He stared into my eyes as if looking through glass. I couldn’t tell what he was really thinking. A single tear fell from my eye, startling myself in the process. I thought I remembered something important, but I didn’t know what.

I looked around. I was about to mention how messy the place looked, but then I realized… “Wait, Dr. G?”

The pale man broke free from his trance. “Ah, you’re back. You didn’t even last a single week. Well, I suppose I can’t hope for much—”

Dans. “Wait, I have to go back!” I tried to stand, but I fell to my knees. “No, Merlovak’s also in trouble!” Why can’t I get up?!

“Now, you shouldn’t exert yourself so much. You’ve only just barely survived. It’ll take a few minutes to fully recover.”

I looked around. The computer! “Dr. G! You have to send me back! The teleporter! Right? You can send me back with that!” I pointed at the large computer across the room within the mess of rainbow wires.

Dr. G snapped his fingers. A white chair appeared behind him. He took a moment to wipe whatever dust was on the chair and sat down. “You think of me as a god. Yes, that’s not entirely wrong… but gods aren’t as all-powerful as you think they are, Marvin.”

Marvin? No. I shook my head. That’s not important. “What are you implying? That you can’t take me back?”

“I can take you back. Yes, to that exact moment before you hit the ground. With the same exact speed and acceleration when you were falling. You’ll be splattered flat within milliseconds. Well, I suppose it’ll paint a lovely red on the sands, but,” he chuckled, “I don’t suppose that’s what you really want, is it?”

“What do you mean same speed? Stop screwing around! You can’t just teleport me to somewhere else? What kind of god can’t do something simple like that?!”

“Do you really think there are no repercussions for manipulating time and space? If you’ve already visited a certain world, you’ve already left a version of yourself there. There is no way to create more of you in the same world. Do you understand?”

More of me? “Wha—”

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

“Let me ask you this, Marvin—”

“It’s Mel!”

“—gods, in the end, are beings that use knowledge that is beyond one’s understanding. Thus, I am a god to you.”

“So what?!” I yelled. “I don’t care about your stupid knowledge! Just take me back!”

“I won’t. Have you forgotten?” He snapped his fingers again. This time, he summoned a mug. “I’m the god, not you.” He took a sip. “I gave you the chance to live, yet you’re back so quickly. Shame… Would’ve been easier for you if you’d just remember.”

Remember? “Seriously, what are you talking about?”

“Well, now that you’re all calibrated, I suppose I could send you on your way again…”

“Send me? Where? To Sakoria?” I tried to get up, but I still felt so weak. “Stop drinking from your damn mug and answer me!”

“Mmm, coffee is quite nice. Very bitter.” He got up and walked over to a console next to the computer. “You might enjoy this world. There’s a lot more humans here.”

Another world? “No, please…” I begged. “At least tell me what’s going on to me!”

Dr. G sighed. “Martin—”

I glared at him. How many times will he get my name wrong? “You’re not taking me seriously, are you?”

“Hmm? Oh, you don’t want to hear? I suppose—”

“No, wait! Keep going. Please.”

He looked at me with those pale eyes, tired yet somehow still sharp. “I think I’ve made myself quite clear before. You’re dead. I gave you another chance at life. Then you stupidly fell, so I’m giving you another chance.” He paused to take a small sip of coffee. “I’m being lenient. Is that so difficult to believe? Would you rather me have you disposed? Just like that? I suppose I could do that.”

“No… no, I get it. I’m glad you gave me another chance, but why? Why are you giving me a chance? Why not somebody else? And what for? I just… I just don't get anything right now…” My voice wavered. “I-I just wanted to travel with them… I promised… Why did I have to die there…” Tears started to well up inside of me. I angrily slammed the floor with my fists. “Why? Why? Why?!” I glared up at Dr. G. “No… It’s all your fault! You’re the reason I’m here!”

Dr. G continued to sip from his mug without a care in the world.

I crawled my way towards his feet. “You have to send me back! This is your responsibility! This is your fault!”

“No. Out of the question.” His eyes were colder than when I had first met Dans. There was no anger, pity, nothing. There was no emotion behind his voice. “If I was here to make you feel good, you wouldn’t be here. You wouldn’t even know those two.” He placed the mug next to the computer and walked over to me. He grabbed me by the chin and faced me towards his pale eyes. “You wouldn’t even know that you died.”

I clenched down on my teeth hard. Why is this happening to me? I felt rage, but most importantly, sadness. I just wanted some friends… They actually cared… I could feel the tears welling up again.

“And now”—Dr. G walked back to where the console was and pressed a few buttons—“Goodbye.” He smirked as if nothing happened. “And don’t die so quickly this time, will you?”

A mechanical voice boomed to life and a countdown started. The scenery around me started to change again. And then…

Absolute darkness.