An Accidental Memory, In The Case Of Death.

The beginning and the end

"And here lies the dead. Whom we all mourn and hope their kind souls may pass on to heaven and forever be at peace and happiness knowing they have lived their lives to the fullest." The pastor continued to speak until he signaled the pallbearers to lay the coffin down. I could not see the event happen for it was dark. Perhaps it was night for I have forgotten to bring my pocket watch again.
The pallbears say a few words and bring down the coffin with a large thump. I almost squeak at the noise but restrain myself to keep quiet at a dire and dark time such as this event. I hear the family members and friends weep for the dead. I hear the cawing of the crows, perhaps searching for a feast? I hear the little pitter patter of the rain, falling unto the ground. Yet I see nothing but darkness.
As I wait for the assemblage to disperse, I twiddle my thumbs together and recite verses from the bible "So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor-". I stop and fail to recall how it continues. The crowd has finally dispersed and I attempt to leave, only to be hindered by a wall. I touch the surface of the wall and feel it to be made of wood. I push and shove until the wall gives way. A rush of rain pours unto me.
I was in a coffin the entire time! I look around for any spectators who caught sight of my revival. Vain as I may be, I quickly search for a mirror of sorts and find one near the shack where the gravekeeper sleeps. My face is as handsome as I remember it to be, dark brown hair with a slight curl yet is no longer than 2 inches. My eyes, though sunken and almost hollow, it still contained my shining black pupils. I took a glimpse at my attire and found myself looking rather dashing for a man who had just escaped a coffin. I sported a velvet formal maroon vest and dark pants alongside a pair of pointed dress shoes. I wondered on what to do as I am considered a dead man right now. As I continued the conversation in my head, the shack's door swung open. The gravekeeper came into view, a small burly bearded man wearing a dark raincoat and rain hat, he carried on his shoulders his shovel, which I assume he uses to dig graves. He focused his gaze upon me and yelled "Oi! Why're ya here at such late of a time?". I barely understood him from his thick Irish accent. "Sir, I appear to be lost. Perhaps you can direct me to the nearest coffee house?" The gravekeeper pointed to the dark and rusty gates of the cemetery. I thanked him and promptly went my way.

I crossed paths with streets I used to pass by. Culver, Baltimore, Burbank, all of these streets filled with memories. Yet I cannot recall a single one. I stumble upon a nice and cozy coffee shop named, "Cafe Doze", I assume many fall asleep for the lack of entertainment from the service. I enter the humble shop only to realize I am lacking in coins and bills. I dry myself off and go to the counter and make small talk with the cashier. The pretty lady ends up giving me a free drink. As it turns out, charm indeed pays well. I take an umbrella from the stand mumble a few words of apologies to whoever owns it. I walk out of the shop and walked towards an alleyway to quickly see the other side. That is.... until I am stabbed in the chest. I take a look behind me as I stumble to the ground. A man clad in a bandana covering his face and a hood to conceal who he is. The man smiles and whispers "it is truly the greatest joke of all" and in my dying breath, I smile and laugh with him until the blackness of death overcomes me.

I quickly grab the knife and clean it in the poor victim's clothes. I smile as I look at the masterpiece I've made, a beautiful death. The victim himself laughed along side my own laughter. I put the knife in my coat pocket and hurriedly leave the scene. I survey the area, making sure not a single person saw me leave this alleyway. I start making my way home. On the way I try to vividly remember the artwork I had just completed. The bright red blood, the world's inflicted on the body, and most of all, the jester like smile on the man's face as he accepted his death. Overwhelming pleasure flooded my body making me shiver a bit. I approached my house, quickly opening the door.

And then everything went black.

I wake up, dazed and dizzy. My head aching-no, my whole body ached. A bright light. I try to cover my eyes, only to find them tied up on my sides. I hear a voice, faintly humming a tune. It sounded like a sort of church song. I coughed and asked the person who they are, only to recieve the continued humming of what I think is "Hail mary". The light had been shut off. A face appeared rather close to my own. "Hello! Good morning, sunshine!" said the man. He sported a bloody red vest, looking like a morbid bartender. I started to panick, noticing the knife in his hands. My own heavy breathing made my heart pump harder. He smiled from cheek to cheek and said "What? Has a cat stolen your tongue?" He spoke with a slight british accent in his voice. He lifted the point of the knife to my throat. I pleaded and asked him to not kill me, to let me go. He laughed "My good fellow, It seems you havent noticed... Where did all this blood come from if you're the only one here?" Confused, I looked around the room. It was a regular old home with a couch, a TV, a kitchen and a dining table. The man pointed to his chest, gesturing me to look at my own chest. I looked down and find my shirt bloodied and full of cuts. I began to panick and scream. The man approached me and shushed me up "Hey hey! Quiet down! Everyone will hear you. Let me tell you something. I've already killed you 50 times. I do not jest. 50 damned times, and everytime, you come back alive again. 3 times we both ended up dead. It seems you and I both, are cursed with undeath. Immortality." I nervously laughed and asked him why he remembers it. "It seems I hit you in the head enough to induce amnesia upon you and you have done the same multiple times it seems. However I faintly remember things, including our past... altercations." We both fell silent.