Chapter 1

I died, but I have no regrets. Dying for the one I love, I could not ask for a better death. I do not know when I fell in love with them, I only that I fell hard. My eyes followed them, my heart was consumed, and my thoughts were of them. I had neither the strength or courage to tell them and soon they found their other. There was no jealousy, no despair, nor anger, as long as they were happy I was content. Maybe fate had wanted to make my move because whether it was school or work, we somehow ended up being together though I staled and never made a move or effort towards my feelings. Maybe it was fate angered by my neutrality that pushed into that accident, where I gave up my life to save theirs.

  But that is the past, in the present, I find myself in a white void. No sound, no feeling, just a feeling of ease and weightlessness. It was a very comforting place. If this is the afterlife, I do not mind it. “This is not the afterlife, but the void between life and death.” I did not hear the words, it was as if the words were coming from within my own head.

  The void was still the same, no one suddenly appeared or a great being descended. The voice was the only change. The only thing I could ask was, “Are you god?” A laugh rang through my head. It was a nice, melodic sound that was neither male or female. “I am nothing that special,” the voice replied, “I am simply the caretaker of this void.”

  Simple enough, I guess they could be a guide for the dead or something similar. The voice came again, “I am not a guide. I am a caretaker, and sometimes a messenger. I have been told that you are a truly neutral soul, even if your death was a kind act, your karma is very gray. It is neither a bounty of good or evil.”

  So I have no place to go, I am neither good enough for heaven or bad enough for hell. I simply am a truly neutral person, though I do admit that having my thoughts be answered without me speaking is a little unnerving. “Sorry. So to determine your place, I have been asked to tell you that you will act as an observer for one of the numerous worlds that exist throughout time and space.”

  An observer? “Yes, the world has been blessed by the higher powers, but their representatives seem to no longer hold true to the standards that were originally placed. It has assigned to you to observe these representatives and simply state what you observe. The rest will be taken care of.” So I am to observe these representatives? I still do not understand how this would determine my karma or how it would affect it. Is it simply a reward for completing the task, or am I to become something much like the caretaker of the void between life and death? “I can not answer that question. I have been told that the gift of immortality will be placed upon you, so you will receive no harm during the process. I will now send you off?”

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  Wait! What?! Immortality, how am I supposed to go to the afterlife if I can’t die? Isn’t this just some way to get rid of me, because they have no way to deal with this?! “Goodbye, Observer.”

  The once white world started to fade to black. The tranquil feeling I once had became replaced with heavy tiredness. I still had questions and need answers, but I could not will myself to focus. I only felt myself drift to sleep.

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  I deep chill ran through my bones. My muscles were stiff and my mind was slow. It was so cold, I couldn’t help but shiver. I opened my eyes and a sky of gray clouds and drifting snow greeted me. I slowly stood myself, hugging myself for warmth. No matter which way I looked there was only snow. No wildlife, no plants, just snow. I was sent as an observer with no clear instructions, and nothing to help me. The only thing I had was a pair of weathered leather boots on my feet, dull gray trousers, and a faded green tunic.

  If I was sent off, why this dreary place? This is no better than the void, at least the void between life and death was a tranquil place. This vast plain of snow, if not for the gift of immortality, would surely be my resting place. It is already hard to move, and I can already feel the vitality drain from me. If this is the place I need to be, then surely if I stay here something will happen. I lay down, and curl myself up. Despite the piling snow, and the deadly cold, I find myself once again being lulled to sleep.

  In the distance, two figures on horseback make their way forward. “Madame, there seems to be something lying ahead?” The larger figure moves forward to the sleeping observer. “Madame, it’s a man.” The smaller figure slowly makes their way forward. There is no hurry or urgency in their pace. They moved as if they felt the world would simply wait for them. “He is lightly dressed,” spoke the small figure as she approached, “Let’s take him with us.”

  “Madame, I would advise against this. We have no idea what sort of person he is. For all we know, he could be a heathen.” The small figure turned her horse around and began back the direction she came. She nonchalantly replied, “Bring him, I mean even if he is. Who would dare go against a Saint?”

  The tall figure placed the Observer on his horse, not certain if the Madame knew of the dangers of picking up strangers. But she is his master, and her word is the law. So even if he wanted to argue, he could only go along with her whims. As he got back on his horse and proceeded to catch up to the small figure, he couldn’t help but look back at the man they’ve picked up. He could not help but feel it odd, that in these wildlands of frost and beast that someone came so far in without anything. The man could not help but feel that something might change.