Prologue 1

Everybody in the world can be split into two categories: those who would sacrifice themselves for another and those who wouldn't. Am I making some sort of deep analysis here? Hell no. What I’m talking about here isn't about whether you're a good person or not. Its far simpler than that.

Figuratively, if a person was about to die in front of you and you could save them at the cost of your own life, would you?

Don't bother trying to answer it or reason it out. No one ever knows their answer until they need to make it. Take me. I’m about as selfish and as morally inept as a guy that scams people out of their savings or a doctor that prescribes unnecessary procedures just for a little bit more cash. Not once in my life have I ever given a crap about another person, and not once did I ever see that as a bad thing.

So why did I leap onto the tracks like I damn hero? Fuck if I know. In fact, the last thing I remember is regretting the entire thing to hell and back right before I was promptly turned into a fine mist of nightmare fuel by a Japan’s ever-efficient Thomas on steroids.

So where am I going with this? Nowhere actually. I just have nothing to do in this place. Where am I? No clue. Rather than the flames and giant cockroaches with chainsaws for dicks I expected to be waiting for me in the afterlife all I got was this never ending world of emptiness. Darkness all around, no sound, no texture, no passage of time, no nothing.

It wasn't that bad, honestly. Another man might call an spending eternity in an empty void hell, but I am of the firm belief that this empty eternity is still better than having an eternity of chainsaw dicks shoved up my ass. This place might be boring, but certainly isn't hell.

Wait. Scratch that. Forget what I said about boring, this place might actually be interesting. I just hope that ball of light heading towards me isn't an angel or something like that; they might send me to the right place this time.

[ Mister Richard, I have come to speak to you. ]

Well, of course you have. It's not like there's anything else in this place but little old me.

[ Indeed. Each transitory realm can only hold a single soul. You are quite lucky to have been selected by the Entity. ]

Oh, so you can read minds. Or am I actually speaking out loud instead of thinking. Sigh. Having no body is quite confusing.

[ What I am about to tell you is of the utmost importance. You have been chosen by the Entity as a subject for Their experiment. That means— ]

Hold up, lady. Wait, are you lady? I feel like you're a lady but I can't be sure. Given that your just a ball of light with no voice and all.

[ Please listen. Since your soul was deemed worthy enough to enter a transitory realm, you are now going to be a part of the Entity's Grand Experiment. In this experiment, you will be sent on missions with the purpose of gaining strength and surviving until the end of the experiment. If you make it to the end or obtain sufficient strength to be recognized by the Entity, you will be entitled to anything you desire. ]

Go on.

If I had my body I would be leaning over a desk with my hands clasped schemingly in front of my face. Did this sound too much like a deal with the devil? Maybe. Was I inclined to accept if I could get something favorable enough out of it? Definitely. What kind of deal would this—

[ I am finished. ]

What the fuck!? Hold on. Finished!?! What the hell was that! I didn't learn a damn thing! What the hell is this entity? What the fuck is his experiment? And what do you mean by missions and growing strong? Do you really expect me to be satisfied with that shitty explanation!

Damn! I expected a tempting devil of details but got a unconvincing imp instead. This must be the afterlife equivalent having the chocolate chips in your cookie all end up being raisins. The betrayal of expectations is too large to be forgiven.

[ What do you want then? ]

I’ll ask questions and you answer them.

Like a wise man once said, if a chef cannot cook your dog properly, then you must teach the chef to cook.

[ There are some questions I cannot answer. ]

Why not?

[ I am not authorized to. ]

Fine. Then answer the ones you can and say fuck to the ones you can't.

[ I will on one condition. ]

Well aren't you being quite compliant.

Years of life on that rock called Earth had taught me many things. One of those things is that people never do anything you expect and especially never for free. It doesn't matter if its as easy as lifting their hand, if you want that hand lifted, you better give them a reason to. My favorite methods are either paying them to or threatening to chop it off. Very rarely did I have to resort to anything side from those two.

[ There is no reason to not answer questions I can answer. ]

Makes sense. Spit it out.

This thing was already in the top ten most decent people I’d ever met. Not sure if it could be counted as a person, but it was my list anyway.

[ Please refer to the Entity as a proper noun.]

Your kidding…You can read my sentences?

[ Not at all. The Entity is my creator. I said things which were not allowed. Apologies.]

What? You didn't say anything off to me.

[ No. I said things which were not allowed to be said. You do not remember because the Entity’s system has deleted the information from you. ]

…so even if you slipped up, I wouldn't remember a thing. Not sure how I feel about some mysterious being messing with my memories. Bah. Not important. I’ll be asking my questions now if you don't mind.

[ Not at all. Please go ahead. ]

What is the entity?

[ Please refer to Them as a proper noun. ]

Rats. Fine. What is the Entity.

[ Fuck. ]

Huh?

[ You said say fuck if I cannot give an answer. Fuck. ]

…If you were human you’d either be my best friend, someone I’d bully, or someone I’d enjoy having rough sex with. Forget the fuck thing and just answer the question as you would normally.

[ Certainly. ]

Again. What is the entity?

[ Proper noun. ]

You bitch. What is the Entity?

[ That information is unaccessible with your current clearance. ]

What is this Grand Experiment?

[ That information is unaccessible with your current clearance. ]

What are the missions?

[ That information is unaccessible with your current clearance. ]

Fuck you! How can I get higher clearance?

[ No need to be rude. Higher clearance can be obtained as a reward for exceptional performance during missions. ]

An answer. I was sure that you were scamming me for a moment there.

[ I would not. ]

Like I trust you. For all I know, you could be telling me lies. I’m just going through this since the need for any information outweighs the dangers of wrong information. Why was I selected?

[ You were selected because your soul entered a transitory realm. ]

What is a transitory realm?

[ That information is unaccessible with your current clearance. ]

Hmm. This is harder than I expected. Are all your answers going to be too simple to be useful?

[ No. ]

How can I obtain useful answers?

[ By asking the right questions. ]

What are the right questions?

[ That information is unauthorized with your current clearance. ]

…How can I obtain concrete answers?

[ By asking the right questions. ]

By “the right questions” do you mean I have to be more specific?

[ …Yes. ]

Well then, I hope the Entity isn't waiting up, ‘cause I’ll be taking my time with you.