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He killed me. After all we’ve been through, HE killed me. Over a clock! MY Clock, given to him by our enemy! I seethe in my anger, floating in a black void. This quiet space between life and death only fuels my hate for him. It is like a hissing voice is whispering in my ear, “Yessss feed usss. Feel the anger build!” but I know that's a ridiculous thought. I float there, on the edge of exploding, for what feels like days. The darkness twists around me, licking with its cold tendrils. I feel uncomfortable. It almost feels alive. It’s been so long that I don't remember what I’m supposed to be mad about. The chains of pain are keeping me in this wallowing place of self-pity and hate. How could they do this to me? Whoever they are–
I feel weak. My muscles can barely hold me in the same position anymore. It's so tempting to just– let go. Float in the void, get lost in the vastness of it all. But I can’t fall into temptation. The fear of the deep keeps me going.
Suddenly, whispers enter my mind, filling it with fuzz. I feel a sharp pain in my shoulder and look to see an arrow protruding out of it. Blood soaks my shirt, staining the yellow embroidered “i” orange. Memories flood my brain, a whole life I don’t remember living. Laughs, cries, mourning, anger, pain. It all feels distant, though, like it happened to someone else. Only two words stick with me clearly—Last Life. Also, a strange laugh, like an aha. What was that? Suddenly, my whole body flares up in agonizing pain. I scream into the abyss, feeling my atoms rip apart before it all goes white.
I wake up in a green field. People groan around me, struggling to stand up. I recognize these faces, people I had loved, protected, and hated with a burning blaze. But none of those feelings arose again. Now was a blank slate. Except for one, Bdubs. Across the circle of familiar faces smiled the most familiar face of them all. He still had a black eye, the one I had hastily given him, trying to fight off the person I thought I could trust the most. His outfit is different, however. Now, he wears brown shorts that compliment his dark skin and golden eyes well. Around his waist is a dull green sash that can hold items, and his owl wings break out of his loose white tank top. Finally, A faded green bandana holds his white hair and owl tufts back. Grian speaks up, breaking my train of thought. He explains the concept of this game the same way he had the first time. It all felt so familiar, yet so so alien. This time, we would all have a soulmate, a loved one whose heart was yours. And I mean that literally. If your soulmate got hurt, so did you.
The group broke up and went off to get supplies to survive the match. I tried looking for my friend, Skizz. It would be amazing to team up with my best friend of 20 years. But he was nowhere to be found. So, instead, I started chopping trees and getting the base tools in order. Soon, I had plenty of iron, stone, and other tools. I heard chattering in the distance, so I made shields before walking up to the group. As I got closer, a strange tugging I hadn't noticed on my heart got softer, like a rope tied to it was relaxing. There they were. Standing around a small cave entrance in the middle of the taiga forest were Scar, Etho, and Bdubs. Bdubs. My hate dissipated. Maybe I was being too harsh. Such an adorable person with a bright smile could mean no harm, right? A branch crunches beneath my heel, and the three turn to look at me. In what feels like years, I hear his voice again.