"Hello? Is anyone there?" William called out, his voice trembling. Only his own echo answered.
"Michael? Henry? Anyone..." he tried again, hope clinging to the edges of his fear.
"FUCK! WHY CAN'T I EVER WIN?!" he shouted, frustration spilling over.
Then, faint crying reached his ears. He followed it and saw a little girl—black hair, pale skin—sobbing quietly. Memories of what he had done to her crashed over him, and William's knees threatened to buckle.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, voice breaking, placing a hand on her shoulder.
The girl didn't respond, her cries unrelenting.
"This isn't the end. It can't be. There has to be a way out, right?" he pressed. The girl shook her head, still crying.
"AGH! I WON'T LET HIM WIN AGAIN!" William roared, ripping his hand away. Determination surged through him, and he ran deeper into the desolate expanse. Spirits from all eras filled the place, but William didn't pause to talk. He had a mission: find an exit, no matter the cost.
At last, he reached a gate — but something indescribable stood guard.
"LET ME THROUGH!" William demanded.
A voice echoed in his mind: "No. No one is allowed through this gate."
"Is there any way?" he asked desperately.
"There is one... but it would mean giving up all hope of entering heaven..."
"Sure! Anything! What do I have to do?"
"You must become the keeper of all the souls trapped here and in purgatory... for eternity."
"Yes! Anything! I need to get back to Earth! I'll do it!"
"Very well..."
William felt his soul tether to the place. The gate creaked open.
"Good luck, William. All those children need their happiest day. They're counting on you to put an end to that demon."
"Wait, how did you—" he began, but before he could finish, the world shifted, and he was sent back to Earth.