Unredeemable (#Wattys2016) [On Hold]

Genesis

I was falling.

It felt like forever before I finally hit the ground. However when I did I did not feel the impact.

"That's strange." I thought out loud.

I was laying on some sort of soft grass. It was a bit damn like it had seen the sky pouring down a few hours ago. I did not dare open my eyes, fearing the worst. I tried moving my limbs tho trying to feel my injuries.

I felt none, no pain.

My eyes flew open. I looked for any injuries on my body, really looked. Even tried to turn around and inspect my back.

Nothing.

I know I probably looked like a giant confused moose (another of my mother's nick name's for me), with my twisting and turning.

"I see you have finally awaked." I heard a familiar deep voice. Looking up I saw the shadow-less man in front me. Only now he was dressed in a long ivory colored robe. His beard and long hair looked silver, the sunlight making it look like it sparkled.

Realization downed on me.
"So am I dead? We'll of course I am dead. I was caught up in am earthquake for Pete's sake. And you are here, you have been dead for like 30 decades. So off course am dead. At least tell me this ain't hell. Well the grass is green and I see no fire so this must be heaven? Right? Good Abell goes to heaven that's right, I have........."

"Quite." He snapped at me, successfully stopping my rambling. Can you blame me tho? Am dead. Gone for good. Never going back. You name it.

I was still sitting on the grass with my legs folded. New thoughts invading my mind. So if I died in an earthquake, would Vicktor still be considered as my murderer? After all he was the one who took me there, he was the one who left me there to die.

"You are not dead Abell, and this isn't heaven" He said.
"Nor am I, well technically in your world I am considered dead, but not here." He said while clasping his hands together.

"I don't understand, I was caught in an earthquake, and your grandson told me you were dead, a ghost, no a spirit a good one." I said recalling the cafe owners words.

"A ghost?" He said sounding offhanded.
"I am no ghost, I am a living being, tho I may not be a human anymore, I am much more stronger now."

I stared at him, may be he hit his head pretty hard on his way to heaven.
"Who are you then? and if this isn't heaven then what place is it" I asked him, raising my eyebrows..

"I am Erramun, I am the guardian and keeper of the keys here." He said proudly almost jutting out his chest.
"And this......" He gestured towards the land, "is Umbra, land of the shadows. The shadow of every living being on Earth reside here. The shadow of Earth herself."

Shadows?

That reminds me.
"You don't have a shadow. I saw it. You were under that street lamp with me, but you did not have a shadow."

"Very observant." He smiled offering me his hand. Taking it I rose to my feet. Dusting the grass off my bottom.

"Explain" I demanded. Already listing down various questions to bombard him with.

"I do not have a shadow because I chose to unite my human self with my shadow. Only the bravest and the most kindest are given the opportunity to unite with their shadows. They are escorted to Umbra by the Goddess of Darkness herself, just before they take their last breath as human."

"So you aren't technically dead, you're just whole? And more powerful?" I asked, trying to put everything together.

"That's one way of putting it, the ones who have united with their shadows are called Shalivs.

They belong to the royal family as they are the most powerful children of the Goddess Selene. Each of us behold powers different from the rest."

I did not realise we were walking until we stopped in front of an enormous gate. The gate was made with, what looked like solid ivory. The bars had delicate carvings over it. The gate seemed to be floating on a cloud of white smoke.

I expected Erramun to use his key to unlock the gate, but he simply touched the gate with his fingers and the gate flew open. I looked at him questioningly.

"The key is a symbol, I do not need to use it all the time, in fact its been decades since I last used it." He said walking a bit ahead of me. For a man of his age he was quite fit, I had to jog to keep up with his walking.

"So the gate opens only if you touch it? So you are like a human key? That's cool." It was pretty cool, the goddess of darkness seems pretty advanced.

"Not really, the key is still functional. Always will be. It was handed over to me by my successor. The gate is enchanted, I have bewitched it with my guardian powers. No one can enter or leave without me or the key." He said, clutching the key briefly.

I nodded, committing that piece of information to memory.
"So where are we going now?I have some questions. For starters, why don't I have any injuries over me? Who brought me here? Was is the goddess? , cause I am certain I did not see her....."

"Questions, questions, questions, the human mind is always filled with questions. Why, what, who, when......it want answers, it want reasons for everything, but sometimes its good to just accept things without questioning them. Appreciate things without assessing them. You are alive, healthy and breathing. Isn't that something that should be appreciated?" He asked with a content smile on his face.

That's true, I am alive tho I may not be on Earth but I am close, and I am safe. I should take a moment to appreciate my second chance at life.

Just a moment.

After that I will have my answers.

A/N
So here it is, its where everything begins.
When I started writing about Erramun, for some reason I kept visualizing Albus Dumbledore. For the non Harry Potter fans. Dumbledore is a major character in the Harry Potter series.
So now you guys know me a bit more.

Random question:
What's your favorite word?

Mine would be 'serendipity' I just like the way it sounds so complicated yet so uncomplicated at the same time.

Do let me know what you think of this chapter.

Until next time.
Be nice to people. :)