Chapter 1:

the beginning

HELLOOOOOOOO this is my first fanfic and more are to come later on could the system is greatly appreciated I hope you enjoy*

It's funny how quickly life can change from joyful to your last moments. A speeding car—that's what did me in. Was it my fault? No, the bastard was going too fast, probably drunk off his ass. Or hell, maybe he wanted to take someone's life. Who knows. Too late to ask him now, I'm dead.

It's weird. Everything is black. I can't even see my own hand, and it feels like I'm floating, but to where? Is there even an afterlife? I'm not particularly religious, so I don't know. Am I in hell right now?

???: "No, you're not."

"What the—who said that?" I look around, searching for the voice before getting flashed with a bright light coming from a… white cat. Not a normal one—one of those Japanese ones. What were they called again? Oh yeah, maneki-neko. Wait, why is a cat talking?

???: "Because I'm not a normal cat, you idiot. You just said that."

"Wait, did you read my mind? Also, don't call me an idiot, you gremlin." The cat ignores my request as it circles me, its tail swishing around.

???: "You're short for a 17-year-old. An anime fan too? Wow, you're hitting all the check marks, aren't you, Michael?"

"How did you know my name? Matter of fact, what is this place if it's not heaven or hell? Is it purgatory? If so, then why are you a cat? Like, maybe a demon or a very ugly old man, but a cat? Come on."

???: "First off, no, this is not purgatory or anything of the sort. You could say this is the middle ground. As for the cat thing, it's so your feeble little human brain can comprehend me. If I didn't change my form, you'd be lying on the nonexistent floor, foaming at the mouth. Finally, I'll answer this before you ask. If you're wondering why you're here, it's so I can give you a proposition. Oh, excuse me, where are my manners? My name is Kos."

"A proposition?" I look at "Kos" strangely. "What does a divine being such as yourself want with me?" I say in a semi-sarcastic tone, but my interest is piqued.

Kos: "You can either go to the afterlife—no, you were a very neutral person in your life. Very boring, to be honest. Like, where is your flavor? But I digress. Or you could explore the world of fiction, gaining allies and powers beyond your comprehension. You will have to work for those powers, though, but besides that, you have free rein to explore anything you want. This is your decision, not mine."

Kos finishes his explanation as two doors appear in front of him: one white with "Afterlife" scribbled onto it and the other a grey door with "Fiction" written on it.

I start thinking about what I want. Do I truly want to explore that? Do I truly want to see what lies beyond the real world? "The afterlife—it's peaceful, it's calm. It could be something that lets me be at rest… But call me stupid or naïve or even just a dumbass, but I think I finally want to spice up my life." A smile springs across my face as I go to the grey door.

Kos: "Okay then, I hope your second life gives you prosperity, human. Oh, and watch out for the fall."

"For the wha—" Before I could finish my sentence, I fall forward, letting out a scream. The air rushes past my face as I realize this might have been a bad idea.