Chapter 2: Fake Afterlife
Where am I? Am I finally redeemed, does everything have an end? Is the voice finally quiet?
"I'm sorry to disappoint you, your journey has only just begun. You're going to make me a great success. Everything depends on you. "
There is that voice again, yet I have longed so much for silence. What is he saying, if I'm not dead, do I have to repeat everything?
In the next moment a light went on and I stood on a stage again. Totally confused I looked around, hundreds of people had gathered. Everyone was wearing black suits, arms crossed, waiting for the show to start. The trace of the ropes on his neck had disappeared and he could breathe normally.
"Ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce my special guest, young but not inexperienced, I'm sure he'll entertain you well.
Confused, the boy turned to the man with the glasses.
"What's all this about, why am I back on stage. Why are so many people here, what's going on?"
Time stopped and everything turned black and again, he only heard the man's voice.
"Look, it's very simple. Your attempted suicide has gone wrong, death has rejected you. That can only mean that your journey is not over. Death has never been wrong, after all, it is finite and final. The key to your question lies in fate itself. Unlike when you die, fate is not final, it can be changed. And since you were deprived of all options, I did you a favor. If I look at your file here, it says underlined something about the last wish. It is not unusual or unique, but I have no choice but to fulfill it with different conditions. I know from this document that you would never refuse this request. You don't need to be nervous, look at all these people, none of them have a face.
It was true, they looked like mannequins just sitting there and yet they moved like normal persons.
Are you ready, let's do it!"
"How could I be ready when I don't understand any of this?!"
However, I could not contradict him when he told me about my wish. Again I realized that I am completely powerless with no chance to escape this scenario.
Everything went back normal and the man spoke to the audience.
"Sorry for the interruption, we will now begin with the performance:
-At just 21 years of age, this young man tried to kill himself. Now let's get to the summary: From a polite, honest and dedicated boy to a mostly emotionless and unscrupulous wreck that consists only of lies and curses. . . and that not even in 5 years.
His greatest fear and weakness was the relationship with his family. Although he had already planned his murder a long time ago, they acted as a chain around his body. The disappointment and sadness he would leave behind was a problem, too big to live and too small to die.
Thoughts about the future made him cold, he became a real wonder full of masks and costumes. With no path and no goal, last year came the decision, too tired and empty to go on living, he went through all kinds of scenarios.
Now it gets interesting: at the final self-reflection, he came to the rational decision that he will finally gain peace in death. Like a math professor, he went over the equation called life many times, for this equation his decision was final. "And now, ladies and gentlemen, we come to the crucial part.
His show backfired, his attempt was prevented by death itself. I immediately recognized his talent and now I present him as my candidate today. What his last wish is...you will have to find out soon.
He took off his glasses and looked into the boy's eyes, his gaze making the boy breathe heavily.
Then he whispered in his ear:
"This world is so cold and unfair. Society is a miserable bunch full of unsuspecting masses and parties, rulers are always longing for even more power and greed. Friends and family are soon only lifeboats for worries and problems and nothing more. Humans are drowning in their faith for something higher, like a drug they long for a God who protects them. In theory, it is nothing more than an imaginary figure, and yet they want to prove to themselves that he is responsible for all good things and their lives. If material goods, luck, and happiness are his work, then surely grief, violence, racism, and hatred are also his will, are they not? Everything is good until fate catches up with you. As soon as bad things happen to them or they face death, you can recognize their true intentions and their true selves. Even a needle in a haystack is bigger than the number of people who remain completely true to themselves until the end. . . So why is THAT your last wish, why do you care what happens when your fate throws you to the ground and spits on you? Now your existence has become a curse. What a tragedy this has turned out to be.
As I listened to his words I became angry for a moment but my anger quickly subsided because everything he said was the truth, my truth. All he did was read my mind and speak out loud. Again I questioned myself and finally answered him with a serious look.
"It's actually quite simple: My mask collection is simply not big enough, that's the only ambition I have left. Therefore I will steal as many of them as I can and put them on myself. If I don't like them, I will simply destroy the masks. If it's like you say, I have no choice but to play your game anyway. If I reach my goal in the end, I don't care how much time passes."
The man looked surprised and broke out into a big laugh. Again the lights went out, the stage disintegrated and the faceless people disappeared. Only the boy and the man in the suit were left behind.
"The rules are very simple: In a moment you will be sent back into your world, but not as a reincarnated human being, you are still you. I did you a favor and erased you from your family, now none of them know that they had a son. While others see this as a curse, you see it as a blessing. . . the pain and shame must be very deep...
Anyway, you still exist like a human being on earth with perfect health, unlike before, but you have no connections...like a lost soul on its last mission. What you should do and where everything takes place you will find out for yourself. Only when it is over will you be rewarded with death and all is over. Do not disappoint me, thou who is hated by life and death. "
His words were direct and cold. . . just as I expected. So now my second journey was about to begin.
It can't be much worse than my life before...right?
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Yamikura
Yamikura Persons without real faces...sounds familiar to me...
Fate can be changed...doesn't always mean to the better...
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