I Don’t Want to Die

5:05 PM

“You can’t be serious, Orthos,” I said.

“Dead serious, Tom. He’s going to be coming back with other demons, which will lead to the end of the world.”

“Well…then, what do we do?”

“I…I don’t know. The Devil was a scary man. I couldn’t even comprehend how truly powerful he was, and I was only a couple of steps away from him.”

“I can’t believe you even had a conversation with him, man. You’re one crazy guy, y’know that?” I said.

Orthos just shrugged. I couldn’t believe what he told me though, that everything was a lie basically. I tried to keep my composure but didn’t know how long I would last. I was still frustrated that I couldn’t be the one to end Pius.

“I know you’re pissed, Tom. I’m pissed off as well. I was going to kill Pius, I was so close…yet so far. Once the Devil showed up, it was completely out of my hands,” said Orthos.

“It’s…it’s whatever, Orthos. I’m just glad the bastard is finally gone now. I…I don’t really know what to do now,” I said.

Orthos looked at Tom. He noticed that Tom looked…out of it, devoid of any real emotion.

“Tom, are you going to be alright?” he asked.

“Y-Yeah, I’ll be fine, Orthos. Thanks for asking,” I replied.

We began to sit down on the chairs near the fireplace. We both needed a break.

Everything happened so fast. I couldn’t believe how much we accomplished. I felt like I…completed at life. I mean…I helped take down some bad guys and got the main one eliminated.

What more could I want?

My family was all gone. I don’t even know what happened to Claire. I…I didn’t even care. I couldn’t care. I couldn’t care about anything anymore.

I stared at the lit fireplace and felt its warmth. It felt nice. It felt like I was back at home for some reason, with the rest of my family.

We used to celebrate Christmas together every year. Josh would get me a shirt too large. Father would burn some of the food on accident. Mother would always scold me for bringing snowballs into the living room. Those were good times.

I wish I could go back to those good times. And be there forever and ever.

I slowly closed my eyes and needed some rest.

Orthos looked over at Tom and noticed he began to fall asleep. He still had the Devil in his mind. He wanted to ask Tom about something, but decided to let him rest for a bit.

7:00 PM

I slowly opened my eyes. I was slouched in the chair.

“It looks like you’re finally awake,” said Orthos.

“How long was I out?”

“About two hours,” he said.

I was slightly surprised but it made sense. I felt tired but pushed myself to wake up. I still couldn’t get used to looking at my shadow talking to me.

“Hey, Tom—I got a question for you,” said Orthos.

“Shoot.”

“How do you…feel about living?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean…do you…do you want to continue living?” he said.

I stared at him blankly for a moment. I didn’t know how to answer that question. I’m still young, yet I don’t know what to do anymore.

It’s like I reached the top but don’t want to go back down. I could go higher but I choose not to. I was…stuck in one spot.

“I…I don’t know, why do you ask?” I said.

“Because…I want to live, Tom. I need to stay here and try to stop the Devil when he returns. I have to try, at least…” he said.

There was a brief moment of silence between us. The warmth from the fireplace still felt good. I took a deep breath and looked at Orthos.

“You can have my body,” I said.

He stared at me blankly for a couple of seconds.

“Are you sure, Tom? If you don’t want to give me your physical body, just tell me right now,” he said.

“I’m serious, Orthos. You can have it.”

“Why are you letting go of it so…easily.”

“Because Orthos…I don’t know what to do now. I mean I wanted to become immortal. I didn’t want to die…but I still feel empty inside. I thought being immortal would change everything for me.

But…all it did was let me witness everyone I love around me die. I don’t want to deal with that anymore. Pain. Suffering. Regret. I’m tired of it all. I want to be…I want to be happy again. I want to be with my family up in Heaven since there is a God and Devil,” I said.

I felt tears falling down my cheeks. I didn’t even realize I was crying.

“You…you don’t have to be my shadow anymore. You can be me now,” I said.

I will let you go, then.

Now we were speaking telepathically again, like from the beginning.

I’m glad I got to know you, Orthos. You might be the best friend I ever made.

Likewise, Tom. Goodbye.

Goodbye, Orthos.

Orthos returned Tom’s shadow and began to merge his soul with Tom’s physical body. Normally this wouldn’t be possible, but with Tom’s willingness to leave his physical body, the physical body needed a new soul as its host.

After a couple of minutes, the merge was successful and Orthos became the new host for the physical body. Orthos was now immortal. Tom became a roaming soul.

This was it. I became the new soul for this physical body.

Congratulations, Orthos.

Is it time for you to go, Tom?

Yes, Orthos. I don’t want to wait any longer.

I understand, Tom. Goodbye, officially.

Goodbye, Orthos.

It was hard for me to tell, but I swear I saw Tom’s soul leave the room.

Tom…you there?

…

7:15 PM

It was quiet in the room now. Tom actually left. He’s gone now. I hoped he reached Heaven safely. I had no time to mope around now.

I got up from the chair and walked over to the door. I noticed a large mirror to the right of it and walked over to see my physical self. When I got to the mirror, I had to take a step back.

My physical body changed…to my original body. How was that possible? I looked down at my hands, my skin, arms, legs, even my dick. I was in my original body. Was it because I took over this physical body with my soul? There were still so many questions that hadn’t been answered.

First things first, I needed to check on my brother and…the Queen. I walked out of the room and headed downstairs to reach the pad. I noticed the church was empty and quiet.

I used the pad to get to the Royal Kingdom. I still had the keycard in one of the pockets. As soon as I teleported into the kingdom, I dropped the keycard to the floor and fell to my knees.

Everyone was dead.

I was in the main hall, which was where the King’s throne was placed. All I saw were bodies on the floor…with their heads gone. Blood splattered on the floor everywhere. Did their heads explode or something?

I immediately ran out to the front. There were dead Royal Guard soldiers with their heads gone as well. I was starting to panic. How could this have happened?

How…no…no…no…it can’t be. It can’t be because of…Pius.

Was his blessing a curse? Anyone who he blessed was…cursed? I…I couldn’t believe it. That didn’t make sense.

W-Why was I still alive?

Why didn’t my head explode?

I had too many damn questions that couldn’t be answered.

“Damn you, Pius!” I yelled at the top of my lungs.

I couldn’t stop yelling.

“Damn you, Devil!”

What am I going to do now? I had already lost my voice. 

I gripped my chest, wishing this agony would end. 

I slowly walked over to the throne. It was made of pure gold. I sat on it and oversaw all the dead bodies on the floor. There had to be millions…no…billions of people gone now.

Maybe I was wrong to challenge the Devil. Maybe I should’ve gone up to Heaven with Tom.

Maybe...it was already too late for me.

I didn’t want to die. But now…everyone else is dead.