Shock was written in Markus face, as he heard the strange man word's. Who wouldn't be shocked if just discover that had died? In that moment, Markus felt as if he had no floor underneath his feet. A million thoughts flashed trough his mind.
(What about my family?! What about my friends that died in the accident ?! What's going to happen to me now?!)
The man in front of him just couldn't stop grinning maliciously. He's eyes flashed with pleasure , like he had seen people in the same state as Markus, but every time it was more and more pleasing and invigorating. And maybe, he really had indeed seen. All that torment, fear and grief, Oh GOD, that is amazing.
Markus felt as if he was going to faint, and when his legs seemed to lose it's strength, a comfortable and luxurious chair, golden and full of embroidery was put bellow him, just like it was there for a long time. This startled Markus a bit.
Lucius let out a sigh , and then sit on his chair as well. He then opened a compartment under his desk, and from it he took a long blue crystal bottle with some strange tranaparent liquid that had a delicious scent, that would make people relax just by felling it, and a crystal clean goblet adorned with sapphires. He then served himself, took a light sip, and degusted it. Clearing his throat, he began to talk again with a amused look that never faded away from his face0.
"Well I know it's too much to handle when it comes to you like a thunder, but ai really think it is better to be sincere. Look, I know that you have a lot of questions but, I don't think we have time to lose anymore." He then took his goblet again and drinked a little more before continuing " Well you see, you are just too much late, and if you don't run, you may never be able to see your friends anymore, because the time flow here is different from your world and... " he continued on.
At this moment, Markus expression changed. Did he heard it well? His friends were alive?!
"D-do you said that m-my friends are... A-aalive?" said Markus, his eyes full of hope and expectations. If they were alive, then maybe, just maybe everything could be fine. He could even go to Hell if his friends were there.
"Y-y-yyes they aaa-re! Weren't you listening your little punk?" Lucius said genuinely annoyed. He folded his arms in front of his chest and gave a cold and brutal glare on Markus. Markus couldn't help but remember Sylvia father, with his cold deep blue eyes. But the man in front of him was much more intimidating. His black eyes shone red for a moment, and he just felt like a children, shrinking and trembling just from the glare.
Lucius sighed again, took a deep breath and continued on: "Listen carefully Markus. Yes your friends are alive, indeed all of you are alive, well maybe not that alive but, in some way or another; ah, I think you understand. You are a little stupid but not too much." He then got up and searched in a bookshelf next to him for a paper. He then thrown it to Markus before continuing. "Let's just say that you all had a rare second chance, and must be very grateful for it. This is a contract that you need to sign up for me, by the way."
Markus looked dumbfounded as the paper levitate an then gently dropped in front of him. The paper got a archaic look, and was written in a gothic manner. If you read it very slowly, you could see that every word written was vibrating with life.
"The Purgatory Game"
(I___________ come in front of him, the Sovereign of the Nine Hells Lucius Brightdawn , and thereby consent my permission to open the Gate of Doom, where I will bravely enter the unknown and desole Tower of the Purgatory.
I, knowing the consequences for this choice, declare that I fully aware of it. I shall listen to Mr. Lucius, and then proceed to conquer the Tower.
Shall the Purgatory game begin!)
Markus read and re-read it many times. What was the meaning of all this bullshit? It was ridiculous. But knowing that the man in front of him weren't simple, he keep his thoughts to himself. He was really good in this, by the way. After some time had passed, he looked to Lucius again and finally asked: " What is this game thing about?".
Lucius sighed, it really was annoying when the bookworms type came. Taking a sip from his goblet, he gave his back to Markus and walked over the window. His gaze seemed to focus on something in the horizon that only he could see. Then he began to talk again. "Listen here boy: you have a chance that only few could have. You died, no matter what, this is something that cant be changed. This is the key point. You died, but you had been chosen. Chosen to have a second chance in life, a chance to have a great future and maybe leave behind your own legacy. If you hadn't this chance, now your soul would be forever sentenced to be burnt for the ages, your second death. But you have a choice, to be someone that you couldn't be in life; to do what you always thought was impossible. Certainly it have a price; but who would not want a unique chance like the one you have before you? Can you guess how many people would kill to be able to choose? " . Lucius finally looked back at Markus, with a solemn look in his eyes. For the first time , Markus could feel the sincerity in his face. The grin long gone, Lucius sighed and finally ended his preaching. "The choice, is yours."
Markus took some moments to clear his messed up head.This really was too much. He was just preparing for the exams to enter into the college. Never had he thought that his life would take a turn for the worse. And how could him? Who could really be sure of the future? His head became muddled and his expression dark. It was just like reality was finally kicking in. He then thought about his friends. Allan, Daniela and Sylvia before asking: "Did my friends, accepted?". Lucius nodded his head and said no more.
Markus then looked to the contract, and thinking about his friends and all that Lucius said, he finally decided.He remembered a mantra that Allan always said before a game of lacrosse: "Fortune favors the bold!". But how would he be able to change something, if he didn't changed now? He spent all his life in a shell, he never chosed the important things , and just kept going with the flow. And because of this, he had so many regrets. The time to change was now, and he had to make a choice, and all by himself.
For the first time in his life, he decided to try, decided to step in the unknown and gamble. He would laugh again after long time thinking how this choice changed his life forever. For the good, and the bad...
With a decided look he said:
"Where do I sign?!"
"Hahahahaha, good boy, no wait; you are no longer a boy, you are a man". Lucius then gave a heartfelt laugh and nodded to the young man that looked to him with burning determination. He made a hand movement, and a beautiful dagger appeared in front of Markus. "Just graze one of your fingers and press it onto the page."
Markus looked a little uneasy, but made it in the end. When the dagger made a small cut in his index finger, it shone lightly and vibrated. He then pressed the bleeding finger edge in the page , and it sucked its blood dry. All this seemed mysterious to Markus.
Lucius smiled and said: "Soooo, should we begin the tutorial?"