DC:White Beast

Adam Ericson had never been one to believe in the extraordinary. He was a man of numbers, a software developer who found solace in the predictable lines of code and the gentle hum of his computer. To him, life was a series of algorithms, each action leading to a specific outcome. But on that rainy Tuesday afternoon, everything he thought he knew was about to change.

He was leaving the office late, a stack of reports clutched under his arm, when the storm broke loose. Rain lashed against the pavement, and the wind howled like a wild beast. Adam cursed under his breath, wishing he had grabbed his umbrella. He hurried across the street, glancing at his watch. It was already past six, and the thought of soggy clothes and a cold commute made him shudder.

As he reached the curb, a flash of movement caught his eye. A blurred shape darted out from between two cars, heading straight for him. In that split second, time seemed to freeze. Adams instincts kicked in, but there was no avoiding it. A horn blared, and the world exploded in sound and color.

The impact was a jarring force, a crushing blow that knocked the breath from his lungs. He felt weightless for a moment, suspended in a chaotic dance of light and pain. Everything went dark.

When Adam opened his eyes again, he was not in the familiar embrace of his city. Instead, he found himself lying on cool grass under a brilliant blue sky. Confusion settled over him like a heavy blanket. The air smelled different, fresh and fragrant with that of wildflowers, and the sounds of birds chirping filled his ears.

He pushed himself up, heart racing, scanning his surroundings. He was in a sprawling meadow, dotted with vibrant colors. A great blue sky hung above him and a single tree, which he stood under. There were no signs of the city, no honking cars or flickering neon lights.

Panic rose within him. Was he dreaming? He pinched his arm, feeling the sharp sting that confirmed this was all too real. He stood up, shaking off the remnants of confusion. Where was he? How had he gotten here?

"Are you alright?" a deep magnetic voice called out. Adam turned, startled. A man in a black suit, with black mist for a head and piercing white light where his eyes should have been stood a few feet away. His eyes, bright and warm, were locked onto him with an intensity that made him feel exposed.

"Uh, yeah. I think so," he replied, his voice hoarse. "Where… where am I?"

"The Void," he said. "My home, you must be new here."

"The Void?" Adam echoed, feeling like a character lost in a fantasy novel. "What do you mean? How did I get here?"

"You died," he replied, "And soon you'll be ready to live again."

Adams mind raced. This had to be some sort of elaborate prank, a dream woven from the fabric of his exhausted mind. "Died?". "Live again? Look, I think there's been a mistake. I need to get back. I have a job—"

"You can't go back," he interrupted gently, stepping closer. "You've left that life behind. This is your new chance. A fresh start."

"Fresh start?" he said, incredulous. "This is insane! I'm not dead, I can't be—"

But even as the words left his mouth, an unsettling sensation crept in. A flash of memories, unbidden and surreal, flickered at the edges of his consciousness.

"Let me show you," the man said, extending his hand. "You'll understand soon enough."

Adam hesitated, the reality of his situation crashing down like the storm that had claimed him. He had no idea where this journey would lead, but something deep inside urged him forward. He took a breath and stepped closer, grasping his hand. The moment their hands touched, a jolt of energy surged through him.

As they began to walk, the meadow shifted and changed around them, vibrant colors melting into the soft hues of dusk. A path formed beneath their feet, winding through the grass and toward the unknown. With each step, Adam felt the weight of his past lifting, replaced by the tantalizing promise of a new beginning.

He had left one life behind, but ahead lay the possibility of something extraordinary. And as the sun dipped below the horizon, he couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of a story he was meant to live.