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Jarvis's POV
The feeling... the feeling was so good and pleasurable. I had no idea what it was I was feeling, but I knew I didn't want to leave.
I felt as though I was floating somewhere in space, cradled by the hands of a compassionate being. In that moment, I forgot everything and everyone and was simply lost in the sensation.
And then, from a distant corner, I heard the words, "He won't make it."
I was surprised and confused as to where the words came from. Who won't make what? And why were the people saying it so concerned?
"Lord Maverick, wouldn't like this," I heard the voice of a frantic woman.
Then it all suddenly came to me, as though a rush flowed through my head, all the memories coming back at once.
That's right, I said, finally snapping awake and opening my eyes. I realized I was in a white space where nothing seemed to exist. Even I, floating there, felt as though I was nothing. No one needed to tell me that time and space did not exist in this place I currently was.
Stretching myself, I looked around. Then, all of a sudden, I began to touch certain areas of my body. I realized that all the injuries I had incurred in the previous battle were gone. The pain that had overwhelmed me was completely gone, and I was totally healed.
But something wasn't right. Even if I was healed, scars would have been left, and there would be a considerable change in the areas where my bones were shattered, and flesh ripped out.
Yet, as I stood there, my body felt as though it had never incurred an injury in its entire life. I had a few scars on me from years back, but as I checked my body now, I realized my skin was pure and smooth.
The strange phenomenon going on around me surprised me, and I needed answers.
"Where the hell am I?" I screamed at the top of my voice, hoping someone would answer.
I stood there, waiting desperately for a reply. If I had to stay in this place for all eternity, that would definitely be torture. There was no way I could stay here alone for the rest of my life, doing nothing but being in a white space. Because, after all, space and everything in it were not here, and therefore, oxygen wasn’t either. I couldn't even commit suicide by holding my breath or harming myself.
"You have lived a good life, Jarvis, and I don’t think you have any reason to go back to the world," I heard a calm, gentle voice say to me.
A mixture of fear and joy gripped my heart. I was terrified that someone else had managed to join me here, but I was also joyous that I would not have to be alone if this were to last forever.
"Who are you?" I asked, looking around wildly.
Such a question cannot be answered appropriately to your human mind. Because, to be honest, if I were to define what I am to you, your mind would not comprehend it. So I will simply tell you what your mind can understand. I am Death, the voice said and suddenly began to materialize into something visible.
I watched, observing carefully while maintaining a distance, not getting too close to the person who had just called himself Death. The voice took the form of an elderly man in a flowing white robe with long, white hair. He had a gentle face that spoke of enlightenment and wisdom. His eyes shone with compassion, making one believe he had no reason to harm them, and as I looked into his eyes, I began to relax.
"You don’t have any reason to remain here, Jarvis, and you don’t have any reason to go back to the world either. To be honest, I think it would be best if you followed me to your proper destination," the man said, stretching out his hand.
I looked at him, wondering how or where I was supposed to go. I had a million questions, but I could only ask them one at a time. Luckily, I knew time and space didn’t exist here, but even with that, I knew I could get exhausted. Even if not physically, I could get mentally tired.
"You said you are Death, didn’t you? Which means I’m currently looking at the face of Death and I know what you look like. Would that make me the first person to ever see you?" I asked, curious.
"You are not the first, and you will not be the last. People have died since the dawn of time, and people will continue dying indefinitely. As I speak to you now, I am not only speaking with you but to many others in this place," the man said, his face expressionless.
"Does that mean if I walk far enough, I would meet other people who passed away, just like me?" I asked curiously.
"First of all, no matter how far you walk, run, or even fly, you will never meet anyone else in this place. Distance is a concept of space, and since space does not exist here, no matter how far you go, you will keep running in circles or an infinite straight line. Secondly, you are yet to truly pass on. And if you are going to pass on, we must decide where you will go," he said calmly.
"Where is this place?" I asked, finally getting one of the major questions in my mind off my chest.
"You see, Jarvis, you are currently in limbo. This is the demarcation between life and death, between space and time, between reality and unreality. Limbo is at the very core of the universe, unreachable by those who still cling to their physical bodies. One must ascend to a higher level of being to arrive here. But your stay here is temporary. Where you are going is what matters, and I think it is time you followed me," the man said, stretching out his hand once more.
"Are you taking me back to the living world? Back to where Maverick and Celine are?" I asked desperately.
"Your life is right here, Jarvis, and what remains in the other world is simply a husk. You need not cling to the world anymore, for it is cruel and wicked. Where I am taking you is a place without pain or suffering, a place you will never want to leave," the man said in an even gentler voice.
"I don’t want to follow you to wherever it is you want to take me. I want to go home, back to Maverick and Celine. I would really appreciate it if you took me there," I said, raising my voice a little.
"Unfortunately, you have already been disconnected from the physical world, and what remains in the human world is only a husk, as I said earlier. It would be best if you followed me," Death said, his gaze growing colder.
"If I have been completely disconnected, then how come I can hear the voices of the medical personnel attending to me? To be honest, I don’t think I could be any more connected to the physical world than I currently am. So how about you stop lying to me and begin explaining?" I demanded authoritatively.
Death bowed his head and chuckled for a while. "It seems you are a peculiar soul and quite intelligent. Yes, you are not 100% dead. But for your spirit to be lifted into limbo means that you are near death. If you were not close to dying, you would have probably fallen into a coma where you would lose track of everything, and your soul would not come here. But since you are here, I must take you to where you belong," Death said, his voice tight and authoritative.
"And where is it that I belong?" I asked, wondering curiously.
"When people die, they go to one of two places. There is a place of light and a place of darkness. Many names have been given to these places over the years, but the most common must be Heaven and Hell. A person who has lived a good life and striven to make others' lives better is considered good and noble. Therefore, they go to the place of light. But whoever uses their life to harm others and cares only about themselves will be sent to the place of darkness. You died protecting someone else. Therefore, you have performed the most selfless act and will head to the place of light," Death said, his eyes unwavering.
"But I don’t want to go to this place of light. I want to go back. I want to live out my days serving under Maverick and possibly have a wife and children of my own. I don’t think this place of light or darkness is where I belong," I said hesitantly.
"You see, Jarvis, before a place was named Heaven, you should know that it is far better than the world you are coming from. Come with me, and you will never want to go back again."