Chapter 5: Chapter 5 : Journey’s End

After leaving the Mental Space, Ralf’s consciousness had transmigrated to another world and ended up in the body of none other than Rei Winters. Entering at age thirteen, Ralf had already spent ten years occupying his body.

Occupying, in the sense that he became an observer of Rei’s every thought, emotion, and sensation. He was limited to observation though. Ralf couldn’t control Rei’s body nor communicate with him. He also couldn’t return to his original world. No matter how much he willed or desired it, he remained locked in place.

He was forced to experience life in Rei’s shoes. And what a life it was. A fist flying his way was the first thing Ralf saw upon arriving. It belonged to Rei's fourth foster father, an abusive alcoholic. Taking issue with the ‘insolent’ look in Rei’s eye, he unleashed his ‘disciplining’ actions. The days under his roof were hell. Luckily, a DUI charge a year in allowed Rei to escape his fists.

The bitter experiences continued. Only at 16, had things began turning around. Getting adopted by the Winters couple, Rei finally had some respite. There was no love to be found in that household, only cold indifference. Their decision to adopt a child seemed more to tick off a checklist than an actual desire. It wasn’t great, but it was far better than what came before.

Under their roof, Rei began fully utilizing the many talents he had been blessed with. After juggling several options, he decided to pursue the path of sixty-four squares. Applying himself, he quickly rose to the chess world's top echelon.

It was only from this point that Ralf could truly appreciate the unique experience he found himself in. The last couple of years had been a blast. Rei had treated him to many extraordinary sights and experiences.

But as things looked up, a problem arose.

His existence was being erased, or rather he was being absorbed into the recesses of Rei’s mind.

Ralf hadn’t noticed it at first, but as time went by, the feeling became more and more pronounced until he was certain this was the case.

The dreadful feeling of having your existence fade away bit by bit was a uniquely horrible experience. It was as if a shadowy monster had wrapped its claws around his entire being and was nibbling away at his existence.

His consciousness became hazy and sluggish, and even the information he received from Rei’s senses lost its previous clarity. Even forming thoughts had become difficult.

He tried to fight the erasure by remembering who he was, the world from which he came, and his beloved mother, who was surely waiting for his return. But this did little to slow the rate of absorption.

Now, as Rei moved through the streets, milkshake in hand, Ralf was on the brink of fading out of existence. The monster had all but swallowed him, seconds away from shutting its jaws to trap him in the eternal darkness that was its stomach.

No… no … no

No…I don’t want to die like this...

H...elp

…please…help me.

I don’t…

...want to…

Disa…ppe…Rei…

Ralf’s desperate pleas would reach no one. Despair reigned in his heart as his final moments approached.

The Great Aether was thought to be where souls resided before life and in the afterlife. Remembering his time staring at it, Ralf believed this to be the case as well. It felt pleasant, not something to fear or run from. However, something told him that this was not where he would end up should he be swallowed whole and that wherever he did end up wouldn't be anything pleasant.

***

‘Skydiving was fun, I should do that again.’

Lips squeezing the straw, Rei walked through the nifty shopping district. In the distance, he caught the motorcycle he had come with. Rei hated traffic, and his black stead allowed him to avoid much of it. Taking in the busy intersection in the distance, he knew he would have to do some zigzagging.

Continuing down the red-tiled road, Rei’s attention was grabbed by a truck driver. Behind the wheel, the middle-aged man was red with agitation. The traffic had clearly gotten to him.

The lights finally turned green for him. The truck’s engines revved high as he slammed his foot to the floor. Then, instead of turning with the other vehicles, he continued straight.

‘Idiot, this isn’t a road.’

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While certainly wide enough, it wasn’t meant for vehicles to use as shortcuts. The truck driver didn’t see it that way and sped down the passage in hopes of reaching the other side.

Rei frowned at the driver’s foolishness. ‘Reckless, you could hurt some-’

Swoosh!

Before he could finish the thought, Rei was off. Milkshake tossed aside, he dashed forth with all his might. Pulsating with power, his trained muscles were pushed to their very limits as he rushed forward. His thoughts raced as he moved to avoid the possibility that appeared in his mind a moment ago.

A second later, the sight he feared came into view. A ball tumbled across his vision, and in hot pursuit, a young child. Her attention was squarely fixed on catching up to the ball rolling away from her. The truck barreled her way with unstoppable momentum.

Faced with this crisis, his mind sharpened and the cogs in his head began racing.

Upon seeing the truck and hearing the ball and the child’s giggle, Rei’s mind had constructed the imagery he was currently seeing. The immediate and distant future was always on his mind. This had worked well for his chess career. It was now showing its use.

Signal to the driver to stop?

Call out to the child?

After considering these options in a flash, Rei rejected them. They wouldn’t work. And so, he settled on his current plan.

‘I can make it in time.’

Thinking this, Rei upped his efforts. Then, maintaining high speed, he moved diagonally from right to left. Dropping his body slightly, he scooped up her body from behind, using her forward momentum to make for a clean pick. With her in hand, he would cross to the other side…at least this was the plan. What he couldn’t predict was the driver’s reaction.

‘Ah,’ Rei’s mind froze as he captured the change.

Instead of breaking, the driver’s first instinct was to swerve. The problem was that it was the direction Rei and the girl was heading in. With his high inertia, Rei couldn’t switch directions, and certainly not with the added weight.

The truck loomed, and so did death’s hand. In the slow world, a thousand thoughts passed through Rei’s head.

‘This is how I die. I could have never predicted this. Oh well, it was…something.’

Facing his end, complicated emotions swirled in his heart. But these were quickly suppressed as he focused on his original purpose. ‘Mine is over, but not yours…live a happy life.’

His right foot stomped down heavily. Then, with all his might, he launched her forward as a shot put.

Through slowed perception, he watched as the child’s body narrowly slipped through the gap between the truck and the corner of the building. Seeing her fall being cushioned by pedestrians, Rei was mentally relieved. At the very least, he had accomplished what he had set out to do. A smile surfaced in his heart.

‘It's a good endi-’

The truck slammed into him, killing the thought and…

***

*Crash*

Ah, this is... it's happening again!

Jolted with energy, Ralf immediately felt his consciousness being tugged at. Not resisting it, he allowed his mind to pass through the void in hopes that he might be returned to his old world.

He would not be disappointed, for that is where he would end up. Though, he would find a few surprises waiting for him once there.

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