MAY 19, 2014

Danger Villa 

By Andrew Singer, Chief -In Editor

"Wonavilla has alwyas been entertaining suspicious activities right under our noises.  Ever since Max Ryder exposed Vincent Rodger, my suspicions regarding legitimacy of this instition was confirmed. Tracing its origin back to 1950s when Mr. Damsun Wonavilla established the institution , it was already built on bloody past concealed by this governement . It is wrong to condone violence but to let things continue in such a depraved state simply because of will of linchpins of corrupt governement is even more humiliating for us as citizens. How can we just go on with our life sending our kids to instituions like these where secuirty of our future generation is not even mandated . This is not an isolated incident in itself and can't be regarded as such . 

In past 10 years, deaths occuring during hotsels have only increased in our country , exponentially more than any other country in Europe. Yet the government keeps its silence on it and let Wonavilla prosper like ever.  The loss of such a brilliant individual is a regrettable fact but  rather than that , what is most important now is to launch a mass campaign to ban Wonavilla and close it down . 

Whether it takes violence to do so or words in end is strictly up to government now ."

"Pretty interesting, don't you think?" He put down the newspaper turning to me.  

"I am still not sure about what is going on here? Are you god of death or keeper of underworld ?" I raised my eyebrows. From what I could percieve, I was sitting on a chair with tea in my hands facing him . The ground seemed to resemble space, as if some star exploded and it had stopped all of sudden midway . But more importantly , why was he dressed like a libranian and wearing a hat as if he was part of some Italian mafia family ? His fasion sense was certainly throwing me for a loop.

"Yes and No ." He grinned seeing my surprised expression . "My name is Thoth . I have been watching you , your entire life."

"I know you are a god and allowed to do so but could you please not word it like that ?" I rolled my eyes.

"Sure ! Well, it is more to say that I have been able to watch parts of your life that has mattered or been part of deviated timelines." He  informed.

"Are you trying to fry my brain by giving these vague data and luring me to form endless theories?" I sighed.

"Not at all. Here, why don't you drink that tea? You have just died after all " He offered as I obliged. Well ! At least tea was good in afterlife. Was Egyptian mythology really true then? It  would be too stupid and cynical to form such a conclusion based on name alone . For now, I should probably just observe him and listen to what he has to say . Wait ! Why am I tense even here? I am already dead. What does it matter now? 

As I contemplated the reality , l cradled my head on my left arm leaning to one side to relax.

"Alright ,you have had enough ." He snatched my cup away as I felt my vision getting a bit hazy. 

"What did you just give me?" I slurred in my speech . The taste had felt familiar but at very same time, there was something strange about it .

"Nothing to worry about . Just soul water ! It basically allows any organism with soul with greater flexibility to mould his soul . The journey to a new timeline can be trippy after all." He waved his hand off. A new timeline ?  Soul water ?  

"For first time in my life, I truly don't comprehend my scenario ." I rubbed my head.

"Well ! Let me explain in simple terms then, Max Ryder. I am offering you a chance at relife because I am interested in your life but according to Existence Accords that all gods have to follow , I can't revive you back in same timeline  or it would only have been ever  more conveninet for me to resurrect you the moment you were hit by that bullet . But as usual, it seems that I can't see everything just yet ." He ruffled his hair as if annoyed . 

"Either way , as you might have guessed, there are  multiple timelines so just because you have died here, doesn't mean that you can't return to your world. There are various timelines running parallel to each other and there are several timeline running right now at various phases of your life.

For ex, this is the universe currently stuck at 2011 , then there is one at 2008 and..."  His eyes gleamed like a child as he showed me various pictures.  "So in a sense, Max, you can just time travel back  to any time you want and live your life again . Isn't that great ?"

"Thoth.." I opened my eyes as he turned to me . "I don't . I don't want to return to my world . You can just end my existence right now ." 

"What? Have you still not recovered from effects of soul water? I thought I had checked the precautions fine this time..." He blinked confused.

"I am perfectly sane as I can be . This is what I want , Thoth. It simply doesn't seem fair to me that just because you happened to be interested in my life, I can return to life while other people continue to die.

"Don't insult me, Max. I am well aware of just how much you care about fairness. There is no way you would be willing to miss this chance simply because of something as stupid as that . You know better than anyone that existence itself is unfair. There is no rule prohibiting my act and I am sure ever since the Divergence, other gods are also keeping their eyes on prospective humans. I have chosen you as my contender on earth so I just can't have you dying yet ...."

"Oh ! So you mean that there are other humans who have come back to life due to actions of god?" I smirked losing my guise.

"Wait..! Don't tell me you tricked your own mind just because you considered the possibility that I could read minds and were just planning to extract information from me?"

"Of course not . I was simply testing whether I could fool a god."  I groaned streching my arms as he gritted his teeth ." Ah ! I hate that and also love that about you."

"Accept my humble apologizes then . So how many gods are there then?" I held my chin.

"I have no idea." Thoth hitched his shoulder.

"Huh?" 

"Actually , we haven't met since a certain incident took place million of years ago . I do meet certain gods time to time but yeah !" He sighed . 

"Is your name actually Thoth or did you just adopt it based on Egyptian mythology then?"

"You guessed it . The truth is that at this point , I am sure most of us have simply picked up names adored by humans just to feel like they are walking along with this civilization. But either way , coming back to ...."

"But I have so many questions ." I pouted.

"I am sure we will be seeing each other again so why don't you keep your curiousity quelled until that moment?" Thoth revealed.

"Fine ! Well,  so how do I time travel again ?" I raised my eyebrows.

"You don't ." He stared.

"Then how will ..." I began.

"When I say time travel, it is more or less putting you in a particular time period of a particular timeline . Of course, time travel is possible too but unfortunaetly , I haven't been able to access that power yet . The point is that in exchange for giving you a chance back at life, an equivalent exchange must be made.A deal as per say"

"What kind of deal?" I asked curiously.

"I will send you back in past .You can pick any date post your birth and change reality as you want.  If you manage to not die till May 19, 2014 , you shall continue to live your life as you please and this incident will be like it never happened for you . Pretty good deal right?" 

"And if I die within that span ." I crossed my arms.

"Remember that soul liquid you chugged down . Well ! If you die pre-date , then it will bind your soul  and all your powers forever to me. I can make you reincarnate permanently as I want into timelines of my own choosing . Essentially the moment you time travel , I would have fulfilled obligations on my part  and when you die will determine the conditions to be applied in exchange "

"Powers?" I raised my eyebrows.

"Just a slip of tongue ! " He waved his hands smiling . 

"If you say so ." I rolled my eyes . Gods! Time travel ! The world  sure was getting more and more complicated. "Well ! I already know where I would want to go . Set the date as May 4 ,2011 ." I told him.

"Why that date specifically?" He grinned. You already know, don't you?

"Just after 3 days i.e. May 7, 2011 the first race happened so it means Selena Arias will be active on Friday night to fix the race . Plus , she only got her hands on Kate Summer because I met her after coming out of cave so I can avoid that from ever happening.  Since I already know the truth about Vincent Rodger now, I can expose it as well.  There are several things that I am looking forward to do , actually." I smirked as he closed his eyes nodding .

""Very well then ! " I could barely contemplate before I was thrown in a whirlpool of wind and shock interacting with each other as if I was pulled by my memories into the past . Each second felt like nothingness. I opened my eyes as I saw the sky glinting bright as ever. Did I reach on desired date or Thoth screwed up!

I felt something soft under my hand and it suddenly dawned on me that it must be grass . Looking here and there, I rushed out of the central park towards dormitory but it wasn't long before I had to stop myself . That indolent shady stalker god ! He couldn't merge me with my self already .

I saw younger me talking to Axel calmly . He stood frozen for a moment when I waved to him before reverting back to his calm self " "I will see you later , Axel. I have something to take care of ."

"So I wasn't seeing hallucinations in middle of day after all." He rolled his eyes at me. Ah! It feels so weird to refer myself as different person.

"Okay! I don't know how to deduce this!"

"Hey! No time to do that ! I don't think two of us can exist at same time so we need to merge together quickly to share our memories" I broke his trance.

"Am I supposed to understand that ?" He tilted his head.

"Just listen to your future self." I crossed my arms as I banged my head against him . At that very moment , I felt my nerves getting bombarded with one memory after another . It was as if I had switched places with my own past self and was getting my own memories back at a pace that my consciousness couldn't handle . 

As a result, I fell asleep again .Well! At least it was simply effect of time travel and I won't wake up in afterlife. 

Thoth ! I would make sure that I use this chance you have given me wisely . 

........

"He has no idea , does he ? What a lucky kid." Lucas sighed sitting down on chair gazing at him. 

"I am sure that even if he had managed to grasp that , the events would have followed in more or less same sequence . " She smiled fondling her hair.

"I wouldn't be so sure about that , Adella" Thoth warned her "A single misstep and everything would have fallen apart ." 

"That is right . I suppose that is why she is the queen , isn't she?" Lucas smirked.

"To beginning and end of everything."  Adella raised her cup smiling.

"To beginning and end of everything ." Others two clanged their cups with her .

.....

Au revoir readers ! Keep posted for the next chapter.