"You must be Volna... you look different from what I imagined."
"You took far more time to get into prison than I imagined."
"Sixty-nine counts of crime under Penal Code Thirty-Four take time."
"The others are here," Volna said as we walked through the prison corridor.
Others? So it's a team mission?
"What's your real name?"
"Sorry?" Volna said, stopping in his tracks.
"Volna, that's your alias, right? I want your real name."
"What makes you think it's an alias?"
"Well, when you hired me, you were inside the prison. If you had given your real name, there would have been a chance that, if I refused,If you had given your real name, there would have been a chance that, if I refused,, I could file a complaint against you and expose your activities. You look smart, so you would have used an alias. That alias is Volna, to hide your identity and reduce risk.
"You are right indeed."
Damn! Was my hunch right? Thank goodness I watch movies, if I didn't, I wouldn't be able to get his real name.
"It's Gofyen."
"Sorry?" I said, startled as my line of thoughts broke.
"My name is Gofyen."
"And how can I believe that?" I asked, hoping I am not on a tightrope.
"You would have trusted me."
"Trust is often followed by betrayal in the world of crime."
"That's quite the exaggeration, and if that's the case, then I shouldn't have trusted you."
Guess I should tone down the movie lines.
"You got a point."
"Anyways, when should I get you out of prison?"
"It's not me."
"Then who?"
"Victor's Marek"
"Victor's Marek?"
"Most people don't know him yet."
"Mhm, and when can I meet him?"
"Tonight."
"Tonight?? Aren't the cells locked after 19:30?"
"Yes, they are, but I will help you get out."
"How?"
"With my ability."
"Are you sure it's the right idea?"
"Don't worry, I would personally escort you myself to Viktor's."
"And when will you introduce me to the others?"
"at evening during dinner time"
"Got it."
"Just stay in your cell and don't draw attention to yourself like what you did with Volkov."
"I just did it once."
"And I clearly mentioned in the deal we spoke about that you would stay low till you meet me, that is, if you were considerate enough to remember it."
I have no idea what the deal was.
"Just went to look around this huge prison since no duties were assigned to me"
"It's not a sightseeing spot."
"It's my first time in prison, I got excited a bit."
"You intrigue me."
Did I say something I wasn't supposed to say?
"At dinner time just go to your designated seat in the chow hall,and I will find you and take you to the rest."
"Got it," I said, pushing the cell gate open and entering it.
"Good, then see you at the chow hall, and try to be in here."
"Don't need to tell me twice," I said, waving Gofyen off as he started to walk back.
Sigh!
"Damn, that was close," I said, sitting on the rigid bed.
"I can't believe I managed to not blow it off."
"Talking to yourself, schizo?" I heard a mundane voice across the cell and saw a bald guy yawning.
I didn't see him. Guess I should be cautious.
I lay on the bed, turning myself to avoid the gaze of the bald.
That weirdo calling me a schizophrenic
"Schizo, want a smoke?" I heard the bald man's voice across
If I don't answer him, he will ignore me.
"Just say no, pretending to sleep hurts my heart."
"No, I don't need one."
"Okay," he said and went quiet, followed by the smell of smoke.
Damn my shoulders and shin, they hurt.
I adjusted to find a suitable position that won't make my shoulders strain and ended up lying on my back looking at the ceiling.
I beat that Volkov guy, didn't I? His ability was pretty great, but I can't believe I defeated him...but my shoulders are hurting like hell, I should stop being reckless.
Still, it's surprising that I was able to overpower him. I came a long way, didn't I? I wonder if I could beat Doyle...no, that would be impossible; he knew how to fight, not just throw punches...fight. Why did I fight? Mom said fighting is bad, and here I am, having broken a guy's nose...They said never lie, but I have only lied to everyone about myself ever since then; never be selfish, but I was in the case of Sis, never do bad things, but I am a criminal now...Guess I am doing everything they told me not to and don't want me to...I am a bad son, aren't I? I wonder what Leo would have done if he were in my place.
"Leo..."
What happened to him? The king didn't mention anything about him, nor did the newspapers. They didn't kill him? So there is a chance that he might be alive...should I find him? If I die again and go to the 2050s or later, I could find him...Maybe finding him could be my goal, not staying dead. Maybe he has the key to end my suffering...
Slap!
I slapped myself, bringing me back to my senses.
What am I thinking? It's not a fantasy story; it doesn't matter if he is alive or not. He won't recognize me as Alyss, and it's random, it might take an eternity to reach him. I just have to die and stay dead, that should be my goal, not this fantasy.
"It's alright, I can do it. I can stay dead. "Come on, Alyss, you can do it, you can do it," I muttered as I fell into sleep, the fatigue catching up from my earlier activities, and I started to dream.
"Huh? Where am I? Was I not sleeping in the cell? Did I die again? Why am I standing here?" I said, wondering where I am.
"Is this a dream? Ahh!" I shrieked seeing the bright endless space enveloping me as my eyes started to twitch.
"Did I die? Is this the afterlife?"
"Arash Tabrizi," I heard a loud, ominous voice. The sound started to echo in the endless space. "Arash Tabrizi," it was one of my previous transmigrations' names.
I turned to look at the direction from which the voice came the moment my gaze landed on the ungodly figure, and I felt my heart stop.
There were seven figures, each distinct and unique, yet bound by one shared trait. Every one of them had two bodies stitched together at the abdomen, a total of fourteen human-like, devoid bodies Their eyes remained closed, only their mouths moved. They were dark, and in that space there were no shadows, neither theirs nor mine. The figures were immense, nearly ten times my height. They surrounded me and looked down upon me, making my feet tremble.
"Are these Angels? Or the Luminaries? Is this even the afterlife?" I muttered out in panic as I started to open my mouth, but it was forcefully shut. It felt like my upper and lower lips were stitched together, as if they had never existed.
"ARGGHHH" I woke up in with startle back in the same prison cell, the bed drenched in my sweat.