A strange New Land (Redwall)

Chapter 2: The Darkness

I couldn't tell if my eyes were open or not, because everything was dark. There was nothing anywhere, even I was nothing. But that couldn't be. I tried to feel my body, but I couldn't because there was nothing. Nothing all around me and nowhere to go. I must be dead... Damn. Out of all the ways to go. I was more angry and frustrated than I thought I'd be. I thought I'd be more sad, or scared. Am I really dead though? That can't be. What even happened, all I remember was pulling the trigger, over and over as if that would save my life. And the car... it was rolling towards me, tumbling over itself. It must have hit me. What BS is that? I thought I'd go out bleeding from a gunshot wound or at least taking some scum down with me. So what now? I thought. This can't be it. Where is hell? Where is heaven?

I tried calling out, but my voice only echoed back at me. What is this place? I wonder if I can move in it? I tried to lift my legs and walk, but... I didn't seem to have legs at least none that I could see, and I didn't seem to move although even if I were, I doubt I'd be able to tell in the black abyss that seemed to be my new reality. It was as if I was nothing but a conscience floating about in nothingness, absolute eternal nothingness. This makes the ocean pail in comparison when it comes to endless depths. I thought.

"Hello there." A voice echoed from behind me. I spun around sharply and reached for my side arm, but of course it wasn't there. Nothing was there. In front of me was the strangest sight I had ever seen. Despite the darkness and despite the fact that I seemed to be formless and nothing, there it was, a mouse of some sort by the looks of it or maybe it was a rat who knows. Thing was that he was perfectly illuminated and his voice told me he was a he.

"Damn... If you're god, people back home played up your image big time." I said.

"I'm no god." The mouse said calmly, "Only a gatekeeper."

I can't fucking believe this shit. I'm conversing with a talking mouse. Is this some kind of practical joke? Well haha god you had your laugh. Also what in god's name is he weaning. It's like some sort of medieval tunic or some shit.

"So is this where I'm judged for all the rat poison I put in my garage or how many times I called the exterminator?" I asked sarcastically. Although I regretted saying it after. Are you trying to go to hell Kevin? I scolded myself. I was expecting some sort of negative reaction, but the mouse only cocked his head in curiosity with a genuinely confused expression as if he didn't understand what I had just said.

"Look rat, I meant no offense I was -"

"I'm a mouse. And my name is Blackpaw."

"Ya, ya whatever, mouse, rat, who cares. Tell me this Blackpaw, am I dead or not?" I asked. I was growing impatient; if I was dead then so be it, but at least get on with it.

"I'm just consulting with Martin and he seems unsure. There may have been some sort of mistake. It seems there has been a mix up." Blackpaw said.

"What do you mean there's been a mistake? Like I might still be alive?" Oh thank god! This'll be one hell of a story to tell when I'm back, not that anyone will believe it.

"Wait, before you send me back to the land of the living... Tell me is god real?"

Blackpaw looked at me with confusion again, "There's an afterlife if that's what your asking, but I wouldn't really say there's a god, even Martin doesn't like to call himself a god because he is bound to the afterlife, he has no control over the living other than to visit them in their dreams or through visions and watch from above. Once you pass into the afterlife there is no returning. You become an eternal spectator and dweller of either the dead forest or the lush one."

"The dead forest or the lush one? That your version of hell and heaven?" I asked.

"I suppose you could say that yes." The mouse said. 

"Well?" I asked after a couple of minutes.

"Yes there seems to have been a mistake. Although we are still confused as to how this happened. The afterlife is very secure. You seem to have broken through the bonds of eternal constraints."

"Aight, whatever man, I'm probably going to get medical leave for this and I wanna get the heck outta that sand box, I got school and shit, so if we can hurry this along I'd be eternally grateful."

Again with that look, as though he has no clue what I'm talking about. "You are probably the weirdest beast that I've seen pass through here." Blackpaw said

"Beast?" I asked. Now it was my turn to look confused.

"Well of course. That's what we all are." Blackpaw said incredulously.

"Whatever man, I'm not here to hear your philosophy on how humans and animals are equal, can you just get me back so I can forget this ever happened." I'm starting to think I've gone insane, I mean think about it. Mice speaking? Ya, I've lost it.

"Ok, I'm sending you back to the land of the living" The mouse said.

"Thank you" I said genuinely pleased. That wasn't so bad actually. Talking mouse was weird, but other than that, the afterlife seemed rather normal for lack of a better word. There was a "hell" and there was a "heaven" just as I had hopped. For a second there, I was scared there would be nothing. Like at first how everything was just a dark abyss extending endlessly in every direction. Was I back yet? How would I know? -

I opened my eyes, pealing back the dark curtain which had been my reality.   Above me was the sky... it was so beautiful. Was it bluer than I remember it being? Nah, I've just been surrounded by a black abyss for so long I bet any color looks more vibrant. But I still, couldn't help thinking that it looked more vibrant, more blue and more alive.  Even the smells were more accentuated, I could smell the sea and the air was so fresh, fresher than anything I'd ever tasted.  

I didn't even care as to why I was outside and why I was lying on what felt like sand. I didn't care that I could hear waves crashing on the shores. I just enjoyed the sight of the sky. A sight for which I always took for granted, always knew existed but never paid any attention to. I am alive. I have form. I dug my hands into the sand below me. Ah it feels so good, so real, so concrete. I am alive. I am alive! "I'm alive!" I shouted out laughing as I did. "I'm Alive!" I shouted even louder this time. I brought my hand up to my face so I could admire my form, my realness. Only... What the Fuck?

I sat up so quickly, that I startled myself. Why the fuck was I looking at a paw? This couldn't be right? I tried desperately to pull it off my hand, but... it was my hand. Oh good lord I was an animal. Was this some kinda reincarnation shit. That damned mouse made another mistake! "Fuck!" The curse escaped my mouth before I even realized it was out. "Fuck!"