Chapter 2: A New Beginning

All Will saw was black when he opened his eyes. "What the hell?" he thought. He felt like he was floating in space. It was cold, so cold he could feel it in his bones. He tried to look around but all he could see was small tree with a lantern hung on it, far in the distance. He rubbed his eyes, not believing what was happening. 

"Did I die? If I am, I don't see John, maybe I was able to save him. Ah!" He cried, cursing his luck. If he had just hurried up they would have been out of there an hour before and none of that would have happened. He screamed in frustration. He could have locked the door, gotten ready to leave early, something! "It's all my fault" he cried hoping John would be alright.

The chill in his bones started to grow more painful. "It's so cold, maybe I can get warm by the lantern?" He turned to see if he could somehow get closer. Much to his surprise, it was moving to him. Or maybe he was being drawn to it? He couldn't tell as there was nothing else to reference.

The chill slowly started to fade as the lantern came closer. Then, he heard a voice that sounded like gravel pouring off a mountain side. He felt the deep vibration throughout his chest. 

"Come young one" said the mysterious voice.

"Who the hell are you?" He yelled.

"I am what you would call god. Or one of them at least." thundered the voice.

"Why am I here? What is this place?" said Will.

"You have perished young one. Does this surprise you?" said the voice.

"Well I hoped that wasn't the case, more of a hallucination was what I was banking on." said Will.

A long silence began. Will didn't know what to do or say. He couldn't believe that one day in his boring little town, the first robbery in years would end up in his death.

"Is John still alive?" Will asked

"Yes. Your friend lives." said the voice.

"That's good" he thought, at least he didn't have to die too.

After a period of silence, "So what now? Where do I go from here?" asked Will. 

"I can send you to many places, young one, what do you want?" said God.

Will thought for a moment. Somewhere exciting, somewhere he could have those experiences he never got. But he also didn't want what happened to him to ever happen again.

"I want to go somewhere exciting, but also to be strong. Strong enough to keep the people around me alive." Will said, thinking about John.

"A fair request, but what of the specifics? Where to go, who you want to be?" said God.

"Surprise me" Will said and laughed.

"Very well. Ready yourself." said God.

"Ready for what?" Will asked and immediately began to fall. Faster and faster he fell until he couldn't see the tree or lantern anymore. It felt like hours he was falling until he felt a sudden halt.

He opened his eyes but what he saw made his jaw drop. Flying directly over head was a dragon the size of a bus. It flew past and roared without noticing him. He didn't move for a couple minutes hoping the dragon didn't come back. As he laid there, he noticed his field of vision was to large, so large it as disorienting. He began to scan the area, but when he turned his head right he said both nothing, and a young man.

"What the hell?" He thought as the scene confused him. It was a similar experience to having 3d glasses on during a movie, or a mirror placed length wise between your eyes. 

When he spoke he jumped, because from behind him he heard a young woman speak behind him. "What's going on?" he thought. He turn behind him and a young woman laying next to him had turned to face away, but at the same time he saw nothing but grass in front of him. 

"Who are you?" They asked in unison.