Irida Rosta N.

Story 010: Cinema

Hello, and welcome to the universe that I live in.

My name is Irida Rosta N. and I will be accompanying you in the next few moments of your life.

I see that you are back again for the last story. Or, are you here to reveal my true identity?

Anyway, even though I said that this will be the last story, it definitely won't be the end of me or the stories that I have.

You'll see more of me later in the future where I will share another story. Though, whether I explicitly show up like this or not, you'll just have to find that out later in the future.

Still, my identity, huh... I think it is only fair to reveal some of myself now that you have come this far.

So far, I already explicitly tell you that I'm not a God and not an angel as well. I also explicitly told you that I'm not human despite having the appearance of a plain and ordinary teenage girl.

Also, I think I made a blunder of telling you that I can't escape bad ending of a story.

...

Ugh... That was too big of a clue...

Anyway, I'm pretty sure that, by now, most of you guessed that I'm the avatar of the person who used the pen name Kishiyama Shukufuku. Or, at least believe that I'm the very person behind that pen name.

If you are, then congratulation. YOU ARE DEAD WRONG!

I mean, I'm a girl, you know, well, appearance-wise, at least. That Kishiyama Shukufuku? He is a man and a really normal one at that. Like, why would an ordinary man self-insert as a girl in a story?

Oh, by the way, if you thought of some weird stuffs about him, then I'm sure you are also wrong.

Well, I get along well with the person behind that pen name. So, there's that.

Ah, but you don't have to worry about anything. I won't punish you for getting the incorrect answers. It just means that you have to try harder to guess my true identity.

Anyway, I think I have talked more than enough.

So, let me share you the last story for now, okay?

***Story 10***

***Cinema***

"Where am I?"

I found myself sitting on a chair in a dark place. I tried to stand up, but I couldn't do it. I could still move my head, hands, legs, and every other part of my body just fine though, strangely enough. Yet, as if there was some kind of invisible force, I could not do a simple act of standing up or even moving from my seat.

"Uh!"

The light suddenly turned on and I instinctively covered my eyes. After my vision had adjusted to the new brightness, I looked around and saw many empty seats in the room that I was in. However, what captured my attention the most was the big screen that was right in front of me. I knew that screen. I knew precisely what it was and that was also precisely why I knew where I was.

"This place is a cinema building, isn't it?" I murmured, "Why am I here?"

As if to answer my question, the screen suddenly lit up. Again, I reflexively covered my eyes and only peeked through my fingers once my vision had been adjusted to it.

"Wha!?"

I couldn't stop myself from being surprised upon seeing my full name displayed on the big screen.

"Why is my name there?"

However, again, as if to answer my question the scene changed into a baby being born onto the world. There was no explicit scene that disturbed me, but... why did I feel like I have seen the place being displayed on the screen? Also... why did I feel like I had seen the face of some of those people somewhere before?

Regardless of my curiosity, the movie continued and the scene gradually yet surely transitioned into the childhood life of that baby. The baby had turned into an elementary school kid and was playing with other children of around the same age. At times, that kid played with older children and, at other times, with younger children. However, as I watched those scenes played and those people appearing in it, the feeling of familiarity only increased more.

"Why...?" I whispered, "Just why?"

The scene transitioned again. This time, it transitioned into the kid's junior high school life. The kid, now a teenager, met up with some new friends and people. And, again, I got attacked by a sense of familiarity that was getting stronger and stronger. However, unlike before, this time, I knew the cause.

This weird sense of familiarity like I had already met with the people showed on the movie and this weird sensation like I had already experienced what was being shown on the big screen, I knew the cause of it. After all, the movie that was being played right now was...

"My life, isn't it?" I said, "This movie is my whole life, isn't it?"

Again, there was no answer. However, when the scene in the movie gradually transitioned into the high school life, I received my confirmation that it really was the movie of my life being played.

The moment I realized it, I felt like the invisible power that had been forcing me to sit and watch the movie disappear. I wasn't sure why, but I had this conviction that I could stand up and leave if I wished to do so. All that was left for me to do was whether I continued watching the movie of my life or not.

"..."

I looked at the screen which still showed my high school life. The time when a lot of paths opened up for me and the time where I also made a lot of mistakes. Upon watching it, I knew what I had to do.

"I..."

---Black Screen---

The movie ended.

The big screen showed a white text in the middle over a black background.

"The End."

Such words showed on the screen. It then changed to another text.

"If it is you, what will you do? Will you stay? Will you leave? Or, will you...?"

***Story End***

So, how was the story?

It is scary, isn't it?

To be honest, I believe the movie in this story is even scarier than any other horror movies. In fact, I don't think it is an exaggeration to say that the movie in this story is the scariest movie of all times and spaces.

Think about it, you have to watch and relive your mistakes, your regrets, and even your wrongdoings.

Well, you also have to watch and relive your happy moments, so I think it can negate your fear somewhat.

Anyway, the biggest question in this story is who is the protagonist?

To be honest, I believe leaving it up in the air is the best. After all, this story that I have shared can happen to anyone. To me, to you, to anyone really.

So, let's not dwell too much in it, okay?

Now that that is out of the way, time to reveal a new fact about myself.

You see, I exist long before God created the first human. So, yeah, I'm way way way older than you think.

If you were to ask why or how come, then I'll answer you with this obvious fact.

This universe is full of mysteries and so is yours. I am one of the mysteries in my universe AND in your universe.

With this blatant of a clue, I'm sure you know who I am by now. So, I don't think I need to reveal my identity to you now.

Now then, I think it is time to say goodbye now.

However, what I will say to you remain the same as before.

See you in the next story.

***