EROS: The Light Project

HEAVEN I - THE NEW HOME

The violent whisper continued, perpetrating in silence a chilling aroma of terror. There was no explanation that could justify that man's behavior, or at the very least give him the benefit of the doubt. Another, seemingly much sweeter and innocent voice added to the eerie atmosphere - a frightened cry, fueled by sobs and prayers. Listening to the woman's lament, I felt a stronger emotion than fear rising within me: a blaze of anger ignited in my chest like an imposing torch. I was the only person who could stop whatever was happening at that moment, and I couldn't miss the opportunity to act.

So, I cautiously reached for the cell phone in my pocket - I would call the police right at that moment. But the man noticed my presence and turned to look at me. At that point, I realized I had no choice: I began running desperately towards them and blurted out the only sentence that came to my mind: "What's going on here?!" I shouted, my voice weakened by fear, but driven by a strong conviction. The man immediately released his grip on the woman and turned his head towards me. A thick beard adorned my chin, accentuating his fierce green eyes; he didn't seem at all frightened by my presence, as if he completely underestimated the potential risk I posed. Without hesitation, he pulled a black pistol with a silencer from his pocket. When my gaze focused on the weapon, my mind triggered a mysterious, almost instinctive mechanism: I lunged at the predator, grabbing his hands on the pistol. However, the man had a strong and firm grip and quickly raised his arm, taking me with him. At that point, I completely lost my balance and fell onto the train tracks. The woman screamed in terror and ran towards the door to escape, but her assailant's attention was no longer on her. His aggressive gaze was solely fixed on me, as I managed to get back on my feet. My heart was beating like a drum, almost bursting in my chest, and my face was flushed with a deep ruby red. My auburn eyes met his green ones, which showed no trace of mercy, and then shifted a few centimeters lower, noticing that the silencer's crosshair was aimed directly at me. Click. A muted shot briefly lit up the pistol. I jolted as if struck by lightning on the side; I barely felt any pain. My head leaned towards the tracks, taking the rest of my body with me. I felt the deafening whistle announcing the approaching train. The awareness of what was happening appeared clear in my mind, like an obstacle too high to overcome. I saw a group of people entering the station, alerted by the sound of the shot. Then I felt the tracks vibrating like percussion instruments. The last concert of my life. That train would never take me to the university. A crash. And nothing.
PARADISE I - THE NEW HOME
Loading...
Please wait...
Loading...
...

Congratulations! ;) We have excellent news for you, beloved child of Him! You have led a devoted and good life, and it's your merit to access Paradise! :D
You'll be staying on the 1st Floor, blessed simple class, Comfort Zone! For any doubts, contact the Assistance Center at 333!
Your home is loading...
...
...

WELCOME!

-OOOHHHHG!- I jerked, inhaling as much air as possible. Within a few seconds, my lungs were filled, and I began to breathe regularly again. It felt like I had been in a state of apnea for at least ten minutes, and the feeling of suffocation almost made me vomit. I found myself lying in my bed, in Milan. A faint ray of sunlight reached the window of my room in a quiet morning silence. I was wrapped in my sheets, still feeling a strong sense of nausea. The situation worsened when an unsettling stream of memory reminded me of what had happened just a moment before. I was dead. It was all over. That couldn't be my home; it couldn't be. Those neon signs, appearing in my mind so clear and bright, didn't even remotely resemble a strange dream. I rushed out of bed, unable to believe my eyes. My room was exactly as I had left it before leaving, my books perfectly arranged on the shelves, my stuffed animals on the same shelf. I wasn't wearing the same clothes I had that morning in London; now I was wearing a white short-sleeved t-shirt and soft, thin white trousers, paired with gray socks. Like an impatient child waiting to find their Christmas gifts in the living room, I flung open my bedroom door and rushed down the stairs: "Mom! Dad!" No response. "Aurora! Gio!" The living room was perfectly tidy; the table set with a plate of pancakes, a basket of exotic fruit, and a cup of milk. However, I was too confused and scared to have any appetite, and all I wanted was an answer to all my questions. That place reminded me so much of my little villa, but I couldn't be there: it was absurd, impossible... I had moved to London, and I received a gunshot to the chest trying to save a woman. There was absolutely nothing that could justify my presence there, except for the fact that I was truly in Paradise. Suddenly, a glimmer of excitement ignited in me: I had left behind everything I cared for the most, my home, my family, my life... but now, I was in the place of eternal happiness! I had no idea what I would find, but I couldn't wait to discover it: I catapulted myself in front of my front door and flung it open with all my might. Before me lay an unusual scenario. I mean, I expected that outside my house, I would find something different from my neighborhood, but I didn't think it would be such a simple setting: it was a village consisting of a series of houses, each painted in different colors. It felt like being in a fairytale, with the sun shining and a flowery lawn outlining a path between the houses. To be honest, I admit I expected to see some angels with feathered wings, but in front of me, there was only an old woman watering her garden hedge: she was also wearing a white t-shirt and white trousers, so I immediately deduced that she must be a blessed one like me. "Hey, are you the new neighbor?" the lady asked, looking at me. "I... I don't know... can you tell me where I am?" I asked, stammering and confused. The woman looked puzzled for a moment and didn't say anything. "Oh, dear boy... no..." she finally said, wearing a compassionate smile. "Forgive me, it was rude of me not to give you an explanation. You see, I'm not used to this. Usually, those who come here already know where they are... but you're so young... poor thing, it must have been a tragedy..." she continued. My words were interrupted by a lump in my throat, and I felt my eyes welling up with tears. "Ohhh, sweetheart... no..." The lady approached me and wrapped her warm arms around my chest. "Come, make yourself comfortable at my place, I'll tell you everything you want to know." Her living room was small and cozy, filled with