CH. 1: Too Abrupt

Alex closed his laptop with a soft click and leaned back, sinking into the plush embrace of his bed. He set the device aside, letting his heavy eyelids fall shut. The long day had worn him out, and he wanted nothing more than to drift into a deep, peaceful sleep.

As his mind relaxed, a peaceful feeling washed over him. 'I need a good dream.'

He wanted a dream, a dream that was full of adventure. A way to escape the boring routine of his life. A few hours of excitement and wonder wasn't too much to ask for, right?

Little did he know, his wish was about to literally come true in the most unexpected way.

When Alex woke up, he realized he was no longer in his bedroom. He was standing in a hall that was bigger than his entire house! He blinked in astonishment, turning in a slow circle to look at his surroundings.

Holy fuck!

The hall stretched on for what looked like miles, the far walls lost in shadowy distance. Great giant pillars lined in the hall, carved from polished black stone. Ornate chandeliers hung overhead, crystals shimmering like captive stars. The dark marble floors were a mosaic of complex geometric patterns, almost seeming to swirl under Alex's feet.

What was this strange place? Where the fuck I am? Some royal ballroom out of a fantasy novel? Alex half expected party guests in elaborate costumes to come waltzing out of the shadows.

But the hall remained empty and silent, making the hairs on Alex's neck prickle. How had he gotten here? Was he still dreaming? It felt too real...the way every tiny sound echoed through the stillness made him cautious.

Just as he was thinking about his situation, he saw a bright color at the end of the hall. There, atop a raised dais, sat an ornate throne. The throne itself was in black obsidian, glossy and sinister-looking with clawed feet and jagged edges. But the woman seated gracefully upon it made for a stark contrast to the energy of her trone.

She had delicate features with large, downturned eyes the aquamarine hue of tropical seas. Flowing pink hair with pale beautiful face. She wore a shimmering dress of green silk, hugging her from all sides, she also wore a yellow glimmering skirt.

She looked like some mythical fairy or goddess. As they locked eyes across the shadowy distance, he found himself unable to so much as blink.

Alex felt no overwhelming desire towards the mysterious woman, despite her allure. His heart beat steadily in his chest, his thoughts calm and composed. He observed her almost clinically, taking note of her unnatural perfection.

The woman's lips curved into a small smile, as if reading his thoughts. Her voice echoed through the hall. "Welcome, Alex. I've been waiting for you."

Hearing his name on her tongue jolted Alex back to the reality. His brows drew together. "Waiting for me? Who are you? And how do you know my name?" His voice was rasped and loud in the expansive room.

The woman regarded him thoughtfully, her head tilting. "Straight to the point, I see. My name is Lilith, and I am the goddess who watches over transitory souls."

Alex's skepticism must have shown on his face, since she gave a tinkling laugh. "Yes, I imagine you find that hard to believe. But all will become clear soon, dear Alex."

Lilith leaned forward on her obsidian throne. The motion did interesting things to her cleavage, yet Alex kept his eyes firmly on her face. There were more pressing matters than her beauty.

"You seem remarkably composed, considering the circumstances." Lilith mused, delicate brows lifting. "Most mortal men would be rather frantic waking in a strange place such as this. Yet you are very calm, frightengly so. Interesting."

"I don't have enough information to panic yet" Alex responded plainly. "However, I would appreciate some answers. Is this a dream?"

Lilith chuckled again. "No, very real I'm afraid. But first let me assess something...." She waved a hand lazily through the air.

A book popped up out of nowhere and Lilith snatched it and opened it. Alex watched all this with concealed awe. Just who was this woman?

"Ah, here it is." Lilith's exotic eyes skimmed over the pages of the book. "Alexander Miles, age 25. Straightforward demeanor, will favour towards logic over emotion, tendency toward sociopathic traits." Her gaze flickered up, amused. "That does explain your composure. Not easily rattled, are you?"

He simply stared back, waiting for her to get to the point. He felt no fear, as the things or situations that could make him afraid are very less.

"Hm, let's see..." She continued reading the strange book, which Alexander already realized must be about him. Lilith's smile faded, eyes widening slightly at whatever she saw. "Oh my." She murmured, snapping the file shut with sudden force. "Well then. I believe I've read enough."

Lilith eyed him warily. Alex's jaw tightened. Just what was in that mysterious book? He disliked this feeling of violation, of being seen through.

"Now then." Lilith smoothed her composure, "I imagine you have many questions. Please, ask." She waved her hand again, this time materializing a plain wooden chair. It slid across the polished floor to bump gently against the back of his legs.

Alex sat down on the offered seat without hesitation. If this was some kind of dream or illusion, he might as well enjoy the ride.

"Very well. Just two questions for the moment." He held her gaze unflinchingly. "Am I dead? And what exactly is happening to me?"

Lilith felt a little more relaxed when she heard the simple questions.. "Straight to the heart of the matter. I can see the appeal." She rested her chin on one dainty hand.

"To answer simply...yes, you are dead." Alex's breath caught at the blunt confirmation, but Lilith continued on. "Your body is no more, but your soul is still kicking. As for what's happening, well..." She paused, as if considering her words.

"After death, mortal souls are brought to this realm where they may find peace until rebirth." Her voice took on a poetic tone, as if reciting a beloved legend.

"However, there are...certain dark entities who believe they have a claim over certain souls." Her expression turned solemn. "One such being has taken interest in you with your arrival here."

Realization began trickling through Alex's mind. Ancient myths flashed across his memory. If this woman was some sort of goddess, then there was only one villain who could oppose her in such a manner.

"You don't mean..." Alex hesitated. Saying the name felt ridiculous, like something out of a fairy tale.

"The Devil?" Lilith replied wryly. "Lucifer, Hades, Pluto...he is known by many names. But yes, the King of the Underworld seems to have a particular interest in you, Alex. See, even after being a someone who manages the souls, I still don't understand how he was able to kill you, you have a lot of lifespan left."

Impossible! Alex felt like he was hearing some fantasy story. But then again, he was conversing with a self-proclaimed goddess, so all logic seemed defunct.

As if encouraged by his silence, Lilith went on. I don't know what he wants with your soul, but he broke the rules of life and death to get you here." She shook her head, pink tresses swaying gently. "if you have committed any grave sins on the earth, you might've already been in his presence. It is no small thing, to flout the laws of nature so. You must be special indeed."

Alex opened his mouth, still grappling for rational words, when an ominous rumble shook the hall. Lilith shot upright, eyes darting about warily as chandeliers swayed and crystals tinkled.

"It seems we have even less time than I anticipated. " She murmured. Worry crept into her ethereal features. Alex also stood up slowly. Everything just settled into his mind.

"What's happening?"

Lilith's focus snapped back to Alex, peering up at him intently. "That guy is coming. He wants to collect what he believes is his property - your soul." She grasped his hands urgently. "I cannot allow that to happen."

Alex looked down at their joined hands, at the worry etched onto this mystical woman's face. Could this be real? Or just an extremely vivid dream? Either way, he saw no choice but to keep following this path. It's not like he was a super hero to do anything in this kind of situation.

"What will he do with my soul?" He asked.

Sympathy filled Lilith's eyes. "I don't know the details, but your soul is at the center of a big conflict that you might not understand."

She turned around, still holding one of Alex's hands. "I must get you to safety."

Alex allowed himself to be pulled along as Lilith led him across the expansive hall with swift steps. "Safety? You mean I'm not going..to Hell?"

Lilith cast him a look over her shoulder. "As I have said, you certainly did not commit any evil, and I there are many things that you don't know about yourself-" She paused as though she spoke some thing she was not suppose to. "I will do everything in my power to not let you fall into that guy hands."

They approached a shadowed alcove along the wall, away from the menacing trembling. This seemed to be the place that lilith was taking him. She released Alex's hand and turned to face him.

"What I attempt now goes against ancient laws." She explained hastily. "I can only obscure you, hide you from him for now."

She placed both palms on Alex's chest, frowning in concentration. He shivered as a warm tingling spread throughout his being.

"Since the King of the hell has violated laws in the process of chasing after your soul, I must take extreme measures." Her voice echoed oddly, as if she were speaking from a distance. "There are other realms parallel to our own. I will conceal you in one such world, far from his influence."

Alex's vision was hazing, Lilith's lovely face blurring. "For how long?" He managed to speak out.

"A few years if you are careful." Her smile turned sad, regretful. "This is all I can do."

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Alex's eyes snapped open, his mind reeling.

Was it all just a some bizarrely vivid dream - the Great hall, the ethereal goddess, that sinister book?

As his dizziness faded away, he tried to stretch his limbs, only to find his movements constricted. It was as if his whole body was encased in some kind of thick, sticky glue.

Alarmed, Alex forced his eyes to open wider. At first, all he could see was a blur of purple filling his vision. He blinked hard, slowly managing to focus his gaze.

The purple hue, he realized, was coming from the strange fluid he was suspended in. And directly before his face hovered a glass surface - some sort of tank or chamber wall.

Peering closer, Alex could just make out his own reflection, distorted by the viscous liquid. But what he saw made his blood run cold.

It was not his own face staring back at him. The creature gazing out of the glass had sunken, corpse-like features and stringy hair partially obscuring its identity. Where there should have been a nose, a gross pipe-like appendage protruded instead. He was levitating in some kind of purple liquid.

Just then the memories flooded into his mind.