The Arks: Over Heaven (by Ben)

Chapter 64: Refuse.

Part 3/4

Ben clenched his fists, and in an instant, the stars in the void around them faded away. He sprung forward and knocked the Key Master away. The Key Master let out a groan as he was launched back. The heart ended up in the air, and Ben leaped up and grabbed it with his fist. As his fingers wrapped around it, the chains unraveled, and Ben felt blood rush up to his head again.

“Sorry. But I think it’s time to cut this meeting short,” Ben replied. The Key Master let out a snarl and dashed at Ben, but Ben forced himself to open his eyes in the real world. As he did, he felt his memory of what occurred the past few minutes slip away.

“I’m not going to remember. This is MY soul, not yours,” Ben said, “And I think moving on would be best for all of us.”

The void began to tear away, and the Key Master clenched his fists. A blue portal manifested behind him.

“It’ll be in vain, anyway. The constellations are against you this time. Things are different this time. Soon, you’ll realize you need me to move on again. Soon, you’ll realize… Soon…”

The Key Master’s voice flickered away again, and the void was gone. All there was now? A black void, with a white bright light ahead.

Ben looked at the light for a moment. It was the smell of al pastor tacos, the sweet voice of her whispered in his ear, beckoning for him to join her. A comforting warmth enveloped Ben’s mind and body as he stared at the light… and contemplated entering.

Things would be right beyond the light. If Ben just… gave up, he wouldn’t have to worry anymore. He wouldn’t have to feel anymore.

But he had a promise to keep.

“So despite that, I refuse to give up. I NEED TO TRY AGAIN!”

Ben turned away from the light, closed his eyes, and ran as hard as he could. A few more moments of running, and he could hear his heart pounding in his ear, and the soft breathing from the real world. The white light enveloped him like a blanket…

Ben blinked a few more times, a strange disorienting noise playing in his ear. The light began to fade, and he could feel himself lying down on a soft mattress made of thatch. The slit on his throat was gone, and he noticed that he was in a thatch hut.

“What just happened? Hunted by those women the first second, here the next…”

Ben stared at his hands. The implant was still there in his left wrist. His hands seemed to be trembling. The sleeves of his graduation robe were pulled down… And they were white? Ben stared at his whole body. He was wearing a fresh set, and a white one at that.

Ben could hear a door creak open, and he jolted his head to see a man walk carrying armfuls of cherries. He wore a white sleeveless jacket, and had a red long sleeve underneath. His blue shorts were covered in dirt. He had tired eyes, but as he spotted Ben, his face lit up.

“Ben! You’re okay!”

The man looked out the door and seemed to be calling out to someone.

“John, Carlos, Ben’s awake, he’s alive! He’s ALIVE!”

Ben blinked his eyes a bit more.

“John? Carlos? Those are my old friends, why are they here… Am I in the afterlife?” Ben thought.

The man rushed forward and wrapped his arms around Ben.

“You’re okay, you’re okay!” he giddily said, and with a hint of relief.

As Ben’s senses recovered, his eyes widened and his heart leaped with joy as he realized who it was. The cold metal of an implant brushed his neck, and Ben instantly got back up and hugged him back.

“Paul!”