Prologue
Okay, so you want to know my story? Well the short version is pretty simple. I die, wake up, almost die again, and now I'm here with you. But you didn't want the short version, did you. Anyway it'll pass the time.
I think the date was November second, and it was going to be a normal day, except for the presentation I had to do. But it wasn't a normal day, not for me. It was the day I was set to unknowingly die.
Waking up with my face flat down against my key board was a disadvantage of being a computer programmer. Although it was one that I'd grown accustomed to. The constant ringing of my alarm clock reminded me that I was on a tight schedule, and that sleep was only for the lucky ones.
After rising out of my chair, I began my morning routine. My search for the television remote, combined with some other chores, some how made me late for the 8:30 bus to Boddington street. I ran after it, slipping because of the ice on the sidewalk but had no success in catching it. As a last resort, I raised my left hand and feebly waved it at a nearby taxi. After some time a taxi slowly pulled up next to me and I slid inside. I didn’t know it at the time, but I was making a decision which would change my life forever.
As I climbed in I noticed that I was entering an unhygienic, germ-infested war zone. The seats were stained with liquids left by former occupants. The windows were covered in an unidentifiable muck, but still I climbed in, knowing that it was the only way of making it to work on time.
The ride was calm, peaceful. I could even felt my stress begin to melt away as we cruised along that drab grey street. But that all changed when the driver decided to take a call from his wife, pulling up on the side of the street he began to talk. I didn't mind waiting, because getting to work early only made things more depressing. Since the espresso machine was broken. Soon an argument broke out between the two and the taxi's atmosphere changed drastically, making me feel really uncomfortable. But to pass the time I started playing a level of angry birds, which I'd been stuck on for some time. This blinded me from the bank robbery taking place outside. Two gun shots and a scream echoed down the street, causing me to turn around.
I witnessed a police officer fall to the ground with both arms in the air. His killer was wearing a black ski mask and was slowly lowering his gun. Bank robbers fled the building and began running in my direction. In a panic I locked the doors, and tried to get the driver to do the same but instead he ran getting shot in the process. He left his door wide open. With no visible way of escaping without getting shot I decided to hide.
I did this by taking off my overcoat and covering myself up in the feet area of the chair. The door next to me opened and I was hit by a heavy object. After slamming the door shut they entered the front of the taxi, mumbling excitedly. I was stuck in a really uncomfortable position for what seemed like hours, afraid to move because of the possibility of me being discovered. When they eventually stopped, it was in the middle of nowhere so I remained still, knowing there was no escape.
As the door in front of me opened, I closed my eyes and hoped for the best. Someone reached in snatching the heavy object off of me, ignoring what was under the overcoat they closed the door and left. I quietly sighed with relief, thinking I was in the clear. I was wrong. After waiting for a minute or two I cautiously uncovered myself and peered out of the window. Outside there was a glimmering field of fresh snow, surrounded by forest.
Just as I was about to open the door and gain my freedom, voices crept up on me. I quickly dropped back to the ground, covering myself up as the voices drew closer. I was motionless, holding my breath as they passed. That was until a strange liquid started being thrown at the windows.
I had an idea as to what it was but I was more concerned with getting shot. Although that all changed when the liquid set ablaze, leaving me with an easy decision. I opened the door in front of me and made a run for it, startling the thieves standing at a safe distance. As they rummaged through their pockets, looking for their guns, I ran for the forest. I was meters from the tree line when a bullet plunged its was through my stomach, forcing me to the ground.
When my face struck the ground a sharp pain spread throughout my body. Leaving me gasping for air as I rolled onto my back. My blood stained the snow I was laying in. As I laid looking up, I noticed a how deep and blue the sky was, then every thing grew dark. I never thought I'd die that way. I expected myself to die of old age, disease, or to one day get hit by a bus, at least that would be instant.
Being dead was the strangest and most memorable moment of my life, if that makes sense. I was stuck in a field of never ending darkness with only the ground beneath me. There was no sound, no light, no feelings, and I had no idea of where I was, was I in Heaven or Hell? Little did I know, I would soon discover where I was and if either Heaven or Hell even existed. Although at the time my main question was, Is this it?
