The End, Or Is It?

In the middle of the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean, there existed a lonely island housing a gigantic mansion. The mansion looked grand, regal, imposing, and fit to be the home of an emperor. And currently, it belonged to the Aurum family, one of the most powerful families in the world.

And today in one of the mansion's largest rooms, the entire Aurum family had gathered. The ambiance of the entire room was drowned in sorrow and despair for they had not gathered in celebration but for the dying young man who was lying on a bed in the middle of the room.

His name was Castor Aurum, the heir of the Aurum family. He was called the family's delight for his presence had brought nothing but joy, happiness, and prosperity to the family as he in his short life of twenty-six years using his extraordinary genius had brought his family to new heights previously unimaginable to them. And, right now he was dying.

Even after exhausting every means possible, nobody could find out the reason or the cause for the young heir's impending death as every part of his body was as healthy as it possibly could be, but alas, at the end of the day, even the best doctors in the world could only conclude that he was just dying. It was almost as if god himself wanted him dead.

"First, it was your mother and now you, forgive me Castor despite all the power and wealth we possess I am incapable of saving my only son from death". The first to break the solemn silence of the room was Castor's father, Nathaniel Aurum.

"I truly hope that your father in your next life will not be as incompetent as me", the man spoke again, with tears running down his stoic face.

"What are you talking about old man? You were the best Father one could ask for and please I do not want my last memory to be of you breaking down. I consider myself to be lucky to be born as your son and to be born into this family". Castor said to his father with great difficulty, trying to lessen the man's guilt but even moving his jaw was very taxing for him.

His father did not answer him and just looked at the ceiling with an unfocused gaze. Seeing the condition of his father Castor could not help but feel bitter 'If only I wasn't afflicted by this unknown disease '.

He sighed in his mind and turned to look at the boy sitting next to his father, his cousin, Samuel Aurum. Looking at him he remembered all the memories he had with him.

Samuel was five years younger than him, an extremely handsome young adult. He used to follow Castor around all day when they were young. Castor was his role model, he wanted to be just like him, strong, cool, handsome, and an all-around genius.

"I am sorry brother. You truly do not deserve this" Samuel spoke in a sad tone feeling Castor's gaze.

"Do not be, because it's not your fault Sam" Castor said weakly.

"I am just glad that the family has you to secure its future" Castor added, confident in the young man's capabilities to lead the family even higher in his absence.

Suddenly he felt unbearable pain all over his being like somebody was yanking his spirit out, 'It looks like my time is up ' he thought solemnly.

He looked at his family one last time, all his uncles, aunts, and other cousins. "Thank you, All of you," Castor said his voice filled with complex emotions, acknowledging all of his family who had gathered here for him.

He looked at his father who was sobbing almost uncontrollably, Castor could only flash him a weak sad smile.

And finally, he took one last look at his cousin. No words were said but Sam immediately understood what he wanted to convey and said "I promise I will take care of the family".

With that Castor's eyes lost their color, his chest stopped heaving, and the machine indicating his vitals told them that Castor Aurum was no more.

Meanwhile, as soon as Castor died, he was met with indiscernible darkness all around him. There was not a single light source around, the darkness surrounding him was unnerving and oddly comforting at the same time.

'Hmm, so this is what being dead feels like, nothing much to see I guess 'he mused.

And he waited for someone or something to come and take him to wherever the souls of the deceased go.

After death, he had lost his perception of time due to which he did not know how long he waited but in the end he could not help but ask himself worriedly ' Why am I still conscious? And why am I not in heaven or hell for that matter? Do they not exist or does it take more time to get there?'

'Or am I going to get reincarnated like the protagonist of some of those fantasy stories?' he thought just for a moment before he mocked himself for dreaming of illogical things like some hormonal teenager.

'Hahahaha looks like I have become silly and stupid on my deathbed. Guess that is what happens when someone reads one too many web novels, they truly have reduced my intelligence'.

'Sigh, Oh well who doesn't like to dream about second opportunities '

After that, Castor became silent and started contemplating his current dilemma.

And no sooner, the surrounding darkness around him got invaded by lights of various colors and Castor suddenly felt like he was being pulled by a magnet.

And before he knew it, his soul started to accelerate in the direction of the pull at speeds he could not comprehend. All he could do was barely discern the light show around him which resembled a beautiful ethereal kaleidoscope.

As time passed his speed started to increase, boggling his already confused mind.

' WHAT THE FUCK IS HAPPENING!!!?'

Sadly as much as he wanted to make sense of the things happening to him he could not, and as if listening to his thoughts, his speed increased even more.

'OHH SHI-'

His thoughts were interrupted when he came to an abrupt stop after what felt like blasting through a wall of solid concrete.

And even though he did not have a body he felt queasy and fatigued or more accurately his soul did. He took a few moments to collect himself from that bizarre experience, and when he finally looked around his surroundings he saw that he was in some humongous grand hall that appeared to stretch till one's eyes could see and was illuminated by torches of blue fire attached to the pillars.

'SERIOUSLY, WHERE AM I?!!,WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON?!!!!' he thought as he was at his wit's end and nothing was making any sense to him.

He did not get to ponder for long though as a voice that he could only describe as COSMIC and GODLY thundered from every direction.

' Greetings, young mortal soul '.

As Castor slowly and carefully turned his head to look at the other end of the grand hall, he came upon the silhouette of a gigantic being sitting on an equally gigantic throne while shrouded in a veil of darkness.

' Welcome to my humble abode '.