It's painful, it's cold.
The same scene all over again, every single day.
The same bluish-gray ceiling.
Well, everything nowadays is blue. Everyone is blue, every object, and even the air is blue.
I'm only 28 years old, why can't I live normally? Why is it so painful? Why does existing hurt? No way that I'm dying like this.
I've never believed in God, I've always chosen science and rationality.
But recently, I've seen no meaning in rationality.
The same people come to visit me everyday, dont get me wrong, I'm grateful for those who even keep coming to visit me.
My own mom can't even visit me anymore, she's unable to handle me dying. She can't handle the state I'm in right now.
If there's a God out there, any deity, even the Devil.. Please.. Help me redo my life.
Help me remake my life.
A life where I don't get this illness, a life where I can make the right decisions.
A life where I'm not a burden.
Please, anyone?
My eyes start to tear up, my tears feel warm. Despite everything being cold, my tears are the ones that has given me this warmth.
I close my eyes as the single tear runs down my cold and numb left cheek.
The sight of nothingness gives me peace, the darkness is calming.
This is the only place where I don't have to see blue.
"Daniel." A masculine, deep and loud voice rings through my ears.
Who was that?
My pupils start to erratically move, trying to search for the origin of that noise.
Unable to move my head due to a paralyzed neck, I'm stuck using my pupils in order to look around the room.
"Above here, boy." The same voice calls out, its voice coming from above.
My pupils lock on, staring at the ceiling.
"I've heard your request." The voice exclaims, keeping a monotone voice.
What? What request?
"I'll give you a task." The voice adds.
"I'll rid you of your illness, as long as you complete the task I'll give you." The voice explains.
"Blink if you understand." The voice exclaims
I blink, but I'm confused, I don't get it. Who is this voice? Am I going crazy? Am I dead?
"If you don't believe me, I'll.." The voice pauses.
Suddenly, the glass walls around my hospital room shatter and break into a million pieces. Flying all around my room.
The nurses immediately came and tended to me. I was puzzled, I felt the glass shards hit and stab me everywhere. But instead of being in pain, all I could think about was..
How?
Why?
Is this really divine intervention?
My mind goes in a daze while my body is being transported into the ICU.
"Accept my task or you spend your last week in pain." The voice suddenly exclaims.
I don't even know what it's about, why should I?
"Because you.. Want to live." The voice answers, ringing inside my head.
I.. Accept.
Everything goes blurry, the sounds around me start to muffle, everything starts to slow down, untill.. It all just goes black.
I enter a world of complete darkness.
I'm standing up, oh wow.
Looking around, I don't really see anything. But I.. I haven't felt the sensation of standing up.
Well, it's not like I'm actually standing up.
"Your task is to prevent yourself from comitting suicide." The voice echoes throughout the world of darkness.
"What are you going on about? I can't even commit suicide if I tried." I answer, confused and irritated.
"You're not the only one. There are millions, billions, or even trillions of you. It just so happens that, you contracted an incurable disease." The voice exclaims.
"Trillions of me? You mean.. Alternate universes?" I reply, even more confused than before.
"Unfortunately, yes. And there's this specific you that I want to save." The voice answers back.
"Why? Why is there a specific "me" that you want to save? If you're a God, wouldn't that interfere with the course of that universe?" I ask, why this specific self? What's so special?
"I'll reveal to you after you complete your task. Out of the millions of "you" that I have visited, I picked you. Unless you want to continue living your life as a vegetable, let's start." The voice replies, clearly irritated.
It's not my fault something like this hasnt happened before. Why's God getting irritated?
*Z-Zing* A bright light suddenly sparks, a hologram screen appears in front of me.
(** **<- indicates the system message/hologram screen message.)
( [ ] <- indicates phone/computer/ or any device screen message.)
**GOD'S TASK: ???
GOAL: ???
END CONDITIONS: PREVENT YOUR SUICIDE
"WILL YOU ACCEPT?"
HOLY SHIT, I HAVE A SYSTEM?!
"Yes, you do." The voice exclaims.
HE CAN READ MY THOUGHTS?
"That's a given, considering I AM GOD!" The voice's shouts echoes and reverberates.
Well, I'll go with ye-
**MISSION ACCEPTED**
I get startled and fumbled around the dark , empty place.
I started to lose balance and before I knew it, I fell.
I got knocked out.
My eyes slowly open, letting the light slowly penetrate my eyelids. I could feel every sensation in my body, this time it isn't unpleasant or insufferable. My eyelids open, revealing a beige coloured ceiling.
For the first time in a while, my body doesn't hurt.
I feel energized, for the first time in 5 years or so. My muscles feel so fresh and revitalized.
I get up and jump out of the bed I was laying in like a spring. My body stretching like a cat and my bones cracking loudly.
I feel a huge spark of relief vibrate in my body.
Well this place is pretty unfamilliar, it's a generic room but it's enough room for someone like me. I got a desk, a computer, a printer, and 2 guitars. This God certainly knows my interests to give me this type of set-up. Marvel posters, comic books, manga, and DVDs, who even uses those anymore? Well, it's a first for me that everything is so neat and well kept.
Ooh, and there's a phone here.
["7:12 AM"
"Friday, September 9, 2022"
"NOTE: FIRST DAY!! School by 8:50AM"]
*Z-Zing* The system notifies and appears on the screen.
**
MISSION I: COMPLETE TASKS
"TALK TO YOUR CAREGIVER" 0/1
"GET TO SCHOOL BY 8:50" 0/1
"TALK TO ???"0/1
**
Caregiver? they must be somewhere in this apartment, well I haven't even gone outside my room.
I slowly grab the cold door handle, and twist it carefully. I push the door nervously, quite scared and expecting something.
In the other room across me was.. A white haired guy. He looks like a foreigner, especially with his blue eyes. He looks like he's in his mid 30s. He has such clear skin, in contrast of how I looked like in my 30s I'd say this guy looks way more youthful. To top it off, he's pretty muscular and toned, his build looks like the typical jock in a teen romantic comedy.
"Good morning, Daniel, I am your assigned caregiver. My name is Samael, you can call me Sam." Samael introduces himself, slightly bowing and putting his hand up to his chest.
"From this day onwards you will be known as Randall, you are my nephew and I am in charge of you as your guardian. Remember your end goal and the reason HE put you here. Don't be scared to ask me about your system, or this world if you need more context." He adds, as he returns to a straight posture.
"A-Alright, I guess. Well you gotta explain to me how this whole schtick works." I reply, scratching my head.
"Well HE has given you a new body, a new identity, and a whole new life so that you can infiltrate and find this world's original YOU and prevent him from committing suicide. Leave everything else to us, all you got to do is blend in and secure the target." He replies hastily, shortly getting school equipment ready.
"You should eat up first, I know you haven't tasted real food in a while." He exclaims, grabbing the steaming hot food from the stove. He sets the food on the mini table.
On the plate, there were 2 fried eggs with a crispy white but runny yolk, just the way I like it. Beside it was a crispy slice of bacon, slightly toasted and browned.
My mouth watered as I saw the perfectly cooked meal infront of me. The smokey flavor of the meal made me forget all about the disgusting, bland, and unappealing hospital food I've been fed for 5 years.
*Z-Zing* The system notifies and appears on the screen once more.
**
MISSION I: COMPLETE TASKS
"TALK TO YOUR CAREGIVER" 1/1 +50 EXP POINTS
"GET TO SCHOOL BY 8:50" 0/1
"TALK TO ???"0/1
**
**
PLAYER DATA:
NAME: DANIEL CRUZ (ALTER)
AGE: 16
LEVEL: 1
CHARISMA: 3
STRENGTH: 8
INTELLIGENCE: 11
HEALTH: 100/100
**
They're all not at 1 despite me being level 1, these must be my base stats. Player seems a little weird as a title though.
Well I shouldn't keep good food waiting hehe.
I quickly start digging in to my food without any hesitation, every bite savoured and enjoyed to the last drop of oil. Each crunch, each chew brought out flavors and sensations I haven't felt in years.
A sudden question then comes to mind, I quickly swallow and ask.
"So what happens to my body? Isn't it weird if I just disappeared?" I asked Samael, who was cleaning the stove and the pans he had just used after cleaning.
"Well, I believe that you are currently in a coma, you won't come back until you finish or you choose to abandon this task." He answers quickly.
So theoretically, I have infinite time. But wait! I must prevent my suicide, I have no idea when it'll happen, but I only have one chance. I have to befriend myself quick!
I quickly finish up my food, get into the shower, and prepare into my school uniform.
All my books are here, all my school supplies, my lunch, and my sanitation kit. Alright, all are checked!
And if I'm not mistaken, the country I'm in is the Philippines.
The school I'll be going to will be a prestigious high school.
Antlewood Philippine International High School.
"I'll be off now Mr. Samael, thank you for everything" Exclaiming my farewell to Samael.
"Goodluck, remember what you came here for and don't do anything stupid. His life goes like yours with some alterations, so just do what you have to. You're already enrolled, so don't worry about you not getting in." He replies in detail as he sees me off.
I slowly twist the handle to the outside world. For the first time in 5 years, I'll see the outside world again, the city, the people. A brush of excitement waves over me, light enters through the small gap that I have opened up.
With one pull, the breeze of the city air, the sun's overwhelming bright light, and the city sounds hit me right in the face. I let out a sigh of relief. Here goes my first step.
To be continued.