Building the First Industrial Empire in Another World
"Where am I?" Ernest muttered as he looked around him. Everything was pitch black, like he was in the middle of a void. He recalled what happened earlier, about him getting to work. He was in his car and on his phone reviewing data the company had sent him and suddenly, there was an excruciating pain in his chest that made him black out. Now, he was here. Could it be that this is the afterlife? There is no heaven or hell? If so, this is the worst. He dreaded the idea of having to spend the rest of eternity floating in a complete darkness with full awareness. "No, this can't be the end," he muttered again, but there was no voice coming out as it was all in his mind. He refused this to be his fate, he would rather be in hell than to suffer an everlasting stasis in a dark void. Moments later, something flickered in front of him. He looked towards it and saw a streak of light piercing the darkness, growing brightly as if trying to break the shell of the void as he could see the cracks forming around. He doesn't know what's happening but he knows that is a good sign. He tried to reach for it, imagining himself to float toward it. And he could feel that he was being pulled over to it Seconds after, the light went out, replaced by a blurry haze of vision. It was not bright or dark anymore. It took another second for his vision to clear itself and when it did, he saw something unexpected. It was a ceiling, a roof ceiling to be exact. He expected it would be like a hospital ceiling or his house if he was dreaming but the ceiling above him didn't resemble anything like a hospital or his house. After all, it was made of wood, and it seemed to be water-damaged as some parts have black marks spreading along the edges like mold had settled there for years. Also, the air smelled damp. Not the kind of dampness from an old apartment or a leaking office building. This was different. It smelled earthy, like wet wood mixed with smoke and dust. Slowly, he lifted his head.
