Death and Born

***

A simple funeral was held the next day. Only a few family members and friends came to the funeral. Alan was the last person to leave the area with a heart full of hatred.

He planned to find the fraudster's location by tracking him down using all the ways Alan could. Fortunately, Alan met the fraudster when he came to promote the fraudulent promise to his parents.

Not only the face but also the name of the man. Now, he had to find the person using these two pieces of information; the fraudster's face and name.

He began his search using social media, friends, and the help of the police. Alan was forced to quit his job as a storekeeper to work as a waiter in a bar at night, as waiter salaries were higher than those of a small store.

For a month, he searched with simple tools and basic methods. He found a face similar to the fraudster on social media, except that the fraudster changed his name to Nicholas - previously named Alfred.

That day, on a Sunday. The bar where Alan worked was closed as usual. All day long, Alan busied himself with finding and sticking all the important information he got about Nicholas on his bedroom wall.

"Alan. Are you inside?"

There was a knock on the door, and the bell was pressed by the visitor, who was none other than Sersi. She always came on Sundays to accompany Alan for the whole day. She even knew what Alan was doing.

"Come in. The door is unlocked," Alan replied, shouting from inside his bedroom.

Sersi, who heard the voice, opened Alan's apartment's wooden door and saw a pretty clean place inside. Alan was a typical person who maintained a clean home.

The woman didn't notice Alan's presence in the living room. She quickly focused her aim on the man's bedroom.

"I brought you a sandwich. What are you doing there?" asked Sersi without opening Alan's bedroom door.

Alan heard what Sersi said. He put away the photos and some printouts on the wooden table and walked to the door. He walked in wearing only a black short-sleeved T-shirt and shorts.

The door opened, and Sersi was in front of him with a bag on her shoulder. She smiled kindly at him as she picked up the lunchbox full of sandwiches.

"You must not have lunch yet. I made you a meat sandwich," Sersi replied.

Alan glanced at the lunchbox as he held out both hands. He accepts Sersi's gift and invites her to eat the sandwich.

The cigarette in Alan's fingers was quickly put out by the man. Sersi noticed a significant change in Alan's attitude, one of which was in his habits and Alan's relationship with her.

Alan, who was not used to smoking, started to smoke. Not only that, empty bottles of bourbon filled the wooden chest in the living room, even though Alan hated the smell of the alcoholic drink.

"Alan," called Sersi. Alan immediately turned his gaze to Sersi.

"About my request. I know, it's quite presumptuous. However, I can't let you stay alone. So, let me stay with you from now on," Sersi pleaded.

It had been a month since his parents had left. Alan felt lonely when he got to his apartment; no one greeted him.

Not only that, for one month, Sersi also continued to show more attention to Alan. Deep down, he wanted her to stay by his side.

Sersi's request to stay together was not just this time but a few weeks ago. However, Alan only realized his desire at this time.

"Well, if you don't mind, you can stay with me," Alan said.

Sersi was so happy she stood up and jumped for joy with a bright red face. She quickly walked over to Alan and hugged him tightly.

"Thank you. I'll take good care of you," said Sersi enthusiastically.

Alan nodded as he gently released Sersi's embrace. The man said this pleasure should be celebrated by drinking a liquor bottle. Sersi agreed without arguing.

When the fridge opened, Alan's stock of alcohol was empty. Not even a single can of beer was left.

"Is there any left?" Alan asked, and Sersi shook her head.

The man stood up immediately. He started to take his long coat and told Sersi that he would go to the convenience store to buy the drinks.

At first, Sersi offered to buy, but Alan refused. He said that he hadn't left the apartment today, so he needed to go out to refresh his mind.

In the end, Sersi agreed to what Alan wanted to do. The man walked out of the apartment as he walked down the stairs.

The nearest convenience store was two blocks from his residence, taking about fifteen minutes to reach. Alan walked on the sidewalk as cars passed by on the busy road. In the distance, Alan could see the small convenience store he was referring to.

Alan took about fifteen beers from the fridge for the day. The convenience store was crowded; the line was so long that Alan had to wait until the beer he took was paid for.

Just as Alan came out of the convenience store. He saw someone from the other side of the road who looked like Nicholas. He walked in wearing a suit like someone important.

"Wait!" shouted Alan, looking sharply at the man he was pointing at.

Suddenly all the attention of the passers-by was drawn to Alan and the man. Surprisingly, he started running as if his identity was known, running towards the other direction quickly.

Alan dropped the beer he had ordered, crossing the busy road to catch the man. Unfortunately for Alan, he was not aware of the traffic.

A bus speeding from Alan's left hit the man fifteen meters away. The severe injuries on his body caused Alan to groan in pain, and many people began to help save the man's life.

But the severe injuries to Alan's internal organs and bleeding in his brain from the impact made his life unbearable. He died, leaving Sersi alone in his apartment.

Alan never thought his life would end this short, just one month after the death of his parents. In the end, he felt he had failed to catch the fraudster and restore his happiness.

"Why is it so hard to catch criminals?"

"I can offer you something, John Alan."

A woman's voice blared in the black area in front of Alan. The man kept turning his body around and tried to find who was talking to him.

"Who are you?" asked Alan, curious.

"My name is Irena. I am a messenger from the Lord of the Sky who will give you a second life," replied the woman, walking closer until Alan could see her face.

"Second life? What's the afterlife?" asked Alan, Irena chuckling at Alan's question.

"It's much more wonderful than the afterlife. In your second life, you can kill Nicholas," Irena replied. Alan's eyes widened in surprise, and his enthusiasm increased dramatically.

"Really? What should I do?" asked Alan without thinking about the true identity of the woman named Irena.

The woman quickly walked over to Alan until they were so close. Although Alan was already dead, he could feel the fragrance of the woman's body.

"Give me your hand. You have to trust me," Irena pleaded.

Alan immediately said yes and began to touch Irena's soft hand. Surprisingly, the black area surrounding Alan slowly turned bright and showed a sky filled with clouds.

"Where are you taking me?" asked Alan, confused.

"You will be reborn in a world called Athanor with a power," Irena replied.

"Power? What do you mean?"

"Magic power. I grant you a magic power that can take you across worlds," Irena explained, Alan still not understanding what she meant.

Alan was taken away at the speed of light until he was floating in space, precisely in a new world that looked different from Earth. Of course, it made Alan surprised and confused.

"That is the world you will live in your second life. I will guide you to be able to use your powers," Irena said, smiling happily.

"What should I do?" asked Alan.

Irena suddenly tapped Alan hard on the shoulder. That made Alan's soul fall quickly to Athanor like a meteor.

"Good luck."