Cold River

"Where am I?" I was so confused. A throne of bones was in front of me. Suddenly, a big exoskeleton appeared, with wings of a dragon, a skull helmet, and a big axe like the ones seen in Viking stories. But this one was about 3 meters tall. The creature said to me,
“Welcome, Dark Knight, the strongest warrior I’ve ever created. You will be the one who leads darkness to victory and slays every hero that crosses your path.”


I was at home, woke up early, and did my job. Another day, same job again. I enter data into the system from 9 to 5. Great! every man’s dream. After work, I like to watch some detective shows and some Lord of the Kings series and stuff. I really like shows where the detective is chasing the villain and the villain feels trapped. I love when the detective realizes he is very similar to the convict and that he could have become the one he’s chasing.

Finally, it was Friday, the day everyone who works Monday through Friday celebrates. I decided to spend the weekend at the local river.
I drove there; it was hot as my mother. I had the AC on cold, but it was still hot. When I got there, I found parking and got excited to jump into the river, maybe I’d do a head dive or a spin. I put my towel on the wooden dock. I took a good look at the water. It looked so nice. I was wet from sweat and the sun was burning me like my father would burn me with his jokes or torch me for my bad job, social life, and so on.

My mother and everyone always told me to pour a little water on my head, shoulders, stomach, and feet before jumping in so my heart and system wouldn’t get shocked. How dumb they are.
I love my mother, but she always says some old traditional stuff that makes no sense. I always just jump in. I’m not smarter than everyone, just lazy and I don’t think it’ll do anything. For a moment there, I almost wanted to think I was smarter than everyone, but luckily I stopped myself. I can’t be ignorant now. If I’m so smart, why am I still stuck at a 9 to 5 job?

Oh well. What am I doing just standing around? I took a few steps back so I could get a good run. Then, with my hot body, hot from the heat and from how beautiful I am, I jumped into the river, head first, like an Olympic sportsman.

At the bottom of the river, two goldfish were fighting. One was black, the other bright white. Both were eyeless. But they were fighting. The bright white fish was almost going to win, but at that moment a lifeless body dropped onto it with full weight. The black fish got into the lifeless body, and in that moment, I got a second life. A second chance.

I was reincarnated into a world of beast creatures, magic knights, mages, dragons, and flying fish. A world of strength and wonder. A world destined to shine in light. But in one small part of this world, above the Dead Sea called Hadesa, there were dark castles filled with beasts and creatures that didn’t want this world to shine.

In the sky above the great Hadesa was the castle of Orka, named after its lord King ORK. I was suddenly in this castle. He stood before me and told me how I would be the force to bring the greatest darkness in ages.

I never had a dream to become a hero. My parents probably would’ve loved that, or for me to become successful at something. I wanted to make them happy, but as I got older, it became harder and harder to make a name for myself and earn enough money to make us happy.

I also never dreamed of being a villain or a dark knight. Whatever Lord ORK reincarnated me to be, I never expected this. I guess I can try and do what he wants. Maybe after this, I’ll wake up from this crazy dream. Or whatever this is.

Maybe I’m being transferred to a hospital right now. Maybe this is a dream. Did I really go to the river? My memory is hazy. But maybe something happened and now I’m in this dream.

 I’ll wake up soon, I hope. But why does it feel so real? I want to go back to reality. I need to wake up!! I have stuff to do before work starts. Mother of the Lord and Father of all living… am I late to work? Is this just a dream?

In that moment, ORK told me:

“This is real. I can read your thoughts. I know you’re confused, but you died. And now you’re in my world. But luck is on your side. Your body synthesized perfectly with black and red bones and armor. This has never happened before. With this armor, you’re nearly immortal. Take this.”

He gave me a katana-like sword made of bones. The blade lit on fire with blue, dark, and red flames.

He was shocked.“Three flames?! This is unheard of. You are destined to slay all heroes. You are the Hero Slayer from the prophecy, the Dark Knight destined to slay every hero and human in this world. We will bring darkness. We will bring back the age of the Dark Fish flying through the sky. All praise the Great Dark Fish!”

And in that moment, many skeleton soldiers and flying fish let out a strange sound. ORK said:

“Stand tall and take this army.”

I was so confused. I looked at the army and said,

“Go and find me heroes to kill. But don’t kill them, leave that to me.”

Leave the killing to me, the greatest Hero Slayer.

I totally improvised that line to buy myself time. But the army just started flying away in all directions. It was so scary even I was afraid of it. Only two big monsters stayed. One had the head of a bull and a body of steel. The other was a girl with a fish-like look, a fin like a mermaid.

“We are your main servants. Do you want us to go as well, my lord?” they asked.

“No,” I told them. “You two, take me to my office.”

They said, “Where?”

“I mean... take me to my chambers, and we’ll make a plan.”

“This way, my lord.”

I still don’t know how a mere office worker ended up into a world of magic, heroes, and monsters…But I’ll try to go home. I want to wake up. I’ll find a way to go back, I promise. I don’t know who I’m promising this to, but I promise:I will go back!