Time for my rest

Prompt - When an atheist dies, a lottery determines which religion/deity will claim their soul for eternity. You were claimed by a long-forgotten ancient religion, and are the first newcomer to their afterlife in centuries.

Jasons life was never spectacular or filled with religious bickering of who did what, and how good it is. He lived his life like any other - a 9 to 5 job. To and from work on the Southland Boulevard each and every day. The same route, the same walk, the same time and even the same number of footsteps. It was always the same for Jason. At least.. Until today.

A drunk driver was going to be the difference in his day, and unfortunately, it would be the last one. It drove onto the curve and struck him, killing him instantly. One moment here, and the next? Nada. Goodbye, Jason.

“Wh-What’s going on?” Jason asked, rubbing his head. He sat on the floor of what had to be the biggest and most spectacular courtroom he’s ever seen. Right in the middle, atop a beautiful rug and surrounded by colorful marble pillars and many, many people.

“Quiet, human,” a nearby man said. He looked.. Perfect.. Do all lawyers look like that? Why was he in court, Jason wondered about himself? Why was he in the middle of the room? Did he say human?”

“The ticket drawn, and the vote cast. Be it known he shall reside amongst %£&@$#!” A man said, slamming the hammer on the pad. His words so foreign to Jason.

“Where am I?! I-I’m supposed to be at work!” Jason screamed, jumping up onto his feet.

“As an atheist you are, a house shall hence be determined. The votes been cast, and your travels promised. Begone and good riddance, human!” He screamed once more, and slammed the gavel.

Jason immediately felt weightless as the floor opened up beneath him, revealing whiteness and.. Wind?

“Waaaaaaiiittt!” Jason screamed, falling into the hole. He was dropped amongst the clouds, with no ground visible. Falling and falling, gaining more speed as he went. The wind whipped at him, nearly painful as it smacked him. He could barely breathe, let alone think. He was falling from the sky, flipping and spinning. Gaining somewhat composure, he stopped spinning and had a look below.

“Oh my god! Oh my god!”

Slamming his eyes shut and wishing it all away, he eventually opened them up again, only to reveal the sky was gone.. The clouds and wind, along with all the blue and white, were replaced with blackness and... Stars? Dotted all along his surroundings were specks of so many colors and shapes. Intense hues of every vibrant shade imaginable.

“What. The. Fuck,” he whispered. All around him were no longer clouds, but massive planets, galaxies and an ocean of stars. He was zooming by them going at impossible speeds. Intense swirls of beautiful colors made up the billions of planets and galaxies. Nothing on Earth could’ve ever compared in beauty. The planets whizzed by, and he could feel their pull in his fingertips. At the distance was a roaring black hole. He was headed right for it, and it was unlike any picture google ever offered.

“I’m dreaming.. I’m freakin’ dreaming.,” he barely managed to blurt as he once more shut his eyes. Opening them again revealed no longer the infinite universe, but the biggest library he’s ever witnessed. Millions of books lined the walls, with intricate carvings along the eccentric wood making the arches, pillars, floors and roof.

“What’s going on?!” He yelled, noticing he’s no longer flying or falling, but standing, albeit wobbly.

“Ahh. You’ve made it. Welcome, newcomer. I’m $@#£%?¥,” a mysterious voice spoke.

“What?? Whose there?!” Jason screamed again.

“Hush, child,” the voice spoke again, but this time behind him. “You must not realize what’s happened. I’ll be frank: You’re dead. Sorry about your.. Entrance. He doesn’t really like atheists. Plus, my home is a little.. Far from your Earth.” Jason spun and looked at the man. He had glasses on, with slicked over brown hair. He had a perfectly groomed beard, with the kind of outfit some noble in an office would wear. He looked absolutely perfect, and his eyes had golden iris’.

“What?! Why can’t I understand your name? I can’t be dead. I was just walking to work. I must be dreaming.” Jason quickly rattled off so many questions.

“No, no. You’re most certainly not dreaming. As for my name, I’d imagine it’s because it’s not something meant to be heard. Just call me Librarian.”

Jason gazed around him. Deep down he knew he was dead. You could just feel something like that. “Who are you? And if I’m dead, is this heaven? Are you God?”

“No, I’m not God. And this is not Heaven. Actually, this is my Haven. My paradise. My home.” The Librarian spoke, leaving Jason even more confused. “I suppose I should explain. You are an atheist, and thus belong to no paradise or afterlife because you don’t believe in one. So where should you go? This is decided by the Supreme Gods, who randomize the house you’re destined to reside in forever. Each house is ruled by a god, and is chosen randomly for you. Christianity and Buddhism usually get the atheists since they’re bigger, yet your fate lies with me. Interesting, isn’t it?”

Jason struggled to absorb this world-crushing information. Dead? Gods with an S? Plural? He doesn’t have to work anymore? Finally he worked up the courage to reply. “I-If that’s true, what are you the god of? Books?”

“Ohh, haha,” The Librarian laughed off. “I am sort of like that. But moreso, I am the god of stories. Of ideas. Of reality and fantasy. Of creation and curiosity. And, this may shock you, I’m the first god. The original god. Each book you see,” he said, waving his hands to the walls covered in books, “contains a story. A world. It’s own universe. Your gods that you’re familiar with are also from my stories. Though, they’ve become more now. The God you know so well was my first story. He eventually became a god, like me. He took on the name God, and created Heaven, which arose from my Haven. Interestingly enough, what you believe him to be is untrue. He is actually the God of Pride. He chose to manufacture the idea of godhood to be him and only him. He took the name God, and copied the idea of my Haven. He made you, after my image. His angels after his own. It’s why he hates atheists. Because your kind challenges his supremacy and rule. His bible are the rules he binds you with. The threat of hell, as well. Which is also one of my stories.” He outstretched his hand towards me, suddenly holding a leather bound book with the golden letters HELHEIM. Jason was perplexed. Astounded. He absolutely couldn’t believe what he was hearing. While hearing God exists, trampling his idea of Atheism, but there’s also more? Possibly millions more?

“This is all so much to take,” Jason finally spoke.

“Yes, yes. I understand. Thankfully, we have time. Also, seeing as you’re the first in an uncountable amount of time that I’ve welcomed, filling you in won’t be impossible.”

“There’s others here? Where are they? This place is massive.” Jason looked around, yet saw no one.

“Oh, right. I forgot to mention. As with what I am, and much like what I said, each book you find is a world. A full universe full of its own physics, laws and so on. The others that reside here are in one of them. Also, you won’t find Earth anywhere. God stole that book when he ascended. I’m afraid only he can open it, now. Go on, find one. Open it. You’ve lived Earth. What about a land of magic and elves? Perhaps with aliens and technology? You can also be a fish, or a shark. A bird, or even the dust under someone’s boot. Truly, each idea you could imagine or each universe. Each story; it exists here somewhere. This is your afterlife - your Haven. The ability to live according to any desire you have is now at your fingertips.”