Everyone always wonders what happens after you die. They may not be actively thinking about it, but the thought is always there. Most of the time, it's buried deep in your subconscious, only rising to the surface in times of great stress or personal contemplation.
In the same vein, nearly everyone has a different answer. A bright light, you roam around as a ghost, get dragged to hell, you just...stop, everyone has their own interpretation.
Me personally, I never really thought all that hard about it. I was more focused on dealing with stuff in life first, the old "rest when you're dead" approach. I'm not sure whether or not that was really me, or if that was just what my mom tried to beat into my head. Either way, It didn't matter now. I was dying.
See, during my high-school days, I got it into my head that I had to get into Collage and get a degree in...something. It didn't really matter what, just something that sounded important. Something that looked good on a job application. Problem was, none of the classes I'd signed up for interested me, not even the easy ones. I had already wasted a whole semester jumping from whatever classes I could, hoping one would eventually stick.
One night, after seriously questioning my life and smoking some bud to calm down, I got a nuclear case of the munchies. I left the dorm and headed to a convenience store to buy some snacks. When I got back, I saw that the dorm house was on fire. People were running out screaming and trying to call for help.
Now, with my mind in the unstable state it was, it immediately jumped to the conclusion of smoking pot + fire = my fault. Thankfully, I found out later that it wasn't my fault. One of the firefighters discovered that one of the outlets was faulty and some asshat dunked mountain dew on a power strip that had way too much shit plugged in. Sadly, I didn't know this at the time, so I freaked out and rushed into the building. The fire was on the third floor, where it mostly kept to, but it was spreading fast. I heard screaming from one of the rooms, the fire raging just outside and keeping whoever it was trapped. Normally, the building has fire extinguishers on every floor in each level of the stairwell, but sadly, the one closest to me was missing. The next nearest was on the opposite side of the building, and the fire was blocking my direct routes to it. At this point, I had two options. Run back down the stairwell and run all the way across the building to then again run all the way back up, possibly wasting precious time, or take a running leap through the fire and hope that I didn't get hurt too bad.
Well, considering I already spoiled the fact that I died, you can guess which one I took. In my defense, I wasn't thinking clearly because of the weed, guilt, and adrenaline running through my system at the time. Still, it's what I did, and surprisingly it worked. Taking a few steps back and getting a running start, I leaped through the inferno while covering my face and tumbled through to the other side. Didn't get out unscathed though. While my face didn't suffer too much damage, my arms and chest took the brunt of the heat. I don't know what degree of burns they were, all I knew is that I was screaming bloody murder. Thankfully, my clothes didn't catch.
Taking a moment to steady myself and reorient, I quickly ran to the staircase, though the smoke was starting mess with my lungs at this point. Grabbing the extinguisher and making a heel turn, I rush back to the door and blast most of the hallway with the foam, putting out most of the fire in the area. Can you imagine the looks of shock on the faces of the people inside when the local beatnik at the school just up and bashes the door down with a fire extinguisher? I tell you, had I lived, I would have gotten some mad respect from people.
Anyway, once that group had filed out and escaped, I quickly started checking every room on the floor that I could, thankfully finding most of them empty. That is, until I found a couple passed out in one of the rooms near where I think the worst of the damage was. Sadly, This is where things took a turn for the worse. The extinguisher ran out.
Tossing the empty thing to the side and grabbing the couple, I start dragging the three of us out of the room and towards the staircase. I'm not a really strong guy, so dragging two people was a trail. Not to mention that the adrenaline was wearing off, the smoke was really starting to take it's toll, and my vision was getting cloudy. But still, through all that and more, I dragged. I kept dragging and dragging down the hallway, the staircase, and eventually, outside. Once I was finally out and breathing fresh air, I start violently coughing, hacking out blood here and there.
For a moment there, time seemed to slow. I layed there on the front lawn, just staring at the stars. They...never looked so beautiful before. On the edge of my hearing, I hear someone say something about firefighters, but I couldn't make the whole thing out.
I began to think about where I was and what it meant. I was laying on the front lawn of my dorm, burned horribly, hacking up a lung, surrounded by a bunch of people who I can't see clearly through an ever-growing haze, and not sure if I was see the sunrise. Surprisingly, what went through my head in those moments wasn't my life flashing by. It wasn't me pleading for my life, it wasn't me cursing or regretting my existence, it wasn't even a passing curiosity of wondering what happened after I died.
It was worry, worry that the people I pulled out wouldn't possibly make it either. So, In my last moment, I turned to the nearest shifting blob that I could see and said the only words I could think of.
"Make sure they're okay."
After that, my Vision became nothing but a blur, eventually shifting into an all-encompassing darkness. My breathing became harder and harder to keep up, until finally...
...Everything faded away.
I don't know how to properly describe the sensations I felt after I died. I felt like I was conscious and unconscious at the same time. Like, I wasn't all there, not at first. Every time I had a thought, it felt like I was forcibly pulling myself together just to think, if only for a moment. I had to strain and focus to keep myself together, and if I faltered for even a second, I'd fall apart and fade away again. I don't know how long I spent like that. I don't even know if time was a factor in that place. Either way, I soon felt something different.
From what I could perceive, there was light, warmth, just a short distance away. When I "saw" it, I instinctively rushed for it, pulling myself together as much as I could, focusing solely on the desire to reach that light. As I was making my way towards the light, I felt something tugging, pulling, yanking me back. I didn't care how hard it pulled, I continued on, despite how much pain it caused me.
As I got closer and closer to the light, I gradually felt myself becoming more...solid, for lack of a better word. I started gaining definition to my form, reaching out towards the light with my newly formed hands. My newly formed legs found purchase on something and I began to push even harder than before, each step getting more and more difficult and painful. Step after step, I walked, and with one final push, I reached out and grasped the light. The light enveloped me, sending that comforting warmth into every aspect of my being, giving me a sensation of belonging that I'd never felt before. And with that, a single thought entered my mind. Something that I'd forgotten, something that was so important. My name.
"Felix."
The warmth eventually subsided, the calming sounds of waves jostling back and forth overtook my senses. I opened my eyes and I found myself standing on a beach, staring out over the open ocean. Stepping closer and wading into the water, I gaze at my reflection in the crystal clear surface. It was my face, same as before, though I seemed to be lacking a few scars that I'd gotten over the years. Not just the scars, any blemishes were gone as well. Carefully touching my skin and examining my body, I noticed that it wasn't just my face. My entire body was completely fresh and free of marks. Just feeling my skin felt nice and silky.
I turned around to walk out of the water when I saw something further inland. A familiar sight that I definitely wasn't expecting. It was a house, a simple two story house with palm trees growing out off to one side. The sight caused me to shudder, for the sight of this house confirmed my suspicion.
"This is heaven, isn't it."
I walked up the the front porch of the house, the porch light blinking on as soon as I took a step onto the creaky wooden boards. The porch was exactly the same as I remember it. The bench swing hanging from the porch roof, the potted ferns framing the front door, the hanging wind chime that was missing one of the tubes. Everything was the same.
There was an envelope pinned to the front door, with my name emboldened on the front, though I couldn't see how it was stuck there. I grabbed the envelope, which came free instantly upon touching it, and turned it over. It was sealed with a wax seal and rather heavy, with a thick bulge the bottom corner. I opened the envelope and out pulled a white post card, which had written a single sentence.
"A Gift. 1 of 3."
Puzzled by the message, I pull out the other thing in the envelope, a bronze key emblazoned by a large spade emblem as it's head. Confused, I turn and reach up behind one of the light fixtures and pull a key out from a small hiding spot. I held both keys, one in each hand, observing each closely. Eventually, my eyes fell solely on the new bronze key.
"But...this isn't the house key. Why would this be...", I muttered in confusion.
I stood there and continued staring at the key, questions forming in my head. Shaking my head and returning my attention the the front door, I unlock the door and step inside. 'Questions for later.'
The house was exactly the same, in practically every detail, down to crown molding and garish wallpaper. It was uncanny. Felt like stepping into a memory brought to life. The dining room where we held every holiday dinner, the living room with the brick-and-mortar fireplace where we hung our Christmas stockings, the bay windows in the kitchen that used to hold a view over the back yard, now held a view over the open ocean. Even with how immaculate this house was though, there was something out of place...something new.
I opened the sliding doors to my dad's study, expecting to see his mahogany desk with the massive wall of bookshelves behind it, but out of the corner of my eye, against the west wall, I see something that definitely wasn't there before. A door. A large, ornately carved, darkly-colored wooden door, with another envelope pinned to it's surface.
I pluck the envelope of the door and open it to examine its contents. It had the same white card as before, but this one read 'A Gift. 2 of 3.'. Inside with the card was a multi-page letter. It read as such...
"Greetings.
If you're reading this, then you've made it through to the other side okay.
I apologize for not being able to talk in person, but I'm afraid I don't have the strength to do so, so this letter will have to do.
Allow me to answer a few questions that I'm sure you're having.
'Am I dead?'
I'm afraid so, and it is impossible to go back now. I'm sorry.
'Is this Heaven/The Afterlife?'
In a sense, yes, but not the same Afterlife you'd be familiar with.
This is my realm, I created it. And yes, I created the house too.
I hope you like it. I only had your memories to go off of, so I hope I got it right.
'Are you god?'
...Maybe?"
"Are you kidding me?", I asked incredulously.
" 'Am I kidding you?'
No, I am not. Things out here get kind weird with defining that kind of stuff.
Though, if you want to call me God, I won't stop you. I'd quite enjoy the ego boost."
I just stared at the paper for a moment in silence. "Friggin' smart-ass."
" 'Who are you?'
...a friend.
'Why choose me?'
...To be honest, I didn't. You chose me."
"What?", I asked breathlessly. "What do you mean 'I chose you' ?"
Sadly, that's all the letter said about it, just moving onto the next question.
" 'Did the people I save make it? Was my death worth something?' "
I froze at that question, honestly too scared to read the answer.
Since regaining my sense of self, I had been too curious about where I was to think about what happened to them.
Now that it was brought to my attention, I was scared, Scared that they didn't make it.
Scared that I'd failed.
It felt like someone dropped a heavy weight on my shoulders, the potential guilt I'd feel.
Despite the growing pit in my stomach, I read on.
"Yes, they're okay. A little scarred by the ordeal, but they're okay."
And just like that, the weight was gone.
It felt so freeing, knowing that they'd made it.
I breathed a deep sigh of relief, clutching the paper close to my chest.
I continued reading and it recounted the details on how the fire started, which I've already explained, so I'll skip it.
" 'What is the door and bronze key?'
One of three gifts for you. They took up a majority of my power to create.
The door is a gateway to other places, other worlds. Some you'd be familiar with, some not.
It's up to you if you want to use it, but I'm confident you'll enjoy having many different adventures in the places it'll take you.
But be careful, for when you enter a new world, you will not be able to leave for some time.
Your body needs time to adjust to that world's specific 'frequency', otherwise, your body will tear itself apart if you try to leave before you're ready.
The Key is your tether, it binds you to this place and keeps the side effects at bay.
It will tell you when it's safe to leave, so keep it on you at all times.
I cannot make another, so I can only hope that you head my warnings and be careful with it.
When you're ready to leave, simply insert the key into any doorway with a lock, twist, open, and step through.
You will be brought back here. Also, if you wish to return to a world you've previously visited, simply think of it and open the door.
It's rather simple."
"Nothing about this is simple.", I deadpanned.
"Now, for your last gift...actually, I'll let it make itself known.
When you finish reading this letter, it will show itself when it's ready."
"Huh?", I muttered. I turned my head up from the letter and looked around in confusion.
I waited for a minute or two, but nothing happened.
"O...kay?" I said, turning back to the letter and flipping over to the last page.
"You'll have to figure out how it works on your own.
And with that, I do believe I've answered the most pertinent questions.
Now, I can finally sit back and watch the show.
Good luck.
G."
I stared at the letter on silence, just slowly comprehending what I just read.
"...What? That's it? That barely explained anyth-"
[A new quest has been created.]
"..."
[The world's are your oyster.]
Description: You are starting a massive adventure, one whose scale is nearly incomprehensible.
Objective: Open the door and step through for the first time.
Reward: A lifetime of Adventure.
Failure: none.
Accept: (Y/N)
...
...
"...WHAT!"
Well, There you have it. The prologue to my First ever fanfiction. Hope you enjoyed it. Please review and give your feedback, please.