Gian is still trying to find that person inside the library. He looks at every corner of the room, but he can't still find that person. Gian is about to dismiss the idea of having another person with him in the library when he heard the voice saying something again.
"Who are you looking for?" Gian heard the voice asking him a question. "But wait. Dude, did you know someone named Gian? I want to meet him."
"Who are you? Show yourself at me right this instant!" Gian said instead of answering the voice's question as he walks around the library.
"Dude, you are literally holding me right now. What are you talking about? I am right here!"
Gian suddenly stops walking and looks at the mysterious item he's holding. And then he let out a snicker. Does the intruder think he's a fool to believe his words?
"Why are you looking at me? And tell me. Are you Gian?" Gian heard the voice again.
"Stop it. Do you think I'm stupid to believe you?" Gian said then he scoffs loudly.
"Bro, calling me a mysterious thing feels weird. I have a name. A very handsome name! Just call me Russel." Gian heard the voice say "And if you don't believe me, well..."
Gian waits for his words, but he only heard an awkward laugh.
"Well, I don't know!" The mysterious voice said before laughing.
"Stupid." Gian said. "If you don't want to show yourself, then fine."
Irritated, Gian throws the thing he's holding somewhere in the library. Gian heard a clacking sound before the mysterious voice suddenly let out a crying sound.
"Ouch! The fuck?! Why did you throw me? Dude! Are you out of your mind?!"
Gian ignores the voice and leaves the library. If that someone still wants to pretend to be that weird item, then let him be. Gian instructs a maid to call several knights to guard the library and don't let anyone to enter or leave the place. The maid is confused with this order, but she still follows her master's command.
Surely, someone can't escape the library if there are knights guarding outside. That intruder can die in hunger inside the library and Gian won't feel any pity for that person. If his guts are so big that he can enter his personal space without any care, then that person can only die as a payment for his action.
For this second chance given to him, Gian will not be kind to those people around him. It's either they suffer or die if they dare to touch his bottom line.
-//-//-
'The hell is wrong with that guy?'
Russel keeps rolling on the floor until he hit the table's leg. It's a good thing that he didn't get any scratch on his smooth surface. If he did, Russel plans to get revenge to that person. Although he didn't know if it's possible for him to achieve that plan.
Russel verbally let out a sigh.
To be honest, Russel is still confused. He can still remember his dying moments when a speeding car hit him on the road. He even tried to make himself calm for the last seconds of his life. Although he's a bastard all of his life, Russel still thinks that he deserves a peaceful death.
But the death he's waiting to come didn't happen. Instead, he felt like something soft was wrapping around his body and floated him in the air. When Russel scans his surroundings with his half-opened eyes, he saw that everything is white. He can't see anything aside from an endless white space.
Russel didn't feel anything at all. At that time, aside from a few regrets, Russel felt nothing. There is no sadness or grievance in his heart. He was just logically thinking that death was also a part of human's life and at that time, it's his turn to die. So all he had to do was to be quiet and accept his fate.
"Russel Ferrer."
'Who's that? An angel?' Russel thought.
Russel is alone in this endless space, that's for sure. But he can hear a woman's voice that sounds so sweet with a hint of mischievousness. The voice has a similar sound when a wind sways a wind chime in the window. Then Russel heard a chuckling sound.
"You are really interesting. Because of that, I'd decided not to let you disappear yet. Oh. You can call me Femora."
'Femora? What a weird name.' Russel thought.
"Femora, are you an angel? Are you here to guide me to heaven?" Russel asked. His voice echoed a few times in the white space.
"Do you think the heaven will welcome you with open arms? With your bad habits and wrongdoings in life, I bet they will kick you out to go to hell." Femora answered. "You're quite delusional."
"Boo. Why do you even have to point it out? I'm just hoping a little, okay?"
Russel thought that whoever he's talking with was a little hateful. Russel hated it when someone pointed out his negative sides. He was aware of it, but Russel always wanted to deny that fact.
"Anyways, so what will happen to me now?"
"I'll give you a chance to live again."
"What?" Russel asked. His surprise was evident in his voice. "Can you repeat what you just said?"
''I'll give you a chance to live again." Femora said patiently. "Since I took a liking at you, I want to see what other things you can do."
"Really? Then what are we waiting for? Revive me!"
If this woman has the power to revive him, then he can finish his novel, make his readers happy and he will have a chance to have a vacation. Then after that, he will write another novel. Maybe he can use his dying moments as an inspiration to make a new novel.
"Naive. Who says I will revive you?" She asked. "Your old life was plain and boring. All you did was to lock yourself inside your room and write your novels all-day."
"But—"
"Not only that. You always drowned yourself in alcohol while thinking your—"
"Stop. Stop. Stop!" Russel yelled. "Fine! My life was boring. So what will happen now?"
A soft laugh echoed in the white space. The woman didn't continue what she wanted to say. Instead, she told Russel what he really wanted to know.
"I'll give you a chance to live again. But in one condition."
"There's a condition?"
"Not everything in this world is free."
Fine. She got a point there. Russel obediently waits for her next words.
"I want you to help someone. You should guide him to the right path and accompany him to his dreadful fate."
"Why should I do that?" Russel immediately asked.
"Because he needs someone to help him. And I choose you to help that person.''
"...."
That's absurd, if you asked Russel about it. Why should he help that person anyway? Russel believed that you should never rely on other people in order to survive. Asking for help is just showing how weak you are.
"His name is Gian Cres Val. If you don't help that person, you might as well stay as a pen forever."
"....Wait, what?"
"It's time for you to go now. I'll talk with you again if there's a chance."
Suddenly, the endless space loses its pure white color. His surroundings got distorted in different colors. Russel suddenly had a painful headache. As he closed his eyes, Russel slowly got absorbed by a powerful force. Before he loses his consciousness, Russel heard Femora's fading voice for the last time.
"This is the destiny I bestowed to you, Russel Ferrer. Remember to do your best."
Then after that, Russel found himself trapped in a black tube-like container. He was placed in a pitch-black space that is full of dust. But the weirdest part of it was he can't see his body anymore! Even if he wanted to move, Russel can't do anything at all.
Russel recalled the words of Femora earlier. Did she turn him into a pen? For real?! Logically, it's impossible. But how can he explain his situation now?
Being a writer really helped Russel to be calm. Thinking of the impossible things is his forte. Russel had plenty of time to his wild imagination and think of some ways to explain his situation to himself.
To make it simple, Russel already died. But a woman named Femora gave him a chance to live again in exchange for helping a man named Gian Cres Val. Then after their short conversation, Femora did something and now he's a pen hidden in a dusty and dark place.
Russel didn't know if he'll cry or laugh regarding his situation. This is insane! Everything sounds impossible, but it also makes sense. Sighs. Then fine. What can he do about it? Russel might as well accept this so-called 'destiny' that Femora gave him.
He suffered in this situation until a young man grabbed him from that dusty place. Russel asked the young man his name, but he ignored him and threw him without any care. He didn't even believe his words!
Well, it's not weird at all. Is it's him, Russel will also think that it's impossible for a pen to talk and have a conversation with you. Then fine. Russel excused that young man's rude behavior for now.
'What now? I'll stay here until he comes back and picks me up again?'