Prologue
There was a muffled splash as he went under.
Bubbles drifted upward, trying to reach the surface and as he looked around, all he saw was the hypnotic play of lights on the red water.
He knew he was drowning.
The light above him grew dimmer and dimmer and the water redder and redder as he descended to the depths.
Oxygen slowly deserted him, mocking him with spritely bubbles before disappearing.
He could feel his chest twisting painfully and his lungs beg for air that was miles away…
Surely he should die?
But he didn't.
He simply continued sinking, continued on with that pain in his chest and fire in his lungs as the red water thickened. He should be cursing the heavens and begging for death, for release, but there was no such thing in this place, ring zero of hell.
But instead he was numb, his whole being, his mind and in a place where a heart was supposed to be was nothing. Absolutely nothing.
There was a monstrous gash on his chest and only now does one realize that the red of the water is the red of his blood, gushing forth, filling a sea with read.
What is your name?
He closed his eyes. I don't know.
What life have you had?
His fists clenched. I don't know.
Who have loved you?
His teeth ground. I don't know.
Then surely this you can answer… who have loved you?
He paused. I don't know…a great many people perhaps.
Then the water parted as something else, something humongous and heavy, splashed into it. Something else sunk along with him, coming from the light.
Opening his eyes he saw structure, thrice is size and sinisterly glinting. He found himself parallel to what appeared to be a cross of steel.
This is the burden that you have accumulated, from your life and from the many lives you lived before. To find the answers, you must take it again.
His vision blurred and the pain in his chest increased. He winced.
But I want answers…so many, many answers…
Impossible. You must take the cross again to leave this place. Your quest will never finish, you had relinquished this cross before its weight being too great even for you.
He closed his eyes. Whatever the reason…I don't remember…
Impossible. The voice insists.
You are but a coward, having dropped your cross to the barren ground when those like you trudged on. This is because out of all, you have found the greatest weight on your shoulders.
But…
He watches the cross. Watches as it sinks past him, to the depths bellow.
I want to know…
All of a sudden the water disappeared and he found himself, sputtering and coughing in a small, dim room, but very much on solid ground.
The cross lay beside the only candle in the room, shadows dancing across its metallic surface.
Very well. Take the cross again.
And he obeyed, standing slowly, and, stumbling ever so slightly towards the candle in the middle of the room. He was going to take the cross again.