Chapter 3: Death

  Disappointment filled me as I sat next to Clair’s lifeless body. Her death was too quick, too anticlimactic. I wanted more—closure, satisfaction—but my broken body didn’t leave me with many options. The first rays of sunlight crept through the shattered windows, illuminating the chaos around me.

  I struggled to stand but collapsed back into the chair. The sound of approaching footsteps jolted me to attention. High heels. A woman. 'No one should see this. Whoever comes here will have to die.'

  Grabbing a shard of broken glass near my feet, I readied myself to throw it at whoever entered.

  “Boss, are you here?”

  It was Selia. 'Should I bait her inside and kill her? Or send her away? I can’t afford more trouble.' Exhaustion made the decision for me. I chose to talk.

  “Yes, it’s me. What are you doing here? And why didn’t you show up last night? Our deal?” I tried to sound normal, masking the agony in my voice.

  “What? I did as promised. I just left Brody. I’m here because of the fire. I wasn’t going to come inside, but I heard—” Her voice trailed off, her words muffled. Am I losing my hearing? I crawled to the door, pressing my back against it to listen better.

  “Selia, are you still there? I can’t hear you anymore,” I called out.

  She saw my silhouette through the cracked door. “Boss, are you okay?” she asked, her voice laced with concern.

  “Are you okay? Did he…” I hesitated.

  “Yes, he did, and I’m fine,” she said, though her voice betrayed her. After a pause, she sobbed, “I’m not fine.”

  “You don’t have to do this anymore. We’ll talk about it next time we meet. Now, leave.”

  I listened to her footsteps as she walked away, loud and deliberate—unlike her usual quiet demeanor. She’s wearing high heels. Dressed for the night. What happened to you, Selia? Her steps faded into silence. “I’m sorry, Selia,” I whispered.

  A sudden crash shattered the fragile moment of peace. At first, it seemed like a rock had been hurled through the window, but as I examined the embedded object, dread gripped me. That’s not a rock. That’s something else.

  Before I could act, the door creaked open. “What the fuck are you still doing here?” I screamed, spotting Selia’s figure. Panic surged as I tried to dislodge the object from the wall, but it wouldn’t budge. With no other choice, I grabbed Selia’s hand and dragged her toward the window.

  Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

  “Trust me!” I yelled, leaping backward to break the glass with my body. The hole left by the object’s impact weakened the window, and I managed to pull her through with me. The world slowed as we fell. 'Will we survive this fall?'

  The device triggered.

  A strange force rippled outward, distorting the air around us. It wasn’t heat or fire, but an unnatural vibration that twisted reality itself. The explosion enveloped everything, pulling us into its center. For a moment, I felt weightless, as if the world had lost all structure. My surroundings blurred into blinding light.

  'This is the end,' I thought. But a defiant part of me refused. “I won’t die!” I roared, letting go of Selia’s hand as the force pulled us apart. My fists clenched, ready to fight the unstoppable. Then everything went dark.

  Death was supposed to be the end. No gods, no afterlife, no second chances—just the silence of oblivion. Or so I thought. Or so I thought. But when I opened my eyes, the world around me was impossibly clear—too bright, too sharp.

  I heard voices. Dozens of them. Crying. Screaming. Fighting. Who are these people? I was surrounded by chaos. 'Is this hell?' I wondered.

  My surroundings slowly came into focus. I was encased in something—a white cocoon. Its translucent walls allowed me a blurry view of the outside: a stark, snow-white platform that stretched endlessly, flat and sterile. Dozens of people wandered around, many armed with weapons that would be illegal in life. Most of the cocoons around me were torn open, empty.

  A group nearby tried to break through a cocoon, but its exterior resisted their efforts. From the inside, it felt soft, like cotton. From the outside, it was a solid shell. Inside, I examined myself. My body, once scarred and battered, looked rejuvenated—except for my left arm. 'Still gone. Even in the afterlife, I’m handicapped. What a joke,' I thought bitterly.

  I observed silently for hours, piecing together the rules of this strange place. People didn’t seem to feel hunger. Death was possible here—permanent, from what I could tell. Those who left their cocoons became targets. There was no sun, no day or night, only endless white. And one man commanded respect above all others. They called him Pedoro.

  Pedoro was a tyrant, his strength unmatched. Boredom and frustration dominated this place, and he exploited it to assert dominance. His latest decree? Every woman would become his wife, and he would spend 12 hours with a different one each day.

  I watched from my cocoon, waiting for the right moment to act. Pedoro’s arrogance would be his undoing.

  A commotion drew my attention. A girl with sky-blue hair emerged from her cocoon, naked and disoriented. Pedoro noticed her instantly, striding toward her with predatory intent. She resisted, pushing him away, but he laughed and grabbed her again.

  Her face became clear as she turned. My heart sank. Selia. Memories of our last moments flooded back. The fire. The explosion. My desperate attempt to save her. All of it was meaningless. And now, here she was, trapped and vulnerable.

  Pedoro’s hand reached for her again. I couldn’t let this continue.

  I broke free from my cocoon, the shell shattering around me. Grabbing a nearby sword, I sprinted toward Pedoro. My body screamed in protest, my missing arm throwing off my balance, but I didn’t care.

  With everyone’s attention on Pedoro and Selia, my approach went unnoticed. I adjusted my grip, spinning midair as I swung the sword with all the strength I had. The blade sliced cleanly through his neck, severing his head from his body.

  Pedoro’s lifeless form crumpled to the ground as I landed, my breathing ragged but triumphant. Blood stained the pristine white platform as I turned to face the crowd.

  Standing over Pedoro's lifeless form, I turned to face the crowd, blood dripping from the sword. The silence was deafening, every pair of eyes locked on me. After a moment, I raised the blade and declared, ""This place is mine now," I said, my voice low but firm, letting the silence carry the weight of my words."