It was a strange feeling. It started in her feet and stopped at her head. It felt like Kendall’s body was slowly turning to jelly. Her old, frail body was rapidly becoming stronger. It was weird, though. She could have sworn she died peacefully surrounded by her son, daughter and beautiful granddaughter. She had gone calmly, no trouble. But if that was the case, what was going on now?
Kendall tried to pry her eyes open. They remained shut.
Voices came out of the darkness. It was two men. Kendall couldn’t quite make out what they were saying.
Kendall made another attempt to open her eyes again and was successful. The bright light blinded her as she struggled to keep her eyes open. Kendall appeared to be lying in a bed. The room she was in was was circular and deserted. The voices she had heard earlier must have left. Kendall sat up, surprised at how easy it was.
Kendall thought back to what she remembered. She could’ve sworn she had died. She remembered her family, her fellow gymnasts and track friends, and even her dog Heidi. They all seemed so far away. How long had it been?
Kendall looked down at her body and was taken back. It was young and new. Her body was as muscular as it had been in her twenties. She wore simple, long sleeved pajamas.
Kendall saw the exit from her room and decided to leave. Where, she did not know.
She walked out and saw two more rooms just like hers on either side of her. Hoping to find someone who could explain what was going on, she ran to her left and walked into the first room. In there she saw a man in his twenties sleeping.
Not wanting to wake him, she quickly tip-toed out of the room. As Kendall turned, she saw a dark, hooded figure looming over her.
“I see you have awoken, Kendall.”
Trying so desperately to keep calm, Kendall straightened her posture and with a slightly shaky voice said, “Yes I have. And may I ask who you are?”
“You will understand with time. Better get some rest,” he said back to her with his low, some what melodic voice. And with that he turned and walked away.
“But..”
“No buts,” he said as he continued to glide down the hallway.
Confused and not wanting to let the man get away with giving her answers, Kendall ran up to him and pulled down his stupid hood.
At first she was shocked at what she saw. He was actually a young man. He was fairly muscular with dirty blonde hair that fell across his forehead.
Taken back by his appearance, Kendall stepped back.
“What?” he said. “You didn’t think Death would look like one of you pathetic humans?
“Death?”
“No, Santa. Yes Death!”
“But..but.”
“Today, please.”
Tired of “Death’s” impatience, Kendall looked him straight in the eye and with a strong voice said, “Listen here, “Death”, I have no idea what is going on and I don’t need some good for nothing cloaked weirdo to make my life right now any more difficult!
“Well, someone’s got anger issues.” He smirked and that did it.
“Fine! I’m going to find someone who will help me then.”
“I doubt it.”
“I’ll show you.”
Kendall turned around and stormed back into the room where the sleeping man laid.
“Hey! Get up!”
“What! So help me I have a gun!”
The man sat up in his bed. He turned to look at Kendall. He had eyes that were so dark they looked black. His face was covered in light scars. His dark hair matched perfectly with his eyes.
“Where am I?” he said. “I don’t know you and I don’t think I owe you money. Are you the rent collector? I swear I’ll have it in a week. Wait, where’s my gun?”
Kendall sighed, “You don’t know me and I only woke you to get answers. Sorry”
She turned back, leaving the confused man and facing Death who was trying to hold in his laughter.
“Shut it,” she snapped.
Kendall slowly walked out of the room and trudged back to her room. Before she got very far, Death caught up to her.
“You know what, you’re not half bad.”
“And what makes you say that?”
“You clearly are way too over-confident, but you stood up for yourself and didn’t let me walk all over you.”
“Well, are you going to answer my questions then?
“I think I could answer a few.”
Relief washed over Kendall as her questions were about to be answered.
“Let’s go to my room.”
