A lonely existence marked by fleeting connections and constant Darkness. Einai Farkhous lived a life of isolation and introspection, At 23, he knew little of the warmth companionship could offer. His days were spent in quiet contemplation, his nights in restless dreams. The world outside his small apartment window seemed distant, like a scene from a play he was not meant to partake in.
His only solace came from his friendship with Clara. She was a bright spot in his dimly lit world, a beacon of light he clung to despite the shadows of doubt that always lurked in the corners of his mind. Yet, even Clara was not immune to the gravity of his isolation. She had her own life, her friends, and her struggles. Despite their interactions, Einai always felt a sense of distance, an unbridgeable gap neither could cross.
It was a cold evening in late autumn when Einai decided to meet Clara atop the old, abandoned factory at the edge of town. The factory, a hulking relic of a bygone era, loomed over the city like a sentinel of forgotten dreams. It was a place that mirrored Einai's feelings of desolation and abandonment.
Clara arrived late, as she often did, her bright eyes scanning the rooftop with curiosity and impatience. Einai greeted her with a weak smile, his usual demeanour subdued by the weight of his thoughts.
"Hey, Clara," he said, his voice barely rising above the whisper of the wind. "Thanks for coming."
Clara nodded, her expression unreadable. "No problem, Einai. What's up?"
Einai looked out over the city, the twinkling lights below starkly contrasting the darkness that enveloped the rooftop. "I just needed to talk. I've been feeling... off lately."
Clara shifted uncomfortably. She had heard this, the same litany of despair and confusion that seemed to define Einai's existence. "You know I'm here for you, right?" she said, though her words lacked conviction.
Einai nodded, but there was a glint of something in his eyes, a desperation that Clara couldn't quite place. "Do you ever feel like... you're living someone else's life? Like you're just a character in a story, and no matter what you do, you can't change the ending?"
Clara sighed. "Einai, you need to stop thinking like this. It's not healthy. You're just going through a rough patch."
But Einai wasn't listening. He approached the rooftop's edge, peering at the dizzying drop below. "Sometimes, I wonder if it would be better if I just... ended it. If I just let go."
Clara's heart skipped a beat. "Einai, don't talk like that! You have so much to live for."
He turned to her, a sad smile playing on his lips. "Do I? Really?"
For a moment, Clara was silent, her mind racing. She cared about Einai, but his constant despair was draining. She had her problems and her own life to live. Could she be expected to carry his burdens as well?
In that moment of hesitation, Einai took a step forward. The rooftop's edge crumbled beneath his feet, and he was falling, the world rushing past him in a blur. Clara reached out, but her hand grasped only air. She stood frozen, watching as Einai plummeted to the ground below.
As he fell, Einai's thoughts were a chaotic whirlwind. He thought of Clara, the life he had lived, and the loneliness that had consumed him. He wondered if anyone would remember him if his life had meant anything.
The impact was swift, a sudden, jarring end to his descent. The world went dark, and for a moment, there was nothing.
But death was not the end for Einai. As his body lay broken and lifeless, his soul was torn from its earthly vessel and drawn into the abyss. He found himself in a place beyond understanding, a realm of shadows and whispers, where the very fabric of existence seemed to tremble.
A voice echoed through the void, a voice that was both familiar and alien. "Einai Farkhous, you have been judged."
He tried to speak, but no words came. He felt himself being pulled apart. His soul split into seven pieces, each fragment carrying a piece of his essence, his identity.
"You have fifty days to find your soul," the voice continued. "Fail, and you will be lost to the abyss for eternity."
Einai's mind reeled. Fifty days. Fifty days to traverse the mortal realm, to find the scattered pieces of his soul. It was a task that seemed impossible, yet he had no choice. The alternative was too horrifying to contemplate.
He was thrust back into the world of the living to find a way to reclaim what had been lost.
Only then could he hope to escape the eternal abyss.