Oh, I died.

There was a black membrane around me. I couldn't see anything, not even my arms. I couldn't feel anything...there was a only a weird sense of being suspended in air, except that there is no air at all.

I'm breathing out of habit, but I could tell that I'm surrounded by nothingness.

My last memory has been me walking in on my three-year lover having passionate sex with my sister on the maroon couch that we bought for our three year anniversary, the same day that my sister came over for a toast on her new job.

I was so shocked that I dropped all the cups and snack platters I was holding. Even that did not stop the obscene sounds that were echoing along the hallway where I stood.

I stood still for a second, as the two voices hit their highest and loudes notes. There was silence, and cautious rumbling of clothes and stealthy steps. But I was not going to object myself to the next few minutes of embarrassment and melodrama.

So I spun on my heel and walked out of the house. There could have been astonished gasps behind me as I ran, but I paid them no heed.

I stood facing the lift, my breath was slow and shallow. There was something nagging at my mind, but I resolutely step into the opened door of the lift. There was darkness, a sudden loss in gravity, an excruciating pain...and here I was.

It was a lift failure. The feeling that nagged at me was a warning from my neighbour that the lift was acting weird those last few days.

For some reason, I did not feel depressed. Just like there was nothing around me, I also felt like nothing was causing me pain or betrayal. I could almost get used to this darkness, this sense of freedom. This feeling of not having to talk to any human kind.

"How did you find the trip?"

There was a voice, a male voice, that spoke in my brain.

It was a happy, lighthearted voice that was like a kind senior talking to his junior.

..It reminded me of him, and I could not help but feel pricked. It wasn't the best voice to converse with me right now. And just when I had hoped that I didn't have to talk anyone.

"I'm sorry...in light of your pre-death circumstances, we have given you ample time to get used to your new body and new spirit. But I'm afraid we really cannot extend the transfer time any longer, or you would be unable to go to the tangible space and be stuck here in between the worlds."

..

..

.

Maybe I'm in a coma. It sounded like the things that my eighth grade cousin was saying all the time, about him being master of space and time..

'Sister, worry not; for I, Doom of Darkness, The Universe Master of Time and Space, will protect you from all the evil guys out there!!'

"Um, Madam? Hm, you sound okay, alright! I'm afraid you can no longer spend your time in this "darkness", this "freedom" anymore."

...

"Madam? Oh my goodness, don't go silent on me! You don't want to talk to people alright, but you need to get out of here! Or I'll be blamed for letting an accursed soul wander in between the worlds!"

..accursed?

Is he...referring to me?

POOF!

Suddenly, a man, a young man, with brown flaxen hair, and light coffee-coloured eyes, appeared in front of me. He was wearing...a student uniform, with pale blue shirt, dark brown tie, and jet black pants. His sleeves were neatly folded into 2 layers, showing a slightly pale complexion. His almond-shaped eyes were half-curled into a gentle smile.

That lips...

Suddenly, there was wind blowing behind my neck. Strong, aggressive wind that would have completely undo my light braid and throw my hair into a veritable mess...if I still have hair that is.

There was a vague feeling of the wind pushing at my neck and my rear body, but after it was gone, I couldn't feel a thing again. Do I even have a proper body?

"Hey! Stop that! I, I was just trying to take the image of someone you're familiar with..."

Well you chose the wrong person! Him, him of all persons...

WWWHHHOOOOSSSHHHH---

"Alright wait wait, let me pick something else...ummmm...okay this would do!"

The darkness seemed to eat up the lean body - it gave me an oddly satisfying feeling - and what took it place was the smaller stature of a young girl. She was wearing the same uniform, just with black skirt and pink ribbons instead. The ribbons looked out of place in a set of uniform full of mild colours.

That's not the usual uniform, isn't that--

"Yea it's not. Isn't it cuter this way? Your uniform was way too boring with just those light colours."

..You're not one to talk, suspicious stranger!!

Then I realize, since I couldn't feel my mouth nor my throat, I had no way of speaking out to retort to that remark of the stranger.

"No need to, I'm speaking directly to your mind. Save the time. You can't talk in this corporeal form anyway."

...should I pretend that I didn't hear that or--

"Oi! Stop it already. I went to all the trouble of looking for your friend from as far as three years ago just to have a normal conversation with you. Can we finally talk about serious stuffs now?"

..You were the one who started commenting about people's uniform.

"...What an uncute soul. Anyways, time is running so I'll make this short--"

Make what short? I really don't understand all your "spirit" and "between worlds" business...

"...nevermind all that. You won't come back here anyways. Or I hope so. You can't be that unlucky to come back here again."

..you never know.

"Come on, don't be too pessimistic. I'm An'nui, your attendant for your transfer from World ERT17 to World MAX49. It's okay if you don't understand what I was talking about just now, but just know that whatever I'm telling you after this is going to be super beneficial to you, so listen up!"

...

"..I can't see your face but that silence is very irritating. You managed to insult me with a completely blank mind...Anyways, back to the serious bits. So actually in your previous life, you got cursed by one of your ancestors, and thus your life ended in the tragic way it did. But strong and vengeful grudge seemed to flow in your family, so after your death you also became a cursed spirit also. To prevent another tragedy from happening upon the next generation, I decided to bring you to another world where you can begin an another life and hopefully, dispel that vengeful aura that is possessing your spirit right now."

...Okay.

I've come this far. I may as well try to make sense of it.

"You've only just acknowledged my existence? Unbelievable, what a completely uncute spirit..."

...Anyways, so apparently...apparently what? My life was shitty because of some old lady (only old ladies kept such long grudge) and I was supposed to start a second life to prevent myself from becoming the next vengeful old lady?

If I had really become one and cursed the child of that couple, it would be---

"Stop right there!! You can't be thinking such scary and violent thoughts! Here is where you're supposed to be dispelling your vengeful feelings..."

...Well, I'm not feeling that vengeful though. I'm just a bit, bit curious about my niece...

"Of course you're feeling alright. I suppressed your negative feelings and memories in order to have a safe talk with the sane you. You, what a pure vengeful spirit! If you were not such a dangerous power to the balance of the world of ERT17, I may have just crystallized you and put you in my soul collections. Such beautiful obsidian colour of hatred..."

...What is this lunat--

"No! I'm not a lunatic!"

I haven't even finis--

"Stop distracting me! Shut up and listen: so to make it fair, you're going into your second life with a totally random status. Can't bless you too much or you'll destroy MAX49 as well...but don't worry! I'll make sure you have a happy and worry-free life this time around!"

...

"What is with that silence!! Are you doubting my power? Hmph, fine, then when you are able to talk and use magic, I'll pass down something that you can use to talk to me. You can tell me if you run into any problems and I'll blast them into smithereens! I'll show you the power of the God of J..."

God of J...?

"..."

God of J...?

"...Please call me An'nui. Forget what I said."

Okay, God of J. So am I leaving now or...?

"Yes, of course. It's almost time up also. Just a few more minutes and you would be free from my spiritual restraints and could run free to any world you want, with your hatred intact..."

...

"..."

Maybe I should---

"No forget that!! You are going into MAX49! And I'm keeping that mental restraint on you until I think you're sane enough without it. With that, I bid you adieu! Thanks for using our Soul Transfer Service! Bye bye!"

Wait I haven't fi---

...