"Come on, work, you stupid computer! I spent money to upgrade the RAM, and it still doesn't load Chrome."
Kolden, a middle-aged man with weary eyes, let out a heavy breath. He took a sip from his coffee mug and sighed, "God, my back is killing me.", He stood up and stretched, looking around the office. He was alone again. The fact that the lights were off only added to the grim realization that, as usual, he was forced to work overtime. He was a typical salaryman—overworked and underpaid—but that was life. Kolden ran a hand through his messy black hair, massaging his scalp as he took a deep breath and exhaled.
"Time to get back to work."
Sitting back down, Kolden grabbed his mouse. Just as he prepared to dive back into his tasks, a notification from WE-mail popped up at the top of the monitor.
"Probably another assignment from management," he muttered, resting his head on his hand. He clicked the message.
From: Management
Subject: Congratulations
Congratulations, Kolden! You have garnered interest from the World Whale. It has decided that perhaps your suffering shouldn't be in vain! Press YES below to accept its gratitude.
Kolden finished reading and laughed to himself, a sound filled with self-pity. "Is this some kind of sick joke? I know I put myself in bad situations on purpose, but I'm not that much of a masochist. This amount of psychological abuse is too much."
He spoke with sudden vigor; if there was one thing he took pride in, it was his ability to handle stress. He moved his mouse, intending to send the email to the spam folder, but he paused. With a defeated sigh, he muttered, "Stupid WE-mail. I'll press 'yes'—not because I have to, but because I want to. It's my decision, you hear me, Management?"
He clicked YES.
The sound of the click echoed strangely as Kolden's vision began to spin. He tried to stand up to get his blood flowing, but his legs gave out immediately.
"Come on, body, don't fail me now," he wheezed, gripping the edge of his desk and trying to muster whatever strength he had left.
His phone notifications flashed on the desk as he grew weaker. He grunted, his mind racing even as he lost the ability to speak. He thought of the countless hours spent overworking and staying up late; he knew his health wasn't perfect, but he didn't think he was this far gone. His grip faltered, and he slumped to the ground. As his eyes shut, his consciousness faded into nothing.
"Huh?"
Kolden blinked a few times. "Am I...?"
Only darkness surrounded him.
"I'm totally dead, aren't I? Hmm. I guess this is a nice way to die. I didn't feel any pain, which is always a plus."
He spoke softly, looking around. There wasn't much to see besides the void, but he found he could still breathe. It was actually quite peaceful. If he had possessed a space like this when he was alive, it would have been a perfect place to meditate. He closed his eyes and relaxed.
A sudden noise startled him. It was a distinct, low groan—the unmistakable sound of a whale.
"Am I in the middle of some sort of space whale migration?"
A voice rumbled through the dark. "No, you are not. I am appalled you could think of such a ridiculous thing at a time like this."
The loud, echoing voice scoffed. Kolden's eyes widened as he frantically scanned the area. "Hello?"
The space shifted. Kolden stifled a groan as he felt the sensation of falling, only for the "ground" to suddenly solidify beneath him.
The low voice rumbled again. "Kolden Miller. A twenty-eight-year-old man with nothing else going for him besides his job. Is that correct?"
Kolden chuckled, embarrassed. "Yeah... that would be me." His tone turned sorrowful.
"A life is a life at the end of the day," the voice continued, "but an existence such as yours is what we refer to as an anomaly. Your soul still holds the glimmer of life. What an odd occurrence."
Kolden nodded, though the term "anomaly" creeped him out. "I think simply wanting to live is enough. I mean, give me a new job and I'd probably have a few more glimmers of life in me."
"The 'glimmer' isn't something most humans keep," the voice corrected. "A glimmer is a deep longing. Even humans who think life is pointless but still believe it can get better eventually use up their glimmer against their will. You, Kolden, still have yours remaining—not a single drop missing."
Kolden smiled softly. "I just want to live, is all. Dying is scary. And besides, who doesn't want to live? It's lonely to go before you're ready. Maybe I just want a life with no end or something."
The voice rumbled and laughed melodically. "Humans were always my favorite race—so easy to please and so eager to live a fulfilling life. What if I could make that possible?"
Kolden's smile faded, replaced by suspicion. "Are you some kind of divine being?"
"I am the World Whale. I keep anomalies in check and act as the barrier between worlds. That is all. But yes, I am a divine being, as you implied."
Kolden nodded slowly. "If it's possible... I guess I wouldn't mind. What do I need to do?"
"I want nothing more than to see your new life and how you live it," the whale responded. "As I said in the email, I am pleased with how you have cherished your spark."
Before Kolden could ask more, the whale interrupted. "I must go; there is a matter I must attend to. Don't be startled by the exit you take."
"Wait! Hello? What about the contract and—" Kolden sighed. "Whatever."
He stepped forward. Suddenly, a small, bright white star descended from the darkness. Kolden reached out and caught it between his index finger and thumb.
"That was cool. I wish I could see that again. Sometimes I forget how beautiful the world is compared to snotty old managers and computer screens."
He smiled. "A mere mortal holding a star." He stifled a laugh at his own cringey statement, but he decided then and there that if he didn't have a goal in life before, he did now.
As he moved the star, it suddenly gleamed with a blinding intensity, engulfing his arm in white light. It felt warm and comforting, but the sheer brightness ruined the moment.
"Ahhhh! My eyes! No epilepsy warning? Geez, is that the tradeoff for touching a star?"
Kolden rubbed his eyes gently. When he looked down at his arm, he gasped. Complex engravings now covered his skin, resembling runes from the "Souls-like" games he played in his free time. They held the faint, shimmering remnants of constellations.
"Is this a branding of sorts? It's pretty cool."
The groaning noise from earlier echoed again, much louder this time. Looking up from his arm, Kolden saw it: a massive whale the size of a planet, swimming toward him with incredible speed. Kolden's heart dropped; he was certain he was about to ruin his pants.
"Oh... am I about to be killed?"
Before he could finish the thought, the World Whale opened its mouth, and Kolden was swallowed whole.