What if: Clive hadn’t taken Hazel with him

After waking up, I found myself surrounded by animals. There are a lot of them. Mostly cats and squirrels and ferrets and beavers. I notice a few dogs and foxes as well.

Maybe they have noticed that humans are gone. I am the only human remaining. I better leave before they attack me. Even small animals can do damage if there are enough of them.

Now then, I get up and gather my stuff and leave. The other animals ran away as soon as I stood up but one remained. It watched me as I take my backpack and start walking.

It's only been a day since everyone is gone. I am getting a bit lonely but I have to steel myself. I get a feeling that something is following me. I look back and see a dog wagging its tail. It's a retriever dog with brownish coat.

I shoo it away. Maybe I should have taken it with me. But I have no intentions of taking a dog with me.

It kept following me even then but I kept shooing it away. And before I reached the capital, it had stopped following me. I think it got tired and gave up.

I finished my job in the capital and jacked a solar bike. I thought of going to the sea but stopped by my hometown.

The loneliness is catching up. I keep looking through the immense amount of data I took from the central. A lot of interesting information were there. I decided to study on everything. At least a bit.

Days were going well. I was only lacking a conversation partner. But my wait was over. A spaceship came to earth. I think it's a reconnaissance ship. I did take some assault weapons from the central as well. And I have my working miner's jacket. I think it's made of lead and is ridiculously heavy.

I put on my jacket and I felt like my weight increased another 25 kilograms. I pick up one assault weapon. It's a pretty popular historical weapon. It's called AK-47. I just hope I don't have to confront anyone.

I made my way to the spaceship and I can see some beings. They look like normal humans and aren't too different. But I can't understand their language.

They headed for my town and I made it into the spaceship. However, it was a failure. I can't find anything. Not even a single door.

My efforts were in vain. I can't find anything. So I left the spaceship. My efforts were for nothing. I patiently watch them as they left. They had nothing with them when they came back from the town. I guess they didn't find what they wanted.

What should I do now? The only thing I can do is study and train. For the next few months, I kept studying and training. My body is grown stronger. But nowadays I feel something is different.

I would often have a dream where I am all alone in the darkness. Muddy darkness. I keep calling for someone. But no one answers my call. And then I wake up. What was that? And a few days later, another spaceship came.

I didn't bother looking into them this time. I can't find anything and I don't understand their language.

I was chilling in my house. But I think I forgot how to speak. I haven't uttered a single word since that day. Talking to myself would drive me mad. But am I even sane to begin with?

That's when someone knocked on my door. Did they find me?

I open the door normally and I was blown away by some force. It's like my body was blown away by a gust of wind. I hit my head and lost consciousness.

When I came to, I was in a cage. I look around and see 4 men. They look similar to men and have features that makes them look like human males. They keep saying something but I can't understand their language. It's an entirely different language.

I have heard 120 language samples and it doesn't match any of them. I just kept my mouth shut. They came 2 times a day and gave me food.

The taste was not that great and it was more like emergency food. After maybe 5 days, we landed somewhere. I was taken out of the cage and had my body restrained.

Chains were wrapped around me. My feet were trapped inside of a plank. My hands were heavily restrained. I couldn't walk properly and they somewhat dragged me to a dark place.

I was thrown inside of another cell. I think this place is the prison.

I wait. That's the only thing I can do. After maybe 2 days, someone came to visit me. With a familiar face in tow. The man is dressed well. Too well. He has a crown on his head. I think that's the king.

The familiar person in tow is Gwen McCarthy. A classmate and someone I have known since childhood. She was a classmate even though she is a year older than me.

"It's great to see you alive, Clive?" (Gwen)

"I didn't think you survived. I think I can guess. You people were reincarnated here, weren't you?"

Her face darkened. I hit the bullseye. And she probably isn't the only one. The king asks her something and he is stunned as well.

But then he tells her something. She looks at me.

"Clive, his majesty wants to know, how are you still alive?" (Gwen)

"Well, it was dumb luck. How many of you were revived?"

"30. Trevor is alive as well." (Gwen)

"Hmm…what to do? I am very bored now. I have been living alone for the past few months. Probably 4 or 5 months. I didn't speak a single word during that time. So my throat is hurting a bit. Tell him to get to the point."

I was having trouble speaking. So I think I should finish this as soon as possible.

Gwen relayed this to him and he became a bit annoyed. After thinking for a bit, he tells Gwen something.

Gwen is visually perplexed. She is probably arguing with him but he makes a stern face, says something and leaves.

"Clive, you will be executed in 3 days from today." (Gwen)

"I see. Well, that's good for them. I wasn't exactly part of their scheme. So I don't belong here anyway."

I will be executed. That's a weird feeling. But I don't feel fear. I am not afraid of dying. On the other hand, everyone here should be overjoyed. If 30 people from my world were reincarnated here and if they all knew me, I am pretty sure they are overjoyed.

Cut to 3 days later, I am standing on a stage. I can see a guillotine behind me. There are a lot of people watching me. The king is sitting on a golden and luxurious chair not too far away.

He stands up, says a few words. The crowd goes crazy and start making a ruckus. All of them are fired up. I can see the madness in their eyes. What is this motivation for?

My head was put in position. The blade is hanging over me. I see a man with a spear near a rope. He is gonna cut the rope and the blade will fall on my neck.

I looked at the crowd one last time. They are all smiling. Like it's a very auspicious moment. Gwen has a sad face. But the others from my world are overjoyed.

I know all of them. My former classmates. I am not sad about dying. But I feel like this isn't it. I wanna die on my own terms. I wanna investigate so many things. But I can't anymore. Because I am dying. The rope was cut. The blade should fall instantly. But that moment felt like an eternity.

I felt the cold and heavy blade cutting through my neck.

I am losing my consciousness. I think this is death.

In my last moment, I saw a vision. I have companions with me. All of them love me very much and I love them as much as they love me. I even have a daughter and am on good terms with everyone. Maybe my life could have been like that. Only regret filled me as it became totally dark.

◇◇◇◇

I woke up. I think I had a dream. What was that about? I look around. I am in my room on earth.

And Hazel, Aura and Fay rush in from the portal.

"Master, why are feeling so troubled? Looks like you were crying as well." (Hazel)

I touch my cheek. It's wet. I was crying.

"I have no memories of me ever crying. This is a first."

I try to wipe my tears but my hands are shaking. Am I afraid of something?

Aura and Fay sit next to me and push me down on the bed.

"I think I know why you are crying. Don't worry, you won't be alone." (Aura)

She grabs my right hand. Fay grabs my left hand and Hazel is on top of me. Seems like I have to be extra careful from now on. But maybe that dream was a future that could have happened to me.

I really am thankful to Hazel. Because everything started with her help. I'll look into it next time. Today has been hectic. That cat fight was hard to break off. I need to rest. And I fall asleep.