As I slowly opened my eyes, I found myself surrounded by an endless expanse of white. The air was crisp and cool, like a refreshing breath of fresh air on a morning stroll. But where was I? More importantly, who was I? My memories seemed shrouded in a thick fog, refusing to reveal themselves to me.

Panic began to set in as my mind screamed, "you're dead, you're dead!" The thought sent a shiver down my spine. I longed to see my reflection, to gaze upon my own face, and perhaps recall some shred of my identity.

Suddenly, a shimmering altar materialized before me, adorned with a golden bowl and filled with a pearly liquid. I felt an inexplicable pull towards the altar, as if an unseen force actively drew me closer.

My heart began racing as I walked towards it. I felt enticed to drink from the altar, but there was a subtle fear behind my eagerness.

For some reason, I'm afraid I'll drown in this liquid at the first wrong move.

I approached the altar, feeling both fascinated and terrified, my eyes filled with optimism. As I peered into the golden bowl, I caught the first glimpse of myself.

A slender, toned young man, with piercing cerise eyes and unruly green hair. There's a strange scar on my face. "What is this?" I exclaimed, my mind reeling with confusion as I gently traced the scar.

What happened to me? Why don't I recognize my own face? I put my hand through my hair, thinking for a moment whilst hovering over the bowl.

I decide to scoop up a handful of the pearly liquid to drink from and rinse my face. The feeling on my skin was cool and refreshing.

This sensation is something new; it must be... My thoughts trail off and are interrupted by the sudden drop in temperature, I look around to see if anything changed but all I could see was an expansion of nothingness glaring all around me.

I can feel the cool air around me directly on my skin it give me goosebumps. Sudden my first memory comes to mind after not being able to remember ANYTHING.

It's the memory of being weighed down and unable to move after encountering liquid, but it wasn't like this pearly type, it was transparent and lightweight. I remembered someone with hair quite like mine knocking me to the ground causing me to land in the liquid I often fought to avoid.

I stand before the altar staring off into the white expanse and I'm acknowledging that this time... I feel... I feel... the opposite! The pearly liquid substance seemed to be imbuing me with a newfound sense of awareness, was it bringing my memories back? But why does everything seem DIFFERENT.

I take a few steps back from the altar not and suddenly anxiety comes upon me, but I'm not sure where the feeling is stemming from.

My mind is blank. After processing what I'm thinking and feeling I come to the conclusion that the fear of suddenly drowning doesn't make sense but it must have something to do with my first memory.

It's clear that I'm far larger than this tiny bowl on the altar, but in my memory everything seemed larger and from my perspective I was tiny in comparison, but now...

"Nothing makes sense!!" I speak out loud to myself, in hopes that it would help me think better but instead I'm instantly filled with frustration, my tone came out far more agitated than I anticipated to hear.

The pearly liquid taste still lingered on my tongue. It was warm and minty. With a aroma of frankincense, I staggered backward, and suddenly the endless expanse of white surrounding me turned into utter darkness!

I felt my knees go weak and my head felt dizzy, Within seconds I collapsed with a loud thud; my head hit what sounded like water dripping.

There was gentle, repetitive hollow "plop" that echoed through the air. It's a soothing, calming sound sent me into a meditative state of peace.

I felt as if I've entered another universe. Everything was cold, and my mind raced with thoughts about the past.

I remember seeing many tiny pictures like a mosaic that gathered into one big picture before my eyes.

I recalled blurred memories, about trash cans and flying at the speed of light.

I had memories flood my mind and the people looked kind of like me! But I knew they were not me.

I think about to a few minutes ago; looking at myself in the pearly liquid reflection. My mind instantly matching it to these foreign memories that has emerged .

The last thing I remember is dying two different deaths, one as a human and one as something else entirely and everything else is a blank.

There was definitely something about the man in my last memories that is relatively important to all this, but I can't figure it out.

How is any of this possible? I have evolved overnight into a human? with thoughts and feelings that seem alien to me.

The memories of my past life seemed to be intertwined with those of another. My question is how am I suddenly understanding all these things and comprehending all of this at all.

My unconscious thoughts seemed to increase and present itself at a faster speed in my mind as I processed that - I clearly remembered not knowing anything and purely operating off natural instinct. I'm sure I didn't comprehend the reasoning behind doing or general existence in my past life.

But this feeling of processing and understanding and just knowing things is thrilling and sending my unconscious self into a frenzy. I'm in dire need of answers and clearly an apology from the person that killed me.

I gained consciousness to the sound of a small splash of water hitting a surface and as my eyes fluttered open, more memories flooded into my mind, but this time I was conscious and felt emensely weak. The void of darkness that I fell into still surrounded me.

My body felt heavy to hold up and my eyes felt tired. Memories; about which feels like my home and my family, arised. Filling me with desperation to know who I am and what is going on but above all get out of this place.

All these thoughts and concerns. Why wasn't my wife with me, where is she. What happened to my son, where is he now? And are they truly my family? These memories makes me feel a strong connection to them but im not sure I know them personally.

I take a moment to acknowledge my surroundings. I place my hand on my forehead; it's pounding. I remember drinking from a golden bowl.

I must have passed out and now regained much more of my memories, but it feels like I have two stories living inside me.

The two blur before each other, and I don't understand the correlation, but both feel very personal to me.

A bright light appears before me in te

the darkness , and a thunderous voice booms through the atmosphere causing my neck hair to stand, "Terrchel, you have awoken from your slumber. Arise!" I jumped to my feet at lightning speed, my heart pounding in my chest. I was not only taken by surprise at the voice but by my own speed.

I turned to hear where this thunderous voice was emanating from. Before my eyes shone a bright white figure so bright I couldn't look at it directly. The few seconds I tried looking at it directly I felt as if I would explode into millions pieces of dust at the overwhelming power that stood before me.

I immediately bowed my head and spoke softly in response, all agitation leaving me at once and being replaced with terror.

Terrchel: "You referred to me as Terrchel; is that my identity?

The Light: "Yes, I've called you out the darkness to a new life, do you perceive this new thing?"

Terrchel: "Who are you that you have the power to upgrade my existence?"

The Light: "I am He and always will be, the beginning and the end"

Terrchel felt confused and didn't know how to respond. So hovered in silence staring at his feet.

The Light: "Child, listen carefully. You were a house fly in your past life. However, your spirit cried out to me as you hit the ground and I heard you. So I've given you another chance at life, but this time as a human. The memories that flood your mind are those of your past fly self and the vessel you now imbued with. You've been asleep in The Light Realm for the past years until now. The man's vessel you wield, his name was Arnold Maximus. He died the day you died a few years ago and he had a family, but he did not complete his job in the Arcadian realm, so I've given you a chance to fulfill both your destinies in one. Do not ponder to much on the details. As the days pass by you will see it's all meaningless and I do as I please. Use this opportunity wisely lest I snatch it up like a thief in the night".

Terrchel: "But I have so many questions. Won't the humans be alarmed by this Arnold Maximus person being alive suddenly and a change in... I don't know... EVERYTHING?".

The Light: "Child do not bother me with your many questions. Go and do as I said and do not be afraid. I've altered many aspects of your appearance and soon you will be leveling up your abilities and become aligned with this current version of yourself. You might think you're connected to Arnold, but I assure you, there's a reason for this".

The bright Light figure before me had a very authoritative and firm voice. I haven't lifted my head once during this encounter and I shouldn't dare to speak another word. I've pestered Him with enough questions. I wouldn't want to lose my new life before I experienced all the possibilities. So, it's best I remain silent and just nod, I thought to myself.

Suddenly, a portal appeared before me, and I knew it was time to go live my new life. I stepped into the floating portal, expecting to step into a beautiful life on the other side, like opening a door to paradise but instead, I stepped through the portal and fell straight downwards into a dark spiral with flashes of pink and blue blinding my sight.

This descending spiral felt forever. I was left panting uncontrollably without any time to think about what's happening. Until I suddenly landed on a fluffy cloud.

The cloud felt warm and smelled like butter popcorn. I decided to lay my head on it and my entire body felt at peace and calm. This feeling was definitely not like anything I've ever experienced before.

I nearly didn't care about this new promised life. I told myself, "If I could stay here forever, I'd be happy." Just as I was enjoying the moment, the cloud decided to evaporate from beneath me which sent me flying into a dumpster in some gloomy dark alleyway.

I looked up to the sky and exclaim out loud, "A trash can, wow, is this because I'm a flyman?" How rude and stereotypical! However, I'd be lying if I said I didn't low-key love this; the aromas of dirt and rotten treasures are absolutely sending me into a euphoric state.

I looked up and down the alleyway. It's nighttime, the stars are visible, and glistening in the city I've been dumped in.

The street is illuminated by yellow lights, it seems run down as if at war with nature; trying to reclaim territory against an attempt failed cyberpunk redo. Faded flicking lights and advertisements can be seen throughout, and there are tall skyscrapers in the nearby vicinity up ahead.

The streets are rowdy, I feel as if it's daytime with this buzz of energy in the air.

I suddenly felt a door swoosh open before I saw it happen and I could sense one person emerging from behind the door.

I turned my head so fast I heard my neck crack! I really need to get used to this body and the speed and agility I'm moving at.

I an elderly man wearing a dirty apron and chef's hat, carrying a dirt bag in the one hand and a dirty cloth over his shoulder appeared in the night light.

He seems to have spotted me immediately and I can tell he is coming over here. Slight panic sets in.

Is he going to hit me with that cloth thing on his shoulder. I recall seeing humans use this for various reasons including killing flies! But I'm human now so I shouldn't worry. Yet, I am worried. This will be my first encounter with a human as a human, and I'm in a dumpster. Should I play dead and just not move? Maybe then he will go away.

Restaurant owner: "I haven't seen you around The Undergrid alleyways before".

Terrchel: "Where am I? What is The Undergrid, please explain?".

Restaurant owner: "Are you drunk, young man? The Undergrid used to be a hidden network of abandoned infrastructure left behind in Arcadia...you know! The New Arcadia city is up ahead where those skyscrapers can be found. Most of the undergrid remains abandoned but these parts we've brought to life".

Terrchel: "Uhm, no, I don't seem to recall any of this, but I sure it will come to mind sooner or later. All I care about right now is starvation.[stomach GROWLS] Do you plan on tossing that dirt you're carrying with you in here, perhaps? Or was the swot cloth intended for me instead?".

Restaurant owner: "hahahah. What a strange sense of humor. It's the year 2050; nobody does dumpster diving anymore. You certainly bumped your head, or you're high?".

The restaurant owner looked at me with confusion and shook his head. "you kids really ought to stop smoking all these airpop nonsense, it's clearly popping your braincells".

He then walked up to me and gently placed the bag of dirty next to the trash can instead of throwing it on me (which is what I expected). This is certainly new, I remember being thrown with dirt all the time whilst eating out of trash cans as a fly; the rush of anticiping each movement so I wont be crushed in the process but the thrill of landing from trash to trash.

Restaurant owner: "Kid, I don't know who you are or what your case is, but you can't stay here. Find your way home before the night alley Arcadia patrol finds you. This might be The Undergrid, but that Lawrence Abstainace guy has everything under his control".

Terrchel: "Yeah, yeah, I got you, old man. I'm heading out now" .

The restaurant owner looked at Terrchel one last time and shook his head. After a long day of work, he thought to himself that he definitely doesn't have the energy for some drunk kid stealing out of trash cans. So, he decides to walk away as if that entire encounter did not happen.

I hopped out of the trash can and grabbed the dirt bag next to it.

As I walked down the dark alley of the Undergrid, my mind thought about how kind that restaurant man was. Both the fly in me and the man in me weren't treated very pleasantly during our time alive. I can't help but wonder if this time will be different. I know very well I have no idea where to go right now, but I guess I'll just find a bench to sleep on until I can find my way to the main city once the sun is up.

This part of the city seems unfamiliar to me, despite the fact that Arnold's memories collide with my own. I have no memories of being here in the Undergrid. Maybe I lived in the main city... What was it that old man called it? The New Arcadia City. The Undergrid must be for the unruly, and less fortunate, seeing that The New Arcadia City is where the elites parade. While I was leaving the alleyways looking for my next stop, I saw a sign over a abandoned road the read "New Arcadia City this way".

The road doesn't look too pleasant, but it must mean I'm close but not close enough to the main city. I stumbled down the road, in the opposite direction. It was getting darker morning hours approaches. My mind reeling with questions. Who was I, really? What was my purpose in this new life? And what lies ahead for me in this strange and wondrous city?

As I walked, I sensed eyes watching me from the shadows, but when I looked I couldn't see anyone. It seemed as if it was all in my imagination. However, the sensation that I'm being watched is definitely present and it's one person. I tried not to ponder on it too much.

I looked around one more time, taking in the sights and sounds of the Undergrid. Looking at everything from this perspective, it was a world unlike any I had ever known. I realized that I had a long journey ahead of me: a journey to discover who I was and what my purpose was in this new life. But that was definitely tomorrow's worry; right now, I need a place to crash.

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