1 Ego death

"Novel is currently being rewritten"

- Author

As my eyes slowly dimmed, each passing second felt longer and heavier. The once clear silver buildings twisted themselves into a spiralling tunnel. Now, with only the clear sky as the end of it. Dragging my tiring gaze further down, I notice the guy standing before my body.

The arrogant and aloof expression said it all. "Not so tough now?"

I try to focus on his jubled frame through the little viewable space I have left. Yet barely managing to make his facial features out.

Both bald and rather average size wise. Holding an oily texture over his skin and a hardy arrogance on his lose face.

But while memorizing his frame, The guy then starts to talk.

"You can only blame yourself. Even though the boss's brat is something else, you shouldn't have layed your hands on him."

I felt a second go by, letting the thorny sentence properly sink. It cleared my dizziness slightly, and even disrupted the dark vortex in the center of my vision from continuing.

'What? What is this guy talking about?' No matter how hard I try to think, I am unable to remember how I ended up here. As if something within my brain tries to keep me in check, trying to make me stay ignorant to the very end. Wishing to give me a peaceful passing.

But no matter how blissful ignorance can be, I refuse. Refuse to perish like this without knowing why.

Defiantly, I try to twitch over. Proceeding to unknowingly stab the jagged sidewalk into my back. Causing a rippling jolt of pain to course through my body. And with it's help, I shatter the barrier imprisoning my mind.

Altough not much, the stinging sensation manages to shatter the shield holding my body still. Allowing me to try and find out how I ended up here.

The thoughts in my head kept wandering away, leading towards a blurry image I seemed to hold some familiarity with.

'What is this?'

While trying to properly make it out, my shorting brain flashes a memory before me like a cracked screen. Continuing on until eventually transforming it into slow sequence of images.

Right there, my Friend that I had known since childhood, got brutally beaten by some shady thugs. And while this happend, I showed up and saved his skin.

However, why was I only seeing this? Why were they after him anyways?

No.

Thats not right.

The attacker registered the pale, yet conflicted expression that grew on my face. And it formed a smirk in the corner of his mouth that climbed all the way to his sleepy eyes.

"Hm?" the hollow grin almost appeared like a triumphant smile. Unhesitantly exluding out an almost visible mock.

"You want to know, don't you? Well, it wouldn't hurt telling, as you are a goner anyways.."

It felt like I already knew what he was going to say. However, why was I hoping he would tell me something different. Like if he was just some bored psycho?

"Your friend ratted you out. We didn't even need to question him much. He gave us all the information he had. And best of all, he was smiling as he did. Can you belive it? Too bad you picked some trash as your brother, Mr. Michael Wiik."

Michael...? No, how did he get my name?! After all I have done, will my life be taken this easily?!

NO!!!!

NO! I REFUSE!!!

...

The luster in Michael's eyes grew more radiant as realisation came over him. Enlightenment seeped into every cell of his unmoving body. The white lifeless skin regained some color while his heavy fists balled up into clubs.

As Michael turned his growing loath and regret into fuel for his body, he flung his right foot in the attackers knee. Snapping the joint in the opposite direction with a vile crack.

"AAAAAAHH!!!" the man thunderously roared, releasing a misty venomous from his strained vocal cords.

Even his short silver hair waved back and forth a couple of times. Swaying in the still wind.

"You really did it now!" He spat out with a hostile tone while covering his knee. Both eyes driping with resentment and confusion.

However, as the attacker was shifting his surprised and pained gaze from the cracked knee to Michael, he noticed that the boy which he just mocked and taunted now stood in front of him. His towering and powerful frame blocking the sunlight from touching his skin, from reaching the ground.

It was almost like the aura emitted from the boy's body casued all the flight receptors in his brain to fire uncontrollably.

The once arrogant man now felt cold sweat run down his back and shiveres of regret invade the bone. Weakly trembling where he laid while staring up at Michael.

However, the scorching fear abrubtly vanished when he noticed the now red knife handle sticking out from the boy's chest.

And as if trying to comfort himself, he formed a smirk with his lips. Trying to covering is unease. Masking the pain and fear he felt.

"You should just give it up!" the man laughed. Gaining more confidence back.

"That knife is not just some cheap piece of grinded metal!"

Building up some of the previous domineering attitude, he continued on while letting out a shaking but fitting chuckle.

"That's what you call a Tri-Edged dagger! The wound on your chest can only be closed by a number of surgeons working together. Hell, with the amount of blood you have lost there won't even be.."

*BANG!!*

But before he could finish, Michael glued is head perfectly beetween his boot and the jagged, grey pavement. The impact created a weak tremor, causing the small rocks that covered the edges of the sidewalk to jolt like dices.

Unfortunately, as the power dispersed, more blood flowed out from his wounded chest. Further staining the gray cardigan he wore.

In spite of this though, Micheal hardend his gaze and kept going. Slowly removing the sole of his shoe from the guy's face. Glaring at the once arrogant expression that now shared resembled a crushed clay brick.

And so, Michael felt completely reasured of his victory, breathed out a sigh of relief.

Sadly, it was followed by a small river of red liquid. And despite knowing he would not stand for much longer, the young man still nonchalantly smiled.

"I really did it this time, huh?" He tried to comfort himself. Mumbling with a shaken tone as he exhaled uneasily.

Still refusing to budge from where he stood, Michael took a moment to fully feel the emptiness of his surroundings. Drawing forth the only pillar of supoort he had left.

All his old memories then started to come back as he turned towards the sky once again. Seeing the pure sea of blue laying over him helped loosen up. Manifesting a relief over the fact that the tunnel had not come back for him yet.

From the time he was but a child, to day he became an adolescent. He remembered every memory shared with each and every one. It igniting a joy within his heart, helping him move closer to the stored pictures and films. Pulling his consciousness through every one like a time traveling breeze.

He did not have many pleasent expereinces throughout his life. Undergoing everything from mental abuse, physical beatings and depravity. Shattering his moral compass.

But even with the endless torment haunting his being, that was not what he reminiced of in this fleeting moment. Completely ignoring his manipulative and battle-scarred upbringing while thinking of just one thing. One unfulfilled desire that was neither revenge for his death, nor a worldly wish for power.

It was onr he seemed to never be aware of until this very moment.

As his life shriveled, he saw an image. It contained five blurry figures. Two tall, two short and one in the middle. All tightly mashed togheter and happily smiling. Radiating a loving and caring aura.

"My Father, My Mother..."

"My brother and Sister..."

It was weak, yet no matter how shallow, he would never forget it. Tightly embracing it while fueling the warmth in his heart.

He remembered his father, who meticulously supported him in every aspect possible. Wishing that his son would one day grow up to be better than he ever was, despite having been thrown into the ravine by this unfair world.

Even though they argued many times and had several fights, that man imprinted the emblem of pride in his mind. Fueling a desire to reach this world's peak.

'Michael, you must become the best man you can become.'

He repeated the words his father once told him while slowly closing his eyes again.

A last tear fell towards the ground alongside a bloody, res drop that slithered of the handle in his chest.

"I wish... I could see you all again..."

The feeling of his life withering the went on. It ripped away the saddened feeling he felt. Replacing it with an unmatched regret. Born from him a new insight.

That he was unable to repent for his past wrongdoings.

That he would never see his family again.

Once more, Michael was baptized by the familiar enlightenment which hammered itself underneath his paling skin.

Both his eyes violently threw themselves open like two raging storms, still shimmering like weak, yet dying candles.

The already angered expression twisted itself into that belonging to an enraged demon. Imprinting the face of his family inside the flickering embers emitted from within the fading gold.

Unadulterated regret burnt up his body, while the row of white teeth started grinding against each other like saws against wood.

And despite being on his last breath, Michael's entire body began to violently shake. It convulsed and expanded wildly, ripping the stained cardigan he wore.

"AAAAAAHHH!!!!!!" Michael screamed with an unquenchable thirst and hate.

The echo of his roar was the last ting heard before a weak ringing noise laid itself over his mind. The tunnel he stared at slowly neared its end, and his pupils dilated. And as his consciousness disappeared, Michael found himself in the embrace of the familiar, cold concrete once again.

Though he was considered dead, the ringing noise he heard before passing was strangely enough emitting from the body. Growing louder and louder, until a set of visible vibrations formed around his corpse like a cage of wires.

The ground began trembling and the surrounding building shook. But just before a small earthquake would seem to be born, the sound vanished.

Completely disappearing, as if it got what It came for.