Emanuel's Gift

Chapter - 13

THE AFTERLIFE

I can't believe I'm here; the after life is teeming with spirits of past and present in a world much like the real one. The coldness bit into me like dogs into meat, my pale snow flesh and my clothes seemed to show fray and tears, as if I was stranded on an island for months, the elements rotting the fabrics away bit by bit. At least I wasn't alone, I had Cilan by my side the moment we left the real world and crossed over.

Cilan kept me alive for as long as I could remember, countless nights and days he kept me afloat in the living world and now I'm finally in the afterlife with him. Being so close brought back a lot more as he kissed me deeply like he used to. I pulled back staring into his blue eyes to see something was troubling him,

"Cilan....something wrong?" I asked him as he and I drifted down the foggy streets of the afterlife.

"I'm no longer a Regnessem; the council put me in charge of teaching you the ways of retrieving thoughts from dead people's minds." 

Cilan said as we took a turn into where Cilan resides. It reminds me of London's tall dark buildings and foggy streets, yet it is filled with ghosts finding their way.

"You've been put out of commission?" 

I gasped, there was no need for opening doors, we just passed right through them into the dark lit sitting room. I sat down on a couch which made me wonder how this was possible. It seems the whole house was sparsely furnished as it seemed obsolete to exist in the afterlife world. I guess they just wanted to mirror the real world as much as they could.

"You're going to teach me and I feel sorry that you lost your role,"

 I said to him moving from my chair and to his side. Cilan had aged a little since I saw him, 

"I have no choice in Emanuel, besides, are you really wanting to do this?" he said looking into my eyes.

I looked away for a moment; I haven't thought about my past, my life was dashed at the beginning when the doctor told me I had a heart disease. From there, it spiralled downwards into dark recesses of depression. 

"Emanuel, believe me, you can do this easily."

Cilan said to me as he coiled his arms around me. 

"Does this mean I'll end up looking like you?" 

I realised I will be just a pale spirit covered in intricate black lines all over my body, and gain long thin fingers. My hair will also turn white and eventually become long and flowy.

"I honestly don't know, Emanuel. I do find it strange that they want you to fill my position." Cilan looked a little down.

The Council of the Afterlife is a circle of the oldest spirits that walked the planet and this world. They assign out everything from guardians to Regnessem roles, so each spirit has a purpose to serve. Usually once their job is done they are allowed to finally leave this realm and ascend to heaven. It was sad to hear that Cilan was going to leave me forever.

A stiff breeze flushed through the foggy streets as we returned to sleeping once more. It didn't seem too long before the green skies dawned, once again we rose up to a. intrusion, "Cilan, wake up we've got someone here!" I said, shaking him to arouse the sleepiness from his eyes.

The ghost seemed to be an important member of the council. In the world of the living, this wouldn't be seen as acceptable, and the visitor would be outside the house uninvited. "I'm sorry to disturb you, but we need you to attend the council circle immediately." the council messenger said.