Prologue

  Subject: A8

  Name: Mason Dreemurr

  Mental age: 27

  Physical age: 18

  Birth date: Thursday, January 31st 1398

  CFD*: _

  Mason: Well, a blond girl was there. We were in a car, traveling down a long and empty road in the mountains. I had a knife in my chest for some reason and was sleeping uncomfortably. When I woke up, I somehow knew that I'd be dead soon. The girl stopped the car and I crawled out and leaned against that, uh... That metal fence thing at the side of the road. I told her that I was dying and she kissed me. Must've been my girlfriend or something. Then, she left me there, as of my request. It didn't take much longer for me to die.

  Torius: How did you feel when it happened?

  Mason: Like I left a lot of knots untied.

  Torius: I meant physically.

  Mason: Oh. I felt some pain, then it was over. I saw darkness, and then I woke up in that pod.

  Torius: And, you don't remember what happened before then?

  Mason: It feels like that week or so is missing from my memory.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  Torius: I see...

  As Torius writes on his notepad that has a metal back, Mason looks around the room they're in. The bright bulbs above flood the room with light. The gray walls and checkerboard floor pattern lack any hint of color. The benches they're sitting on at opposite sides of the room are made of a cold steel and black leather. The doors to Mason's left and right are made of a thick metal and are double layered. Torius is an alien-looking man with silver-white skin and oddly big green eyes. At his left side rests an expensive-looking suitcase. Mason is a black man with white hair and red eyes.

  Mason: Am I in Limbo?

  Torius: Um. What?

  Mason: Limbo. The place between Heaven and Hell.

  Torius: There's no such between area. You're either good or you're bad. I call this realm the “Afterlife.” From what I've been able to tell, good people end up here to prove themselves again.

  Mason: Prove themselves?

  Torius: Yes. Some people are good because they want to be, while others are good simply to appear so. Maybe it's something else, but that's my best guess.

  Mason: I see... So, if you're not an Angel, what are you?

  Torius: Much like you, I'm a Human trying to make sense of things. I'm just not from this galaxy. I know my appearance can be quite shocking.

  Mason: Galaxy?

  Torius: Yes. This is a whole other universe you've walked into. The galaxy we're in now is called the Silky Way, in case you wanted to know.

  Mason: What's this Earth like?

  Torius: There is no Earth here, but there are three habitable planets: Monsoon, the one that went silent, Manus, the one that I command, and Megalo, the one that you will be living on. Perhaps you'll even stay there, if it so pleases you.

  Mason: What's this “Megalo” like?

  Torius: How about we go there now? I've got a ship outside, but you'll need to put this on first.

  Torius opens the suitcase and pulls out a mask with a small machine attached to it via a flexible tube. The machine has a belt clip on the right side and a small fan on the back. The top has an on switch and an intake vent is set in the front. The men stand up.

  Torius: This is an oxygen mask.

  Mason: We must be underwater. Oxygen mask. No windows.

  Torius: You'll see. Just, put it on.

  Mason takes the oxygen mask and puts it on. He then looks at a logo on the side of the oxygen generator.

  Mason: Odin Tech?

  Torius: You'll see that name pop up a lot in the tech world.

  Mason attaches the generator to his left side and turns it on. Torius walks to the door on Mason's right side and opens it, revealing a small space ship resting on the surface of a gray moon. Mason, in silent wonder, steps out upon the moon as Torius follows behind him.

  Torius: Stunning, isn't it?

  Mason: How are you able to breathe out here?

  Torius: That's simply my blessed genes at work. I don't require much oxygen to function. Shall we?

  Mason glimpses at the notepad Torius was writing on, which is now magnetized to the bench.

  Mason: What about your grocery list?

  Torius: Right! Thank you for reminding me.

  Torius raises the notepad and rips out the list.

  Torius: I must take care of this. Enjoy the view in the meantime.

  Torius walks inside and closes the outer door, leaving Mason to look around the moon. It doesn't take him long to stare upwards, discovering a blue and green planet with multiple landmasses around it.

  Mason: Hey there, Megalo.

  Book 1: Mason Dreemurr:

  You Are (Not) Alone