Warnings: Death, language, SIOC, etc. Will add more later if it shows up.

Rebirth

re·in·car·na·tion /ˌrēənkärˈnāSH(ə)n/

noun—

the rebirth of a soul in a new body

a new incarnation or embodiment, as of a person

It ends like this:

The sensation of falling. It's a thrill when you're on a rollercoaster, knowing the safety bar is securely restraining you to the seat beneath you. It's nauseating when you're falling from a ten-story building knowing you'll become a stinky red splat on the pavement below.

My stomach rises to my mouth. Fear leaves my mind strangely coherent, like the air outside after rain: fresh and painfully clear.

A thought runs through my mind, floating by like smoke: I don't want to die.

And then, pain. It runs through my whole body and for a moment I feel like I'm seeing stars. Wait, I am, because it's nighttime and I'm facing the sky, and they're shining so brightly that my whole vision is gradually being flooded with white wait no that's because of the pain haha ow it hurts it hurts it hurts just let it end–

And then, darkness.

My last thought wasn't really a thought and more of a feeling, but if I had to put it into words it'd be like this:

Finally. I'm glad.

.✧.✧.

It starts like this:

A dark, silent room. It's cold, but thankfully not damp. If the lights were on, you'd be able to see that the carpet is plush and the walls are elegant, but the only source of light is from the crack under the expensive-looking door. There are no windows and no vents. In this room, someone is huddled in a corner, trembling. A child. A boy.

His name is Hoshi, and today is the day he is turning four years old.

But there is no birthday party, no balloons, no presents, no friends, no family, and no cake. Instead, there is only the dark, silent room, and the small, silent boy. From behind the door, there is a loud bang. Hoshi flinches with his whole body, but not a peep escapes from his mouth. No sniffling, no tearful inhales and exhales. He breathes so quietly that you'd think maybe he's used to this kind of situation. But what kind of situation, exactly, is he in?

Another bang, this time directly on the door. Hoshi doesn't flinch a second time– he only stares, fearfully, desperately, at the direction in which the sound came from.

A gruff voice, slightly muffled by the door, says, "I know you're in there, brat."

Hoshi replies with silence.

"…Tch, did I get the wrong room? Well, whatever. It's not like I have to take that shit alive; they only prefer it that way. If I burn this place down he'll come running out in tears anyway. Fucking Akashics, their security is batshit crazy. Well, the fact I got in here means I'm better than them, heh. After this I'll be able to raise my rates…"

The voice trails off. After about a minute, Hoshi realizes the owner of the voice has left, and in his place is a fire. There is no smoke and no heat, only an erratic roaring that's steadily growing louder. Hoshi has no doubt: it's a fire, and the most dangerous kind. Storm Flames.

Beyond the door lies destruction.

The door is the only way out.

Hoshi closes his eyes and thinks, with a mind that's strangely coherent, I don't want to die.

.✧.✧.

Ah…

What a waste.

If I had known I would die so soon, I would've lived my life to the fullest.

I should've lived

with the will of the dying.

.✧.✧.

When Hoshi opens his eyes again, he is not a four year old boy anymore.

.✧.✧.

The first things I register are roaring red flames spreading out before me that are literally decimating everything in their path and the fact that I'm on fire but not actually burning.

"…"

I open my mouth.

"What the fuck, is this hell?"

Do I have time to actually be picking this back up? No. I have to work on my college apps. But that's exactly why I'm rewriting this! Procrastination ftw!