Chapter: 1
I sat in my small apartment, the soft click of my keyboard filling the otherwise quiet room as I typed away on my latest story. With a sigh, I leaned back in my chair, letting out a yawn as I stretched, the strain of the day still weighing on me.
"God, today was stressful," I muttered to myself.
Why did the teachers pile on quizzes and homework all at once? Was there some unspoken conspiracy against students?
Shaking my head, I stood up and wandered over to the bathroom. Turning on the faucet, I splashed cold water on my face, letting the chill wake me up. As I dried my face with a towel, I caught my reflection in the mirror. My black, back-length hair clung to my damp skin—people often teased me about it being "girly," but I never cared enough to cut it. My amber eyes stared back at me, their brightness dulled by the dark circles under them from countless sleepless nights. My face, still soft and youthful at fourteen, betrayed a hint of weariness.
"I wonder what I'll look like in the future," I murmured to myself before shaking off the thought and walking out of the bathroom.
The apartment was small, sparsely furnished, but it was mine—provided by the orphanage so I could attend school. Most kids my age would envy the freedom of living alone, but the reality was far less appealing.
"It's... lonely," I muttered under my breath as I glanced out the window, watching the bright, bustling world outside. The cheerful chatter of people and the hum of passing cars seemed like a distant echo of a life I couldn't quite touch.
Deciding I needed a break, I grabbed my black hoodie, slipped it on, and stepped outside. The streets were alive with activity—people rushing to and from work, kids playing on the sidewalks, and cars honking impatiently in traffic. It was a stark contrast to the quiet isolation of my apartment.
As I strolled down the sidewalk, humming softly, a man in church attire stepped into my path. He was holding a handful of flyers and booklets.
"Excuse me, young man," he said with a wide, practiced smile. "Would you like to hear about our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ?"
I sighed, already regretting leaving the house. "No, thank you," I said, trying to walk away, but the man grabbed my arm, stopping me.
He launched into a long-winded sermon about God's love, the sacrifice of Jesus, and the sin of ignoring His grace. His voice was insistent, almost desperate, and I felt my patience wearing thin.
Pulling my arm free, I frowned and said, "If you truly believe in God's love, you wouldn't try to force people into your faith. Goodbye."
Ignoring his protests, I walked away, my mind buzzing with irritation. It wasn't that I didn't believe in God—I did. But I hated when people tried to shove their beliefs down others' throats. If there's one thing I've always believed, it's that all gods, from every religion, deserve respect. After all, who am I to claim one faith is superior to another?
I spent the rest of the day wandering around the neighborhood, eventually buying some takeout before heading back home. By the time I returned to my apartment, the sun had long since set, and the familiar quiet enveloped me once again. Sitting at my desk, I unwrapped my dinner and opened my laptop, diving back into my writing. The words flowed easily, and before I knew it, the clock struck 11 p.m.
Yawning, I saved my work and rubbed my tired eyes. Just as I was about to shut down my laptop, a small, golden window popped up on the screen. The window's border glowed faintly, and in elegant white text, it read:
"You have been chosen."
I blinked, confused. "What the...?"
Thinking it was some kind of elaborate ad, I tried closing the window, but it wouldn't budge. I clicked furiously, but nothing worked.
"The hell is this?" I muttered, leaning closer to the screen.
Suddenly, the laptop's brightness intensified to an impossible degree, blinding me. I shut my eyes, shielding them with my hand, but the light seemed to pierce through anyway. When it finally faded, I opened my eyes—and my breath caught in my throat.
I was no longer in my apartment. Instead, I floated in a vast, endless void. The space was pitch-black, an oppressive darkness that seemed to swallow everything. There was no ground beneath me, no walls or sky—just nothingness.
"Where am I?!" I shouted, my voice echoing faintly in the emptiness.
I reached out, hoping to find something solid to grab onto, but there was nothing—no wind, no sensation of movement. It was as if I existed in a vacuum.
"Did I die?" I wondered aloud. The thought should have terrified me, but instead, I felt... calm. Maybe it was the surrealness of it all. Or maybe I just hadn't processed it yet.
Before I could think further, a voice—deep, warm, and impossibly powerful—echoed behind me.
"You are the only one who hasn't panicked upon arriving here. But then, I expected as much."
I spun around so fast I nearly gave myself whiplash. The source of the voice wasn't a person but a being—a radiant figure of golden light. Its form was vaguely humanoid, but its divine glow was overwhelming. Yet, despite the brilliance, I felt no fear. Instead, a single name rose unbidden in my mind.
"God?" I whispered.
The figure nodded. "Ren Taylor."
For a moment, I was speechless. Then, in a rush of honesty, I blurted out, "Is it weird that I don't really feel anything? I mean, standing before you and all?"
God chuckled softly. "Is it because you assume you've died, or is it because you're unsure how to react?"
"Both," I admitted. "Wait... what do you mean by 'assume'? I'm not dead?"
"No, my child. You are very much alive."
"Then where am I? And why am I here?" I asked, my confusion growing.
"All will be explained shortly," God said, raising a hand to silence me. "First, let the others settle in."
"Others?" I frowned, but before I could press further, God continued.
"You are one of ten chosen to take part in a test of my design. This test consists of two parts..."
Chapter 1: End
An: If you have choice to read this far would you be so kind to give me your insight or thoughts on the story. Even if you don't like this type of story and you read this far your insight would mean the world to do that I can improve in any way I can Thank you.
-The Demon king of Void.