Flames licked the treetops thirty yards away, sparks raining onto the wooden dock. The air shimmered with heat; breathing felt like inhaling oven air. I kicked loose boards into the water, stamped out the ones that smoldered. The dock creaked under us, but it held. The lake was our moat, for now.
In the distance, rotors thumped. A helicopter, search and rescue, red and white, dropping down through the smoke like a lifeline. It hovered over the water, unable to land on the crowded dock, and lowered a basket. ''One at a time, youngest first!'' I shouted over the noise.
The wind from the blades whipped ash into our faces, but it felt like salvation. Anna and I worked together without speaking, passing kids up, lifting, buckling, sending them skyward. Her hands shook; mine did too. When the second-to-last camper was secure, she looked at me. The basket swayed beneath the helicopter, half-full with the last two little girls clinging to each other.
The pilot's voice crackled over the radio hooked to the winch operator's harness. ''Visibility dropping fast, smoke's rolling in. We've got seconds.''
Anna and I stood on the burning dock, flames now licking the pilings only feet away. Heat blistered the air; every breath tasted like ash and pine tar. The little boy on the platform behind us was coughing hard, some retching from the smoke. She reached for the child, then the basket next. ''We'll go together, the weight should hold...''
''No, it won't,'' I caught her wrist and said with all the bravery I could muster. ''You're lighter. You two go first, I'll be right behind you.''
She started to argue, but a gust of superheated wind slammed into us, carrying a roar like a living thing. The helicopter lurched sideways as the smoke swallowed it, rotors thumping unevenly. The winch operator waved frantically, hurry. I lifted the boy and passed him up to Anna.
The auburn-haired beauty buckled him in beside the girls, her hands shaking so badly she fumbled the straps twice. The cable jerked as she rushed back to me. The pilot was pulling up whether we were ready or not. She turned to me, eyes streaming from smoke and something else. ''Arthur, come on now!''
There wasn't time; our escape banked hard, caught in a thermal updraft. The basket swung wildly over open water. If it went any higher, the next drop would be too far for me to reach. I saw it in the same instant she did: the smoke was blinding the pilot. They couldn't hover long enough for another trip.
I shoved her into the basket with the kids. She tried to reach back for me, fingers clawing at my shirt. ''Arthur, no!''
I slammed the gate shut, snapped the last carabiner, and pushed the basket with everything I had, hard, away from the flaming dock, out over the black water. The cable snapped taut. The helicopter surged upward, rotors clawing for clear air. The basket spun once, twice, then rose fast into the churning smoke.
Anna's scream carried back to me, raw and broken. ''Arthur!''
The girl I've loved for many years voice cracked, raw with terror. Her hand stretched out through the bars of the basket, reaching for me even though we were already too far apart. I stood alone on what was left of the dock, now only a narrow, burning strip, the rest having collapsed into the inferno behind me.
The helicopter surged upward, rotors clawing through the smoke, climbing hard. The basket rose with it, Anna and the kids disappearing into the haze, the red and white shape of the chopper shrinking against the orange sky. She was still screaming my name when they vanished.
Seconds later, I felt the dock give way completely then. The boards beneath me cracked and buckled, and I dropped straight down into the wall of flame. The fire took me instantly, heat, light, pain beyond anything I'd ever imagined. For one heartbeat, I felt it all, every nerve screaming. Then nothing.
Above the roar, I thought I heard the helicopter's engines fade into the distance. They were safe. She was safe. And as the flames closed over me, the last thing in my mind was her face, pale, tear-streaked, beautiful, looking down from the sky as they carried her away.
It was enough as the darkness took me. An unknown amount of time passed until something woke me up, or that's how it felt. I glanced around only to see pure darkness. Darker than anything I've experienced in my entire life. I couldn't feel anything or remember much, which annoyed me, but I never expected to wake up after burning to death.
The thought made me shiver, but nothing happened. I couldn't see my body or anything else. Just the Darkness, which started seeping into me. Memories began pouring back in, reminding me of Anna breaking up with me after many years together. The memory made my heart ache.
'It's the past now, there's nothing I can do about it,' I thought, trying to calm myself down.
After some time, I calmed down only to spot something in the distance. It was a small light rushing toward me. Before I could do anything, it slammed into my body, and pain rushed throughout my entire being. I felt myself being pulled somewhere until I lost consious only to reappear in a room.
I looked down, only to see my body before the fire took me, all I was dressed it was pants and my old trainers. This confused me to no end, and it only got worse as a headache slammed into my skull. When a soft, feminine voice caught my attention. ''Hello, Arthur Reynolds, it's a pleasure to meet you.''
When I heard the voice, I opened my eyes after the headache subsided, only to see a human-shaped white light. It was like seeing the odd buzzing noise a TV gave off when there was no channel on. While staring at this being, I shook my head and finally spoke. ''What... Who are you?''
A feminine laugh escaped the White Being, only for a Black Being to appear; this one was more masculine. I was confused, only to hear a male voice. ''We brought you from the River of Souls thanks to your sacrifice. It showed us who you truly are, and we could use you to help our world, Lumira.''
''Your World?'' I replied, looking at them skeptically. ''This isn't some hero novel, is it?''
The White Being giggled in amusement while the Black Being sighed in frustration before responding. ''No, there are no goals, no quests or swords. We do not expect you to rescue anyone or marry a princess.''
''All we ask is that you live your life the way you want to.''
I glanced at the woman with a confused expression. ''And how would that help your world?'' I questioned. ''I could become a villain and ruin it.''
Black chuckled. ''Why lie, boy? We can see your entire life and know what type of person you are.''
''And what type is that?''
''Someone who could bring a new dawn to Lumira, someone who can help the people and world become a better place,'' White cheerfully answered.
''So you're gods?'' I questioned, curious. ''Or some Eldritch beings tricking me into a shady deal?''
The two beings began laughing as Black shook his head. ''No, we're two of many deities worshipped on Lumira. There's much to learn about our world when you get there, and if you accept, we'll grant you a unique gift.''
''Also, we have the perfect host for you!'' White revealed.
I glanced at the woman, a flicker of suspicion crossing my face; the offer seemed far too good to be true. White must have noticed my hesitation, because she quickly leaned in to reassure me. ''There's no hidden agenda,'' she said earnestly. ''To be completely honest, we saw what you accomplished back there. You deserve a second chance. And what could be better than a fantasy world where you can grow stronger and live a truly fulfilling life?''
''So no Demon King needs to be killed or Godzilla-like monsters trying to destroy your world?''
Black chuckled once again. ''There are Demon Kings and Queens, also Titans, but they are nothing to be worried about. You may come across them, so it's up to you what to do.''
When I heard this, I wanted to accept, but my curiosity was too much, causing me to ask. ''What happens if I decline?''
''Your soul will be sent to the River to move on,'' White answered.
Her earlier cheer had dimmed. ''Maybe in ten thousand years you'll be reincarnated.''
''You won't know anything either,'' Black added. ''You won't get to keep your memories or knowledge from Earth.''
''A blank slate, so to speak,'' White finished.
I gulped at the answer but nodded as I gave them my answer. ''I accept your offer. You said you had the perfect host?''
''Yes!'' the strange woman chirped, looking happy. ''I won't expose so much detail because where's the fun in that? Let's just say, it's better than being a street rat or the son of a farmer.''
''So this is entertainment for you both?'' I asked, knowing nothing about the gods and their whims.
Black didn't answer, but White did, and she was honest. ''Yes. But that doesn't mean anything, we won't intervene or help beyond the gift we're giving you.''
''Like we said, it's a second chance for you, and thank you for accepting,'' the strange man finally spoke.
''Okay,'' I said. ''I accept the second chance and new gift.''
The two gods got happy, but I asked another question. ''What is this gift?''
''Not telling you,'' White answered.
I could sense a playful smile forming across White's luminous features as she leaned in closer. ''Just find a moment to meditate once you're there,'' she said, her voice bubbling with excitement. ''It will reveal everything you need to know.''
''It's a gift unseen on Lumira for thousands of years,'' Black added, his tone laced with a smug grin that cut through the hazy distortion of his form. ''The last soul to wield it was an Elf.''
Desperation crept into my voice as I pressed one final question. ''Where exactly are you sending me?''
White tilted her head, as if surprised I'd ask. ''Aldoria,'' she replied simply. ''A continent steeped in chaos, but that's precisely the forge you'll need to grow stronger.''
''Alright, sounds good to me,'' I responded, nodding my head. ''It's not like I could return to Earth; my body was destroyed by the fire.''
''Terrible ordeal, that was,'' Black commented. ''Just know this life won't be as hot, now get ready to receive the new host's memories.''
''Memories? Why are you giving me those?''
''Because you need to find your way in life.''
Seconds later, White raised her luminous hand, palm outward, and a searing headache exploded behind my eyes, as molten iron poured straight into my skull. I crumpled from the chair, knees buckling as I slammed hard against the cold, featureless floor. The impact barely registered; the real agony was inside my head.
Then the memories came. Not mine. A flood of sensations crashed over me: the scent of opulent incense in marble halls, the weight of silk robes too heavy for a child's shoulders, the bitter taste of wine stolen from royal cellars. I saw a handsome boy with my new face, white-haired and sharp-featured, lounging on a throne meant for his father while servants bowed.
Tantrums that shattered crystal. Nights spent gambling away fortunes with sycophantic nobles. Cruel pranks on palace staff that drew nervous laughter from courtiers too afraid to object. A spoiled prince. Arrogant. Wasteful. Utterly despised by everyone beneath the forced smiles.
The final memory burned clearest: the king standing in the grand throne room of a sprawling, impossible city. Towers of white stone laced with gold, banners snapping in the wind that carried the scent of magic itself. The king's voice was heavy with exhaustion and shame. ''You've brought nothing but disgrace to our name. You will leave this city and not return until you've learned what it means to be worthy of it.''
The visions faded as quickly as they'd come, leaving me gasping on the floor, sweat cooling on my skin. The headache receded to a dull throb. White lowered her hand, her glow dimming slightly, almost apologetic. ''The host's memories," she explained softly. ''We thought it best you understand who you'll become.''
Black's deep chuckle echoed. ''Consider it... context.''
I pushed myself up on trembling arms, staring at the body that was now mine, fat, pale, unmistakably aristocratic, dressed in travel-worn finery that spoke of fallen status. A disgraced prince in a chaotic world.
''Perfect.''
''Now enjoy your new life, Arthur,'' White happily said while waving her hand.
Moments later, everything went black.