Drowning (1st book)

18. Heaven

I open my eyes and all I can see is whiteness.

I sit up and look at the sky.

It's completely white.

I look at the ground. It's like I'm surrounded by dry ice.

I'm on a cloud!

"Ahem!" a voice yells.

I see a blonde haired man with bright blue eyes.

He stands behind a large, black, swirly gate that's never ending.

I stand up brush my pants.

Then I realize, I'm dead.

Asher snapped my neck.

Anger bubbles up inside me and threatens to explode. I trust him, even though I'm beyond infuriated.

"You must be Rose White," the man says. His voice is melodic.

"Yes," I say eyeing him oddly,"and you must be...Peter!"

He raises his eyebrows.

"It usually takes people longer than that to guess who I am," he says quite impressed.

I play with my hand.

"I'm...dead...right?" I ask.

He smiles.

"Correct!"

Memories flood back into my mind.

I see Asher's icy blue eyes. I feel the sharp pain of my neck snapping. I touch my neck.

He killed me.

"I wouldn't take it to personally, dear. It's for the greater good," he says chipper.

I give him a death glare.

He suddenly looks a bit frightened. He opens the gate to heaven with great effort. It makes a large, loud creaking sound.

Before the door completely opens he starts tying a blind around my eyes.

"Why do I need this?" I ask trying to rip it off my face. Peter slaps my hand.

"You are going to be returned to your body. You don't get to see Heaven until you actually die. Permanently."

He leads to through the gate.

I hear a murmur of people talking and my feet tapping against brick as I walk.

There is a faint breeze that blows my hair behind my shoulders.

I hear a door open. I am lead into a building.

"Rose," a booming voice says.

I move to take off my blindfold, but the voice stops me.

"Don't take it off. You are not yet permanently dead."

I scoff, sit into my hip and cross my arms.

"Who are you?" I inquire.

"Your creator."

I remember what Asher said.

"The Big-G!" I murmur.

God seems to be confused.

"The what?"

I shake my head and sigh.

"Nothing."

After a short awkward silence with God, he continues to talk.

"So let me get this straight...Lucifer is planning to overthrow Heaven, but first he needs your blood to activate the Michael Sword and your permission to let him through your lake?" he asks in one breath. Not that he needs to breathe.

"Yep," I say popping the P.

More silence. I picture God twiddling his fingers.

"You aren't...planning on letting him do this...are you?" he asks with great concern.

I rush to the answer.

"Of course not! I'm a new believer!"

"That's right! I saw your name on the list!" God says with excitement.

Wait. He has a list?

"You have a list?" I ask.

"That's not important."

"Then what is?" I demand.

What else does he need to know? Plus I want to take this damn itchy blindfold off!

"Who snapped your neck?" he asks seriously.

Now it's my turn to twiddle my thumbs.

"Uh..."

"It's that demon. That demon you think you love."

I immediately shoot back a response.

"I do love him! He's on your side!

God scoffs.

"Don't be so sure."

I make a disgusted noise.

"Just hear me out, he's bad news, Rose. He can change his mind in a second. He's not human. He isn't able to feel emotion."

"Aren't you a God of miracles? Isn't your motto "anything is possible"?" I incredulously ask.

"Has he once told you that he loves you?"

Yes, of course he has, is my first thought. Then I did deep into my memories and realize, he hasn't said it to me once.

I become angry, no furious.

"That's it I'm taking this blind off"

I pull it off and open my eyes.

I see dirt above me.

Then I see Asher's face.

"Hi," he chokes out.