Dead

The end of the world wasn't like anything anyone had expected. No meteorite, no explosion of the sun, no plague nor apocalypse and certainly no rising of the ocean levels. It was quick. The earth had begun breathing, and not even 10 seconds later, the earth stopped breathing. With it, the colour begun to drain, plants started to melt and people begun dissolving. It was really quick and painless. So why, are we now here?

As I glance around, I can see hundreds of people also looking around, some speaking other languages seeking those who spoke the same - to see why they were there and others were balled up, crying. Of course no one knew why they were there. Huge white walls tower above, above a thick mist lay, obscuring our view leaving us unable to see the true extent of the walls. And, below lay reflective crystals, each with a different insignia embalmed on.

It must've been hours that we had been waiting before there had been any changes to the room we were in. We could hear it before we could see it, a loud scratching resounding from above deep within the thick fog. Every now and then, you could see a myriad of colours descending from the sky. Everyone, including myself was anxious to see what the thing causing this is.

Slowly, emerging through the dense mist about, a giant crystalline structure can be seen, reflecting the light that the extensive walls give off. The structure was scratching the pure white wall as it come down, tainting it with an unknown number of colours, which slid down the wall quicker that the structure descended.

The crystalline structure stopped above us by about 3 feet.

[Hello, humans.

We welcome you to 'After.' Here, you can choose your insignia for your next life.]

A black screen appeared in front of me, while in front of others, there lay screens of various colours.

[Below you, you shall see many plates for you to stand on, each with a different insignia engraved on. Furthermore, the number next to it is the number of people who can possess such insignia. The insignia's which most of you can be is a 'squire'. However, you must bear in mind just because you can choose an insignia, does not mean that you should choose it. Exclusive to your screen, you will see a percentage when standing above a plate, this shows your 'assimilation rate' for the insignia, otherwise known as how suited you are for the role. Everyone automatically has a 50% assimilation for a squire, which is high considering humans latent potential, which is miserably low.

You have one hour.

We wish you the best of luck.]

As soon as people had finished reading what was on their screen, they had quickly ran out looking for an insignia that they like amongst the hundred of thousands that stretched out throughout the room. Only a few chose the squire - a shield with a lance in the middle.

I glanced around, Insignia's of all different types appeared before me.

A scale - diplomat (0/2 = 7%)

A hoe - farmer (0/15 = 62%)

A skull - necromancer (0/1 = 100%)

I quickly stood above the skull for the necromancer.

[Do you wish to acquire the Necromancers Insignia? YES/NO]

"Yes" I spoke, a soft voice coming out.

As soon as I finished, a dark deathly aura spread down from the crystalline structure and flowed around my wrist, where a black band appeared and on the back of my wrist a red skull appeared.

After an hour, the crystalline structure sent out another message;

[Congratulations to those that had chosen a Insignia! To those that have not chosen an insignia, your soul will shortly be recycled. Shorty after, you will go to the world of Aslion.]

After the message finished, those that had not chosen an insignia had a look of fear flash across their face - they didn't want to be recycled, whatever that mean! Just from the sound of it they knew that it would not be pleasant and they knew they wouldn't want it. I mean who would? At first nothing happened, leading everyone into a false sense of security, then when they had least expected it, their bodies exploded into numerous tiny orbs of light which flew to the structure. It wasn't only those that had been recycled that had been affected, but also those that left, they now knew that if they did not do as the structure said, they would be left to mercy of the structure, which would result in their being recycled.

{All insignias chosen.

proceeding to Aslion shortly. Prepare yourself!

5..

4..

3..

2..

1..

Transport commencing...]