Chapter 1 - A new beginning

Three figures were confronting one another in a dark alleyway, dimly lit only by the surrounding store lights.

Two bruised lanky men were sprawled on the ground, their bodies shivering from their fresh bruises.

The last man towered above the two, a steel pipe on his right, gazing at them with flickering eyes.

Regret and doubt filled his mind, though, cruelty soon reigned over the two as he landed the finishing blow.

The sounds of the brutal beating were barely noticeable, not with the frequent murmurs of the passerby who avoided the alleyway, understanding what was happening inside.

As their 2 bodies stopped moving, so did the man's beating. His breathing was still very rough and heavy, but over time, it slowed down.

Calmness slowly returned to his eyes. He lay on the ground, using the shattered walls as his support, and texted on his flip phone.

The gruesome scene in front of him almost made him puke. His hands shivered in fear, but he had decided to trot on this path, and now is not the time to falter.

*meow*

The man jumped in surprise, almost bashing the creature just as he did before. Thankfully, he managed to miss the small cat and hit the wall instead.

He sighed in relief, two lives are enough for today, he won't be able to add anymore else he faints.

A small black cat, blended in the darkness with its round eyes serving as the only indicator it was there.

The small cat, instead of running away, decided to test its luck as it slowly marched near the man, licking his bruised hand.

This little notion confused the man. He heard cats are rather springy creatures and a steel pipe bashing against a wall should be enough to scare the cat.

His tired mind couldn't be bothered by its peculiarities. He decided to go along with this creature's antics and caressed its rugged soft head.

As he pats the cat, he noticed a small claw mark, embedded itself in the cat's right ear. "You have your own fight huh,"

The cat meowed, seemingly agreeing to his words. It escaped from the man's pat and made its way to his lap, biting on his right pants pocket.

"Oh, right," He took out a bitten piece of a chicken nugget. A meal he could not finish right before this event.

The cat unceremoniously nipped the nugget and ate it on his lap, prompting a small smile to appear on the man's face.

He doubts much in this world can make him happy after today, but this looks like one of them.

His watch showed 2:16. It had been a few minutes after he used his phone, and people should be arriving soon.

His job is done, staying would serve no purpose. The cat in his lap licked whatever crumbs were left on its paws while looking at him with an expectant gaze.

*meow*

"You greedy cat," He chuckled. A cat should not be this intelligent, or at least he thought so. They kept their gaze on each other before the man relented.

The cat let the man pick it up by its armpits and meowed louder, seemingly dissatisfied that its belly is exposed.

"Well, let's get you some more nuggies, okay?" The cat meowed in agreement, though, it struggled for a bit to force the man to hold it in a more comfortable position, cradled on his chest.

"My name is Harry, and, how about I call you Lin?"

The cat meowed once more. This time, he didn't know whether it agreed or not but that didn't matter. His stomach is as hungry as his new friend's and they're ready to buy some happy meals.

~~~~~

"A black cat? As if you need any more bad luck in our profession."

"I can't just leave her. We shared a WcD Flurry, we're practically best friends already."

"Your choice newbie, just don't let it hinder our job,"

~~~~~

*Meow*

"I know, it's big right? And we can finally afford an AC!"

*Meow~*

~~~~~

"Do you ever get over your first blood?"

"No, most don't since we rarely have anyone to talk to…But, I find ways to cope with the thought."

"How?"

"cat,"

"...a cat?"

"A small cat, yeah,"

~~~~~

"W…we can talk about this! I'm your father!"

"I know, and that's the irony, isn't it? You gave me life, and yet I get to take yours…We could've been friends if you just let Lin go…"

"Lin?! This is all about that cat?!"

*Bang!*

…

"And how you left me stranded, but yeah. Mostly about Lin…

A family is all I want, you didn't give me one and yet you took the one I've found…"

The man slumped down, letting his knees hit the ground. Pieces of shattered glass and wood pierced his knees, but that didn't matter.

The limped body of a fat man, his father, his target of revenge, lay dead on the ground.

He thought a piece of his heart would come back after this, but no. A hole still placed itself there, gaping in his already shattered heart.

'Now what…'

His listless eyes stare at the corpse. He lost his sense of purpose. No one left to come back to, no jobs left to do, and nothing left to his name.

Thumping sounds rattled the ground. The door behind his back suddenly slammed open as multiple armed forces stridden into the room.

"Put the gun down and hands behind your back!"

The man turned his body to face the crowd, his eyes now are just two black orbs, void of any emotions, surprising the crowd.

"Put the gun down!" An armed man shouted as he turned the laser on his gun, directing it at the man's head.

Before the crowd could react, the lifeless man directed his gun near one of the forces' protected legs and fired.

"FIRE!"

…

..

.

~~~~~

Void

Harry, now a mere blob of light, wandered through the black space surrounding him. Having only his consciousness alive and none of his body made him uncomfortable beyond all else.

He does not know how much time has passed since he opened his metaphorical eyes, but it felt like an eternity had passed.

As he floated around, a glimpse of light attracted him, like a moth to a flame. Harry reached the light, only to discover that it is yet another blob of light, much like him but bigger.

Much, much bigger.

The two blobs hovered near each other. Silence permeates the void until the bigger blob decided to voice its thoughts.

"You're a wizard Harry!"

'...what?' Harry thought to himself. Though, as it turns out, each and every thought he now has are open to the world, as the bigger blob soon responded,

"You're a wizard!"

'...'

"...Nothing?" The big blob asked with a wry tone. It expected a much bigger reaction than a simple what, after all.

"Okay, I guess. Can I go now?" Harry said, a bit lost with his current situation.

Even though he doesn't know where or what he is now, interacting with a stranger who's much bigger, and probably stronger, is sketchy at best, and deadly at worst.

Harry left the big blob to its own thoughts. He took it not blocking his way as consent and continued his journey toward the void.

His thoughts are still as jumbled up as ever, with what the memory of the loss of his life at the hands of those armed forces still vivid in his mind.

Did he feel the pain of the gunshot? Definitely. But as compared to the loss of his pet to his own bastard father? It felt like nothing.

As he wandered his way, he noticed the same light again and decided to not follow it. And soon, he met with the light, again, and again, until he sighed and approached the big blob of light once more.

"Are you god?"

"Correct!" The big blob responded, "Took you long enough,"

Harry decided to ignore the supposed god's remark and asked, "You're telling me that I've been worshiping a giant white Jell-O this whole time?

"In a sense, though, that's not important. What is important, is why you are here!"

Ignoring that his dedication to his religion his whole life is regarded as "unimportant" by his supposed god, Harry asked, "What did you mean by me being a wizard?"

"Exactly what it means. Have you heard of how when a 30 y/o virgin dies, he or she will be reincarnated as a wizard?"

"And that's supposed to be real?" Harry asked, a bit perplexed. It was just a random stupid rumor he had heard about, but of all rumors, this one is the real one?

Seeing his metaphorical weirded-out face, the big blob's laugh reverberated through the void, demonstrating its might to Harry.

"No, I'm just joking. Besides, having anal doesn't mean you're still a virgin you know, hehe,"

"Well, whatever," Harry sighed. Everything is over, so he might as well lay all thoughts bare. "I try to follow you just to lower my sins anyway,"

"I know, anyway. Enough of all those nonsense. I'm only here to let you know that I'll be granting you a new life,"

Harry's metaphorical eyes shone at its words. A new life? Who wouldn't want that? New opportunities for him to discover, a second chance!

But, he soon calmed down and eyed the big blob. "Why…is there a catch?"

If his previous life has taught him anything, it's that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

His job, for example. He was promised decent stable pay, enough to rid him of poverty just by doing simple jobs.

Sure, the 1st time, it really was a simple job, delivering threat letters.

All he needed was an intimidating stature, a boon he fortunately had, but as time went on, the tasks spiraled down into more and more twisted acts.

Until finally, he was tasked to get rid of two deserters. He took the job because he knew, it was a message. Either finish the deserters or be labeled as one.

From then on, money wasn't a problem, but at what cost?

The big blob stared down at Harry. "None."

"...none?"

"None. I don't know what made you think I would ever need anything from humans but I assure you, I have no ulterior motives,"

Harry kept his metaphorical gaze at god. Though he could not discern anything from looking at a blob of Jell-O, it was simply a habit he accumulated throughout the years.

"So why do this?"

"Well, let's just say, I'm your god, but I'm not the highest in the hierarchy. No questions you don't want the answer to, ok?"

"...ok," Harry nodded. The truth of the matter is, Harry could not care less about the reason for god's actions, he was just curious.

Even if there was a super secret ulterior motive, the upside of having a second chance at life is too high. He had sacrificed everything for money once, why hesitate anymore?

Especially when he has nothing left to lose.

"Okay! We can continue then. Any preference for your new life?" A note and pen suddenly appeared in front of god, as if it were a waiter, ready to take Harry's Order.

Harry contemplated for a bit, remembering what he wished he had in life. The answer is a lot, too many to list, but, if he had to choose.

"I'm fine with anything, I just want a family." He said, his tone as sincere as possible. He imagined what life would have been like had he not barged down this dark path.

Well, this is his chance to realize his imagination.

"Noted," god said," If you're ready, you can go anytime."

Harry looked at god and thought that his service is immaculately fast, though, it was to be expected from a perfect being in humans' eyes.

Right before Harry readied himself to go, a thought appeared in his mind. "Actually, can I have another request?"

"Mn? Sure,"

"Can Lin come with me?"

"Lin? Your cat? Bringing another life might affect your previous request you know,"

Harry could not find the logic behind it but he couldn't care less. Lin is his family already. He caused her death, and he wished to make amends.

If he could have a second chance, he hoped she does too.

"I'm fine with that. Send me."

God nodded and agreed nonchalantly.

*zip*

Harry suddenly disappeared, leaving god, the big white blob, back alone in the deep dark void.

"Have fun~"

~~~~~