Rebirth

On a scorching day, under the blistering sun, Alex Oxford, a man in his thirties, found himself in the midst of a desolate desert. The once beautiful planet he called home had been ravaged, not by extraterrestrial beings or otherworldly creatures, but by the folly of humanity itself. It was the aftermath of the Third World War, a cataclysmic event that had left destruction in its wake. Alex was no stranger to hardship, having endured a life filled with struggle and suffering.

As he sat there, reading a comic book to momentarily escape the harsh reality surrounding him, he couldn't help but reflect on the loss he had experienced. He had lost everything and everyone he held dear. His internet, his books, his carefree existence—all were now mere fragments of a distant past. Hunger gnawed at his stomach, thirst parched his throat, and a lingering anger simmered within him. Yet, despite it all, he found solace in the pages of the Thor comic he clutched tightly. It was a brief respite from the desolation that engulfed him.

Seeking shelter from the scorching sun, Alex entered a room filled with gold, money, and various other treasures. But to him, they held no value. They couldn't satiate his hunger or quench his thirst. Instead, his attention fell upon a large assault rifle stained with the blood of countless lives. It was a stark reminder of the atrocities he had witnessed and the lives he had taken. With heavy steps, he picked up the weapon and made his way to the bed. He knew what he intended to do, and he had resigned himself to the decision. He did not want to succumb to the slow, agonizing death brought on by starvation.

As he raised the rifle to his chin, memories flooded his mind, causing him to hesitate. He was an introverted individual, a loner, but he carried within him a plethora of memories—both happy and sad. Regrets washed over him, including never having the opportunity to pursue romantic connections. He thought of his family, for a brief moment, and dismissed them as flawed individuals, war or no war.

Fifteen minutes passed, and Alex steeled his nerves. With a resolved smile, he placed his finger on the trigger, ready to escape the torment that had haunted him for far too long. As he pulled the trigger, the walls became stained with crimson, and brain matter scattered across the room. He believed it was the end, his final release from the grip of suffering.

But fate had other plans. His soul, his last remnant of existence on Earth, defied the boundaries of the multiverse, traversing through time and space. After an indeterminate period, his soul became intertwined with a newly formed baby lacking its own soul. Unbeknownst to him, this merging of souls twisted the fabric of fate, creating a fresh timeline, untold and untapped.

Days turned into months, and slowly, the baby began to awaken, bewildered and afraid. Alex, or rather his soul, was reborn into this new existence. Confusion overwhelmed him as he struggled to comprehend the nature of his existence. He had died, pulled the trigger, so why was he awake? Was this the afterlife he had hoped for? What had become of him? Questions swirled in his mind as he grasped for answers, hoping that this fresh beginning held the promise of something better.