I Became a Ranker Before Rankers

The Day I Died

I was just a typical office worker, earning minimum wage and trapped in a relentless 9-to-5 routine. Eat. Sleep. Work. Repeat. Each new day brought a torrent of beatdowns from my domineering boss and the whispers of workplace gossip. The monotony of my life became insufferable, and my will to start each day deteriorated. Only when I reached my apartment door did the stress relinquish its hold slightly.

Despite my mundane existence, I clung to the hope of a fairytale romance—my soulmate, a person only dreams could conjure. As time passed, my faith in finding that one individual out of seven billion faded. Seeking solace, I turned to novels. Each page transported me to a new reality, where I became someone better, escaping the drudgery of my job.

One cold winter evening, nearing the end of my third reading of my favorite novel before the last chapter's release, I met my maker.

Donning my favorite dark-grey jumper, I ventured from my apartment to the eighty-year-old convenience store, lured by the warm memories of instant ramen before the final chapter. The broken-down complex I lived in and the quaint restaurant adjacent to it marked my well-trodden path. At the crosswalk, I stood, observing each car pass by, waiting for the light to change and grant me passage.

Finally, the signal switched, and I began to cross, gaze cast downward to avoid the eyes of others. On the blackened asphalt, I spotted a crisp hundred-dollar bill, beckoning like a pirate's treasure. I bent my knees, quickly grabbed and pocketed the bill, kneeling like a devout follower. It felt like an acknowledgment from the universe of my life's trials. I was wrong.

Bright white lights, akin to those in dentist visits or eye exams, hurled toward me with immense speed. I was a deer in headlights. Sensing my imminent end, I didn't move or shed a tear. My body shot away from where I'd knelt, like a broken puppet kicked to the curb. My soul lagged as my bones shattered. Only then, as my warm blood seeped out, did I feel a will to keep going.

In that moment, I yearned for salvation, a mysterious vision from the novels I loved. But no hero appeared to save me, leaving me to face the agony of a lonely death.

As I took my final breaths, I reflected on my life. I lived with many regrets, but the most prominent was leaving myself with the world's biggest cliffhanger.

My consciousness idled in a world of complete darkness, suspended in a realm where time held no meaning. It was a void of everything—sound, light, existence. Even as I screamed, begging for release, nothing answered. My attempts to open my eyes were futile as the void engulfed me. As I coped with my death, I found solace in the nothingness, a sanctuary where my actions had no significance. The silence was my lullaby.

Yet, after an indeterminate span of time, a shift occurred. The darkness gave way to a blood-red hue, and I felt the same warmth I had in my fleeting minutes. I became aware of my limbs, grateful for even a fraction of movement. I stretched my fingers, moving each one individually, like Mozart on a piano. My toes, though less graceful, joined in the symphony of life.

At first, I was reluctant to open my eyes, fearing my sanctuary of peace had been destroyed. But as I tried to rise, I found myself tightly restrained. I hesitated, worried that I would be disappointed to find I was still alive. I decided to sit up first, but my strength failed me. I was held captive by an unknown force. Curiosity and apprehension filled my mind as I cautiously opened my eyes.

The scene that greeted me was like a vivid dream. A fire lit the cavernous room, smoke swirling around the warmth. The light shifted like a kaleidoscope of golden and vermillion hues. Endless stone walls whispered tales of ancient secrets.

A sharp pain rushed through my body, shocking me back to reality. I turned to the source of my captivity and beheld a creature unlike any on earth. It resembled a dragon, a treasure-hoarding creature from stories. Its sinewy body and distinct face defied everything I knew. I felt its breath grow shallower as it sunk into a deeper sleep, its grasp slipping. Mustering all my courage, I forced myself up and ran to the opposite corner of the room.