I've been doodling here and there for a story that's been rattling around in my head (below).

Every Time I Die (Working Title)

Did I just fucking die? I don’t even remember what happened. How did I get here? How long have I been here?

I feel like I’m waking up from a dream I was so sure was real. Now simply standing—or at least I think I’m standing. Maybe I’m floating. I can only see myself in all of this darkness. The sound here is a nearly deafening reverberation of bass and something that sounds like glass and rhythmic horns slowed down or like being underwater. 

Surrounded by an inky abyss, a beautiful face slowly peers out at me. It's hard to say whether it’s a male or female. Its voice is a whisper that pierces all other sounds and feels like love. I can’t look away.

“Give me your heart and you’ll never die. You’ll only become stronger with each rebirth.”

An interesting proposal, as soon as I begin to answer a new face appears. It looks as if it has seen a thousand battles with worn gauze covering its eyes.

“I can tell you’re intrigued, but Luci is a liar. Give old Bertram your eyes and you’ll know everything. Being reborn will seek more truth.” Leaning ever closer its voice deliberated with such rasp it could only be described as gravel being slid around a metal pan.

This creature is made of gargantuan bone surrounded by six wings, six arms, and endless knotted ribbons floating ethereally from its bone halo. Every movement it makes sounds like the cracking of branches.

Still somewhat terrified, questioning if this is real, a new face swings around. Only glowing eyes and a mouthful of canine teeth can be seen. 

“Give me your face and you’ll never know pain. With every return, your endurance will grow.” It said with a long cackle at the end. 

Finally, the last face was obscured by a goat skull.

“Don’t listen to the others. Simply embrace me and leave this place to traverse on your journey. What will it be? Place your offering in our chest to answer the call.“

Its rib cage was left with a cavernous glowing ring in it. 

As soon as the thought entered my mind, my heart left my chest and floated to the creature. Now covered in gold it hovered in the previously empty spot. 

The beautiful face of Luci reappeared, “Go, be strong, we’ll meet again.” The words seemed to pour into me, Luci’s lips weren’t even moving.

Reclining back into the abyss a large hand lifts me through a blinding light that looks like an ey—wait, am I inside my eye? Wait, hold on, I still have questions...what are you, what is this place? The sounds of everything start speeding up, glass sliding against something rough, horns and sirens blaring. 

The fog lifts from my eyes as I wake up on the pavement with a knot in my chest. Am I back?