Chapter 5: That Which Is and Will Never Be
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Author's Note: Hey everyone, this chapter has some religion in it, as it makes use of Egyptian Gods. Hope no one gets offended…:-|
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The orbs that traversed the Otherworld were directed down a long passage – the time had come. They were to appear before the gods.
None of the souls knew what was coming; they did not understand, but they complied simply because it was the only thing to do.
~{:*:}~
The blue ball of light sat still, waiting silently. It was pondering again...try as it might, it could not stop wondering about those people it had observed in the mirror. Being devoid of a true body, it was unable to sense any sort of emotional connection to them – but it knew there was something...
Suddenly, in a flash of blinding light, the orb found itself in a new part of the Otherworld, one it had never seen before.
If it had been capable of gasping, the orb would have. Before it was something so pure, so brilliant, so powerful in its might that it would have shattered auras that gazed over it.
It was Amun-Ra. The god of all the gods.
Ra smiled down.
"Hello, my child."
The orb sent its greetings back, and asked hesitatingly why it was here.
"Ahh yes – this is where those who have lived come. And yet, those who live and those who will live remain here in some way. This is the everything, that which is and will always be."
Ra glided over to the orb and lifted it up to his own level. He gazed down at his creation, sending waves of love and reassurance to it.
"You have returned home."
The orb slowly gazed upwards. For a moment, it simply stayed still – then, through its own small will, it asked a question.
"Hmm? You want to know who you once were? Yes, very well...you would have been reminded at some point, but we shall enlighten you now…"
The orb felt a flow of energy rush through it, all in one instant...
...and then it was over. It looked at itself – it now had a body. It stepped in front of a large mirror hanging in the Nothingness and looked at itself.
It saw a powerful, handsome man with brown hair streaked with blond. It moved the human appendages, accustoming itself to their feel. Questioningly, it turned back to its creator.
Ra nodded. "Yes, this was your body, back on Earth."
It asked another question.
"No, you don't remember your time spent on Earth. It was meant to be that way – the pain, the suffering should not cloud your thoughts here."
It looked back in the mirror, studying the features of the body it now possessed. But this wasn't enough – the absence of memories only caused confusion in its mind. It had to know, for its own sake.
It glanced back at Ra, eyes querying.
Ra's look grew concerned. "You want back your memories. But my son, that will only cause you pain and tremendous sorrow...You should not have to relive that."
It continued to look at Ra, pleading.
"I warn you, child: the anguish you will feel will be beyond belief – and once you have crossed that boundary, I will not be able to bring you back."
It didn't care – the curiosity caused pain now. It needed to know. It must know.
Ra sighed heavily. "Very well, my son...very well."
He glided over and placed his hand upon his child's head. There was another flash of light and...it all fell into place...
His name was Rick O'Connell.
Those people...those...people...the woman and the boy...they were his...wife and son...his family...
Rick felt himself fall to the ground of the Otherworld, the wind wiped from his lungs. Oh God...they were his family...and he was...dead...gone from them...forever...
He let a small cry escape him. His tough exterior shattered faster than anything possible – he would never again see his beautiful wife...he would not get to witness his son growing up...oh God...no...
More cries escaped his mouth as the tears began to droop from his eyes. No...no...
He felt Ra's presence above him, trying to comfort his wracked soul.
"I feared this, my son – I feared your pain, and now it is here."
Rick tried to lift himself up and failed; he fell to the ground again. Eyes pouring, he looked up.
"I...have...have to go...back...They...my family...needs me…and I...I…I need them...please, please..."
His face fell forwards again. He felt Ra's hand upon his shoulder.
"I know, my son. I know your desires."
Rick looked up quickly, daring to hope, daring to believe...
Ra sighed.
"But it is the one thing that cannot be done..."
Rick's spirits came crashing down. No...the answer was no...no…
Rick looked down through the Nothingness. Whether it was reality or a vision produced by his ailing mind, he did not know – but there she was: Evie, his darling, his reason for existing...and now, she...was...gone from him.....forever.
No, he thought, no...no...
The despair hit him harder than before; it struck him down, refusing to let him escape from the realities of the truth.
No...
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Author's Note: Okay, sheesh, I know this chapter absolutely stinks, I'm so sorry. At least we're done with the whole "orb" thing, so hopefully it will all get better. Please, if you want to review this chapter, don't say mean things – I know how much it sucks, and I'm truly sorry...actually, forget that, if you want to tell me it sucks, go ahead, it will push me to do better. Once again, my deepest apologies.
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