It stood in a black abyss, in-front. Close, yet far. A human silhouette, cradling an oar, but featureless in every other regard.
"Wake."
"I am Charon."
"Do not be afraid. You will be unable to speak - for you no longer posses a physical vessel. I will understand your thoughts however, and answer your questions."
"I come to souls such as yours. Though, what I describe as a soul, would accurately be more described as a consciousness. Your soul has lost its physical vessel - and without one you cannot inhabit any plane of existence tangible to your mind. However, the circumstances of this death call upon my intervention."
"Souls that live unfulfilled lives are given to me. Souls without loved ones, without achievements, and without purpose. Souls who have lived short lives where death came as fast as the years passed. I dislike using basic terms, however - the being your mind conceptualizes as "God" puts meticulous craft and effort into every living being. It would be waste for your soul to expire - and yet not reach its potential."
"It isn't your fault - and even if it was, the simplified concept of "God" wouldn't deprive you of this second chance. They know all the circumstances - past, present, future. It is the fault of others of your kind - but this is the only reference to your previous physical form I shall ever speak of."
"You never knew love, nor friendship. A human that does alone may still experience a fulfilling life - but you died too young to experience such success. This is not pity. But They do not wish to see you expire, and be treated so unfairly. This is why, Human, I am here to take you away."
"I am here to take you away to one place. One place only. One galaxy only. One universe only. One reality only. I am here to take you to a single place. Not merely a Place that physically exists in your understanding of "your world". I will deliver you to any place that resides in your mind. Any place you wish to be in."
"Fictional worlds are of course allowed. I wish to explain that what your understanding of "fiction" is different than what it really is. Fictional worlds aren't such because they are "not real". Fictional worlds are those you assume you have conceptualized. Worlds where you believe you have made the characters and the world that people will observe and consider a mere concept."
"But the truth is that "fictional worlds" exist physically, between the loops and paradoxes of different realities. There are countless dimensions. countless worlds - and countless possibilities. You Humans did not "create" these characters, yet you also did - at the same time. When a thought is sparked, there is an immediate explosion. A new understanding, and a new reality. Think, and conceptualize any reality right now - no matter how different from yours - and if it doesn't exist already, it will spawn anew. Visualize a world where the world is identical save for the existence of a single microbe - it too will exist."
"And no. I do not find the world you are considering the most right now to be in any way, as the Humans call it, "Shameful", "Embarrassing", or "Strange". On the contrary, it makes sense. You are wishing for a world of peace, harmony, and friendship - three components that have lacked to make your life fulfilling. You wish for a world without the flaws of Humanity - where the world isn't reduced to a violent reality of terror, deceit, and hopelessness. Mortals have come to me demanding worlds that they insist they wanted to inhabit - and it was not my place to revert their choice. I know you will be happy with your choice, Human."
"I will insert you to this world - but there are conditions. I will not erase your memory, nor give you a new physical form. Your consciousness - your soul - must remain the same. This is the only way you can appreciate a new start and find happiness. I will however provide you with a complete understanding of the language of this world's locals. I will also grant you the objects from your past that would ensure you do not feel the need to return home. In-fact, I have taken the liberty of compacting the things you love. Any beloved memorophilia, objects of novelty, and any tools of your hobby have been placed into a pack you will awake with. I shall also grant you a device capable of playing music, and have taken the liberty of installing your most beloved songs onto it. Clothing, food, and other objects that expire however, will only be found in this new world."
"Human, I want you to understand this. You will never see me again after this. Which is why you need to understand the weight of your responsibility, and your choices. In other words, your interaction with the locals is a hands-off-manner. Should you explain to them that in your understanding they are mere "fiction", the consequences of these implications are yours to manage. Further, any attempts of the locals to "help" return you to your "home" may only be prevented by you alone."
"My advice is this, human. Communicate. You are now the master of your own fate. You will now be in a world where the decisions of your peers and family will not lead you to the death that has come to you. I will not ask how it happened, but I hope you will find happiness and safety in this new world."
"Take care of yourself, Human. Remember my words, and remember the mechanism of reality. I truly wish you the best. Happiness, hope, friendship, and life itself have been wrongly stripped for you. "They", do not wish to see their creation treated so wrongly. So now, you will have the chance to salvage your consciousness - to salvage a life."
"Embrace me, Human."
Though they lacked a physical form, they felt Charon come for their soul itself, and hugged them.
It gave just the right distraction for them not to notice that the oar in its hands had turned into a scythe...And a single slash had annihilated them - and the black void within which they were stuck. All was white.