I woke up in pitch dark around me,
Hey, you are back!
So how was it?
Did you enjoy the trip?
I could hear a chirpy annoying voice of a kid.
A bright scene faded in, and a little boy looked happy to see me, No it seemed he was more like amused.
His face seems familiar like I have seen him before.
I could not remember. I was still dazed, I had a knocking headache, as memories rushed back into my mind.
I remember being shot and the excruciating pain that came along with it. Tear's rolled down my eyes as I remembered my parents being shot right in front of me. I was like a deer caught in the headlights watching them get shot without moving or doing anything to save them.
I remember my wife's betrayal, and who the fuck were the people that killed me.
Killed me? Wait? Why am I not dead?
I looked around and focused back on the annoying kid who had not stopped talking since I woke up.
I looked at him again and scanned my surrounding, This is my old neighborhood, where I had grown up. I recognized the area and suddenly I remembered this boy.
That was what almost 19-20 years ago?
What they said was true, Life flashes by when you die.
I bought a Rolodex from this little kid from a garage sale. I remember paying 20 dollars for it even though he had asked for 1 dollar. there was a little girl with him, who was... she ah... yes his sister. I remember now.
these kids lived down the street, they were orphans and were being fostered by the Anderson family.
The Anderson's, I hated them, they claimed to be generous but everyone in the neighborhood knew they fostered the kids just for the money.they didn't have an ounce of sympathy ,love or care for the kids they fostered, the kids were just a cash ticket for them,
the Child services didn't seem to care much about them.
This boy always worked hard, doing yard work, delivering newspapers. all to buy clothes to keep his sister warm in the harsh winter. He buys stuff for his sister and nothing for himself.
Feeling bad, I gave 20 dollars even though I was living paycheck to paycheck. I don't know why I did that.I wasn't a generous person.
I calculated hard before giving the kid extra money. I might have to skip lunch for a week. I was already skipping breakfast...
I hated being this poor. I hated being poor.
maybe I empathized with just how much it sucked for this kid.
anyone who looked at the evidence could conclude that the Anderson's kept all the money; spending nothing on the kids even cutting down on the bare minimum.
The Rolodex that I brought from the kids became an accompaniment for me over the years and became my companion to my success.
but why am I thinking about this now? that's not important!
"Weird, this dream is weird, everything looks so real," I said softly.
"You are not dreaming though", the kid said.
He looked at me as an adult looks at a toddler.
"You are back. it sucked getting shot in the head, didn't it? but does that matter?
You are back and now can have a go at it again"
"have a go at it again? have a go at what?"
"Re-living your life."
he went inside the house and brought back his little sister.
she looked at me and smiled, the boy said, "didn't I tell you this guy was interesting, look he is back."
"already? but he was gone for just a few moments"
"Sister I keep telling you. these mortals have a very minuscule lifetime, so for him, it was already a long time. like trillions of years for you and me."
"oh, I see", she laughed.
"look at him he looks like a lamb who was just born,"
"oh look he only has two gifts remaining brother, how many did you give him?"
"I gave him three, I thought this guy would probably be back sooner, but he seemed to have taken his time."
"Brother you are too cheap to your own General, you only gave him three? you give 100 to even the lowliest of your servants."
What are they talking about?,They looked and, talked like kids gone crazy, but why was she pointing at my scar when saying three, wait what happened to my scar, I remember I had three of them, now I seem to have only two.
The kids then beckoned me to come inside the house with them.
My body seems to follow their command and followed behind them, even though I try to resist it.
What was going on? What the f*** was happening?
Once inside, the kids sat themselves on thrones, There were two f******g Thrones in the room, made of gold and rubies and diamonds, and the Anderson couple were standing like slaves. Their heads bowed down.
"Welcome mortal. You seemed to be confused and wondering where are you so let's start with introductions. I am the all-devouring all-powerful, ruler of destruction and chaos, the god of time."
He looked at me with anticipation as if he was waiting for me to worship him or be amazed by his introduction; like I was supposed to know him.
I didn't.
An awkward silent minute or two followed.
[KRONOS] i am [KRONOS]. also, known as [KRONOS] with a K?
I still didn't know who he was.
Are you an idiot? Didn't you go to school? college?
I know that you were an honor student. why are you looking at me like an idiot?
I didn't know what he wanted of me.
"[KRONOS] from Greek mythology? Greek literature?" he tried again
oh, now that he said it I vaguely remember hearing this name.
He looked flabbergasted, the smug grin he had the entire time crumbled,
His sister laughed at him, "Brother, your General doesn't even know you. forget about how glorious your name is." she said mockingly.
His General? Who? Me?
when did I become his General?
Wait, is that even the main issue here?
Then the kid who called himself [KRONOS] snapped his finger, I felt something that kept me bound removed.
I gained control over my limbs again, I tried opening my mouth, I could do it now.
I felt a boiling rage inside of me.
just a few moments ago I saw my entire life destroyed.
My parent's heads were blown off right in front of me and it kept replaying in my mind in a loop.
A few minutes later I was here. and these kids and the Anderson people were laughing and joking around as if it was nothing but a joke to laugh at.
I could no longer keep quiet and with bitterness and hatred I asked them again. in the loudest voice, I could scream in.
"Who the f**k are you? and what the f**k is going on?"
The room became quiet.
[KRONOS] looked at me again and said.
I am [KRONOS] The God of time and you are [JANUS], my chosen General for this generation. you have lived one of the three lives I had gifted you. and now have traveled back in time to use your second.