Alexander is dead but that is at least what he thought he was.

------

He could still feel consciousness as he wondered about whether there'd be heaven, hell, or purgatory? Even if there is, where would he be?

Would he be a ghost cursed to wander the spiritual plane and haunt reality until his regrets are let go?

Would he be able to meet his family members? Who would continue to propagate the Creed bloodline? Was he stupid for being an old bachelor?

Would he be reborn into the next life as a toad, wasp, or maybe another human after undergoing a thousand reincarnations? Is his death destined and fated to be that exact time, place, and manner of death?

Would he meet King Yama of the Goku universe? Would he meet Anubis? Would he meet the Grim Reaper? Would he be like the dead in Pixar's Coco or Soul?

Or is he already nothing with just a consciousness left to ponder for the rest of eternity?

Is he part of the Matrix? Is he a character in the book that the author chose to kill for the heck of it?

------

Alexander's consciousness continued to drift in dark nothingness as he pondered on his questions.

He eventually stopped as something caught his conscious eyes. The vast darkness was illuminated as characters of chaotic alternations of green and red form a coherent message.

--------

[CONGRATULATIONS ON ACCESSING WHAT YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE ACCESSED]

Why is it congratulating me when it killed me?

[PLEASE DO NOT DO IT AGAIN]

How can I do something again when all I could do is read you and can only think of questions?

[CONSIDER YOURSELF OF THIS MOMENT AS ONLY A BLANK AND TO FILL THAT BLANK IS TO TURN TO QUESTIONS]

What now? Would I stop being a blank when I ask enough questions that drown out philosophers?

[IT IS ONLY TEMPORARY AS THERE IS A REWARD FOR YOUR CURIOSITY AND EFFORTS]

So am I dead or am I not? What would the reward be? What have I even accomplished?

[YOU FOUND A LAPSE IN THE GREATER SYSTEM THAT HASN'T BEEN NOTICED BEFORE]

[AND JUST LIKE HOW YOU TAKE COMMISSION FOR EVERY JOB WELL DONE OR EVERY BUG YOU FIND]

[YOU SHALL BE GIVEN YOUR JUST REWARD]

So is reality just a computer simulation? Are you the Matrix? Are you a god-like being that happens to be just a tech support in your dimension? Can a god be embarrassed when a speck of dust like me has done your job for you?

[THIS IS WHERE YOUR KNOWLEDGE AUTHORIZATION STOPS]

[ENJOY YOUR REWARD]

[PLEASE DO NOT DO IT AGAIN]

[AS THAT LAPSE IS ALREADY FIXED AND THE GREATER SYSTEM IS NOW WITHOUT FLAWS]

What does knowledge authorization mean? What are you? What is the greater system?

-------

January 30, 1984. In a suburban residence at San Fernando Valley, California.

A young seven-year-old just blew his birthday candles and celebrated it along with his grandpa.

"Happy birthday Alex!" The grandfather gave his greetings.

"Thank you, grandpa." Young Alex smiled but the blankness in his dark eyes was enough to make the grandfather sigh.

After that, there was no feistiness and asking for presents that should come from a kid. The boy just went quiet and simply ate the food on the table.

The grandfather sighed once again as he looked at the peculiarities of his grandson. It has been two years since the accident but moving on is many times harder for a kid than an adult.

Most kids would be distracted with the next curious things that they meet but his grandson is still fixated on one fact and that is his late parents.

To remember his artist mother, the boy delved into pens, colors, and papers as he doodled and drew as much as he could.

The incident was still fresh when in kindergarten and as the boy compared to the smudges of his peers and progressed noticeably with all the artwork he passed.

Even when the teacher is discussing letters and numbers, the boy is still fixated on doodles as he could.

Now that the boy is in first grade, everything remained the same only that it is with older kids and higher education.

It was fortunate that bullying still hadn't troubled the boy. Maybe his quirkiness, reclusiveness, silently observing eyes, and Creed superior looks made him a mysteriously charming and terrifying villain that shouldn't be offended in the minds of the grade-schoolers.

The birthday get-together eventually ended with their stomachs full and the grandfather out of his concerns.

"Alex, want to know what I got you for your birthday?" The grandpa asked with a gentle smile to help ease the darkened heart of the boy.

"I guess." Alex shrugged and gave him an indifferent look that said 'I'm ready when you are'.

Grandpa could only shake his head as he lead the boy to the second floor.

When the old man opened the door to his own room, Alex asked in piqued curiosity. "Is this why you didn't want me inside my room earlier?"

"I guess." The grandpa replied in a joking shrug which was reflective of his grandson's earlier mannerism.

Alex had already familiarized himself with the layout of his room, so he noticed the blocky object that looks familiar to the TV inside. The keyboard and the mouse that came along with it are enough to convey its computerism.

The boy recognized the brand and the marks of the computer which made his dull eyes lit up with passion.

He looked towards his grandfather who gave him a nod and another repeat. "Happy Birthday Alex!"

Alex didn't jitter in jubilation or cry with tears, he just gave his grandfather a hearty hug and gave a much sincerer. "Thank you, grandpa."

"Well, play along now." The grandfather was relieved as he closed the door as soon as the boy's attention was pretty much on the computer as he approached it.

With Alex left alone with the gift, he curved his lips in happiness and showed a rare childishness when he said. "Glad to see you again, Dad's computer!"

Young Alex didn't even think that he could be reunited again to the computer that his father treasured.

He hadn't even gotten the chance to touch it as they were afraid that the special machine would break. His mother and father would always reprimand him whenever he got close.

Alex smiled in mixed happiness and sadness when remembering those times. "I guess I can touch you now."

His hands were barely enough to touch the monitor with his height and the lowered table.

In any eventuality, the boy should be reminiscing to the memories where his father is playing around with codes he didn't even understand.

This time, however, the monitor turned itself on with darkness along with glowing red-green characters to fill the boy's blankness with something it carried from another time.