Notes: Big Bang: A cosmic explosion that marked the beginning of the universe.

BETA: TheSupernova

Chapter 2: Endless

This is a story of deception.

Some people fight to stay alive. Those who can feel their soul lining the two worlds connecting life and death; who are given a choice to stay. When I died, there was no in-between. I never received the chance to look down upon my body one last time, or feel my soul transition from this life to the one beyond; the one that waits for us all.

I walk around in the darkness; wherever I am, I felt completely disconnected from the life I left behind, like a severed chain. It is human instinct to fight death, yet the links of my chain have been cut loose. There was nowhere I could grasp to pull myself out of this darkness. I turned and cried out but I knew my body would not be waiting for me; not here.

So I walked on, and found a searching light in the distance. It called out to all comers, beckoning them home if they are worthy. The light was wonderful, calm and relaxing. My soul warmed inside and I felt no pain; only acceptance and hope. I knew that even though I was leaving my love, my life, all my friends and family behind, I knew that we would meet again one day. That's how it worked.

It didn't matter if my loved ones never passed over; if I never saw them again, because I felt only eternal hope; serenity.

In the face of my new life; in the distraction and obsession with my new surroundings, I had failed to notice the snaky, black tendrils creeping up behind me. They wrapped tightly around my ankles and wrists, and I was pulled so fast from the light that it didn't have time to protect me from the darkness. Too late did I sense the light reach out for me, trying to save me and bring me home.

What I thought was my salvation was nothing more than a small, glittering star growing dimmer. The light and warmth I had felt completely left my body and I cried for all that I had lost.

This is the realm of the dead; hell. The concept of time reaches no borders. For every second that passes by me, so too does the passing of our universe. The rise and fall of great civilizations, of entire galaxies and suns. I've witnessed an indefinite number of big bangs. Above me lies each sun blanking out one by one. Everything comes to an end.

How long does each universe last? How long does existence last? From the creation of everything to its compete desolation, crosses before my path in the blink of an eye. A cold, dark eternity; but with rebirth comes hope. Existence is created out of nothing but hope and sorrow.

There are things in this place that feel warm and comforting, and many others that are not. There are days when the light of the sun passes overhead or I find a made-up bed to sleep on, instead of resting upon a floor made up of walking shadows.

Grass and open expanse of fields surround me now; rocks and paths and trees. Flowers. Deceivingly beautiful.

A human soul requires two things to survive.

The first is light. I'm not talking about heat from sunlight or a fire. It's the warmth I felt just before the tendrils dragged me down to Hell. Whether you call this the light of Heaven, of the Elusion Fields or the afterlife, it doesn't matter. No one can survive without it.

I can't explain what it is. It's not a thing you can see or hear or touch. But I don't know what to believe anymore. It's something every human takes for granted and I find myself missing something I never knew existed. It's gone now, and I feel cold inside.

The second is social interaction. Human beings are social creatures by nature. We need human contact to thrive; it's not just about physical contact or conversational interactions.

Fuck, it doesn't matter if you're an introvert who prefers to be alone, or if you live your life as a hermit, desperately trying to convince yourself that the whole of humanity doesn't exist. What matters most is that there are people out there; they exist.

You aren't the last. You aren't the only or the one.

But I'm in the Realm of the Dead. I was, am and will always be the last and the alone. I can feel it. Hell exists outside of time and space; of logic and common sense. I have wandered for all eternity and not once found another human soul. Nothing but moving shadows and whisperings in my head.

I am not alone, but I am alone. Because the things living here are not alive; they do not exist, yet I can see them so they must exist. But they do not.

There are traces of Tommy everywhere. In the corner of my eyes I can see flashes of blonde hair, and feel phantom hands caressing my skin. My weaknesses are fleshed out for all to see. I am naked and bare.

I just am. I exist. Forever and without end.