A flash of white light and then black. I've died. Now... I'm floating around in an endless void devoid of light.
"So...what happens now?" - I thought aloud
A resounding silence answered me back.
"I guess this is the after life?" - I asked
More silence.
With my conservation partner being mute I began to think of my life. Or rather my life before I got run over by a truck. It didn't seem to shock me as I thought it would. Perhaps it hasn't settled in yet. But that sentiment didn't resonate within me. No, it's because I had nothing to regret. Don't misunderstand, I wasn't someone who did everything to the fullest. Instead I was a drifter through life. No passion for anything and no real dreams. I was happy with achieving nothing of worth. However the fact remained the same, I had nothing I truly cared about. No family or friends would miss me but I've come to terms with that.
"Huh?"
I had been hanging around in nothingness for a while now but just then I could've sworn I'd felt air. Well that's nice, I'm not going to die a second time from lack of air...or maybe I'm in one of those coma dreams?
"So...I survived after all?" - I asked again into silence and air now.
"Incorrect" - responded the void
"Wha-?"
I immediately felt the pressure of authority and power in that voice. It was as if I was back in school being punished only... Here I was in front of an otherworldly voice coming out of the void telling me that I indeed died.
"You have been selected for rehabilitation"
"I'm not sure I understand"
"You... have been deemed appropriate for rehabilitation"
"Hey you just said the same thing twice and I still don't understand why"
I felt weirdly at ease despite the strangeness of it all. I figure that since I am actually in the afterlife there's nothing really to care about anymore. So ironically nothing much has changed.
"For rehabilitation" - answered the void after a few seconds.
"That sounds amazing and all but it would seem that I'm dead so it wouldn't do me much good, sorry"
"Incorrect, you are not dead"
"Wait wait wait, You yourself said I didn't survive. Plus I'm certain that before I got here my brains painted half a street courtesy of a truck, so what gives?"
The mysterious voice fell silent for what felt like minutes before finally answering
"Correct, however you died as a result of inattention"
I felt my cheeks blush, it wasn't exactly a great way to go out. Walking across an intersection without looking. More importantly…
"So what you are saying is… I died but now I'm not dead"
"Correct"
"Oh, thanks for clearing up the confusion" I said sarcastically.
"You are welcome" said the void oblivious to the sarcasm.
Even though what it said was completely contradictory…it did conform with what I already know. As embarrassing as the circumstances were, I do remember dying. I'm also breathing in air from a non-identifiable source while talking to what could be an eldritch being or a god. So I guess me being resurrected in some form seemed fair enough. I thought back to what it said. Rehabilitation? I don't really get it but I'll play along for now.
"So what are you even rehabilitating because my body feels fine and why me anyways?
"I am unable to tell you"
"Please?"
"No"
I really wanted to know now but whoever or whatever this voice is seemed to be fairly steadfast on this. I thought for a couple of tense seconds on how to get it to reveal its secrets.
"...Pretty please?"
I chose to rely upon a true and tried tactic.
"I'm afraid not"
It was probably a figment of my imagination no it definitely was but I felt I heard a hint of smile in that response. Well now that my plan failed, I decided to go ahead and ask a different question.
"Well when does this rehabilitation start? You can tell me that at least otherwise I"ll die again of boredom this time"
"I am preparing the gateway to destination world, approximately 10 minutes until completion"
"I'm sorry what?!"
"Currently preparing gatewa-"
"Did you say a new world?!?" - I interrupted in excitement
"...Yes" - The faintest bit of annoyance present.
Inside my mind, the equivalent of fireworks were going off. I admit that I drifted in life before I died but this is a new world. There must be at least a thousand different things to fail at in this one as well but if I could find something I truly enjoyed…
"Can you tell me more about it?"
"It is for your rehabilitation "
"Anything else?"
"No"
"It'll help my rehabilitation, I promise"
"No"
"I-I'll apologise for interrupting earlier" - I said desperately
"....No" - The voice responded almost mockingly so
Well it sucks that I won't be getting any hints about this new world for the time being.
"Hmmm"
I guess in the meantime I should try to get buddy buddy with this...thing or is it a person? I was so worked up with my death and the possibility of a new world that I forgot to ask for their name. How incredibly rude of me.
"Hey"
"Yes?"
"Do you have a name?"
"...My name is not necessary"
So it does have one - I thought
"I was brought here by you escaping err permanent death, correct?"
"Correct"
"Well, you see it would be the height of bad manners if I didn't thank you by name so I must insist"
"Is this true?"
"Yes of course"
"In that case...call me Serena"
"Then allow me to properly thank you for bringing me back from the dead and sending me on a vacation Serena"
"Your appreciation is appreciated"
So what now? I seem to have gotten on her good side but what do I even ask? What am I even allowed to ask?. Probably not a good idea to ask for more hints, she's stubborn on that, and not something as suicidal as her love life. In that case I might as well try to ask…
"So Serena, could you tell me why I'm being rehabilitated?"
"No"
"Oh" I said depressed, I guess we didn't become best friends just like that
"But I can tell you that it will be revealed upon completion"
Or maybe we are friends.
"Okay so how long will the process take? Weeks? Months maybe?"
"I don't know"
"I'm sorry, could you kindly repeat that?"
"I...I do not know how long the rehabilitation will take," Serena said, a little embarrassed.
"What do you mean you don't know"
"I don't have any past data. You are the first I have selected"
"So you're basically winging it?"
"...yes" Serena said, definitely embarrassed now.
Well that's definitely an issue but at least I know now that for an invisible voice, Serena was more emotional than I had assumed. However, back to the problem at hand...
"So Serena let me get this straight, I've been brought back to life, to be sent off to another world for rehabilitating something I don't know about and you don't know how long it'll take?"
"...Correct" - she said losing much of her authority from earlier
I'm currently still floating in nothingness but I managed to pinch the bridge of my nose in consternation.
"*sigh* your job kinda sucks doesn't it? Ever thought about quitting?"
"..."
She didn't say anything but I like to imagine she quietly nodded
"Wait, hold on, I'm the first? So I'll be a pioneer in this as well?" I said remembering excitedly
"No, others have been rehabilitated before but you are first I have selected"
"Oh" - I said, a little disappointed despite how groundbreaking the revelation that there were more things like Serena.
"Well why even do it in a whole other world in the first place?" I said moving on
"Records show that for unknown reasons it is easier to achieve rehabilitation for patients in control worlds"
"Well I hate to break it to you but aren't those reasons obvious? It's a whole new world"
"I don't understand, please explain"
"While I don't know what exactly you guys are treating but there's so many possibilities that it's hard not give life a second shot"
"...I do not understand"
"Wouldn't it be easier if you just came along and experienced it yourself?" - I said without thinking
"..."
I suddenly got the feeling that I had said something unbelievably absurd. The question probably has never been asked to any of these…. death ferriers. I imagine it had to do with the shock of death in addition to floating around in a bottomless void, oh there was also a voice talking about rehabilitating you in a different world. Probably had a lot to do with it now that I think about it. People understandably tend not to be in the best of moods in these circumstances. As for me… I spent a lot of time searching for a passion and failed, so I became very disinterested in everything. Despite how outlandish the current situation is... it's the most I've been engaged in years. And then...
In response to my impossible and ignorant question...
"It would be unprecedented "
A one in a million opportunity arose
"Maybe that's why all of you fail to understand?"
"That is logical" - Serena agreed
"So why not tag along for the ride? I'm sure you're tired being cooped up in this place and you can even bring back a poster to liven up the place"
"I agree with your proposal however I have conditions" she said ignoring me
"Naturally"
"I will not help you in any way if you give up on your rehabilitation"
"Seems fair, can't have you do everything for me". I said intending to give up immediately when I reach the new world.
"This includes situations that may result in your death"
"Say what now?"
"I cannot tell you the full details of your rehabilitation"
"I feel like you just glossed over something really important"
"If these conditions are acceptable...I will experience your rehabilitation in-person"
"..."
Although I seemed nonchalant with this being. I'm very aware that I had no control over anything. If Serena wanted to she could probably delete my existence as easily as I was resurrected though I personally don't think she'd want to. So even though there was a chance of death the reality was that I had zero choice in the matter. Therefore…
"I accept these conditions"
"Very well, I look forward to your- No... our journey"
"Yes, I can't wait for it" I said halfheartedly
"There is two minutes remaining until the gateway is formed"
"Oh, thanks for letting me know"
Two minutes huh? I'm really hoping I'm not going to a war-torn planet. I've already died and it wasn't that fun. If I'm lucky I'd get a nice cushy world where I can freely explore and find my passion. And if I can really find that something... I'll put up with whatever world I get thrown into no matter what it is.
"One minute remaining"
In the dark void before, now there was a blinding silver light. As my eyes adjusted I saw that it was a single point. Then as if it was a pencil with a silver star for its lead, it began to guide itself into a perfect circle with more than enough space to fit me. With the light present I noticed my body hadn't changed after I died, so presumably my appearance hadn't been altered either thankfully.
"Thirty seconds until completion please prepare yourself"
The inside of the portal began to change in ways I couldn't describe. Colours of every frequency were spilling out and the space in front of it began vibrating audibly.
"Hey I won't die when I go through this will I?" - I asked nervously
"...Probably not" - Serena responded slowly
"Probably?!?"
"A Gatemaster travelling through their own gateway...it has never happened before"
"So there's a chance even you could die?!?"
"That is correct"
"...And I thought I was the crazy one here" - I sighed
"The gateway is now complete" - Serena stated calmly
"Are you scared at all?" - I asked in hope of some solidarity
"It is not good to hesitate"
And that solidarity was not found anywhere
"However it would be rather irritating if I perished" - Serena said matter of factly
"Bahahahahahahaha"
"?"
"Sorry I couldn't help myself. I happen to agree completely" - I said sincerely
"I see"
The colours from the portal started to coalesce into a faint silver light that illuminated a figure next to me. But before I could get a clear picture of its shape, the portal began to pull us in. I only managed to get one glance at the otherworldly being before heading head first into a new world.
End of Chapter 1.