Prologue #2
“Her body is the same age as yours was, and you hold the same values as her soul did when it was first born, which makes you a perfect candidate. In fact, your soul may be more perfect for this body than hers ever was.”
“Wait, does that mean her soul has changed? How is that possible?”
“The world may reset, but souls grow weary, and hers is the weariest of them all. She doesn’t remember the reset cycles, but her soul has some spiritual recollection and has darkened with time.
If it continues, I will not be able to bring her home to rest. I must rectify my mistake before it’s too late. ”
Wow.
Souls were a complicated business.
“In fact, her world might even be one that you’re familiar with. I believe one of the cycles was recorded at some point in your world.”
“Whoa. Like in a book? Did I read it?”
“I don’t know.”
“What’s the title?”
“I don’t know that, either. I’m not the universe’s librarian.
Don’t you think I have enough to do around here?
” He huffed, throwing his arms out. “Anyway, we’re running out of time.
Her soul is fading. If you take her place, she will not enter the Fountain of Reincarnation and will instead find eternal peace here with me. ”
I narrowed my eyes. “What’s the catch?”
God looked at me innocently. “Whatever do you mean?”
“The catch. I know there’s no way I’m getting thrown into another universe that’s going to be happy-go-lucky, not if this poor girl keeps dying too soon. What if I die in her shoes? I’m on the fence about a second life, never mind reliving someone else’s over and over again!”
“Oh. Hm. I suppose you’re right.”
“And if I do this, I’m actually doing you a favour since I’m taking her place, which means you can let her soul find peace. What do I get out of this?”
God paused, then bobbed his head gently. “You are correct. I would like her soul to find peace, and you would be doing me a favour. If I give you something to help you, will you do it?”
“Help me with what? And what are you going to give me?”
“That I cannot tell you.” This time, he shook his head. “I’m sorry, Allie, but I am already interfering greatly to correct my actions. The gift I will bestow upon you will help you set this world to rights.”
“The first time around?”
“I cannot guarantee that. Once you awaken, you and those around you will have free will. Even I cannot interfere with such a thing. That blasted will is what got me in this mess in the first place.”
“Then I want to keep my memories and hers,” I said, gripping the edge of the podium and leaning closer. “If I have them, I may recognise the world from my life, and I will be able to change things based on the knowledge I have of how things are supposed to go.”
“You mean how things are incorrectly supposed to go, given the state of repetition the world is in.”
“Exactly. Assuming it’s proceeding in a way you don’t want, wouldn’t this make it easier to make the world conform to your most gracious, beautiful will?” Not to mention I didn’t want to be dropped into a weird place where I would know absolutely nothing about life there.
I’d already spent my teen years trying to fit in. I had no intention of living that nightmare again.
“Stop sweet-talking me. I can see why you were a lawyer,” he grumbled. “All right, fine. But in exchange for both yours and her memories, you will have no recollection of this meeting with me.”
My jaw dropped. “At all? Then how will I know what to do? Or what gift you’ve given me?”
“You will know when the time comes.” God reached forwards and tapped the tip of my nose with his fingertip. “Well? We’re running out of time. What is your decision, dear one?”
I pressed my lips together firmly. I wasn’t ready to die. Even if I couldn’t go back to my life as Allie Montgomery, would living another’s life be so bad? Especially if it meant I could right a wrong for the people living in that world?
Talk about pressure.
But really, there was only one choice.
A choice I felt was the right one deep in my bones.
“I’ll do it,” I said, clapping my hands together. “Let me take her place and fix your broken world.”
“Very well. Take this.” God formed a ball of golden light and pushed it towards me.
It hit me square in the chest and dissipated through my body with a tingle of warmth, almost like I was being wrapped in the most incredible hug by someone who loved me.
“You will forget about this conversation once you wake, but you will retain the memories of your past life and your current one. I will keep watch over you, Allie, for I am God in all my worlds. And I will always be there when you need me. The truth will come to light when the time is right.” He smiled gently, then paused, tilting his head to one side. “Ah.”
“What is it?”
“She’s gone. It’s time.” He held out his hand, and a golden light emanated from it, wrapping me in the same gentle warmth that’d spread through me when the golden ball had hit me. “Heed these words, dear one: The wrong and the rightful cannot coexist.”
“How can I heed them when I’ll forget them?”
There was a flash, and his final words echoed in my mind as the light enveloped me.
“Goodbye, Alicia.”