Dear Reader. You're probably thinking, "Oh god. Another adaptation of reincarnation? The title had me going... man, what a let down." And I honestly can't blame you, but seeing as this is my first piece of public work, it seemed an easy place to start. I promise, it won't be the worst. It also won't be the best. If you like it, good. It's just a way to put my imagination out there. Imaginary hugs and smiles~ )
My eyes began to open as consciousness bloomed in my thoughts. "W-what ... where am I ... ?" The room was white, with a faint buzz in the background. A lamp? It flickered. It had to be dying. The place smelled of dust, but was otherwise overall well-maintained. Not a sound, though. Creepy.
Letting my eyes wander, I noticed there was a door as I became more away of my surroundings. Some dusty old doctoral supplies and cupboards on a blue and white counter. It seemed to be some kind of urgent care hospital room, but blood matted the bed beneath me. Wait... blood? Was I bleeding? I didn't feel hurt. Okay, breath. Assess first, then worry. If I felt fine there are more important things to figure out.
Slowly, I began to get up. Slipping off of the bloody paper covering the hospital bed onto the white tile floor. My feet echoed into the still air as I landed. I knew immediately, I was truly alone in this place.
As I made my way to the door, I thought out loud to myself, "Mh. I don't think it'd be a crime to grab some unused essentials. Hah. Maybe this is some kind of plot setup. You wake up and walk outside. Surprise! The walking dead!" Sadly, the joke was in poor taste, as it was mostly meant as reassurance.
I began to rifle through the cupboards and drawers for anything that might be of use. Acquiring a peculiar little flashlight, some antiseptics and assorted medication, as well as other useful items. Grabbing a bag from the closet above me, I stuffed everything in and made my way for the door. Listening for anything before I opened it into a spacious hallway with a clerk desk to greet me. Although, as I thought, nobody was there. I sighed nervously, "I think I might've watched too many movies. Zombies? Right ... "
Walking through the hallway, I noticed a door that stood out in the corner between a mixed restroom and the clerk desk that curved its way throughout the center of the hall. There was light in the window of the door, so I followed my gut and took the handle. Stepping into an empty lobby and seeing the exit, I made my way out. Opening the door to the outer world.
The bright sun immediately hit me as I opened the doorway to find myself in an overgrown parking lot. The care center stood alone in the middle of the overgrowth, a memento to the past. The place hadn't seen any foot traffic in ages, not to mention any vehicles to come or go. Though the skids and mars on the pavement stood proudly beneath the weeds and vegetation that had grown into the lot, it was otherwise a forgotten relic.
Was I the only one here? Perhaps. Surely not the last of humanity. I shook off the thought and snuck around the lot, trying doors and vehicles of varying types that stood abandon. They were mostly rusted from time and rain, though a few stood pristine. Untouched thanks to resilient material. Broken windows, locked doors and rusted metal was most of what I found as I gave up and hit the road. Luckily, before leaving I had found a lone bottle of water on the clerk desk. Hopefully it was still good.
There was a broken cement pathway leading down the forgotten road. It looked like this place hadn't seen much traffic even before its abandonment. Forests surrounded me after a while. There were a few other buildings and the long haul ahead of me, but that was it. I was out in the middle of nowhere.
Letting my eyes surf my surroundings, I spotted a grocery store. "Life's payoff." I read. What a strange name. Seemed like something you'd name a gambling casino, not a grocery store. Still, I needed food and the lights were on. Strange or not, I couldn't make the trek to civilized life without sustenance. So, I began to make my way over to the store. Passing through the glass door as a jingling bell went off.
To my shock, a man stood behind one of the checkout stations. Staring at me with this huge grin. Finally, another person! Although he looked like me was expecting me as I walked over. I tried my best greeting, seeing as conversation was never really a skill of mine in my previous life, and apparently that trait had carried over. "H-hi! I'm sorry, I know this must sound crazy, but I just woke up in a hospital with no clue what's going on. Is this The Walking Dead?" The man looked to be a mix of some probably long-dead actors, Chris Hensworth and Paul Rudd, I remembered their names being. His smile was evident. The stranger looked like he delighted in making jokes that made absolutely zero sense. Always up for a good chance to lighten the mood.
Suddenly, the man burst into flames. Normal people would have flung back, but I watched a lot of fantasy, and my expectations had already been shot dead. So I honestly wasn't all that surprised to see heatwave in a grocery store. But this didn't stop the stranger as he yelled, "Mortal INSECT! You dare trespass into MY domain?!".
Okay, I thought. He's a computer geek, can turn into a man on fire, and looks like a long dead actor mixup. Still within expectations. I slowly grabbed my bottle of water and uncapped the cork, dowsing the flaming man's head in water. The store surely had more, so what did it matter? "Cool down, Mr. Flame-on."
The man spit and blinked his eyes, trying to clear the steam and water from his face before speaking to me. Humor still infusing his tone, "Hahah! Nothing gets to you, does it? Did you at least get the reference? I thought I knew your character~"
My character? What was this guy talking about? Just who is this combusting nerd and why was he talking like he already knew me? "Look, dude. I got the Warcraft reference, but I've never met you in my life. Who ARE you?"
The stranger grinned, shutting off his flame powers that had sprung back up after the sprinkling I'd given him. He spoke, and despite his humor and his dripping hair, he laughed. Those sparkling eyes never leaving my face as he spoke, "Well, how about you call me God? Well, not GOD god. I'm your god, So to speak. I was the one who chose you! Congratulations on your Rebirth, James Pierce! You are now a Demigod."