on her face replied.
"Yes! That's why I'm here. Trust me, as I'm your Lighthouse" she declared with unwavering enthusiasm and a big smile. The answer made me smile, it was a smile that was caused by her infectious optimism.
In that moment, I couldn't discern if this world was reality or a dream. Yet, if this was indeed a dream of mine, I would rather keep on dreaming, for the unknown that lay ahead was a beyond my wildest imagination.