"Caged bird, who wishes to fly high, are you awake?"
My eyes opened to an endless escape of light, and a single being stood within the sea of purity. A feminine-looking figure, her form concealed behind many blinding lights, the only visible part of her body being the wicked grin burning through the light.
"Ugh… Where," I mumbled, the words violently being pulled from my throat, searing pain rippling throughout my veins.
"Don't scream, little bird. You have no need for a voice now I'm here."
The feminine light grew closer, encroaching on my position, the pain increasing with each delayed step. The light emanated from the being burning my flesh, but no matter how much I screamed, trying to keep my sanity intact, the being didn't dim her light, only increasing its effect.
"Stop that, it'll be over in a moment."
She slowly caressed my face, the pain dimming with each laboured breath until my body was silent.
"I've been watching you for years now, waiting until you accidentally stepped in front of a moving car. Ever since I expanded my gaze, I've been fixated on you, and you alone."
"You caused that accident?"
"No, no. That was merely fate working its magic. But I'll admit I may have broken a rule of fate. Stealing your soul is a great crime, but if you don't tell, I won't."
Danger was the only word circling around my mind; the being of light caused an overwhelming terror to creep into every pore on my body. Even if my body wasn't chained from head to toe, I wouldn't be able to move.
"Oh, don't look at me like that. I'm not going to hurt you; I'll do much more than merely hurt you. I'm going to enhance you into the perfect image of light, you are no longer human. You are mine."
"Leave me alone! Who even are you!?"
"You shouldn't speak like that to the one who saved you from a boring existence. You caught MY gaze, meaning you are special, stop the pointless rambles and embrace your new destiny."
Her request wasn't a request at all, but a slow growl disguised as a loving request. If I didn't comply, it would have a much worse fate than whatever she had in store.
"I'm sorry, please forgive me."
"Ah, it's okay, I was being insensitive. Just looking at your face has dispelled all my anger. Since you are being so good, I'll tell you my name."
"I am the Primordial Light, or the Supreme Deity of Purity. I plucked your little soul from the train to the Vale and brought you to my holy land. How lucky are you!"
"Why?"
"What do you mean by why? Because I've been your silent observer ever since my eye caught yours, why wouldn't I jump at the opportunity to add you to my world?"
"I've never seen you before. How could I have caught your eye?"
"I… You are the perfect person, the light in my darkness. My life has been so dull. Do you know the pains of being immortal? You are mine, and nothing can change that."
"If I am everything, why do you chain me?"
"They aren't chains, silly. They are extensions of my body that will become your body, not some little chains. I suppose you could say they are your lifeblood."
"What!?"
I relentlessly tried to pull the chains from my body, but to no avail. In response, the chains began to slowly pierce my body, travelling inwards to my heart, carving a bloody path.
"It hurts! Stop! Stop!"
My pleading didn't reach the light's ears, just watching on at my misery, ecstasy burning bright within her eyes. Her pleasure was blatant to see, only heightening my own pain. Knowing nothing would save me from the agony ripping through my body.
"It'll be okay. What do they say on that Earth? Ah.. yes! No pain, no gain! Ha, such a good saying."
The pain lasted for a mind-numbing amount of time, the deity carefully watching the process of becoming one with her body with interest. The wicked grin plastered on her face only grew stronger with each scream and twist.
"Ah, ha! It seems the process is complete; you are now one with me, holding a fraction of my ultimate power. How do you feel?!"
"Terrible."
The last slivers of chains holding me to the cross of light eventually faded away, causing me to free-fall into the light's arms, holding me softly and placing me down on the ground.
"Why subject me to such pain?"
My voice was supposed to be loud and authoritative, expressing my burning rage to the woman, but only a low whisper came out, riddled with weakness.
"Humans are normally weak; they become semi-powerful when their brains unleash their strength, but they just end up breaking every bone in their bodies. That can't do for my beloved, so I forcefully implanted my divine light into your heart, changing your human body into one more suited for my land."
"I'm no longer human? What about my family! If I can't make money for my family, then I'm nothing, nothing but a leech!" I shouted, suddenly remembering everything in my past life; it was coming back like a flood, overwhelming my mind. "Send me back! Send me back! I have to save them from loan sharks. If I don't, they'll take everything!"
"You're already dead, and once your soul is forcefully ripped from one realm, it cannot enter another. It would be better if you just forgot about them. I'm your family now."
The light's sweet words were followed by her warm embrace, pushing my face into her chest, trying to calm my worries, but it had no effect; the embrace of my tormentor wouldn't dampen my fears.
I recklessly pushed against the light, prying myself from her grip, briefly succeeding before her grip increased, crushing my body slightly, forcefully pulling me back into her grasp.
"This won't do. No, not at all. I am your one and only family; no one else is close to being your family. It's only me. Me, alone," said the light softly, her voice carrying a familiar sense of malice and hostility, ordering me to submit, but I wouldn't, never.
The light let out a deep sigh before snapping her gaze back to me.
"I didn't want to see this route actualized, but I suppose it's necessary to our happiness. How unfortunate, stay still."