Black Swan.

𝖎. into a new world.

( CHAPTER ONE  ༒︎  into  a new world )

THE LAST THING HE COULD recall before his vision faded to black was getting hit by a speeding car. it had all happened so quickly. one moment he was crossing the busy street along with other people, the next moment he was lying helplessly on the pavement all by himself— bleeding out. he would've never thought that his existence would end just like that.

'death, huh?' he always thought it would be more dramatic, something grand and fearsome. but now, floating here in this quiet stillness, it feels oddly mundane and almost anticlimactic for something so dreaded.

in fact it was a little peaceful. unnerving, but peaceful nonetheless. who would've thought that death is just like an abyss of nothingness? deep and all encompassing, stretching on in every direction without end. the boy heaved out a sigh as his eyes drifted over the endless darkness with a sense of boredom.

'so this is the afterlife?'

will he just be floating here for eternity? with no one to talk to? nothing to do? the vast emptiness stretching out before him now felt like a sick punishment, a cruel joke.

well if this is a punishment, it's probably because he didn't pay any attention to the black swan he saw while he was on his way to school. his mother used to always tell him that black swans served as an omen, foretelling the coming of a tragedy, and that whenever he sees one he should be prepared for the unpredictable circumstances that often followed. truth be told, he didn't believe her that much. scratch that— he didn't believe her at all.

oh, if only he knew how this seemingly harmless encounter would soon set the stage for a devastating event that will forever change the course of his life, forever marked by that haunting black swan.

the boy hugged his knees close to his chest before closing his eyes tightly and wishing for only one thing: to be able to see the light again. he doesn't hate the dark, but at this moment, it's far from comforting. so, if there is a god out there, the boy hopes that they listen to his prayers and let him see the light once more. he didn't need a full day or even a full hour— he would settle for just a minute or even a second.

all he longs for is the gentle warmth of the sun, the kind that would wrap around him like a comforting embrace and bring back memories of home.

the darkness was no more.

the darkness that had once surrounded him vanished in an instant and was instead replaced by a radiant light. he found himself in a breathtaking place, where vibrant colors danced around him and beauty unfolded in every direction.

the boy found himself to be completely at peace as he sits in a field of sunflowers near a seashore with the sun setting in the distance. the warmth of the sun's rays were like a hug from a long lost friend while the salty ocean breeze carried a sense of tranquility that filled his entire being.

there was such a sense of freedom and bliss here. it felt as if every burden and worry he had has been lifted off of his shoulders at last. the boy felt as if he could finally let go of everything and simply enjoy the beauty that surrounded him.

it finally feels like the afterlife.

for the first time since realizing he was dead, the boy smiled. it wasn't a smile of sadness or regret, but one of pure contentment. he felt as if this was where he belonged and he wouldn't mind staying here for the rest of eternity.

"seems like you're having a good time."

a sudden voice bombarded his ears out of nowhere. he turned around, compelled by the unexpected and haunting voice. after catching sight of the voice's owner, he felt his heart start to race, his breath catching in his throat as his gaze fell upon a figure that seemed to have risen from the depths of his imagination.