As I woke up today, I didn't feel like it was a good day. Like any other school day, my bed whispered for me to stay nestled in its comfort and keep my eyes closed. But today, the whispers were unusually persistent, as if staying in bed would be better than facing the struggle of going to school.
I shrugged it off and started my day like any other. My name is Pierre. I'm twenty—and still a virgin. It's not like I've really tried to change that. I keep myself in shape by doing a bit of sports during the week, but most of my time is spent reading. It's like a drug. Once you start, you can't stop. By reading you can escape your life and be transported by your imagination to thrilling, limitless worlds with infinite possibilities! Adventures, interstellar battles, magical powers, epic artifacts, flying with dragons, discovering mythical places—who wouldn't want that? I know that if I ever got the chance to transmigrate to those worlds, I'd go for it without hesitation.
Anyway, as I made my way to school, I turned on the radio and listened to the usual news. The world going from bad to worse wasn't exactly surprising. Sure, there are plenty of kind, wise, and mature people out there—but the ones in power rarely seem to be among them.
It seems the tension between Russia and the United States has flared up again. Other dictators are starting to get involved, too. Who knows—maybe one of these days, someone will be reckless enough to push the red button, just to see what happens.
I arrived at school and headed to math class. Math is interesting. Some people find it hard to understand, but for me, it's as easy as pie. I was working on a quadratic equation when I heard a strange alarm—one I didn't recognize at first. I glanced around, and my classmates looked just as confused as I was. Then it hit me. I had heard it before—on the radio. It was part of a government broadcast. The message had been clear: if this alarm ever went off, it meant a massive threat was upon us, and we were to make our way as calmly as possible to the nearest bunker.
I yelled the instructions I remembered to the class and headed out without waiting for their reaction.
I stepped outside—and that's when I saw it. Hell broke loose. People around me began to panic and scream. Some froze, dropped to the ground, and started whispering nonsense or praying to whatever god they believed in. Meanwhile, I just stood there, staring absentmindedly at the sky.
I could hear the loud sound of a rocket.
And there it was in the middle of the sky, an intercontinental Nuclear missile, heading straight toward us. I stood there, stunned, not even blinking, just wondering what exactly had gone so wrong today.
10
The missile was fast, drawing a fiery line across the sky as it hurtled toward the city.
9
I was wondering...
8
who was that stupid idiot who pushed the wrong button...
7
And why the hell did I decide I had to wake up this morning?
6
I really should have stayed at home today.
5
I hope you will not miss me too much.
4
Mom, Dad, big bro, big sis...
3
see ya!
2
Oooh shit! It's really coming
1
hasta la vista Baby!
Aaaahhh!
.
.
.
BOOOOOOM
.
The bomb exploded, and not a second passed as I first experienced terrible pain. A blinding light scorched my retinas. Then came the shockwave—a brutal force that tore through me. After that, fire engulfed everything, and then...
.
Pain again, ripping me apart!
.
Wait! It has been a second since the explosion. WHY DO I STILL FEEL PAIN? Shouldn't I be dead by now?
No! Wait! Don't tell me I'm being sent to hell!
But I've done nothing wrong in my life, well there might be a thing or two, but it's not that much... Right?
As I waited a few seconds, the pain began to fade. Then I realized something strange—I couldn't feel my body anymore. I guess I must be in some kind of soul state. Oddly, I sensed particles drifting toward me, merging with me, making me grow larger. It was a bizarre feeling—like being massaged and punched at the same time while I was growing very quickly. I should be in a kind of soul state right now.
Everything was proceeding very quickly, yet I still had time to wonder—If I'm in a soul state, maybe the explosion is somehow nourishing me… or maybe it means I'm dead. I once read a novel where the soul gained strength after death. Maybe that's what's happening to me.
I stopped focusing on myself and tried to perceive my surroundings—and, strangely enough, I could! There were countless other souls like mine drifting nearby. I think they were my classmates who had died alongside me. However, before I could approach one, a powerful force grabbed me, pulling me upward. I began ascending, moving faster and faster, leaving my comrades—and the Earth—far behind...
And then nothing, I couldn't feel anything, the void absolute.
.
Time started to pass, and I was grateful to still be able to think—not reduced to nothing.
.
It's starting to feel endless.
.
.
Should I start counting?
1,
2,
3…
No, that's too boring.
I think I'm going crazy. I have no idea how long I've been in this state. Could be years, or seconds.
I just
.
don't know
.
.
anymore...
.
.
.
Ah!
At last, something is coming! I feel warmth and comfort surrounding me. Maybe it's time to try to sleep.
...
Eeeh, what this! I feel like someone just touched me. Oh! Is that... a sound ?
Am I genuinely losing reasons?
...
Hmm, This time I can't be mistaken, I moved!
And Again!
Did you see that!
Mhm...
Oh yeah, there's no one.
I think this... thing is my arm. Yes! Success—it moved! I'm confident now. I'm reincarnating! I should be back in my mom's belly or maybe in an egg, like in that novel I read. That's pretty cool! Euh well, okay, maybe not so cool. Once I'm born, I'll be powerless—I won't be able to do anything. That sucks. What am I now, an ant now?
Pierre, breathe deeply. Calm down.
Finally... I really hope I'm still human.
...
Oh, what's going on? I think it's time ! Let's go !