I'm a villainous in a Otome Game?!

Chapter 2

It's cold and soft at the same time, yet strangely weightless. I feel like I'm floating—my body drifting without form or sense of gravity. My eyes snap open, and I find myself staring up at a ceiling that stretches into infinity, pitch black and endless. Am I...in a black hole? Or something like one? What the fu—

My thoughts stumble to a halt as I realize I'm lying on something. A floor? It’s impossible to tell because everything is consumed by darkness. I press my palms flat against the surface, feeling a strange texture—like silk, but cool and unyielding. I push myself upright, my gaze darting around the infinite void. There's no horizon, no walls—just eternal black stretching as far as my eyes can see.

I shake my head, trying to make sense of it all. "I...I got hit by a truck. I remember it. The lights...the sound..." My voice wavers, echoing slightly in the emptiness. "Did I...die? Is this heaven? Or maybe...hell?"

As if responding to my questions, a gentle, melodic voice echoes around me. "Nope. This is neither heaven nor hell, my child."

I freeze. "W-who said that?" My eyes scan the void frantically, but there's nothing—just endless black.

The voice chuckles softly, a sound like chiming bells. "I can read your mind, my child."

I scramble to my feet, my knees wobbling as I try to stand steady. "Show yourself!" I shout, louder than I intend. My voice reverberates, stretching endlessly through the dark.

A scoff echoes back, dripping with amusement. "Behind you, fool."

I whirl around so fast I nearly trip over my own feet. My breath catches in my throat. A woman sits upon a throne that hadn't been there a moment ago. Her hair is long and golden, cascading over her shoulders like strands of sunlight. She's dressed in pure white, her legs crossed elegantly as if she’s been lounging there for hours. Her eyes are half-lidded, heavy with a strange sort of lethargy, but they shimmer with a light that is anything but ordinary.

"W-who the hell are you?!" I demand, my voice cracking just slightly. My fists clench at my sides as I try to project strength, but the sight of her makes my knees feel weak.

She raises a brow, amused. "I am called many things. But your kind would call me...God." Her lips curve into a small, knowing smile, and for a moment, her eyes glimmer with a golden light so radiant it nearly blinds me.

My mouth goes dry. "G-God? You can’t be serious."

Her smile only grows, the light in her eyes flickering like molten gold. "Would you like me to prove it?" Her tone is playful, almost teasing.

A shiver runs down my spine. The air around me suddenly chills, biting at my skin. My breath fogs in front of me as I clutch my arms, the temperature dropping alarmingly fast.

"N-no! I believe you!" I yelp, shivering uncontrollably. The chill disappears instantly, the air returning to its strange, neutral state.

"Good," she replies, flicking a hand dismissively. "Now, I assume you have questions, yes?" She tilts her head, her gaze both curious and vaguely amused.

I swallow hard. "Of course I do! Where am I? Why am I here? I-I thought I died..."

She waves her hand, and with a flicker of light, the throne she’s seated on transforms into a luxurious pillow. A small coffee table materializes in front of her, ornate and gleaming, with a matching pillow appearing just opposite. She gestures for me to sit.

"Take a seat, my child," she coos, her voice almost hypnotic. I glance around, half-expecting something to lunge at me from the shadows. But nothing happens. Warily, I lower myself onto the pillow, and to my surprise, it's softer than anything I’ve ever felt.

With another flick of her finger, a steaming pot of tea and two porcelain cups appear on the table. The fragrance is sweet and calming, instantly putting me at ease.

"Drink," she urges, pouring the tea with a grace that seems effortless. I reach for the cup, my fingers brushing the delicate porcelain. I take a cautious sip, and my eyes widen. "This is...incredible," I murmur, taking another sip. Warmth spreads through me, relaxing the tension in my limbs.

God—or whatever she is—takes a sip from her own cup, watching me with a glimmer of satisfaction. "I’m glad you like it. Now," she sets her cup down, folding her hands neatly in her lap, "let’s get to business."

I blink, setting my cup down as well. "Business?"

She nods, her golden eyes locking onto mine. "Yes. You see, you did indeed die. But I’ve taken a liking to you, Urakina. So I’ve decided to give you...another chance."

My heart skips a beat. "A...second chance?"

She smiles brightly, the shadows around us flickering with her energy. "That’s right! But...there’s a catch." She flicks her wrist, and a white file appears in her hand, neatly bound and tied with a silver ribbon. She slides it across the table to me.

I pick it up cautiously, untying the ribbon and flipping it open. A photograph of a woman with flowing blonde hair stares back at me, her eyes sharp and calculating.

"Martina Rikaris," I read aloud. "Age...will start as a baby?" I look up at her, confused. "What does that mean?"

God—Kira, as she soon introduces herself—smirks, leaning back against her pillow. "It means you will be reincarnated, my dear. Into another world, and into that body."

My mouth drops open. "Reincarnated? Like...from those fantasy novels?"

She nods, her grin widening. "Precisely!" she cheers, clapping her hands together. "But Martina is...a bit of a unique case," she adds, her expression turning serious.

I frown. "Unique?"

Kira nods slowly. "You'll understand soon enough. But for now, it’s time to get you ready."

"W-wait, already?!" I stammer, but she’s already standing, her hand raised above her head.

"Good luck," she whispers with a smile that is both kind and oddly sinister. Before I can protest, she slams her hand down, and the world around me shatters into light.

My body feels like it's being crushed, pressed from all sides by invisible forces. I scream, but there’s no sound. Just endless light and pain...and then, nothing.

Darkness again.

But this time...it’s different.

I feel...alive.