Smoke had filled the entirety of the room, billowing through the cracks of the door that would soon be ablaze. Leo, huddled up in a corner, had wrapped himself in a wet blanket, in a desperate attempt to avoid being burned alive.
"It's not my time yet you b##ch."
Leo screamed at the top of his lungs, not caring about breathing in some smoke, he wanted me to hear.
Looking at his wrist, a birthmark in the shape of a rose had almost fully withered, with all but one petal hanging on for dear life. When all the petals had withered and fallen off, it was a sign that Leo was going to die, but as he still had a petal left, he still had time.
Tears were streaming down his face, this endless cycle, this torture... It was a miracle that he had survived this long, his mental state not having deteriorated until now, despite having lived countless lives, estimated almost to around the hundreds. It was the second last life before this whole ordeal would end. It's quite entertaining is it not?
Could you imagine, being immortal yet mortal? Being able to be the same person in every life, every single memory intact. Forever being reborn with a slightly more shattered mentality with each life, after all, if you think about it, being reborn with intact memories meant having to cut ties with everyone you once loved and start over. A fate no one should have.
To some foolish and naive mortals, such a life would be a dream, but if you put some thought to it even for just a second, would such a fantasy be ideal?
He was happy for once in his life. Caring parents, a doting brother, and a good environment. Unlike some lives where he had to live on the streets, sell his body, or even become a gun for hire. He didn't want to leave just yet, desperately trying to avoid his fated death that he knew would come either way.
How would you feel? Being torn away from this happiness? All he could do was a futile attempt at survival, but what else could he have done? To just give up? Oh never, he's got a strong mentality, even if it's about to break, he's still holding up. Quite impressive.
The ceiling soon caved in, his body having been crushed, the wooden splinters piercing his stomach, making him cough up blood. Soon the room that once was would evolve into a bonfire, a furnace of which he'll be burned and suffocated alive.
Within an hour, the flames had been put out, and a distraught family rushed past firemen and police, screaming their lungs out, crying.
A father devastated at the loss of his son, his expression blank with shock. An older brother kneeled on the ashen ground of what was once his house, facing toward the earth, with tears streaming down his face, glistening as they fell from the many sirens. A pain-stricken mother saying prayers that her son would be in a better place now.
Unfortunately for her, depending on whats going on through Leo's mind right now, the place he's going to next will either make him overjoyed or devastated. For he will return to the secret garden and live his final life.
How do I know all of this you may ask?
Well, Im the one and only Persophone, the goddess that cursed a boy that trespassed into my garden.