Chapter 1: Nothing

Nothing.

That's the word that I would use to describe the afterlife.

I used to be the religious type when I was younger. I'm sure I'm not the only one who decided to

become a semi-devout believer once they learned about death. The inevitable end that awaits

everything.

You can imagine what learning that one day you will cease to exist as you know it can do to a

kid. So, I prayed. Every day, I would pray to God so that I may be one of those lucky individuals

who can continue to exist. To join him in heaven for all eternity, without worries or woes.

But, as I grew older and began to experience life for myself, I stopped believing. I became an

atheist of the highest order. I looked down with disdain at any that considered themselves

religious. I thought them to be idiots that were too scared to face the reality. That after death

there is no God, no Satan, no heaven, no hell. Only nothing. Probably just my teenage angst.

After my little emo phase, I opened my mind to the vastness of the universe. We, as humans,

haven't even fully explored a measly planet, much less the ever-expanding universe. So, who is

to say whether or not there exists a race of beings that have transcended what we believe to be

the limits of existence. To become gods.

So, I became an agnostic. Because as we are now, it is impossible to ascertain whether God or

anything like it exists. Maybe if God is real, I'll only end up in the first layer of hell for my

agnosticism. Neither belief nor disbelief. I wonder if God likes middle ground. Well, if he is the

omnibenevolent deity the bible makes him out to be I suppose he wouldn't mind. I hope.

As it stands now, it doesn't seem like I was wrong as a young angsty teen. Though it doesn't

explain why I have a conscious still. Now that I died, I kind of hope I was wrong and there is

something more. It seems like a waste of life looking back on it now.

It looks like I have time to think about how I died, not that I really want to but what else is there

to do but think. I didn't die in a cool way, hell I didn't even get hit by a truck or bus like in

animes. I got shot. By a junkie.

It was the evening, and I decided to go to the corner store and get some milk and eggs for the

morning. I had a good day that day, so I was in a good mood which was evident by my

humming. I got a look from a couple while I was picking up the eggs, but who cares what they

think.

I had finished paying the cashier when the man behind me decided he would rob the store at

gunpoint. I didn't feel like playing hero and dying so I put my hands up and let the man do his

thing. I looked at him and I saw an emaciated man with a shaky hand. A junkie. Robbing the

store so he can score his next high.

Can't imagine being addicted to something so harmful but unable to escape from its clutches.

Well, I did play League of Legends almost every night, so I guess I do know what he is going

through. Wonder which addiction is worse. But I did kind of feel bad for the guy, you know. I did

anyways until he shot me.

The cashier gave him the money from the register and then the junkie looked at me.

'Fuck me.'

"You too. Give me your wallet. Hurry up!" he said.

"Okay, I'm reaching for my wallet. I don't want to die today bud." As my hand crept to my back

pocket for my wallet, I saw behind the junkie a wannabe hero winding up to hit him with a tall

boy. I wanted to cry when I saw that. Why? Because anyone with a rational brain knows that if

you hit someone, they flinch.

KABLAM!

In movies, the people always shrug off getting shot like they pinched their finger. In real life, not

so much. All I felt was a searing hot pain as the bullet entered my body. Pain like nothing ever

before assaulted my brain. Then silence. Like the whole world decided to watch me fall and die.

'Maybe I should buy a lottery ticket after this. I mean what are the chances of a strung-out junkie

shooting me in the heart. Hopefully, I win. More money for League. Haha.'

Laughter is the best medicine after all. But this was too much damage for laughter to heal.

I saw the people in the corner store rush to my body and try to stop the bleeding. The hero of the

day looked mortified at what he had caused. To my surprise, it was the man from the couple I

had seen earlier. His revenge for my humming I suppose. The thought brought a smile to my

face.

"Hold on! Just hold on! The ambulance is on the way! Just try to hold on!"

"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I didn't know he would shoot you! I'm so sorry! Oh my god!" the hero

said while crying his eyes out. Well, maybe not so much a hero anymore.

"I-it's okay. I fo-forgive you." Lies. I didn't forgive him. It was his stupid decision to be the hero.

Why couldn't he have been shot? Still, though I didn't want him to feel bad about this accident.

He did what was right, what anyone with an ounce of kindness in their heart should do.

"T-tell...my family...I...l-loved them..." Each word was excruciating to get out but I had to let

them know. I never showed it enough when I was alive, and I wasn't going to leave this earth

without letting them know it.

'Huh. I guess you do see your life flash before your eyes.'

Then I drifted to nothing.

And I awoke here.

Authors' Note

Short first chapter I know, but I felt it was a good place to end it.

On another note, this is my first attempt at fanfiction so give me your thoughts and have a little

patience with me while I get into the groove of things.

Also, Chronicle as a story is rather short and in the case of this fanfiction, it's more of a setup

than anything. So, I'm probably going to get through the story in a few chapters so I can get into

the good stuff.