Heads or Tails

Chapter 3

Kerra's P.O.V.

"Hey Kerra! Back so soon?" I walk past the bubbly demon and continue on my way to the ferryman. I can hear Lunea behind me, but I don't tell her to go away. For some reason, her presence comforts me. She's been here every failed attempt, every close win, and she keeps hoping for me to join the dead. She's the only friend I have. I walk past the giant three headed dog, giving him a small pat on all of his heads. He whines softly, and I'm touched that he can feel my pain. Behind me I can hear Lunea petting him softly. I exit the cave, and feel disappointment wash over me. I know I should have said goodbye to Lunea, but it's too late now. I can't turn back, and she's not allowed to come out of the tunnel. "Back so soon?" The Ferryman laughs and I roll my eyes at the old joke. It was funny for the first few years, but now it's gotten old. It just reminds me that I still haven't made it to the underworld, to my goal. Sensing my mood, the ferryman stops laughing and grabs a silver goblet from inside his pocket. He fills it up water from the fountain of youth and hands it to me, careful not to spill. "Here you go," he says solemnly. I press the cup to my lips and take a sip. It burns, but I've done it enough that I'm used to the pain. Hell, I welcome it. It helps me drown out the pain of failure. I can feel my soul start to shudder as it reunites with my body. My eyelids are back, and I can feel the exact moment my heart begins to beat, the moment I come back to life. Unfortunately, that moment is interrupted by the sound of screaming, low and gravely, then high and squeaky. Fear shoots through me. Who's screaming? Who's in my apartment? My arms flail wildly as I try to grab my knife. As soon as my hands wrap around the blade I point it at the screaming figure, then roll my eyes. "Lunea! Quit screaming," I yell, and she collapses almost instantly onto the floor. "So...tired...," she groans, then, with a sort of finality in her movement, lays her head on her lanky arm and instantly falls asleep. Of course the first thing she's going to do after coming back to life is sleep. I grab both of her ankles and begin to drag her across the floor. "Thank you," she says once I haul her onto my bed. My eyes narrow in annoyance. "You were awake the entire time?" She nods her head, giggling, then lays back down onto my pillow and falls asleep. I walk around my room and eventually find a comfy little corner where I curl up with a blanket and fall asleep.