Prologue

Speech - inner thoughts

'Speech' - talking inside of mind/telepathy

"Speech" - talking outloud 

Speech - narrator

How would you describe your life? Was it something enjoyable, easy or just simply funny? Maybe, on the contrary, all your memories are overflown with struggles, failures or despair. Maybe, some combination/mutation of stated above. Or something truly unique, that only you experienced.

Now, if you could record your life as a TV series and show it to some random bystander, how do you think he'll react? Congratulations, scorn, jealousy – just a few that come to mind. But, no matter how many people you ask, the result will always remain the same. They won't agree with your description.

 Not even some strange or even impossible thought. Every person is unique, has unique reactions to reality, will have unique life path. But it took me arriving in this place to even start realizing…. no, comprehending that thought. I guess I knew that in my mind, but my soul…. not so much.

I don't even know where am I. There are literally no signs, no clues to the name or purpose of the location. Not even some memory that could help me. And no, alcohol was definitely not at fault here. Never really understood the appeal: taste like bad coffee, burn your throat and corrode your mind. 

Oh, maybe by being here I will understand the goodness of drunky state. Yeah, sound stupid, but the second reason of being here, so…. progress. And yes, there is the first one. I just don't really want to accept it. But, even if by spending here another…. something days…. I will find one, two, or a hundred more reasons, it will still remain number one. Because it's the only one, that truly make sense.

Oh, f*bleep*, the more I think about THAT, the closer I get to hyperventy state. Funnily, I shouldn't even be capable of breathing, it feels like I don't even have a body. But somehow, I can feel. No idea what, but there is definitely …. something. 

And my folks taught me, that speaking to myself is harmful. It actually helps. Somewhat. I know. what's going on. And I understand it. Just don't want to admit. To actually say. But, I guess if you fear bugs, try to hug a spider. Yeah, I know they aren't the same. Tell your brain that spiders are arachnoes. When you'll actually see some wall crawler, "bug" WILL be your first thought. Well if you aren't big nerd, that is.

Okay derailing stops, deep breath, and another one…. and another one…. I am so not ready….. 

I am dead.

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IT DOESN'T HELP.

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W-what will h-happen next? will I j-just disappear? Why I have to wait? Am I being tortured? For what? What did I do to deserve THIS? I don't want to die. I JUST WANT TO LIVE. IS IT REALY THAT BIG OF A WISH?

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Well, I guess my emotional reserves are empty, can't even squeeze some sad thought now. I've been crying and begging and then crying and just straight up threatening the responsible one. Aha, I'm pretty sure he had already filled another version of this place with bricks and I will be out of here in a couple seconds…. Not. I am not even sure I spend any time here, it's almost like the place itself doesn't have any. The place outside of time, and space, I guess. Suitable for interdimensional graveyard. F*bleep*

Still need a minute to breathe, I guess. Without my lungs, or time. Pure fun.

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Now that I actually have any attention outside of…. well…. me, this place is actually…. breathtaking. I can see every single color that our eye perceives, and every one, that our eye doesn't. They move, merge dance, all at the same time. At the same moment as they stay perfectly still. I can hear everything I heard before, everything I will hear after. And then there's just…. nothing. Like at the same time this place has absolute everything, and absolute nothing. Like an absence of anything, and absence of…. absence. The perfect nothingness. 

The Void.

It's mesmerizing, it's frightening, it's…. beautiful. By only looking I can feel…. tranquil. I feel…. at peace.

"Now, that I didn't expect"

Huh, that is new. Nothing changed, but I…. felt…. part of the Void just, connect to me. 

"You really want to impress me? Now you feel the movement of the Void, and you managed to learn its name. You truly passed, didn't you?"

Don't understand the meaning. Void talks to me. Called me. Passed. Time come.

"Oh…. guess that's your limit. I should take you out of here."

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*3rd POV*

In some sort of the room without any décor, windows or even furniture, two people could be found. First – average looking man with a brown hair just lying on the floor, sleeping. Second – a woman with purple hair in a business suit. While the eyes of the man couldn't be seen because of his state, girl's eyes are blocked by a pair of sunglasses. From the side perspective it could be even called the painting, because there was no movement for a long time. But that serene image was broken by some black mist, which came from the man's body. After that a groan came from his mouth:

"What the f*bleep* is that noise?!?" – man told while grabbing his head, grimacing, clearly in pain.

"Okay, first – no cussing in my presence, second – yeah, the bleep counts, third – that's your body/mind restructuring." – the amusement in the woman's voice could be seen.

"Very f…. funny. Now, how can I get ri…." – his pain started to recede – "Okay, yeah, that works, thank you."

"Trust me, I would love to just admit my involvement, but it was all you, Brain Guy" – woman shrug her shoulders, while her smile widened just a bit.

"You know what? Copy/paste time. First – Brain Guy – really? After all we've been through, you could at least try to create something better, or, I don't know, ask my name. Second – sunglasses inside the building? Suit makes you look cool, glasses – don't. Third – where am I, what happen after the Void, and, as I am clearly politer, who are you?" – crossing his arms, not even hiding his smirk, the guy asked. 

*deadpan noise*

"You do know, that mocking someone is kind of dangerous? Especially after you experienced the Void and learned about life and death more than any mortal." – rising of an eyebrow, tilting of the head, signs of disbelief were clearly shown on her face, aside of intensified amusement.

"Well, all were valid points, plus I got from you some sort of divine shenanigan, 'cause of 'mortal'. Besides, the best way to introduce yourself to someone – to irritate by mocking sarcasm. If answered with a humor of a sort – there lays a possibility for a friendship. If answered by threat – don't drink his tea. Easy." – the guy stated absolutely sincerely. 

*deadpan intensifies*

After unknown amount of time passed, the man continued to sit arm-crossed, while a girl was just staring at him, with clear disbelief on her face. And then…. she just laughed. 

*1st POV*

Okay, still no idea what's going on, but at the very least I managed to make some higher being laugh. That's an achievement, if you ask me. Plus, the laughing girl is cute. Purple hair, my favorite color, by the way. Pretty face, nothing noteworthy, just pretty. And thank…. well, her…. for having a balanced figure. Oh, home many breakdowns I had, when I saw an upper body bigger than a doorway and a lower body – well – even bigger. She has everything in perfect sizes. And the suit…. someone legendary would approve. And she's still laughing. That's an ego boost for my comedian skills. Or she didn't have a laugh for a long time. And if we remember her goddess status…. Humility deboost, you're finally here. Quite late today.

Huh, she started laughing even harder. Mind reading – check. Not really surprising, but checks are important. They prolong my jester license. Damn, wish I had one. Could earn money by fishing for reactions. Delicious and useful.

Now that I think about it, I am calm. Not that 'serene' state in the Void, just…. even forcing myself to think about my pre-Void life, I only…. remember it, good and bad, emotional and rational. So that's how it feels to just…. let it go. 'There is worse fate. than death', huh? If everyone feels that calmness just before death, then maybe. Still sucks, you know. I mean, death by an explosion at the age of 21, which happened because your drunk neighbor just really wanted to smoke, which was my last visual memory. Hissing was your last audio one. While drifting, I thought of that. Maybe, he didn't know, being drunk really helps dumbing a person. Or maybe he did, just got tired of…. something. Can't really ask, can I?

"While I thank you for stopping my laugh, you could've choose less gloomy way. By the way, another thanks for compliment, first one so sincere, yet pure. I appreciate it" Huh, she stopped. 'You're welcome, I guess. By the way, we still don't know each other's names.'

"Not exactly. You see, I already know yours. But, as I learned it through 'mind reading', it would be fair to give you mine. Call me Miri." Okay, first things first. 'Miri, huh. Actually, it's quite a bit less complicated than I imagined. I like it.'

On the other hand, 'you just had to kill all the dramatics from my introduction, hadn't you? Like, woman, there is a certain way of things. Guess. I'll just go with 'Name is Chris Cassidy, but it wasn't nice to meet you.' Petty revenge, yeah. In my defense, that one was the best i could come up with . Wait a second, had a smirk just appeared on her face?

"Nope, you're imagining things." Yeah, and THAT smile is not ominous. Not at all. 'Just a side thought, is there any armor-shop nearby? And a way to make money? Just to be safe.'

Strange, almost no changes, just slight boost at laughing attributes. Got a bad feeli….

[Command detected…..]

[System initializing.....]

Oh, no f*bleep*ing way.

[Initializing complete….]

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