'Where am I?'

'Why is it so dark?'

"H.. Hello?"

'Wait...'

'Am I... Floating?'

"What the fuck?!"

"Oi! Could you stop? It's annoying.." a voice said suddenly.

'Who said that?'*

"I'm right here! On your left!"

I turned my head to the left. A teenager with the same uniform as me was also floating in this black space. Although he looked more calm than in a panic. "Who are you? What's your name?" I said, floating near him.

He reached out his hand. "The name's Felix. Felix Jones. You?"

I took his hand, shaking it. "Mark Sanders. You go to Winford High?"

"Hmm? Oh yeah. So I guess you too?" he inquired while pointing at my clothes.

"Uhh... Yeah.. Class 4–A."

"Oohhh~! A top student! Nice. I'm from Class 4–B. But I've never seen you whenever those bastards go out to the cafeteria." He looked at me from head to toe. "What? You a loner or some shit?"

I shook my head. "Nah. Just never was a fan of crowds. All that noise makes me want to rip my ears off."

He chuckled. "So... Sanders. Do you happen to know where we are? Cuz' I mean,... I've been here for about, I don't know, an hour? It's very boring here~!"

I scratched my head. "I actually don't know. I just woke up here. Wherever 'here' is."

"Tsk. Ugh! This is annoying! What do you remember before waking up here? Because all I remember is going in a bus to where the school camping trip is held."

I furrowed my eyebrows. "I remember that too. But when we were on the road, there was a commotion. Then the teachers panicking about something. Then the other students screams. Then nothing, but ringing in my ears."

"That's... creepy. But useful. Creepy useful. What do you think happened?" he pondered while putting a finger on his chin.

Hmm... "Maybe—WAIT!"

Felix looked at me with wide eyes looking both startled and in shock. We both stared and pointed at each other.

"The bus accident!" We both exclaimed.

Felix clutched his hair tightly. "We were going to the school's annual camping for the fourth years when not even half way there we got into an accident.."

"The buses were passing by a big construction site when the fucking wrecking ball snapped and hit 4–B's bus flat then rolled to 4–A's then... nothing... I-i remember nothing after...." I added lowly.

An eerie silence surrounded us as a singular thought was on both our minds.

We died....

"OH MY GOD! W-where am I?!"

We turned our heads to see a girl flailing her arms about while turning her head in a panic everywhere.

'Won't her head snap if she keeps doing that?'

I floated to her. "H-hey! You need to stop that or you'll snap your neck!"

"That'll be a sight to behold..." Felix mumbled.

I turned my head to Felix and looked at him incredulously. "What the actual fuck Felix?!"

"What?"

I rolled my eyes and looked at the girl once again. "My name is Mark Sanders. The one behind me is Felix Jones. And you are?"

She looked at me hesitantly. "M-mira Stone... My name is Mira Stone."

"Well, hi there, Mira~. Say, what class are you from? I'm from 4–B. He's from 4–A." said Felix.

"You two go to Winford High?" We nodded. "I'm from 4–D." she said.

"D? You don't look like you're from D. How'd you manage to end up there?" I asked.

In all actuality, Winford High has a rule that is unfair to its students and the school is not worthy of its title 'The Most Prestigious School'.

The rule states, that the students are to be divided into sections.

Not really that weird for others but they divide the students by their social statuses and behavior.

So it's like this: Class 4–A is for the rich, well mannered and two-faced; Class 4–B is for the 'average' type of people that are smart a.k.a the scholars; Class 4–C is for the rich as well but it's for those who are not really good at being well mannered. But they're slightly smart so it's not all that bad; and Class 4–D on the other hand, is for those spoiled rich kids that don't respect their teachers, don't abide by the rules, and are not really great at the intelligence department and only got in by their parents' money.

Winford High cares more about their image than the students academics in other words.

"I requested to be put in the lower sections. I actually was to be put in 4–C but they were already full so they put me in 4–D instead, since 'the rich' aren't really allowed in 4–B." she said.

"Ohh... That's a weird request."

'Really weird.'

"Yeah, that's what my parents said but enough about that. Where are we exactly?"

"Uhmm... In a void?" Yeah... I'm not really sure.

"I mean, duh. Obviously." Felix exclaimed.

"You are actually not helping."

"Dude what? I'm just saying the truth, man."

"Huh. You two seem close." Mira said, squinting at us.

"Little lady, we just met, 'kay?"

"Yeah, yeah—"

"Uhmm hello? Anyone there?" A new voice called out.

We turned to where we heard it. Which was to our far right.

It was another girl. With a different uniform and looking a year younger than us.

"HEY! Over here!" Mira shouted while waving her hands.

"Damn, she's a loud one. Don't tell her I said that." Felix whispered, caising me to chuckle.

And Mira, without looking at us, spoke. "I heard it loud and clear, Jones."

"Welp."

"Hello there. I'm Pearl Quinn. Nice to meet you." The other girl introduced, holding out her hand in the process.

I shook her hand. "Mark Sanders. Pleasure to meet you."

She then turned to Mira, and in return Mira shook her hand. "Mira Stone. A pleasure."

Pearl smiled at her before turning to Felix who pulled her hand and hugged her.

'These two know each other?'

And my question was answered by Felix himself.

"I thought you would've survived the bus accident but the gods must've hate me for not making my prayer come true." He then pulled away from the hug but still holding Pearl's hands. "Nice to speak to you again, Couz."

"Lix. We haven't seen each other since you attended that annoying school. I'm glad you're okay."

"Heh. Okay is an understatement. I'm dead. And so are you. All of us are."

"Wait, we are? How is that possible?" Mira questioned. Interrupting the little reunion.

I turned to her. "You don't remember even a little bit of the ongoing events this morning? Like the school camping trip with the neighboring school?"

"I— Oh my gods.... the wrecking ball and the following buses..." she mumbled.

"And we weren't even halfway through our destination..." Pearl added.

"Quite a morbid conclusion you got there."

"AAAHHH!!"

"OI! SHUT UP!"

'Another one? How many are we supposed to be here in this void?'

"Oww. My ears." The new stranger said flatly.

"Uhhm, sorry about that. Just got startled. What's your name by the way?" I asked.

"Derek Carter. And you are?"

"Mark Sanders. The two behind me hugging are Felix Jones and his cousin Pearl Quinn. The one beside you is Mira Stone."

"Hey."

"I see all of you have met.."

"Oh dear. This getting weirder by the minute. Who said that?!" Pearl screamed.

Suddenly a holographic screen appeared and showed a middle aged man wearing what looks like a traditional robe worn by Greeks in the ancient times.

From the books I read and was forced to read by the school, his features look like a specific person's statue. Like...

"The fuck? He looks like King of the Gods, Zeus the Casanova. Damn, hate that guy..." Felix grumbled.

But yes, he does look like Zeus. At least, like his statues depicted in educational books.

"Uhm, are you the one who brought us here?" Mira asked.

"Yes, I am."

"Why?"

"A child of mine made a world of fantasy out of boredom. Coincidentally, you children died. Since your souls were late in going to the afterlife, my son picked you five to migrate into the world he created."

Out of boredom?

"Damn Gods, playing with pathetic humans like us...." Felix grumbled yet again.

"Late in going to the afterlife.... Is it only the five of us?" Pearl asked.

Old man Zeus — as I have started to call him in my mind — shook his head. "There were at least thirteen of you. I don't know about my son but you five — to my knowledge — are the only ones who are migrating with my guidance."

"You let your son play with dead human souls like this in the face of boredom and you don't even bat an eyelash. How frequent has situations like this have happened over the years?" I asked.

Old man Zeus sighed. "I apologize in behalf of my son. And no, this is the first time multiple souls migrate to another world created by us Gods. Maybe once in a blue moon we migrate a soul into another world who died due to our meddling in the mortal realm, but multiple souls...."

I thought for a moment.

Since this is the first time this had happened in Godly years, why not take advantage of it?

I lowered my head and grinned slightly.

"Uhmm... This world you speak of.... What is it like?" I asked.

"That world... is full of magic. Creatures you have never seen and responsibilities you can never fathom to have. Dangers left and right, you wouldn't even know who to trust."

"Quite a world your son has made, I see." Derek said.

"Hmm."

"Well, all of us are already dead so why not take the offer of a second life? We have nothing to do here anyways." Felix suggested.

He looked to my direction and winked.

We haven't even met for a day — I think — and he already knows what I'm thinking. Impressive and creepy.

Old man Zeus raised his eyebrow in amusement. "You agree? What peculiar children you are."

"I guess we could give living another try." Mira shrugged.

"Is there anything we need to know about that world, Sir?" Pearl asked while raising her hand.

'We are too calm for teenagers whose lives just ended not even three hours ago...'

"Your roles in your second life are important. They are children of aristocrats.

Clover Vladimir. The youngest son of Duke & Duchess Vladimir.

Maverick Hawthorne. Fourth son of Marquess & Marchioness Hawthorne.

Nathaniel Beau Salvatori. Youngest son of Emperor & Empress Salvatori.

Alexandra Rosenhart. Oldest daughter of Viscount & Viscountess Rosenhart.

Rosilabeth Lennox. Youngest daughter of Count & Countess Lennox.

These five will be the ones you will replace."

"Wait! Hold the fucking phone! Replace?!" Mira cried in alarm.

"I thought we'll have our own roles in that world. Why are we replacing people from their lives?" Pearl hesitantly.

"Dude! I know you're a god — and a powerful one at that — but you can't just kill other people's subconsciousness and replace it with other people's!" Felix yelled in frustration.

"What kind of fuckery is that bullshit? Even if I had wanted to live another day, if it's replacing other people in their own body, I would rather stay dead!" Derek shouted in anger.

"You make it sound like you're assigning students their seats for the whole school year. We refuse to do this." I said in barely hid anger. 'And I take back what I said.'

I am not taking advantage of this situation.

Old man Zeus narrowed his eyes at us. "How peculiar indeed... You have no choice but to accept however. The world itself chose you. I don't have a say in that."

"What type of bullshit...." Felix mumbled to himself.

"Why are we even replacing them? Aren't they suppose to be alive?" Mira asked lowly.

"I'm glad you ask. And no, they are not. They died in their sleep after fighting a disease. Or at least, that's what their guardians made the people believe... The children died because of too much mana caused by a prophecy they are a part of."

I furrowed my eyebrows. "What prophecy?"

He closed his eyes and sighed.

I raised my brow at this.

'What the fuck did that sigh mean?'

He cleared his throat and spoke.

"On the sixtieth spring solstice,

Of the second millennia,

Of the eighth month,

Of the sixth day,

The birth of five children,

Will change history as we know it.

With Shining Golden hair comes unparalleled beauty,

With Innocent Rose hair comes bravery and wits,

With Observant Silver eyes comes unrivaled intelligence,

With Gentle Blue eyes comes immeasurable strength,

And with Ruby Red eyes comes leadership like any other.

On the eightieth winter solstice,

Of the second millennia,

Of the twelfth month,

Of the thirteenth day,

The demise of five souls,

Will change lives as we know it.

With Pale Gold hair comes weeping hearts,

With Withered Rose hair comes failed wars,

With Manipulative Silver eyes comes a fallen country,

With Brutal Blue eyes comes unstoppable power,

And with Bloody Red eyes comes the death of many."

"Failed wars, fallen country, and the death of many? That's too much to take in..." Mira.

"And you're telling me that we're gonna be replacing them? No way!" Felix.

"I know it's a big responsibility—"

"You think?!" All of us shouted.

"—but it will be all worth it in the end. Trust yourselves."

Derek raised his brow. "You say it in a way that shows you know something. Which is not surprising, seeing as you are a god."

"Yes, I do know something. Something I cannot tell all of you. My apologies."

Pearl waved her hand dismissively. "Quite alright. There are things you cannot disclose to mere mortals such as ourselves. We understand." She said deprecatingly.

Mira sighed, seemingly tired. "So, should we just accept it? I know replacing someone is bad but... as he said. We don't really have a choice."

We were all quiet, waiting for something to happen or someone to speak.

Felix decided to be the one who speaks, raising his hand in a lazy manner.

"I accept." he said.

We all turned our heads to him.

Pearl floated to him and clutched her arms to his, determination filling her face as she looked at old man Zeus.

"I accept as well."

Mira sighed yet again before shrugging in defeat. "I don't really have anything to do with my now dead life. So I accept as well." she beamed.

"Well, if the majority of us is accepting then I accept as well." I said, raising my hand as well.

We then looked to Derek who had his arms crossed on his chest.

Noticing the stares his way, Derek rolled his eyes. "I guess I don't have any other choice. Since I don't wanna be left alone in this annoying place." he said, also raising his hand.

Old man Zeus stared at us with amusement dancing in his eyes. "Haha! Such peculiar children!" he heaved a breath. "Alright then. Seeing as you all are ready..."

Behind the holographic screen we heard two consecutive snaps then our black surrounding became a blinding white.

"My hands are disappearing!" Mira shouted.

"Mine as well!" Pearl.

"Avengers Endgame?" Felix.

"This is actually pretty amazing." Derek.

"Before you fully go, the moment you have possessed your new bodies, its previous soul's memories will be mixed with yours." Old man Zeus said.

"Is that all?" I asked.

He nodded firmly. "I wish you all an eventful second life."

Before we fully disappeared into nothingness, I didn't know if it was my imagination, but he smiled.

It wasn't one of amusement or of confidence.

It was of sadness and empathy.

And that made me worry.

Because just like what Derek said earlier...

'He knows something we don't. And seeing as he is a God, that isn't all that surprising. But rather, it is very scary.'

And then we fully disappeared out his eyes and from each other.