10 Minute Tales, Part 2

Jul 23 - Awaken

I opened my eyes. Something seemed wrong, somehow. My room was illuminated with a light as pure as sunlight, but the clock on my wall said it was about two in the morning.

"Sire." a woman's voice echoed. The sound made me think about angels, about the eternity of beauty. It also helped me realise that there was somebody in my room. I nearly jumped out of bed and looked over, stunned. The woman stood - no, floating - before me was beautiful. I couldn't help but gasp as I looked at her body. Long, flowing hair reached down her body elegantly, easily reaching her knees. She wore a dress with a starry night sky pattern, but as she floated there I swore I could see the pattern move. Her face was beautiful, as was her body... I couldn't help but stare. "Ah, your shell is awake."

"My... shell?" I mumbled, still half-asleep. I sat up a little, the sheet sliding down. "What're you talking about?"

"Sire, I am afraid I do not have time to entertain this game of yours any further."

"This game? What are you...?" I was too tired to make heads or tails of what she was talking about. She seemed rather annoyed for what I could only assume was a celestial being.

"Your shell, as entertaining as it must be, cannot perform your duties. If I recall, you had told me you would only persist on this planet for twenty of its cycles. However, this is nearly twenty five."

"What the hell are you talking about?" I asked, frowning angrily. I didn't understand what she was talking about... but, at the same time, I felt something about what she was saying.  "I don't remember anything like that!"

"Understandable, the power your true self can wield is far too great for a shell so simplistic. Allow me." she held her hand out, and everything seemed to vanish. I could see everything! I could see through space, through time, through the very dimensions themselves! I cried out in shock as I beheld some being, huge beyond size, wise beyond understanding, mighty beyond power. Whatever I was looking at had the power to do as it chose, as it desired.

"What... what the hell is that? Is that..." I shook my head as the woman brought her hand back. "Is that God or something?"

"In a sense, sire. It is your true form, the form channelling but a fraction of its might into all beings, to give them life. It is that life that empowers this shell's very being."

"I... that's me?" I asked, whimpering. The vision of this being had utterly confused me, but... I couldn't deny it. It felt weird, but it felt like me. "... so... what happens now?"

"I am to bring you home, as per your instructions." she smiled patiently, a smile that calmed me down. "All I need to do is take your hand, to guide your essence home." she reached down to me again, this time keeping her hand outstretched as she waited. I hesitated.