CHAPTER: 10 "Perspective: There is no coincidence"

In the depths of his nightmare, I followed a young lad with rough features who found himself trapped in a haunting labyrinth.

Roaming through the labyrinth's damp shadowy corridors, he was being pursued by an unspoken dread. The shadows, hidden in the dark looked at him with an accusing gaze. He clutch a black box with intricate patterns, its contents unknown. But whatever was inside, it felt ominous.

Instinctively, he knew this box must not be opened, like a Pandora box that might release all the evil in this world. Yet, the temptation kept on gnawing him, urging him to open it and find it's secret.

With each step he took, the urge grew stronger, threatening to consume him. But in the depths of his subconscious, a voice kept whispering to him, reminding him of the consequences should he ever succumb to the temptation.

And so, he clunged to the box, resisting with every fiber of his being, unaware of what might happen. Unaware of what he was trying to protect.

*********

As dawn broke, Axel arose with little to no sound, silently stretching in his bed. Each movement, from the gentle rise of his eyelids to the placement of his feet on the floor executed precisely. He stretched some more on the floor before heading to the bathroom in the other compartment.

Washing his face with methodical strokes, not a single drop of water fell from the basin.

In the public kitchen, he prepared breakfast with a steady hand. Eggs cracked cleanly, the toast toasted to a precise golden brown and coffee was brewed like a veteran. It was not necessary to cook for yourself, you could just ask the cook to do it for you, but he liked his method of cooking better.

Taking a seat in the cafeteria he unfolded the newspaper with a crisp snap. Sipping his coffee and eating his toast, his eyes scanned the headlines for something interesting that happened. Oh! Gum-Gum fruit was actually a mythical zoan, that's interesting news.

His morning routine was ordinary, in fact too ordinary that it felt boring. He wondered sometimes, how was life as a living human?

"Morning Axel." A voice came from behind not so energetic but lively and polite, it was Grey Wolff. One of the few who liked to make their own breakfast like him.

Clearing his throat he greeted her back with a smile. "Hey, Grey. You been snoozin' like crazy lately, huh? Haven't spotted you 'round here in ages."

Grey didn't expect much of a greeting from Axel either way, so she didn't mind his rude comment, but seeing newspaper in his hand she paused for some second, seemingly confused.

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"I didn't know that this was one of the things you enjoy first thing in the morning." She said, her expression was calm, but Axel could feel her revising her estimation about him, which to be honest he didn't like one bit.

"Yeah, I'm into reading the newspaper, Ma'am. The selection here ain't half bad either, gotta give 'em that." He replied and went back to enjoy his morning meal.

Then it went quite, by the moment he finished reading the newspaper a realization dawned upon him. It was not actually that good silence, but the awkward one. Trying to break the awkwardness Axel tried to start a conversation.

"So, I heard you got handpicked by Dream himself," he said, raising an eyebrow. "Must've pulled off somethin' real shady to get on his radar like that."

She looked at him with a confused expression.

"I don't quite understand what you mean by that. Mind explaining with a bit of context?" She asked with genuine curiosity, leaning towards him.

"Wait, for real? Ain't nobody told you nothin' 'bout Cage of Purification," Axel exclaimed, a mix of surprise, disbelief and jealousy evident in his tone. "Guess you're just lucky like that."

Lucky bitch..... He cursed in his head.

"I heard about Cage of Purification from Pachu and even saw the horrors within it, but what exactly is it?" She asked while she creased the table to come closer.

Intense emotions were bursting inside Axel at that moment. And his burst of emotion was justified too, since Reapers loses most of their memories when they become a candidate except for their crime that gave them this fate, Common sense, Language, Science, Skills, Culture, Taste in fashion and Cage of Purification.

Cage of Purification was the most horrific memory anyone could go through.

A person soul is inherently evil and impure, to purify the soul they had to go through the Cage. It was fine for the soul of people who led a good life since they only feel a bit warmer than usual or at worst bit of burning sensation. But, not all humans lead a good life, do they? Even if it's not their fault most human will commit one sin or the another. The point here is Reaper candidate are those who couldn't bear the pain of their sin, nor are they willing to bear it.

As Axel parted his lips to answer Grey's question, a mechanical voice echoed through the compartment.

[Ladies and gentlemen we are approaching Stork City. Storks City is our next stop. Please remember that there is no going back.]

Taking this chance Axel excuses himself. "Aight, catch you later."

As soon as the words escaped his mouth he dashed towards his compartment.

"Well, that was a bad coincidence." Grey muttered irritated.

As for Axel, let's say he saw things differently. He believed that. "In this world there are no coincidence."

My vision went blank and a soothing female voice echoed in the darkness. "My dear, we'll meet again. Sweet dreams."

*********

"Grey, Grey, hello!" I heard an irritating voice trying to wake me up.

"Ahg, let me sleep for some time, damn it." I replied, covering my ears with my pillo....

Where is my pillow?

"Grey. Hellooo! We're in Stork City. Rise and shine, sleepyhead!" This time it was the voice of a delinquent. Wait? What did they shouted, Stork City.

I soon sprang from my seat.

Dammit! I fell asleep in the cafeteria.

"Ahhh! Sorry guy, I didn't know when I fell asleep." I apologized quickly.

Quickly gathering my belongings and adjusting my hairband, I stepped into Stork City.

Known as the city of reincarnation, it exuded an unmistakable Asian aesthetic, likely influenced by its many believers in reincarnation from the region. With excitement, I surveyed the surroundings.

Suddenly, a man in a suit collided with me, causing both of us to fall.

He glared at me for a moment his high bridge nose, stern expression, and thick brows giving him an intimidating appearance.

"I'm sorry." he quickly apologized to my surprise, adjusting his round hat and swiftly grabbing his bag before darting off.

I had the feeling we would meet again very soon.