Eclipse Blade

Chapter 14: Keeper of Time Part-1

After the accident, Carl slowly opened his eyes, and the memories of the crash rushed back to him. As his senses sharpened, he rose to his feet, his eyes darting around in a state of confusion. He couldn't believe what he was seeing: an expanse of pure whiteness stretching out endlessly in every direction.

He attempted to move, trying to understand where he was, and his steps carried him toward what seemed to be an edge.

Standing at this boundary, Carl's gaze shifted downward, revealing a breathtaking sight. Galaxies and stars dotted the landscape beneath him. The sheer magnitude of the scene left him awestruck and disoriented all at once.

As he turned around, seeking answers, his eyes fell upon a figure cloaked in a long, hooded robe. The robe seemed to shimmer with an otherworldly light, and the intricate patterns on the lightweight tunic beneath hinted at an air of ancient mystique.

Surprised by the stranger's presence, Carl's voice quivered slightly as he gathered the courage to speak. "Hello there, who are you? And do you know how I can find my way out of here?"

With a calm demeanor, the stranger turned towards Carl. "Nobody can leave here without my permission. And as for who I am, don't you recognize me already, young man?" the stranger inquired.

Carl looked at the stranger, a glimmer of recognition crossing his face. He responded with a mixture of surprise and realization, "You are... You are that stranger who told me I would die in the car accident, aren't you?"

The stranger smiled, his expression mysterious. "It seems you've remembered me after all. And how does it feel? You got what you wanted, aren't you happy?"

Carl's voice surged with frustration, reverberating through the air. "Who are you? I know you weren't some psychic. So come on, spill it. Who the hell are you? And how in the world do I get out of here?"

His gaze remained fixed on the smiling stranger, his anger palpable. Without missing a beat, Carl continued, "What's so funny? You know, once I wanted to die, but now all I want is to live, to be with Mia? Everything's perfect now. So just let me out of here."

With an eerie smile, the stranger vanished from Carl's sight, only to reappear behind him. Startled, Carl turned, his eyes widening as he confronted the stranger again. The stranger locked eyes with Carl and spoke, "You are so eager to know who I am, right? Then let me tell you, I am the keeper of time, a celestial being whose sole purpose is to balance time."

As Carl's expression shifted, the stranger continued, "And didn't I tell you? You cannot leave without my permission. Do you think you can just leave whenever you want because you've had a change of heart? You're in my realm now, and because you have died. From this point on, you can either go to heaven or hell. The latter seems to suit you more."

Carl's shock was undeniable as he collapsed to the ground, his eyes filled with terror. His voice quivered as he spoke, "But how can I die? I've just realized I want to live, and I'm only sixteen. How is this fair?"

The stranger's sadistic laughter echoed. "Don't make me laugh. Did you expect us to wait until you turned 100? Look around you." The stranger's tone grew serious as he pointed into the distance.

There, Carl saw the souls of many humans moving, splitting into different paths toward heaven or hell. The stranger's voice cut through, "See? Most of them are younger than you. You think what happened to you is unfair? This is life. There's no guarantee of life or death. The only thing you can do in this miserable life is to cherish the moments you have, be happy, and stop dwelling on your past. And don't let it become a reason to push away the people you love."

Understanding began to dawn on Carl. "I understand what you're saying. You're right. I shouldn't have blamed myself for Jason's death or pushed people away."

With newfound resolve, Carl rose to his feet. "I can't undo the mistakes I've made. So what happens to me now? Where am I going, heaven or hell?"

The stranger looked at Carl, his expression less stern. "For now, you're not going anywhere. I wanted you to understand how precious life is. It seems you've grasped that a little. I can give your life back, but there's something you must do for me..."