
Have you ever wondered what death feels like? Ever wondered if there is really an afterlife?
Well I haven't, I just wanted to be done with school, get a job and earn a living so my mom wouldn't have to work so hard all the time. I didn't think I would die on the way! Especially not a virgin.
••••••
"He is loosing too much blood! We might lose him!"
*Damn, why do I feel so cold, and why is it so loud! Where am I anyway? Last thing I remember is stopping Ashlyn from jumping. Oh yeah Ashlyn, that's right, I saved her, then I fell instead.
Am I in an Ambulance? I think so, Am I alive? Well I can hear this lady's voice, so yeah I guess.
But I'm cold, jeez, did they leave the windows open! And why is it so loud! My head hurts, I hope Ashlyn is fine. I feel tired, let me just close my eyes for a bit *. I voiced in my head.
"Wake up North, you're losing time"
"Huh?" I responded to the voice that sounded like it was about to audition for a movie role.
"Wake up!" Now louder and commanding.
"Okay! Jeez you sound like my neighbors every morning" I raved, gently opening my eyes to a blinding light that covered everywhere.
"Where am I?" I muttered.
Then I heard the same voice from a distance, saying, "You don't have much time left, so I offer you a choice"
"A choice? " I asked, as my eyes adapted to the bright surrounding.
*What is this place?*
"Listen human, you have less than a minute to decide, or you'll die, and where you're heading, you may find great joy or great misery. So decide, for I offer you a choice, embrace death or become my Avatar, being the beacon of hope in a world surrounded by darkness. Choose wisely, for your destiny awaits"
"Who are you?" I groaned, now feeling the cold state my body was in. But got no response.
"Show yourself!" I demanded. But still got no response, leaving my voice to echo and reverberate.
I looked around and saw no one, all I could see was some kind of white mist that filled the floor and endless space.
"An Avatar? A beacon of hope? Oh cut the crap! I wanna go home" I shrieked, feeling dizzy while my vision became blurry.
Now getting harder to breath, the feeling of passing out settled over me. I looked at my cold hands and muttered,
"I guess it was right, I'm dying. But who cares anyways. If I die, it's gonna reduce stress on my mom, no one is gonna remember me, my life didn't have purpose".
With my back laid on the floor, I gently closed my eyes so it all could end. My life had no purpose anyways.
As my eyes finally shut, I got irritated of myself, I felt pathetic.
"My life had no purpose, my life had no purpose" kept echoing in my head, then I had thought,
*Purpose..... What is that?*
So with my last breath, I uttered.
"I accept"
•••••••
I felt the warm surrounding, so my eyes gently opened to seeing a ceiling light. And this time there wasn't much noise.
The first thing I heard was an ECG, which kept on beeping. It was recording my heartbeat.
*Am I in a hospital?*
"What happened?" I softly voiced, sitting up with a start.
My mom who had been sitting beside me, let out a startled yelp, her eyes wide with surprise.
"Baby, you are okay. Don't you ever scare me like that!" She exclaimed, her voice trembling slightly after giving me a hug that almost knocked me out.
"I almost got a heart attack when I heard what happened. Please tell me you're fine, how do you feel?" She asked worried.
I looked at her, still trying to process what was happening.
"Mom! I... I don't know", I stammered. "I just feel".
And at that moment, my cells were vibrating fast, my senses heightened. I could feel my heart beating faster, my breath quickening. And then in an instant, I was flooded with an intense awareness of my surroundings, I could see, hear, and sense everything around me with crystal clarity. So I just sat there, staring, gazing over my surrounding.
"Mom, what happened to me?" I asked with a feeble voice.
"You fell from a 3 story building honey" she replied with tears in her eyes.
"After that?" I asked, leaning forward to wipe her tears.
"After that, you got rushed to the hospital. You've been asleep for 4 days now. The doctors said you hit your head so bad, and it placed you in a coma and they didn't know when you would wake up. I am just glad you're okay" she said, giving me another tight hug.
I processed her words, trying to recall the events leading up to the accident.
"Ashlyn... is she okay?" I asked, concern etched on my face.
Mom's expression softened.
"Yes, Ashlyn's fine. She's been visiting you, worried sick about you" she replied.
"Oh. That's good" I voiced with a smile.
"Yeah. The doctors are on their way, they'll be here soon" she said, tightly holding my hand.
I smiled.
*It's kinda blurry, but I remember now. And what is that feeling at my back?*
"Mom?" I called, my voice low but audible.
"Yeah, honey?" She answered.
"4 days?"
"Yes. 4 days" she replied, raising a hand to wipe her tears. "Baby, are you okay?"
"Yeah I'm okay" I smiled. "I'm sorry for making you worry"
*I am okay, but I do not feel right. What happened to me?*
I asked myself, as waves of thought came flooding into my mind, not knowing the changes my body was going through.
The answers eluded me, but one thing was certain: my life, my reality, had just been fractured in ways I couldn’t yet understand.
Updates:
North: main character, male, 17, avatar (half human, half angel), tall (6'1), white-tipped black hair, brown eyes, timid, attractive, kind, intelligent, straight, white angelic wings (when summoned)
Special Abilities: Strength , wings, telepathy with other avatars, rapid healing, agility, vibrokinesis (can manipulate body's vibration, sensitive to sound), swordsmanship.
Rank: D
••••••
•NEXT TIME •
NOW IT BEGINS
Related Chapters
SoulBond: A Beacon Of Hope 2• Now It Begins
••••••"Hey North, how do you feel?" The Doctor asked.That question kept popping up. I didn't know how I felt.*Please stop asking me this.*"We didn't aspect you to wake up anytime soon, it must be a miracle" he said."Yeah, I'm fine, just a little bit hungry" I replied with an enfeebled voice. "The impact you had when you fell, broke few of your bones and split a little hole in your head, only through our experts were we able to stop the blood that was constantly flowing out, leaving in mind that you would be in a coma for Atleast 2 months" he said, forcing my mom to break down in tears again."It truly is a miracle. Maybe someone up there doesn't want you to go just yet" he chuckled.I gave him a faint smile and asked, "when will I be ready to leave?"He replied after going through the clipboard he held."Well honestly, you could leave by tomorrow, because you are already healed. Your body temperature seems fine and your vitals are alright. And you bones.... are looking okay, but
SoulBond: A Beacon Of Hope 3• Now It Begins: Two
I stood before my classmates, violin tucked under my chin, bow poised. The lecture hall fell silent, anticipation building. My heart beat steady, focused.I closed my eyes, letting the music take over. The bow danced across the strings, coaxing out the melancholic notes of "Blue Bird." The melody flowed from my violin, weaving a sonic tapestry of longing and nostalgia.My fingers moved with precision, guided by the emotions pouring from my heart. The music swelled, filling the room with its poignant beauty. I was now lost in the sound, my soul resonating with every note.Time stood still as I played on, my eyes remaining shut. My classmates were entranced, their breathing synchronized with the rhythm. Some swayed gently, swept away by the haunting refrain.Before hitting the last string, I felt a surge of energy that resulted in me cutting all the strings and breaking the class windows. "My ears!" Everyone screamed. The broken glass shattered and pierced few students that were close
SoulBond: A Beacon Of Hope 4• Now It Begins: Three
••••••The bell rang, signaling school was over. I go meet Ashlyn who was waiting for me at the school's football field."Hey, Ashyln!" I waved while approaching her."North! Hey" she smiled."Did I keep you waiting?""Oh, no. I just got here""Okay""So remember when you saved me, you dropped something" she said, her voice laced with excitement. "Uhmm..." I hummed, thinking of what she meant.She grinned. "Yeah, I'm sure you must be worried, so I have it!" *Is she talking about my violin? Please let it be my violin.*"I took it home with me after you got taken to the hospital" she said, then squat to take something from a bag I had just notice."It's your violin!" She smiled. "You dropped it on the roof when you saved me. So I figured I would be the one to keep it save for you. So here! It had a crack but I fixed it, hope you like it""Ashlyn! Thank you so much! This means alot!" I exclaimed as my heart eased up with relief to finally see it. To see the violin I got from my dad."
SoulBond: A Beacon Of Hope 5• I Remember
••••••"Hey, dude, wake up. Hey wake up!" Someone yelled as my eyes gently opened."Tengen, he's waking up" someone exclaimed with a lax tone, now certain was a girl."Hey... Nice to meet you" a man said as my eyes adjusted to the surrounding."Who are you people, where am I?" I asked, sitting up straight."Well, I'm Tengen, and this is Claire. And you're in one of our safe house" he replied as he placed down a seat to the left side of the bed I was laying on. He stands tall atleast 6'3", his athletic physique exuding an aura of quiet confidence. His striking features are accentuated by an unruly mess of black hair, which falls across his forehead in soft, wispy strands. He is wearing shades, so I don't see his eyes.He wears a sleek, dark blue jacket with a simple, streamlined design. The jacket's left lapel bears a subtle, silver pin, while the right side features a crisp, buttoned closure.He pairs the jacket with tailored, dark blue trouser of same material. It looks like it's m
SoulBond: A Beacon Of Hope 6• I Remember: Two
•••••"If your Angel doesn't permit the usage of your abilities, then you can not access it" she replied.Tengen sneezed and explained, "Okay, let's say you can control gravity at a point you focus on, and you get pissed off by your mates or neighbors. So you want to use your powers on them, now that would be bad and selfish, so your Angel won't let you"He elaborated. "Your Angel is always with you, you just can't see it, in this realm that is. Even though we are good, we still get selfish sometimes. So if you want to use your powers with bad intent, you won't be able to access it cause your Angel won't let you""Unless if it is self-defense. Your powers just activates on it own" Claire added."Now, the whole purpose of the deal is to stop evil from filling this world. As you know, we have Good, Evil, and we have the Balanced. In the other realms I mentioned, there is just the Good and the Bad, there is no thing like a mix called Balance. Now this Evil want to make this world its own
SoulBond: A Beacon Of Hope 7• I Remember: Three
•••••"What I mean is, in schools you were told the earth is spherical, but in reality, the earth is flat. The school system is like that because these Demons influenced it.These Demons have influence in lots of places so they can be able to cover their tracks.They say the earth is spherical so we wouldn't be able to find those four breaches, but the earth is actually flat. It is flat with North in the middle, while South at the end"He elaborated. "At the end of the earth is where south is located, east and west are two directions of North. Picture a pizza and place a toothpick in the middle. Now pour cheese on the middle, be cautious not to make it spill everywhere. Now that cheese is the land we stay on, the toothpick in the middle is North, and edges of the pizza are South. And South is covered with ice walls. That's the way the earth is, even the sun and the moon are closer than you think, they are not in space. Space? What a joke! The Earth is flat, surrounded by ice walls, and
SoulBond: A Beacon Of Hope 8• I Remember: Four
•••••"Red, huh. Well, you have a great journey ahead of you" he said while placing them back."What does red mean?" I asked, my voice laced with a bit of excitement."It means you're at Rank D, the lowest rank" Claire replied."Oh!" I uttered, my voice filled with disappointment.Immediately, Tengen sneezed ridiculously.*He really needs to check that out.*"Yeah" she voiced."How many colors are there?" I asked, curious."6 colors. There's the Red - the lowest Rank, Purple - the intermediate, Light blue - advanced, Blue - high-level, Green - exceptional, White - Masterful" she replied."Okay. Then what did he mean by special?"Tengen replied. "Specials. A Special is a rare and exceptional Avatar, imbued with an abundance of mana and immense potential, surpassing that of an average Avatar. This uniqueness could be attributed to: A prestigious bloodline, carrying a legacy of powerful Avatars. Unusual creation circumstances, such as a rare celestial alignment or exposure to extraordina
SoulBond: A Beacon Of Hope 9• Confession
••••••School bell rang, signaling the school day was over."Hey," Michael calls. "Hey, North, wake up" he said while poking my arm."Bro, wake up, class is over" he exclaimed."Class? I wouldn't even call that a class. That was a free period of torture" I sneered while packing the book off my desk."Yeah, she went on and on about Prom. No wonder you fell asleep" he chuckled."Yeah. When is Rachel gonna realize that after graduation, life is gonna be sticks and stones. She shouldn't get too excited" I uttered while exiting the classroom with Michael."But you are coming for Prom next week, right?" Michael asked."Maybe" I replied. "Hey, did she come?""No. I didn't see her today either" "Oh" I said, my voice laced with disappointment."I still can not believe she is moving to Australia" Michael voiced as we walk down the hall."Well, her dad isn't really in the best position to be called a parent. After all, he did just got arrested. So, she will be staying with her aunt in Australia
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64• The Silence That Shaped Him: iv
•••••"I had an important meeting with my team, so I had to rush. But I am back now" He says, then notice the mood coming from us."What happened? Did I miss something" he says, then checks his watch. "It's only 7:59. I was still expecting you guys to be sleeping. You really must want to get strong" he smiles.We don't respond.His face turn serious. "Okay, what happened when I was gone?""I lost control of my powers" Michael speaks up. "And North is a victim of that"My expression softens. He must still think it's his fault."I am not hurt or anything. I was just in my head for awhile" North says, trying to tell both Michael and Saint he was fine."I see. Are you all okay?" Saint asks."Yeah, we're fine" North says as he wraps his arms on Michael shoulders.Michael smiles then give Saint a nod.Saint smiles, then turns towards me."Yeah, we're good" I voice."Great!" He smiles. "Now, who's hungry for instant ramen?" His smile widen."Ugh" Michael, North and I sigh simultaneously."Wh
63• The Silence That Shaped Him: iii
•••••"Any luck" Claire asks."No. I don't even know what's wrong. I usually go with them in their head, but right now, I can't see anything" Michael replies, staring deep into my eyes."Maybe in those times it was your choice" Claire says, still keeping her distance from us."Huh?" Michael utters, turning towards Claire.Immediately, he shifts his gaze back to me. "Sorry""I mean, whenever you do go inside their heads, it is because you choose to. That's why you can literally do whatever you want in their head" Claire voice, eyes scanning for signs of Saint."Just focus, calm your mind and bring him back" she says calmly.••••••"Okay, are you ready?" I ask as I place dad's violin on my shoulder."Of course, go ahead, legs" dad smiles.Mom chuckles as she sits down on the couch next to dad. "Yeah, baby, we are"*I'm gonna go all out*Then I begin to play.••••••Michael POV••••••*Okay, calm down, and breath.*I focus on North's tranquil face, my gaze delving into his eyes. Claire's
62• The Silence That Shaped Him: ii
•••••"Hey, North" she calls. "Reduce the volume, it is too loud""Oh, okay, sorry" I say reaching for the remote.Huh? What happened to my voice?I grab the remote and notice my hands, they are smaller than usual.Have my hands always been this small?I reduce the TV's volume and continue to gaze to look at my hands."North, go tell your dad breakfast is ready" mom says, dropping three plates on the dinner table."Dad?" I mutter."Don't worry, legs, I am already here" dad says, walking down the stairs and reaching for his coflin on the shelf next to the stairs."Dad?" I mutter."Dad!" I yell, running towards him and hugging him."Ahh, legs, what happened?" He utters with concern."Dad" I voice as I begin to cry. "I miss you"Mom who was concerned a second ago, begins to smile.Dad begins to chuckle. "Oh legs, don't scare me like that. I miss you too, even though we met just last night. But yeah, I still miss you" he says embracing me in his arms."Why did you leave? You.. you never c
61• The Silence That Shaped Him
••••••Abel Johnson's world imploded at the tender age of 13. A catastrophic car crash snuffed out his parents' lives, leaving him with a perpetual reminder of that fateful night: a maddening tinnitus that shrieked in his ears like a banshee.Foster care proved a hollow solace. The cacophony of his new "family" - the cacophony of life itself - threatened to consume him. Abel retreated, seeking refuge in the silence that had become his constant companion.But silence bred desperation. As he navigated the harsh landscape of adolescence, he discovered that the shadows held a siren's call. He honed his skills as a thief, always staying one step ahead of detection.Yet, the silence that had shielded him began to feel suffocating. Abel's soul cried out for more - for purpose, for connection, for redemption.Then at the age of 22, like a whispered promise, it began.A strange, tingling energy coursed through his veins, awakening dormant strengths. Abel's muscles flexed with newfound power, a
60• Echoes: iii
The fire crackles, and the music lingers, a gentle echo that fades into the night, leaving us wrapped in a peaceful silence.••••••*Where am I? This feeling, I've felt it before. It feels like I am reuniting with myself. My soul.**A*"Oh, hey, North" A says as she approaches me.I smile as my eyes adapt to the surrounding bright light."It's been a while" she says as she places her arms around me.*Huh?*"Why are you tense?" She utters. "Hug me back"I pause for a second, trying to process what's happening. Then I wrap my arms around her to embrace her."Hey, A. It has" I voice. "How have you been?"*I miss this face*"I am well," she says as she lets go. "I see you've been training quite well"I smile. "You noticed""Yeah, your Mana, you have more control over it now" she smiles. "You're getting strong, that's good"I chuckle."So, what am I doing here? Did you call me? Or is this just a dream?" I ask as my eyes roam my surrounding. We're standing in the camp site, but just the two
59: Echoes: ii
I nod. "Time to face whatever Leap of Faith entails."••••••Meanwhile, in an incomplete building site. Two cars parked side by side opposite each other's direction, having two men in the driver seats, conversate."The Intel we got last time was nothing but useless. The location we got to where a heaven key is, was a decoy. You sent us on a goose chase. The boss isn't happy" The man in the black Sudan car says."The location is more protected than I expect. Tell my father I'm working on it. He should be patient" The man in the black supra Mk5 utters."The boss doesn't like to hear those kind of things. He wants results" The man in the black supra chuckles. "Okay, maybe I should just kill you, Enoch, and tell him myself"Enoch frowns."Tell him he should be patient. I'm working on it" "What about Tengen's location? We have enough men to corner him""You really think you are ready, huh? He will be at corner stone warehouse by Monday during the evening. I'll inform him about the place
58• Echoes
••••••Tuesday"Alright, guys. Dig deep!" Saint voice as he watches us struggle to summon our wings. "Keep pushing!""Ah!" Michael exclaims as his knees reach the ground, frustration etched on his face."Damn it!" I exclaim as I mirror his actions.As we catch our breaths, we stare over to Claire who is still standing, focusing on summoning her wings.I look at Michael, he stares back. We give each other a nod and stand up, ready to try again.••••••WednesdaySaint's voice echoes through the training grounds, his patience unwavering. "Remember, it's not just physical strength, but mental focus. Visualize your wings."Michael's eyes are closed, his face scrunched in concentration. I mirror his stance, my own eyes shut tight."Come on, guys," Saint encourages. "You're almost there."Suddenly, a gentle breeze blows from across the green grass. Michael's eyes snap open, and mine follow suit.Our gazes drift toward Claire, who stands serenely, her eyes still closed.A light golden glow en
57• Adapt: v
•••••"Mmm" she smiles. "Showtime," she whispers, a playful glint in her eye.Two figures emerge from the shadows, their eyes glowing with malevolent energy. Demon Avatars."Hey, possessed cuties," Mia says, her tone light and teasing. "The neighbors are complaining about your disturbance, and how people have been going missing whenever they pass by. So I'm here to kick you out. And by you, I mean your demons"The first Avatar, its body moving by the demon's influence, takes an attack pose. Mia's eyes sparkle with excitement as she assumes a fluid stance, her staff materializing in her grasp."Come on, big fella," she teases, "show me what you're working with."The Avatar charges, its massive fists swinging wildly. Mia dances around the attacks, her movements a blur of elegance and precision. Her staff crackles with Mana energy, leaving trails of glittering light.Mia swings swiftly, sending the Avatar crashing into a nearby shelf. Antiques shatter, and dust explodes into the air. The
56• Adapt: iv
•••••••Moments later.I shut my eyes, feeling Mana surge through me. I imagine wings unfolding from my back, strong and majestic."Now, reach out with your mind," Saint guides. "Connect with your wings, feel their presence."As I focus, a searing pain erupts in my back, like bones splintering and reforming. I grit my teeth.Michael cries out, clutching his back. "Ah, god!"Claire's face contorts as she tries to focus.Saint's voice remains calm. "Let the pain fuel your growth. Trust your wings, trust yourselves."I force myself to breathe, focusing on my Mana and visualizing my wings.Saint's voice guides us. "Imagine the sensation of wings unfolding, the weight of feathers, the stretch of muscles."Michael grunts, his face contorted.Claire's eyes are clenched shut, her jaw set.Saint continues, "This process will take time, patience, and endurance. Your bodies must adapt, transform. It's not just about willing your wings to appear; it's about reshaping your very essence."The seari