Chapter #1: A Wish for Eternity

As the wind hurled stronger, the rain bashed harder on the camper's windshield, blurring the road ahead. The wipers squeaked as they struggled to keep up with the heavy downpour, but Maria didn’t mind. Her hand was tucked neatly in her lap, holding the hand of her one and only love – Flinn.

As the sky became lit with lightning strikes, she gazed in awe, but she also started to get anxious. “Maybe we should pull over at the next gas station?” she murmured to Flinn.

He gave her a quick smile, though his hand gripped the wheel ever so slightly. “We’ve driven through worse. Besides, you said you wanted to reach the ocean by morning, right?” His voice was calm and reassuring.

He lovingly squeezed her hand, then carefully released it and moved his hand to the wheel, gripping it tightly. “Then again, you might be right. It might be best to sit this one through.” He said, slightly concerned at the worsening weather, then continued. “I’m just a little saddened that I won’t fulfill my promise…” his voice heavy while he sighed afterwards.

Maria playfully rolled her eyes and let out a simple laugh. “You and your promises. You feel you must always fulfill them,” she reassured, “but it’s okay, I don’t need to see the ocean that soon, we have plenty of time, don’t worry.” She smiled while caressing his shoulder before returning her hand to her lap.

“Well, who am I if I don’t fulfill my promises? I love you and I want to do the best I can.” He said with his voice full of love.

Her chest tightened, both from the storm outside as well as the one within her heart. “You know what the only promise I care about is?”

“What is that?”.

“The promise you made with a bended knee.” Maria reminisced. “To stand in front of everyone we love, back home, and finally call you my wife.“ She stopped for a moment. “That is the most important promise you gave to me.” Her words, full of love and care, rang in Flinn’s ears like a sweet, soft melody.

“That truly is my most important promise.” His gaze met hers for a brief moment. “One day I will fulfill that promise.”

Both smiled while the warmth of love tickled their youthful hearts. Even in this weather, it seemed as though the skies were clear and the sunshine was peering through the windows.

But the truth was rather the exact opposite. The weather was worsening awfully. In front of them, the road curved sharply, rainwater pooled in wide puddles that splashed under their tires. Maria squeezed her hand nervously. “Careful-“.

Headlights suddenly cut through the downpour from the opposite lane, blindingly strong and far too close. The horn was loud, sharp, and frantic.

Flinn jerked the wheel, but it was far too late; there was nowhere to go.

In that final, impossible moment, Maria turned to him, her eyes widening and her lips trembling with words she always thought about.

He reached for her hand, their fingers interlocking.

Memories of their youthful love flooded their brains. Their first "hello", first date, the first time they held hands, their first kiss... All of the memoires they wanted to hold on to. But time was not on their side, it ended quickly... and painfully.

“I love you…” Those were their final words before their world shattered in a roar of metal and pain, love their only grace.

Darkness… that was everything they saw now, everything they felt. It seemed as though it would go on forever, until suddenly, a bright light appeared before them.

Maria and Flinn were standing next to each other, unable to move, unable to touch, unable to see each other. But they felt each other's presence even though they were encompassed by darkness. As the light began to move towards them, washing over them, it spoke with a deep voice. “It appears as though you have met your untimely end.” It sounded like it was happy for their deaths, yet continued in a tone of hope. “Nevertheless, I admire your love for each other; it truly is astonishing.”.

“What are you!? Where are we!? Did we die!?” Flinn exclaimed in pure horror.

“It seems that you are quite shaken.” The light spoke with reassurance. “It is to be expected, you did indeed die.” The light stopped speaking for a moment, as if to think the best way to explain the current situation. “I am what you would consider a ‘god’, but not quite.”.

“You’re God?” Maria asked with surprise emanating from her voice.

“Well, not The God, but you could think of me as a higher being, perhaps.”.

“Did you save us?”.

“I did, but don’t get me wrong, it was for my own personal entertainment.” The light’s voice suddenly started to sound menacing. “You see, it gets boring being in this position, so I decided to test you two, for my own amusement, that is.”

“What do you mean?” They asked in unison.

“I shall grant you… one wish.” Said the light with a smug tone. “So choose wisely.”

Without any hesitation, as if they had already decided beforehand, Maria and Flinn exclaimed: “We wish to be together forever!”.

“That is what I thought.” Said the light. “I will grant your wish, but only if you pass my trial.” The voice laughed slightly menacingly, yet also slightly playfully as if to say 'My boredom is finally over'. “Without any delay, here are the rules.” Maria and Flinn both started concentrating intensely in the hope that they could be united forever.

“You will be reincarnated in another world with a completely new look and identity, losing your memories. Don’t worry though, you will recover all of them piece by piece as you live on in this new world.” After a short stop, it continued. “Your goal is to find each other and proclaim your undying love; then and only then will your wish be granted.” It then continued in a sinister tone. “But of course, there is a catch! If you proclaim your love to anyone other than each other, your souls will be torn apart, never to be reunited again!” After yet another stop, the light asked. “Do you agree to take on the trial?”

Maria and Flinn knew, if there was a chance to be together, they had to take it, no matter how impossible the challenge may seem. “We agree!” they both proclaimed.

“Very well, I hope you entertain me well.”.

And in an instant, the light disappeared, and the darkness swallowed them whole, separating them.

With the light of a new world, their journey for each other had just begun – and so too did the trial of their love.