The Gift of Reincarnation

Chapter 1
The dark wind howled across the shrilly night. The moon shone down on the alley. Takaki ran across the street, panting hard.

“Catch him!! Don’t let him get away!”

Heart pumped faster. The burning pain in his muscles was screaming for him to stop, his lung too, screaming for oxygen. Damn it, if only he had trained his muscles more and not skipping the PE lessons back in the secondary school, maybe he might have the chance to outrun them. Running into the dark alley, he could hear the running footsteps behind him, still pursuing him closely. Why couldn’t they just let go of him? Tears sprang out.

The darkness was dominating his surroundings.
“SHIT!”
The boy pounce his palms against the fences that had cut off his escape route. Back against the fence, he turned around instantly to face the menacing glows and smirks of the gangster.

“Reach your end huh, baby?” The boss stepped in front and jeered down at him. Takaki was pushed to the ground. His heart pounded. Fear is forbidden in a situation like this so he controlled himself, not to panic. Didn’t the story always say that the one who showed weakness loss the battle even before it started? He hardened his gaze.

“I had given you the money, what else do you want?”
That was a stupid question. How could he not know what they wanted? He wouldn’t be running like hell if he was oblivious to any of it. Their reason was sickening, so sickening that he felt like vomiting. But he had to do this, to give himself the time to think.
All his persistence to remain calm was broken when the boss loomed over him.

“You saw our face.” He repeated again, his hand reaching into his pockets. Sweats formed on Takaki’s forehead. “Do you think we’ll let you go that easily?” A smirk curled.

NO!

Pong.

Thud!

The pain spread through his body. He felt the warmth liquid gushing out from his stomach. He tried to press it to stop it from flowing, but the amount was too much. He couldn’t stop it. His strength was draining and the pain was getting less and less. Is he dying? Just like that? No way… he’s still young. There are so many things that he wanted to do. The world darkened in his view. The last thing he saw, the boss returned the gun back into his pocket and they fled from the scenes of crime at the same time when his head hit the ground.

XXXXXXX

He floated up in the sky, staring down at the cold dead body of his lying in the pool of blood. There was no rescue coming for him. He smiled pathetically, of course, it’s not like he has a girlfriend who’d be waiting anxiously for his arrival at home. He has no siblings. He had been alone for years ever since his parents abandoned him in the orphanage. He was able to gain freedom at the age of eighteen to leave the orphanage and lived by himself. There was no one who’s worth for his ghost to stay behind in this world.

He looked towards the light behind him that was growing bright into his eyes. He knew he had to step into it, to cross over, to find the peace.
But sadly, there won't anyone who’ll be waiting for him there either. He's all alone.

“Do you wish for revenge?”
The source of the voice came from the light. He squirmed his eyes, but couldn’t see anything. It was too bright.
“Who’s there?”
“A fairy. You need not to know my name. I feel your grief. I can grant you a second chance, do you want it?”
“A second chance…?” He had never heard of this. Is this how people reborn after death? Like a reincarnation? Why is there no hell or heaven? No court of judgment?
It’s as if the fairy read his mind.

“Stepping over into this light would mean a freedom for your soul. You can live a happy life together with the people you loved.”
“I don’t have any.” Takaki squeaked.
“That’s why I can help you.” The voice repeated itself. “I feel your sorrow. Do you wish to seek revenge, from those who ended you life?”
Takaki hesitated. The ‘yes’ couldn’t come out from his mouth. He didn’t want revenge. Hatred never solved the problems. It never did…
“No.” His voice was soft but loud enough for the fairy to hear. “But I do not wish to die yet.”

“I understand. You choose the choice. And I’ll grant you.”
Takaki shielded his eyes from the light that was hurting his eyes. It was growing stronger. He shut them tight.

XXXXXX

His head was dizzy. Like there was a heavy burden hanging on his neck, pulling him down. His heart was pounding weakly but he could hear the faint sound of it pumping in his ears. Huh, wait, pump??

Takaki opened his eyes sharp. The images of the last scene invaded his mind. He remembered the gun pointing right at him, he remembered the smirk, how determined that man was at killing him, how he triggered the gun and how his world became blank suddenly. And then…. There was a fairy who claimed to be able to help him.
He’s reborn? Wait, how come he still bears the memory of his past?

No. He’s not reborn. He could feel the size of his body, it was not the size of an infant.
He craned his neck up immediately and met up with a dark glinting slits across the room. It was so dark. He could only see the light of which he thought was moon bathing into the cell. Why did he know it is a cell? He saw the typical metal bars on his right. There was no window around. And at that moment when he turned, he had noticed another peculiar thing. There was a jingling sound. The heavy burden that he felt was not a dream, it was real.

He was chained on his neck. Takaki tried to move his hands, and learnt another dreadful truth. All his movements were indeed restricted. All his limbs were chained. What exactly is happening here? Did the fairy just send him into a body? But why couldn’t it choose a better one? Why must it be a prisoner?
He felt like crying. Why is his life always this unfortunate?
“Finally awake?”

“Who’s there?” Startled, Takaki gathered up his courage, asked.
A chuckling rippled throughout the dark, sending shivers to his skin.
“I don’t think I had hit your head with it. Don’t play dumb with me.”
Footsteps came nearer. Takaki cringed. ‘I’m once dead. What am I afraid of? I’m once dead.’ He repeated to himself. His back hit the cold wall, the temperature was freezing into his soul. A man’s face came into his views. He was stunned.

With the aid of the dim light, he saw the long blonde hair that grew until his shoulder, the coldness behind that pair of eyes, it was a sign of inviolability that made Takaki’s voice nowhere to be found. What had he done to offend him? Why is he locked up and bound here? Horrified, he realized that he knew nothing about this new body’s life and memory.

He tried to calm down. That is not the issue that he should be worrying about now.
His eyes grew big. What shocked him more is the tool that the man was holding in his hand, a long hideous whip?

A smirk curled up. His heart went thumping. ‘God, please don’t tell me this is the torture they used in the prison.’

“I love that scare look on your face.”

“Who are you!?”

“Had you fried your brain, huh?”

In that silent cell, Takaki heard a swooshing down. He didn’t have the time to escape when the whip left a burning scar on his body. A searing pain imprinted deep on his skin. The pain all over his body became more prominent. Bearing with the pain, he bit down his lips so hard that it drew blood. He tasted the metallic in his mouth.

The man gave a falsely surprise questioning sigh.

“What? Don’t you want to beg for me to stop?”
The peace was not for long. He didn’t have enough time to pull himself together when another strike whipped down onto his poor body. He had to cover his face so that it won’t touch his face. For that reason, it was his arms that were mostly injured. Yet, he did not utter a sound. From what he had learnt, playing pitiful will never satisfy a sadist’s pleasure. In fact, it may backfire on him, turning that man on even more. His mind automatically categorized the man before him into that group. He will never give in. Besides, if he is a prisoner, a warden would normally not give up on this kind of beating. Why give him the satisfaction?

“Come on. Beg me. Let me see your cries.”
NO.WAY!

He grunted in pain, keeping his voice as low as possible behind his throat. His mind was spinning and the burning pain was preventing him from thinking straight. His body shaking from the pain, the clothes were undoubtedly torn from the strong impulses. He was sure that the blood would have filled up the wounds resulted from the whip.

Yet, he couldn’t give in.
The more the man asked for him to surrender, the more stubborn he became. That did not release him from pain at all. The whipping continued. The loud slapping against his skin was clear in his ears.

Knock Knock.

The knocking on the door brought a halt to the beating. Takaki was grateful for that interruption but he didn’t dare to risk putting his hands down for fear that he miscalculated the situation.
“Your Majesty. His Excellency is waiting at the hall.”

‘Huh? Your Majesty?’ Eyes rounded, Takaki squinted through the slits of his trembling hands, glimpsing at the man. Isn’t this name addressed only for a king? For the Nth time of the day, his mind went spinning. What the hell is going on? He’s not the warden, but a king? A sadistic king??

“Tell him to wait. I have a pet to tame here.”

“Who’s the pet!?” Takaki shouted. A feeling of injustice burnt deep in his chest. At that split second, there is no ‘fear’ in his dictionary. If his memory is correct, a king doesn’t own a pet, and they usually wouldn’t try to torture a prisoner like this. And why is he labeled as a pet?! The more he thought about it, the angrier he felt. What is wrong with the previous owner of this body? Doesn’t he have any egoism? Isn’t he a man??
As he turned up he knew that is a wrong move to make. He should never have done that. The man’s face turned into a smirk.

“Aren’t you daring today?” Takaki cowered into the dark, the hand reaching for his neck. ‘Don’t tell me he’s going to choke me!’ The cold hands snaked themselves around his thin neck. He saw the face coming closer in his view. His fear was confirmed. The king tightened his grip around the prey. He felt the air squeezing out from his windpipe, choking desperately for more air.

‘NO! I don’t want to die again!’

“Your Majesty, his Excellency had me to inform Your Majesty that… this cannot be waited.” The voice behind that door was trembling.
Slowly, Takaki felt the strength loosened on his neck. He drew in lungful of breathe, paying the oxygen debt. His head was swaying back and forth.

“Consider yourself lucky now. I won’t go easy on you tonight.”

The deep voice paralyzed his whole muscles. His weakened legs sent him dropping onto the ground along with the jingling of metals. He heard the fumbling of key on the lock. Don’t lock me in here. No!
Before he could muster up his remaining strength to shout, Takaki passed out.