8Its cold, it's so so cold, the black smothering my sight and senses, how long have I been here? It feels as if I've been stuck in this place for an age, the only freedom from the eternal chill pulsating throughout my insides is a throbbing of pain, as if echoing the phantom pain of getting bowled over by a stampede of people. Or maybe just one really fat person, I can't say that I'm used to being the receiving end of it if that's the case.
Each moment in this.. eternal darkness dulls my senses further and further, the smothering doesn't help with it, I can't feel my fingers or toes or limbs, I can't even feel myself breathe, the longer I'm here the more my thoughts and memories slip away from me, who am I? What happened, why am I here? I don't think any of this is natural, how do I get out of here, is it even possible?
The freeze reaches a peak in my body, I feel my throat stifled with the chill, I choke and gasp for whatever air I can possibly get in this unnatural place. Somethings wrong, somethings coming, even through the chill I can feel my chest contort and twist inside, I need to get away getawayfromme-
"Hello." A voice rings through my skull, and it feels like it reverberates throughout the rest of my body, it's deep and booming, though completely flat and otherwise neutral, it almost sounds bored. I can't move, I can't run, I want to run far away from whatever the hells talking to me. There's nothing more than silence after the voice speaks, still as deafening as the voice itself, the ringing in my skull minutely subsiding.
I feel something warp around my head, as if my being's been dragged throughout a voidless space, is a tortuous version of an afterlife? I, what did I do in life? Was I a good person? Why the fuck can't I remember anything specific dammit. The tugging and pulling doesn't last long, the pressure on my skull alleviating at long last.
There's another swirl of voidstuff in front of me, a tear in the darkness appearing soon after, and stepping from it a cloaked being. His face is shroud in the dark that surrounds us, his body is towering but lithe, while his shadowy cloak hangs over his frame, bony hands appearing from the sleeves. Even though I lack a body, I still feel my throat clench as I look over the visage of the supernatural thing in front of myself.
"That's quite better, now, I assume you already know who We are? Mortals from your realm do have quite a fascination with Us, after all." It speaks into my soul once more, the dark swirl of where his face should be peering through myself. Jesus Christ, I'm dead then, completely and utterly removed from the plains of the living
"You are correct, Mortal. You are very dead, and We are here to discuss your afterlife." It booms once more, I feel as if I can almost stand its voice now, though I still feel myself tremble whenever it speaks. Death can read my mind then, huh? I guess I shouldn't be surprised. I don't suppose I'm imaging the capitalisation there, either, and what do you mean by discussing my afterlife? I thought you just poof, gone and dead.
"We are Death, in a form of which you are capable of understanding. We oft take differing forms based on which soul We are speaking to. And not quite, the spirits of a dead soul may have the opportunity to choose where it may be moved to. Some, particularly those who believe in the godly powers above, choose to live with their God as an example. There are other choices of course, some Mortals choose to refuse an afterlife, instead becoming restless spirits whom stalk realms to harm and heal, a Mortals choice is their own after all." It feels strange to hear a speech detailing about post death options from, well, Death itself, but it's not the strangest thing that I've heard. From what I do remember anyways, god, memory loss is a pain in the ass. What other choices are there though, Death? Neither of those particularly interest me.
"Not unsurprising. There is always reincarnation, or ascension to Valhalla. Although, the more disorderly Gods from above have suggested a 'roll of the dice' in human terms for some Mortals. Though We do not understand why one would choose that option, We do not wish to prevent a Mortal from wishing upon such a thing." I remain silent, I need some time to think bout all of this, and if what I believe to be true then we have a lot of time to spare, don't we Death?
"You are correct, time ebbs and flows in a strange manner in the Limbo, though I do not suggest dawdling for your own sake. A mortal mind may rarely handle this place." His words of warning is one that I don't think I should refuse to heed, I'll make my decision soon, I swear on it. Though something scratches at the back of my non-existent skull, how did I die, Death? Can I see how I died, or at least my coffin?
"We shant refuse you to see yourself before you entered the Limbo, though We can only suggest against it. Scant little Mortals who see their broken remains take it well." I feel hesitation brush over my soul, but I give him a nod. I think I need to see the end.
The Dark swirls around us once more, and the image of a body appears in my field of view. Jesus Christ, maybe it's for the best that I don't have a body so I don't lose whatever's left inside of it. The mangled body has little humanity left to it, eaugh, I've changed my mind, I don't want to see this any more. The Dark swirls once more, and I see Deaths visage appear once again.
"Death from drunk drivers are quite common in your world, more so than most others. Now, you've a choice to make Mortal, what do you wish to do?" It feels so odd, so strange to just be given the choice on where to go, what should I do? I remember God, and I remember his teachings, but to be in the heavens above? I don't know if I'm good enough for that, and my interest in any thing else are passing interests within themselves. Being a ghost seems, lonely to say the least. I feel like poor choices would be a great choice for me, Death. What dice should I be rolling?
"Another Mortal choosing the strangest option, very well then." It feels as if my souls being both squeezed and torn, though I feel no pain, but Jesus it's uncomfortable. As quickly as the feeling starts, it stops, and I feel a chill run itself through my chest. I look down, I'm a body, my body. I run my fingers over themselves, and over my hands, I can feel it, I can feel me! My excitement's cut short as dice fill my hands, a set of two in either. I look over the things, they're an inky black, though not too visually different from a common household one, though something's inscribed in them. I try to read it, but the words jump around and dance at the edges of my eyes, and the pressure on my skull intensifies. I don't think I'm meant to be able to read this, though they're still nice to touch even though they have an unnatural chill.
"Roll them, and decide your fate." Death booms into my skull once more, rolling the die between my fingers and taking a deep breath, I finally muster up the courage and grit to toss them to the dark floor. The second they leave my hand, I feel a deep-seated illness sit within my chest, they look so slow as they move ever so closer to touching the invisible floor. This was a terrible idea, why did I do this? I should've chosen literally any other option, this was a mistake.
The die spins through the air and smashes against the floor, each tapping of it lighting up the area with a blue hew, almost like electricity, though just too off to be the same. One stops, then two, then a third, but the last one continues to spin on a tip against the floor, almost in spite of the others. It doesn't stop, a steady pace of spinning and spinning makes me think that it's not going to either.
"Quite interesting, interesting indeed." It speaks once more, though this time its voice echoes around the non existant room. I dig my hands into my pockets as I look around, it's dark and empty as far as I can see.
"So Death, what's the verdict?" I manage to croak out, my throat feels dry from disuse, but I grin a false grin nonetheless, entirely for my benefit. "Am I to be a glorious hero for the people to flock to?"
"Each die is to be a representation of your starting situation when you are reborn, if you can recognise the area itself and what type of mortal body you may inhabit. It seems that the last one wishes to be a 'wild card', as you Mortals call it, perhaps a higher God thought it amusing to themselves, its inability to stop spinning is curious indeed." I listen closely as he speaks, it's disturbing to think that not even Death can have a clue on what something means, but this is the decision I've made, I have to live with it from now on.
"So Death, am I being kicked now or later?" I ask sarcastically as I reach up to my face, just feeling over the skin. It's strange to be feeling myself up, but I've forgotten what it's like, and this may be the last time I'd be able to do it.
"Your soul will be moved to another mortal body, you shall not remember this meeting, nor will you remember your previous life. Such is the requirement of this deal of twisted reincarnation." The way he says that, it's so unnerving and worrying, but I take a deep breath, in and out. Hit me with it then Death.
"Farewell Mortal, We hope you enjoy your next life." And with that last statement, it feels as if a chills been forced through my body, the chill spreads through my limbs and veins, it's so cold, but it feels as if it's burning my insides. I grit my teeth as I fall to my knees, it'll be over soon, it'll be over soon.
..
There's a flash, and then a warmth surrounding my body. It's a staggering difference from the chill that soaked itself through my bones, I can't help but smother myself into the warmth. Is this normal? I remember the Limbo, the deal, the everything, was this intentional? Or did it have something to do with that spinning die? I try to speak, I try to scream, but all that I hear is a broken gurgling and the eruption of pain in my throat, it's so dry, it's so painful.
A soft and cool feeling presses itself against my forehead, I feel my mind moving slower and slower even as I take in deeper gasps of rupturing air, by the fucking lord it hurts, get me some fucking water if nothing else. I grit my teeth, I try to move, but a hand on my chest forces me back into the dirt, my eyelids feel heavy like lead and stuck to each other, but I force itself to open. There's an orange glow flickering around my body, and the trees, dancing and wrapping around a burning hunk of wood in front of me, a fire maybe? There's a woman, her eyes are a dark blue colour, like the sea, obscured slightly by strands of light brown hair, sweat beads down her face and clings at her hair, her face is wrinkled around her lips and eyes, she looks old, but her smile is a warm one.
She brushes a hand over my face, her moving lips saying words that I can't hear or understand, but I feel the warmth behind the smile at least. Fuck, I can't close my eyes here, I can't die here.
My eyelids are so heavy, and I can't keep it up any longer. I close them and take in another breath, hopefully I live through this.
Authors note: As of the 26/04/2020, this chapter has been rewritten, i'd like to hear your thoughts on it too, I personally think this could be better, but Ive attempted to keep it close to the original, just less blehy. Chapter 2 will be remade some time too. Keep in mind if you're new to reading this that the next chapter will likely be of a different quality. Have a good day
