A good day gone bad
Life is rarely an easy thing, all who live experience hardships and trials. That is not a bad thing, as it is those hurdles that allow us to grow as people and understand the world around us. With that said, sometimes life (as mad as it is) throws a curveball that not even the heavens see coming.
Our story begins with a young man named Raymond Allius, a self proclaimed workaholic, who's only hobby is reading manga. At twenty four years old he has done nothing special or amazing with his life, that is not to say he is a lazy person, just that he has done nothing spectacular. That is until now, for today he felt determined to break the monotony of his life, and go out and enjoy the world outside his house and job.
"Ah, what a nice day. I don't think I've been to this park since I graduated high school." Indeed the day was beautiful, with few white clouds in the sky moving slowly on a light breeze. He walked through the clear and marked path of his local park admiring the tall trees. Nature seemingly commanded him to enjoy its splendor.
'I remember, when I was younger, the trees here were perfect for climbing and hiding around. I wonder if they could still hold my weight, meh it would look weird for a grown man to try climbing a tree'. Being outside, surrounded by the tall trees Raymond almost felt younger.
'It's been so long since I just took some time to simply admire the beauty of nature, I think a part of me was worried it had disappeared with my free time.' He couldn't help but chuckle at his own thoughts as he reached the middle of the well trodden path. Gazing into the deepest part of the forested park he spared a moment to watch a flock of songbirds flit about.
'I should probably stop dragging my feet and continue on, I still have to pick up ingredients for, and make dinner, then put the finishing touches on that project the boss wanted.' Shaking himself from the tranquil scene, with thoughts of his responsibilities he started to jog down the path exiting the park with purpose. Finishing his trip through the tranquil reserve he exited to the main streets of the town he called home.
'Should have brought my car, though I have to admit I need the exercise' though not morbidly obese like many of his colleagues, he had been putting on weight ever since he started his new job as a court secretary for a local judge.
'The pay is good but sitting down all day is starting to take its toll on-.'
"HELP"
Raymond's thoughts were cut short as he neared an alley and heard a high pitched scream, stopping himself he almost thought he imagined it.
'That does not sound good, maybe I should call the cops!' He pulled out his phone and started to dial 911 only to find that it was dead. It had been having trouble holding a charge for weeks now but he put off taking it to get repaired. Without the option of professionals he gathered what courage he could muster and decided to walk forward and help however he could.
'Oh hell thats not good! It's ok I can do this, I've handled punks before! Just think of them as bowling pins and rush them,' taking a look into the alley there were three young men cornering a girl who looked like she was still in middle school. With a huff he was about to put as much strength into his legs as he could and rush the young men until he had a terrible feeling of deja vu. Shaking away his hesitation he dashed forward doing his best to keep a low center of gravity just as his old rugby coach taught him to years ago.
The moment he got to them a door at the other side of the alley opened to an old man with a shotgun who wasted no time in fighting a shot. It was then that things went really wrong, the three young men fell to the ground being tackled by Raymond, the young girl who looked like she was cowering got the safety off her pepper spray, and the old man realized that he didn't change out the buckshot round for a sandbag.
Raymond for his part was stunned with surprise and pain first from the knife in his shoulder that one of young men, or rather thugs, had been carrying. Second from the buckshot that tore into his side and back, honestly though if it was just those two things he might have just managed to stay conscious. The third and final issue however was the fact that the now truly panicking little girl pressed the button on her pepper spray, filling his face with more pain than getting shot and stabbed. If one was looking at the scene from above it might have been comical.
Without a yelp or scream, Raymond was already half unconscious on the floor of the alley. On top of three very scared thugs, in front of a sobbing little girl and a very angry old man with a smoking shotgun. A pair of police officers who had entered the alley from the side opposite Raymond, ran to the odd group. Arresting the three thugs and relieving the elderly man of his firearm. The last thought that passed through Raymond's mind was 'I should have stayed in the park'
For a while Raymond's mind floated through dreamless sleep, no thought strong enough to remain for more than a moment. Eventually he could feel light on his eyes, the dull throbbing of his body disappearing, replaced with a Serene peace.
'This is nice, I wonder how strong the painkillers are that I'm on right now. I don't even feel myself breathing, I'm so numb.'
"Oh your not on any pain killers right now kid"
'Did I say that out loud? I guess I'm not alone in my hospital room'
"You're not in a hospital either kid, you might wanna open your eyes."
Perplexed by the conversation, that he could only assume was an orderly or doctor being silly. He decided to do as told, and open his eyes, only to be even more confused. His surroundings were not that of a hospital room, but a simple apartment with tan walls and white furniture. Sitting in front of him on a white couch was an elderly man with pure white hair, wearing silver trimmed white priest robes, and tan skin that was glowing dimly.
"Wha-what? Where am I?" Raymond in his confusion couldn't stop the slight tremble that crept into his voice.
"Your dead kid, you are currently in my office. My name is something that you cannot comprehend or pronounce, with that said you may call me Barnabas." The elderly man told Raymond as blunt and simply as might tell a child the sky is blue.
"O-oh, I see… so does this mean I'm going to heaven?" Raymond was not a devout believer in God, sure he went to church in his early years and always called himself a Christian, yet he had to admit that he was far from a proper worshipper of the faith. That said he was far from a bad person, and highly doubted that he was due for eternal damnation.
"Under normal circumstances, yes, however you weren't supposed to die yet. You were supposed to have not gone to the park, or entered that alley. By all means the worst that should have happened to you today was a paper cut that would have healed quickly." The elderly man, Barnabas, calmly informed Raymond.
"So… does that mean i get to go back?" Raymond questioned confused as to why whoever was in charge didn't expect him to take the time to enjoy, what had been, a beautiful day. Was he really so depressing that not even the heavens thought he was capable of enjoying the world.
"Well that's the thing ,under normal circumstances I would send you back no problem. You would feel some deja vu and decide against going out, but this is the second time you've died like this." Barnabas told Raymond, some what exasperatedly.
"Wha-what? I don't remember dying before!"
"Of course you don't, I erased those memories myself. That said the fact that it's happened twice now puts me i a bit of a pickle you see, your soul is still recovering from the last time this happened if I were to send you back again your soul would collapse. In other words you would essentially be dead, truly and utterly gone." The elderly entity explained sadly,
"Then, what happens now?"
"We wait and see, I've already sent the problem higher up… so to speak, we should hopefully have the answer soon. Admittedly, I can't help but feel responsible. If I had planted a deeper suggestion in your mind we wouldn't be here again." Barnabas said slightly bowing his head to Raymond in an apology.
"Well it's not completely your fault, after all I'm the one who died like a fool twice" Raymond said as jokingly as he could manage.
"I do appreciate you not freaking out, I've only had a situation like this happen once before in all my Millenia here. There was a stuntman who tried to jump from a helicopter to a plane, they were so sure they could do it they demanded I send them back. Of course after he failed the second time he was no longer anybody's problem. So I suppose it doesn't matter in the end." Barnabas told Raymond, laughing slightly, trying hard to ease the heavy mood that now covered the room, and failing miserably.
The odd pair waited in the room in relative silence for a while neither knowing how to continue the stilted conversation, until a third being entered the room
"So is this the kid Barnabus? I can see he really is taking it well." A tall man entered the room through a door behind Raymond. They had pale skin that glowed brighter than Barnabus', a bald head, a kind face and wore the same robes as Barnabas with the addition of gold threads interwoven with the silver trimmings.
"So Raziel, what is the boy's fate to be?" Barnabas asked the newcomer with a smile.
"Reincarnation, though I don't see why we just don't accept him into heaven. He's lived an honest life, and not a short one compared to many." Raziel said, shaking his head in disapproval.
"Oh don't be that way, he would have had a longer life if not for our mistakes. Besides, if he entered heaven now there's a chance his soul wouldn't heal correctly. Reincarnation insurers that he not only has a life to live, but a chance for his soul to heal as well." A voice from an unseen place explained.
"Ah, Jegudiel! Welcome!" It is good to see you out of the court." Barnabus exclaimed to the voice as a mass of light flew through the wall to Raymond's left.
"Yes. I was going to send one of my subordinates to handle this matter, but looking at his death, and his job, I felt compelled to handle this personally." The mass of light proclaimed, slowly morphing into the shape of a man with long brown hair, glowing white skin, and four wings that lay unfurled upon his back.
"I suppose this is goodbye then, I know you will do well in your next life!" Barnabas told Raymond, as the being named Jegudeil took a hold of his shoulder.
"Goodbye, and thank you for trying to help!" Raymond called to Barnabas as he was steered towards a door to his right.
Walking through the door, led them to a beautiful garden. I It layed flowers and other plants of every imaginable genus and color.
"It's beautiful isn't it every plant here was once found on Earth, but now just like you they are gone." Jegudiel told Raymond with a sad smile.
"That really is a pity, they all look so amazing" Raymond said agreeably, taking a moment to gaze at the scenery around him.
"I've seen the world you are to be reborn in. It is not nearly as kind or calm as the one you come from. Under normal circumstances, as the scribe of a judge, you would have been guided to heaven by either myself or the Angels under my command. With that said I wish to offer you guidance of a different kind for your next life." Jegudiel said as he stopped walking in front of a gate that looked to be made of pure gold with blinding light pouring out.
"Do not be afraid to survive. While the world itself will look similar to one you know, it is not the same. The history you know is not set in stone, change is possible for better or worse. Do not forget to ask for help, there are hands holding out hope for peace than you will ever know" Finished saying what he wished to Jagudiel pushed Raymond through the Golden Gate. Raymond didn't have a chance to ask questions as his vision turned white.
-End Prologue-
Well that's chapter zero, from here on we get to the real story. I've been wanting to do a story for a while, and I can't think of anything better at the moment. If you see any grammatical errors or suggestions on where to take the story please leave a comment and I'll try and fix it or take your advice.
-Emerald Bandit