"I'm sorry what!?" I was shocked.
"You heard me," Brakos said with a smile.
I just stared straight ahead into nothing, as I tried to process that and came to a realization. "So I really am dead," I said in a cold tone.
Brakos' smile dropped, realizing what he just implied. "I'm sorry about that. I was hoping to ease you into that, sorry."
"It's fine" I replied with a sigh and leaned back in my chair "I figured that was the case from the start. I just needed confirmation."
We sat in silence for a minute until, "What happened to me exactly and what do you plan for me in the future."
Brakos, glad that Jackson did not seem upset, answered. "For what happened to you you already know. You were just in the wrong place at the wrong time," he said in a sympathetic voice. "For how you got here. That was because of me"
I looked at Brakos with a confused expression and then I realized "Oh, that's why you were expecting me."
"Yes. I have been watching you for some time now. As the spirit of stories, I love to watch people write their own stories and go on adventures. Just from watching you search for your grandmother's necklace was proof that you were exceptional."
"When I saw you were shot I decided to intervene, and no I couldn't stop you from dying. That was your fate and I can't change it, but what I can do is extend your fate by offering your soul the chance at reincarnation."
I looked at Brakos and said."Ok, so first off you have been stalking me."
Brakos's eyes widened. *cough* "That… that wasn't my intention." He said with an embarrassed expression.
I laughed. "It's not like I can blame you. Based on what you have said you have been doing this for a while so you are used to doing it. Plus I have gotten used to the weird stuff you have told me so far" I looked at Brakos and said, "Reincarnation, You can do that?"
"Yes" Changing the subject. "I can accommodate you by selecting a world based on what you want and can even grant you a certain level of power. There are limits and I will tell you them if you reach that point."
"What kind of worlds are there?" I asked
"To name a few world sci-fi, zombie, magic or nuclear fallout apocalypse, medieval or modern era with magic being or not being publicly known, one where humans live among supernatural creatures like dragons, werewolves, vampires and other races, worlds where the people are all anthropomorphic animals and many others."
"Overall it's your choice. Just so you know, I can't reincarnate you back into your previous world." Brakos said listing off a few options and warning me.
I leaned back in my chair and said "Ok, can I have some time to think?"
"Sure" Brakos replied and leaned back as well.
I sat there for a few minutes and thought about my life and what I valued and wanted.
Despite my personality and hobbies, I have experienced many hardships and loss.
One of my close friends was bullied because he had darker skin than everyone else and he committed suicide.
Another 2 of my friends died in a car crash with a drunk driver while on their way to pick me up for a trip.
My house was robbed with both me and my mother held at gunpoint and my grandmother's necklace which my mom wears was taken.
I have faced pain and heartbreak many times and I want a change.
Going over everything I have experienced I let it shape my decision as I went over my options.
Thinking about what worlds I could go to and what I want to do there. How I wanted to live this life and make up for my failures.
While thinking, one thought came to mind and I asked. "What about my family? Will I forget them and will they be ok?"
Brakos smiled. "You will keep your memory if you want to, but as for what will happen to them, well I can't guarantee anything."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Well everyone has a fate and I can't go against it. For example, your fate was to die today. If I stopped you from getting shot, then you and other people would have died in a car accident or something of the same extent on the same day."
"If you want I can keep you updated on them and ensure that they will live happily, but if they are fated to die tomorrow I can't do anything," Brakos explained.
I sighed and said "That will have to do. Please watch over them, but if they do die don't tell me I just want to know that they will be safe."
He nodded and I leaned back and thought some more.
Eventually, I had another question "By the way, as a spirit of both time and stories. If I live an eventful life can you document my adventures and place them into the computer I owned before my mother finds what I have already written?"
"That way even if they don't know it is me, I will still have a way to reach them. Of course please change the name and how I die but other than that I am fine with what you told me. Is that possible"
Brakos looked at Jackson with a shocked and astonished expression that changed to happy. "That is within my abilities. Any preference for the changes?"
"We can talk about that later. For now, I have my plan on what I want for my reincarnation" I said with a smile.