The situation is that I am at a place which is called purgatory. It changes depending on the person. The one who is being punished is called Serus.
He is a strange man with a strange personality. No, he himself isn't strange. Rather his situation is strange.
I met with him, talked to him and fulfilled his request. He is dead. His soul is trapped in purgatory serving his sentence. For whatever reason, I am trapped here with him.
His request for me was to kill him. I mean, he is already dead. How can I kill someone who is dead? He said that I can try. If he dies, that's good. If he doesn't, that's that.
I strangled him to death, broke his neck and spine and tore out his heart.
Do souls even have a heart? I saw one so I tore it out. I was waiting to see what happens. His body started healing. The heart which was torn out went back inside and everything was reversed.
As if time itself was reversed. His body is healed but the blood on his gown, it didn't disappear. So his body was the only thing affected.
I put his head on my lap. The sun is too hot but I can't be bothered. He is intriguing. That's when I saw three figures emerging from the horizon.
Three humanoid figures are moving closer towards us. Is help here? Will they rescue us? Maybe they are the wards of this place, coming to check on us?
I wait for them to move close enough to be visible. Two women with a man. The man caught my attention. I mean, a white dude, with white hair in a white and blue background is sure a surreal sight.
The women are women, I guess. Nothing seems odd about them. They are wearing sunglasses which is a given. They are focused on Serus who is sleeping on my lap. They come close enough to exchange dialogue.
"Clive, why are you here?"
"Hmm.. I don't know. And you are?"
The white haired man asked me. He knows of me. His aura, it's similar to Keith's. Is he perhaps a creator?
"This is our first meeting. I am Seina Kamiya, a creator. You are familiar with Keith Harding. I am one of his friends." (Seina)
"I see. Clive Belmont, a soon to be creator. It's a pleasure. And you two are?" (Clive)
"Ariel Mathers."
"Mona Kusanagi." (Mona)
"Thank you. It's strange though. I killed him just a while ago and he has started healing already. The heart I tore out is already back in it's place. It's as if time has reversed." (Clive)
"Did he ask you to do it?" (Seina)
"Yeah. I was abruptly thrown into this place. He gave me the glasses and asked me to follow him. Then he asked me to kill him. It was an experiment. I gouged his heart out and broke his neck." (Clive)
The conversation went like that. The woman named Ariel is horrified. Maybe my description was too graphic. She seems like someone who is a gentle person but can be stern when needed.
And Mona, she is the mysterious type. Always silently brooding. I can't get a read on her.
And appearance wise, they are both beautiful. That's all I can say. In this weather, I am not checking women out from head to toe.
"But Serus can't die. His soul has a curse. He cannot be deceased." (Seina)
I look at Serus. His face is twitching.
"Wakey wakey, Serus." (Clive)
I whisper and pat his head. Serus opens his eyes.
I put his sunglasses on him.
"As I thought, I didn't die. Sorry to inconvenience you, Clive." (Serus)
"Don't mind it. I have killed more than 15 thousand people. One more won't matter. Besides, my wives love it when I let them lie on my lap. So, it doesn't bother me."
I knew he wasn't dying. Besides, my kill count has crossed 5 digits a while ago. One more wouldn't hurt. I am the harbinger of death. Death is like my business.
Serus hadn't noticed the peanut gallery yet. But he stood up and saw them. His face went blank. There was a smirk on his face but it disappeared.
My man looks traumatized. Are they that trauma inducing?
Ariel is about to pounce on Serus. Did he do something to her? It didn't happen. Serus ran away the opposite direction as fast as he could.
"Boy, he sure can run."
I had to say it. I mean, in this blazing heat, under this sun and temperature, he ran away at a speed that would definitely be humanity's fastest. He is wearing a blue gown and is barefoot.
But his speed is faster than Boult.
"Whatever will I do with him!" (Seina)
Sighing heavily, he said. I guess Serus has caused some major problems for them.
No one is trying to chase after him. He was about to disappear into the horizon but it didn't happen.
"That man, he sure likes to run. Let's see.." (Mona)
She said for the first time and snapped her fingers. She seems somehow different.
"Lady, are you okay?"
I instinctively said but I saw a tied up and gagged Serus in front of us. He was running away in the distance a moment ago but now he is tied like a turkey on thanksgiving.
What did this lady do? Seina has fallen into depression. He may have realized something which made him so depressed that he fell to his knees.
I am intrigued by this. But Ariel looks confused and Serus is trying to calmly understand what is happening.
"Mona, what did you do?" (Ariel)
"Nothing special, Ariel. I just caught the man who doesn't listen to us. No, I just caught the naughty rebellious kid." (Mona)
She said with a smile on her face which would give you the chills. She has changed. Her mysterious vibes has turned into something else entirely. I will take the backseat and watch it unfold.
"I had always wondered, where did she go? This is how I find the answer." (Seina)
My man can't catch a break. He is totally defeated.
"It has been far too long, Seina! How did you like my performance?" (Mona)
"Splendid. You gave up your title, shed your powers and chose to become a normal soul and reincarnate as a human. Tell me, are you Mona or did you possess her?" (Seina)
Hmm..we are going to get the lore drop. Is Mona not who we think she is? Or did Mona never exist from the beginning?
"I am Mona. The Mona you all know. I was born to my parents 26 years ago and have lived as a human for 26 years. I didn't possess Mona, I am the individual known as Mona." (Mona)
She cleared it up by saying that she is the Mona they know. But from their reaction, it seems that she was putting on an act.
"That's why you are so infatuated with Serus." (Seina)
"Yes. He is an existence that's impossible to exist. His very existence challenges the rules. I am also interested in him as a person since his actions are too unpredictable." (Mona)
The way she put it and how it sounded, it was a bit concerning. My man Serus probably has pretty bad luck with women. He's got a crazy one.
Her face, she would do anything to keep him to herself. But I have to admit, she is honest at least.
"How long have you known about him?" (Ariel)
"From the very beginning. I knew who he was and how he came to be. I just couldn't do what I wanted. Making an aloof character like that and being in love is hard." (Mona)
It's a big reveal. Mona revealed how she has always known about Serus and his truth while acting aloof and distant. She must be a really good actress if she managed to fool so many people so for many years.
And I think all of them are older than me. So let's give them some respect.
"Don't worry Ariel. I am not selfish enough to claim him for myself. I am more than happy to share him." (Mona)
And it seems like she is willing to share. Can't say how the other party involved feels about it. I am in no position to say anything as a guy with multiple partners but I was honestly just swept along.
They attacked me all at once and I gave up. How about my man Serus here?
No good. He's still recovering from shock.
"That will come later. Mona, who are you?" (Ariel)
Ms. Ariel decided to ask the burning question. I can already guess who she might be.
"I am Mona Kusanagi. I am also the former creator of this world. That makes me Seina's predecessor." (Mona)
And I hit the bullseye. She was a creator who retired.
"Why did you become a human?" (Seina)
"I wanted to see what humanity is all about. I was always curious about Constant and humanity. When I found out that Seina is eligible for the position, I dumped my job on him and became a human." (Mona)
There are probably a lot of creators out there. I have only met a few but they sure are eccentric in their own ways.
"Mona, did you create me?" (Serus)
"No. I didn't. I saw you creating yourself and I got the idea that I should be your's." (Mona)
Poor Serus! He just recovered from the shock and asked her for the truth.
But her answer, it's giving me bad vibes. She is honestly acting like Hazel. When Hazel had just evolved, she was emotionally dependent on me. To such a great degree that it was unhealthy.
Ms. Mona, her state is similar. She wants to depend on Serus. A truly submissive person.
"You said that you should be mine. Not the other way around?" (Serus)
"Exactly. I want you to own me. Take possession of me, dominate me, teach me what it's like to be a human." (Mona)
I called it. She is a submissive person.
"Bless you, Serus. You are in for a rough time." (Clive)
I go to Serus and grab his shoulder and say it while stopping my laughter. He is in for a rough time.
"But I don't even know how to be a human." (Serus)
"You are more than enough human. Your actions are just like that of a human. Never doubt yourself. I have always believed that I am human." (Clive)
He did mention that he is an artificial human. That doesn't mean that he isn't human. Humanity is a virtue rather than an inherent trait.
Your actions will determine if you are a human or not. You can be an inhuman and still be a human. I have believed that I am human. My powers have never stopped me from being a human.
My advice has sent Serus into brooding. Everyone is brooding except Mona. She is panting heavily with her eyes closed. What is she imagining? Only she knows. I won't pry too deep into it.
While I was observing the situation, Samantha attacked me from behind and started dragging me back by the ear.
I guess this is it for now. If I become a creator, I can meet with them again. Until then, I can only hope for the best for Serus. I wonder how his love life will turn out.
Keeping that aside, what will happen to me? I can only imagine what they will do to me. We all have rough times. Keep your chin up but I admit, Serus was a little too hardcore.