S
SlamifiedBuddafied
Guest
Original poster
"I am nothing." Redford held his head in his hands, eyeing over documents and photos, much of which seemed to be a jumbled mess. He sat in a plain concrete room, eight by eight feet with soft light pouring in from metallic magic orbs hovering just beneath the ceiling. It was a sterile like environment, somehow devoid of life; this place seemed entirely artificial. Before him the Poseidon orb wandered around the room, as if having a mind of its own, but no senses to grasp where it was going. Occasionally pinging off the wall and slowly drifting across the room, arcing up or down but avoiding Redford. Outside the metallic door the doppelganger, Monika stood at attention. Calm and detached, meditating in her own mind she awaited her next directive. The hall she stood in was devoid as well, flat white concrete, orbs lazily drifting across the ceiling and lifeless metallic doors lining the corridor.
"How is it after so long, this still haunts me?" He clenched his eyes shut and saw what home used to be. He saw Tiana for what she once was, he saw his friends in the village, he saw a valley covered in the beautiful shade of red as the sun rested upon the distant mountains in the twilight hour. He wiped the image away and pictured her, oh my daughter.... In his deal during death, he'd never imagined that he'd see his daughter again. When he was placed back into this world, years had passed; as part of his deal, he was to leave the past where it was, abandoned. Not to think of it ever again...
Many years ago, in the veil of deaths realm...
It was like waking from a deep slumber, muscles tightened and mind reeling. The world was a haze of darkened colors, as if dyed with a darker essence not of this world. But, what world is this? Last he could remember was terrible pain, a sword thrust in this chest and heart and the screams of a young woman seemed so distant now. Yet his mind did not seem preoccupied by the what happened, but the where was he aspect. In the distance he saw a great leviathan seem to flow through the air, as if swimming upon the blackened fog surrounding him. There was more movement, disembodied limbs seem to creep in the corner of the eye but were not present when glanced upon. Carrion creatures moved slowly above, but un-moving, somehow trapped in place. A deep thrumming below caught his attention and he saw it. Something terrible dwell deep beneath, it's form abstract but it's presence was very real.
Am I in Hell?
"Not quite." A rigid voice broke upon his ears in a great pain, "This is a realm belonging to Mephistopheles. Patron of the Underworld and the Realm of Death, you look upon but a minor tendril which sifts through countless worlds beyond your greatest imagination."
"Whom is this!?" It dawned upon him that his voice wasn't quite his own, he breathed and moved his lips, but no sound escaped. It just seemed to seep into this deranged domain.
"I am but a puppet upon many strings, a puppet who holds many as well. Ah, but my will is not my own and I shall tell you of a great and terrible pain." The voice scratched on his inner ears, it's deep voice seemed like the clatter of bones upon massive war drums. "Though we are not quite omnipotent. Sometimes souls such as yourself happen to fall right into this realm upon death. In all cases, they were simply not ready to accept death, yet here you are surrounded by it in an infinite state." The voice let out a booming laugh which sent pain rippling through his body. "Ah, but first we ask, what is the name of this one?"
"I am Giovan Koul." He didn't will the response, but it seemed pulled from his mind; as if something cold forced it's way inside and plucked the answer from his mind.
"No longer is this the title your mortal carriage shall hold. Forget this name, it is a life no longer suited for the likes of you."
Giovan fought as hard as he could against the pain of the voice, "What... who are you?"
"Ah, so he can speak of his own will. Bravo, I love the taste of a strong being. Ah, but you have asked a question of us and we are being rude. I am of no name, though my title however could be seen in your eyes as an official of sorts. Tasked by those greater than myself to sow seeds into worlds beyond our control. Though I have told you what we do, what we are however..." A sonic boom washed over Giovan and the world became a sickly tinge of white with bits of the black fog still seeping through what looked like cracks in mid air. Before him a figure appeared, quite tall and amplified by a strange tall hat covered in zippered pockets, buttoned folds and hinged locks. It's body was thin, as if lacking organs or skin, but draped in a great cloak made of tanned flesh, sewn together and dyed a deathly shade of black. Its face... its face was like looking into a pile of maggoty corpses, deformed beyond reason and rotted into what seemed like an endless hole.
He wanted to vomit, but felt no urge to do so otherwise. He expected a great stench but nothing reached his nose. Only an endless trail of fear was laid out upon his deadened body as he gazed upon the ghastly creature.
"This is how you shall see us. As others have seen me from this realm, though we have found it much to rare to have visitors from your world, if any at all I suppose." If it could smile a sick pair of lips, Giovan was sure it would. Instead the infinite hole of rot continued to squirm and pulse with sickening creatures. "We, or in this case I, have a particular proposition for you. You may live again, but you shall live a very different life than your own. You will posses the thoughts, memories, dreams and even the inconsequential ticks of a dying man in a small wonderful war. Ah, so much new death, bringing so many more to visit our little world." The being revealed a pair of bony hands covered in a thin excuse for skin, covered in festering wounds, "Ah, but back to my point. This man, his name is Captain Adan Redford. You will continue his little life until death and we shall meet again when that time comes. You need not do much more, just continue the life we give whereas the original... well, this man accepted death and is already on his way elsewhere. As for you... well, I'm afraid I cannot divulge any other... information. Yes or no?"
It was strange, this world. Giovan never thought he'd be in such a place upon death, he'd imagine a heaven and bounties for leading a decent life. Instead he found himself in a place he'd only seen in his darkest dreams. He'd felt cheated somehow. His mind raced back to his own life, all that he'd done. He'd killed a few men early in his life, he'd managed to kill one of the soldiers which had invaded his home. Was it just the killing? Did he not do something right? Giovan strained to recollect what he'd done until the creatures deafening voice filled his mind and body again with its horrid sound.
"Ah, you misplace your beliefs. As many mortals do. You look to your short lived years in hopes to find your mortal sins or wrongs because you could never imagine finding such a place exists upon your imminent demise. A pity, truly. Do not fret, you simply had not accepted death; in turn we answered to offer a chance to those who could not accept death, but only upon our own... terms." The faceless hole contorted while the voice spoke, its fingertips pressed sharply together in what was either anticipation or already knowing the answer.
"Yes... I, I want to live!" His answer seemed to be more of a plead, unable to bare this terrible place any longer.
"So be it. Off you go." Before his eyes, a lifetime flashed and he felt his mind be pierced by many years, as many daggers to a back. The visions began to slow and nearly come to a stop. Before him two women and a man dressed in white seemed to be doing something to him. Behind a white cloth fluttered as wind pushed against its wooden suspension. He could hear loud rapid explosions in the distance, unlike anything he'd ever heard. There was much commotion and the memories became clear to him in the midst of it all. He felt the memory of another man enter his own, it was like a great expanse of land to look upon beside his own memory. He saw another childhood, parents and friends; he saw months and years flash by and all the emotion and life which flooded with them. Tears welled up and down his now living cheeks of another body but he could not move at the time, as if numbed or held down. He saw sadness reflect in one of the women in whites faces as she padded his face with a damp clothe.
I'm alive? I'm alive! I'm... He felt his mind trail off as the scene became blackened. He then heard a soothing sound, a melody with a scratching sound played somewhere. He felt warm and well, as if the sun were upon him and life had returned to his weary mind. Vision eased back as the darkness conceded and he stared at a wooden ceiling, checkered with brown and red stains. He sat up and felt a sharp pain in his left leg; a hard white shell covered it, made of some material. His memories seemed jumbled, but he somehow knew what this all was. Half of his mind seemed lost but the new half knew everything, yet he didn't feel the least bit confused. It was all familiar.
"Am I alive?" He blurted out. I can talk again!
"Yeah, you're alive now shut the fuck up!" A grumpy man wrapped in covers to his right barked. His legs were missing, part of him knew there had been a battle, he last remembered being shot in the leg and bleeding. Had he broken a bone and lost blood? He wasn't sure, but he knew he was sitting in a makeshift hospital in some foreign place. Wherever it was... he knew he'd escaped death.
"How is it after so long, this still haunts me?" He clenched his eyes shut and saw what home used to be. He saw Tiana for what she once was, he saw his friends in the village, he saw a valley covered in the beautiful shade of red as the sun rested upon the distant mountains in the twilight hour. He wiped the image away and pictured her, oh my daughter.... In his deal during death, he'd never imagined that he'd see his daughter again. When he was placed back into this world, years had passed; as part of his deal, he was to leave the past where it was, abandoned. Not to think of it ever again...
Many years ago, in the veil of deaths realm...
It was like waking from a deep slumber, muscles tightened and mind reeling. The world was a haze of darkened colors, as if dyed with a darker essence not of this world. But, what world is this? Last he could remember was terrible pain, a sword thrust in this chest and heart and the screams of a young woman seemed so distant now. Yet his mind did not seem preoccupied by the what happened, but the where was he aspect. In the distance he saw a great leviathan seem to flow through the air, as if swimming upon the blackened fog surrounding him. There was more movement, disembodied limbs seem to creep in the corner of the eye but were not present when glanced upon. Carrion creatures moved slowly above, but un-moving, somehow trapped in place. A deep thrumming below caught his attention and he saw it. Something terrible dwell deep beneath, it's form abstract but it's presence was very real.
Am I in Hell?
"Not quite." A rigid voice broke upon his ears in a great pain, "This is a realm belonging to Mephistopheles. Patron of the Underworld and the Realm of Death, you look upon but a minor tendril which sifts through countless worlds beyond your greatest imagination."
"Whom is this!?" It dawned upon him that his voice wasn't quite his own, he breathed and moved his lips, but no sound escaped. It just seemed to seep into this deranged domain.
"I am but a puppet upon many strings, a puppet who holds many as well. Ah, but my will is not my own and I shall tell you of a great and terrible pain." The voice scratched on his inner ears, it's deep voice seemed like the clatter of bones upon massive war drums. "Though we are not quite omnipotent. Sometimes souls such as yourself happen to fall right into this realm upon death. In all cases, they were simply not ready to accept death, yet here you are surrounded by it in an infinite state." The voice let out a booming laugh which sent pain rippling through his body. "Ah, but first we ask, what is the name of this one?"
"I am Giovan Koul." He didn't will the response, but it seemed pulled from his mind; as if something cold forced it's way inside and plucked the answer from his mind.
"No longer is this the title your mortal carriage shall hold. Forget this name, it is a life no longer suited for the likes of you."
Giovan fought as hard as he could against the pain of the voice, "What... who are you?"
"Ah, so he can speak of his own will. Bravo, I love the taste of a strong being. Ah, but you have asked a question of us and we are being rude. I am of no name, though my title however could be seen in your eyes as an official of sorts. Tasked by those greater than myself to sow seeds into worlds beyond our control. Though I have told you what we do, what we are however..." A sonic boom washed over Giovan and the world became a sickly tinge of white with bits of the black fog still seeping through what looked like cracks in mid air. Before him a figure appeared, quite tall and amplified by a strange tall hat covered in zippered pockets, buttoned folds and hinged locks. It's body was thin, as if lacking organs or skin, but draped in a great cloak made of tanned flesh, sewn together and dyed a deathly shade of black. Its face... its face was like looking into a pile of maggoty corpses, deformed beyond reason and rotted into what seemed like an endless hole.
He wanted to vomit, but felt no urge to do so otherwise. He expected a great stench but nothing reached his nose. Only an endless trail of fear was laid out upon his deadened body as he gazed upon the ghastly creature.
"This is how you shall see us. As others have seen me from this realm, though we have found it much to rare to have visitors from your world, if any at all I suppose." If it could smile a sick pair of lips, Giovan was sure it would. Instead the infinite hole of rot continued to squirm and pulse with sickening creatures. "We, or in this case I, have a particular proposition for you. You may live again, but you shall live a very different life than your own. You will posses the thoughts, memories, dreams and even the inconsequential ticks of a dying man in a small wonderful war. Ah, so much new death, bringing so many more to visit our little world." The being revealed a pair of bony hands covered in a thin excuse for skin, covered in festering wounds, "Ah, but back to my point. This man, his name is Captain Adan Redford. You will continue his little life until death and we shall meet again when that time comes. You need not do much more, just continue the life we give whereas the original... well, this man accepted death and is already on his way elsewhere. As for you... well, I'm afraid I cannot divulge any other... information. Yes or no?"
It was strange, this world. Giovan never thought he'd be in such a place upon death, he'd imagine a heaven and bounties for leading a decent life. Instead he found himself in a place he'd only seen in his darkest dreams. He'd felt cheated somehow. His mind raced back to his own life, all that he'd done. He'd killed a few men early in his life, he'd managed to kill one of the soldiers which had invaded his home. Was it just the killing? Did he not do something right? Giovan strained to recollect what he'd done until the creatures deafening voice filled his mind and body again with its horrid sound.
"Ah, you misplace your beliefs. As many mortals do. You look to your short lived years in hopes to find your mortal sins or wrongs because you could never imagine finding such a place exists upon your imminent demise. A pity, truly. Do not fret, you simply had not accepted death; in turn we answered to offer a chance to those who could not accept death, but only upon our own... terms." The faceless hole contorted while the voice spoke, its fingertips pressed sharply together in what was either anticipation or already knowing the answer.
"Yes... I, I want to live!" His answer seemed to be more of a plead, unable to bare this terrible place any longer.
"So be it. Off you go." Before his eyes, a lifetime flashed and he felt his mind be pierced by many years, as many daggers to a back. The visions began to slow and nearly come to a stop. Before him two women and a man dressed in white seemed to be doing something to him. Behind a white cloth fluttered as wind pushed against its wooden suspension. He could hear loud rapid explosions in the distance, unlike anything he'd ever heard. There was much commotion and the memories became clear to him in the midst of it all. He felt the memory of another man enter his own, it was like a great expanse of land to look upon beside his own memory. He saw another childhood, parents and friends; he saw months and years flash by and all the emotion and life which flooded with them. Tears welled up and down his now living cheeks of another body but he could not move at the time, as if numbed or held down. He saw sadness reflect in one of the women in whites faces as she padded his face with a damp clothe.
I'm alive? I'm alive! I'm... He felt his mind trail off as the scene became blackened. He then heard a soothing sound, a melody with a scratching sound played somewhere. He felt warm and well, as if the sun were upon him and life had returned to his weary mind. Vision eased back as the darkness conceded and he stared at a wooden ceiling, checkered with brown and red stains. He sat up and felt a sharp pain in his left leg; a hard white shell covered it, made of some material. His memories seemed jumbled, but he somehow knew what this all was. Half of his mind seemed lost but the new half knew everything, yet he didn't feel the least bit confused. It was all familiar.
"Am I alive?" He blurted out. I can talk again!
"Yeah, you're alive now shut the fuck up!" A grumpy man wrapped in covers to his right barked. His legs were missing, part of him knew there had been a battle, he last remembered being shot in the leg and bleeding. Had he broken a bone and lost blood? He wasn't sure, but he knew he was sitting in a makeshift hospital in some foreign place. Wherever it was... he knew he'd escaped death.