As Rico was dragged out of the cave sobbing, he wiped his tears against his large hand. But his hand wasn't there. He looked at his feet. They were gone, too.
So this is what it's like to die, Rico thought. I guess my soul is being dragged to the heavens now.
But how did I die? He pondered. I didn't hit my head, I don't think I was being chased by a killer Scrab...
But none of this matters. I'm dead. And I never grew up to live my dream as a Mudarcher warrior, defending my tribe.
He felt another tear slide down his cheek.
Rico noticed the cave was geting lighter and lighter, the wall paintings were clearly visible now. He looked back, and saw that he was reaching the exit back into his humble village. As he turned back, he froze. Wasn't someone still dragging him? He looked back again. There was nobody behind him, and definitely no hands on his shoulders dragging him to heaven.
Ah, they must be Odd's angels sent down to retrieve me. Of course they were invisible.
Goodbye, cruel Oddworld. I'm going to a better place.
But just then, the angels stopped dragging him. "Thanks," Rico mumbled, "My butt's kinda sore after all of that dragging."
Suddenly, he felt a stong tingling sensation. Everythink he was was slowly vanishing into the white abyss. Rico thrust his chest upwards in agony, moaning as he felt his entire body go limp.
Ah, yes, I must be completing my journey to the heavens now, leaving Oddworld, he thought. Rico took one last look at his primitive, peaceful, wonderful village, and then closed his eyes.
-----------------------
"Hey, Rico, wake up! Come on, buddy, I know you can make it..."
Rico slowly awakened. He looked around, dumbfounded.
"Th...this isn't heaven..." he stuttered. Joey was crouched over him, and Perm was pacing back and forth in the corner muttering to himself. Rico was in the exact place he was when he completed his journey. "Where's heaven?" He asked.
Joey giggled. "What are you talking about, pal?"
Rico gazed up momentarily, remembering what had just happened. "Well...I died...didn't I?"
Perm casually strutted over. "Nah, you just fainted."
Rico noticed that his entire body was visible again. "So how come I couldn't see myself?"
Joey pointed to Perm. "Perm over there saved our behinds. He used an invisibility chant to turn the three of us invisible."
"Oh, so that's why you were chanting!"
Perm strutted over again. "Yeah, if it wasn't for me, you two would probably banned from the tribe right now. You owe me."
Rico rubbed his chin, thinking. "Thta's also why the adutls didn't notice us, right?" he asked.
"Yep. I dragged you two out here, and the invisibility wore off," Perm stated. "That's why you fainted. The invisibility treatment is pretty painful stuff..."
Rico grinned. "Wow, th--" he froze momentarily. "But aren't only adults permitted to use that chant?" he asked Perm.
"Meh," Perm said nonchalantly. "I have my sources."
Rico looked at Joey. Joey just shrugged.
Perm looked up at the beautifully flourescent afternoon sky. "Well guys, looks like the fun stups here," he stated, "It's almost sundown."
Joey patted the two on the back. "See you tomorrow, guys. My dad's probably waiting for me."
Rico looked into the distance. Sure enough, Joey's tomahawker father was standing outside his hut, thumping his foot on the ground impatiently.
Rico sighed and sat down. "See ya, guys. I think I'm gonna stay here a bit longer."
Perm was already walking back to the village. Joey glanced at Perm, and then gave Rico an odd look. "Erm...okay, bye," he said curiously, and then trotted off to his hut.
Rico gazed down at his homely village. The adults were lighting the torches, as they did every sundown. He oculd see light pouring out of every hut doorway, and could hear the faint chanting and humming from the meditation hut. There was laughter, singing and friendly conversations echoing throughout the village.
This is my home, my family, he thought.
But why must Cibo insist on possessing me? Why did I even have to see that stupid creature on that fateful night? Couldn't Cibo get the information some other way?
Rico sighed as he contemplated the week's events. He'd heard stories about possession. It was painful enough when they first possessed you, but the depossession involves--
No, he would not say it. Not everyone died after being possessed, there were myths about a few brave souls that went through the depossession process and survived...
No, they weren't myths, he thought. They were true. Yes, true...
Yeah, I'm a brave soul, aren't I? I mean, I fell off that elum when I was 3 and didn't cry...
NO. I have to stop telling myself lies. He remembered what Pent, one of his old mentors, had said:
"False confidence is an unwanted force."
False confidence will bring lies, hatred, and pain. He did not want that.
I must think up a plan, he thought.
There's no way I'm going to let Cibo possess me.
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EDIT: Okay, so it wasn't uber-long, but it's longer than the last one...
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