Life after Death: The Afterlife of Hezekiah Chamblee

Chapter Thirty-Six: In Mourning

FLASHBACK (Summer 2018)...

"Hezekiah?"

I looked up from my now-unpacked suitcase to face the concerned looks of my parents, both of them dressed as if getting ready for another cocktail party. "Yeah?" I said uneasily, not liking where this is coming.

"Son, your mother and I have been given some bad news days before you arrived," Dad said formally. "That boy that you used to sit next to before we split you two up, Chance Dalton?"

I nodded, the memories of not being allowed to talk to the one person who was my only friend still lingering in my memory. "I remember him," I replied. "What about him?"

Mom inhaled slowly. "He was killed last week, his parents and relatives being the prime suspect," she said.

I felt the wind being knocked out of me. "What?"

Dad shook his head. "It's true, son," he told me gently. "It turns out that the accusations of him being a homosexual became a bit too violent and the young man was gunned down after a confrontation. He died before the EMTs arrived, but there wasn't much to be done."

"What about his funeral?" I couldn't help but ask.

Mom came into the room, stopping inches away from me. "Darling, it's set for tomorrow, but school is the day after that. It wouldn't do for you to attend since the family might accuse you of something scandalous. It's best for you to stay here and prepare yourself for your final school year. Your father and I know that you'll miss him and all, but it's for your own good to focus on your responsibilities ahead of you. There can be no room for any mistakes or scandals. Your father and I have invested in your education and all, so why ruin things now?"

All I could do was nod and fight the waves of tears and anger. I knew that my family never cared for Chance just like I had the sinking feeling that Chance's parents did kill his own son.

"Your mother's right, Hezekiah," Dad piped up. "You have to put all your energy into your schoolwork since this your final year in high school. There can be no room for any unwanted distractions. You'll soon thank us for this. You might not see it now, but you will. Now, Minnie Jean will see to your dinner since the family will be out for the night."

"Yes, sir," I said softly.

As soon as I heard the door close shut, I finally let the tears fall and sobbed for the one friend that I ever had. It was official. I was alone again, naturally. Everyone got their wish and made sure that I was a destined wallflower. And it made me hate them even more. "I'll miss you, Chance," I said hoarsely as I managed to get my rosary beads and said a Hail Mary prayer. "May you finally find peace in the afterlife and may we meet again. Safe passage, Chance..."

*******************

By the time I was finished, everyone was crying- including Thorn and the newly-arrived Eva, Damon, Alvin, and Catia. "My life was upended after learning of Chance's death," I said, accepting a tissue from Catia. "If only I had known the real truth behind Chance's death, I would've done something."

"There was nothing you could've done," Chance assured me, wrapping his arms around my shoulders. "Last time I checked with Lucifer, only Dad was still around and has no regrets for what he did. He's on borrowed time now and is heading to hell. Everyone else checked out on life and either passed on or ended up strung out."

"Damn it all," Eva said, wiping her eyes. "Hezekiah, this is...wow. I mean, just wow. And Chance, I am so sorry that your family has blindsided Hezekiah for the longest. Believe me, I would've gladly punched them all out if I was in your lifetime."

I gave her a watery smile. "What good would that be?" I asked. "Besides, all I can do now is move forward with my life here in the Nexus."

"Let's stop for the day, Hezekiah, but know that judgment day for your brood is coming up in a way you never expected," Thorn said. "I better go. This has been an insightful day."

We all watched him fade away. "Hey, where's Carolina?" I asked.

"Well, she recently found her soulmate," Damon began.

"But the glow-up she got after finalizing her bond with him...changed her completely," Alvin finished.

Just then, the doorbell rang. "That must be them now," commented Catia, standing to her feet.

Chance and I faced each other, unsure what they meant by that. "Who's Caroline's soulmate?" Chance asked me.

"Come in," I heard Catia say from the foyer. "The boys are going to be surprised to see you two."

"I have a feeling we'll find out," I replied.

Sure enough, Catia came in with a raven-haired young man wearing a skateboard-themed winter outfit. Right behind him was a well-dressed young man who was a sharp dead-ringer for...

"No way," I breathed. "Carolina?! Is that you!"

The mystery man grinned widely. "That's me, but I go by 'Carlton' now," he replied. "And boy, God really did himself one huge surprise for my upgrade. Who'd have thought that I'd be better-looking as a guy?"

"He does look amazing," the other guy said, taking off his puffy jacket to reveal his Fall Out Boy T-shirt. "Name's Colton. Colton Asher, new resident of Pleasantville as of today. Got offed by my brother who hated me for being Goth. Turns out that I wasn't meant for Earth, either, so I got sent here. I then met Carton when he was Carolina, found out we were destined soulmates, decided to make it official, and here we are."

"Wow," Chance said as he and I shook Colton's hand. "Nice to meet you, man. I assume you heard about my soulmate Hezekiah, right?"

"Are you kidding?!" Colton said, giving me a wide look. "The angels at Afterlife Station told me about his story. Boy, and I thought I had it bad with my brother."

To me, "You're like a legend around here, dude. How the hell did you survive?"

I smiled thinly. "Sit down, and I'll be happy to tell you." And for the next hour or so before it was time for the gang to clear out, I gladly told my newest ally about my life story and he listened without judgment. In a way, it felt good sharing it with a new person. I hoped that he and Carlton are going to be very happy together. In fact, I believed that they would.

Hot damn! This story keeps getting better, folks! Carolina's now a dude name Carlton and has his soulmate named Colton?! Bet y'all didn't see that coming, did you?

Anyway, the next chapter features a lethal treat for Hezekiah and a drastic decision by God and Lucifer that officially sets the stage for what is set in stone for Hezekiah and Chance! You can't believe what's coming up next! Stay tuned!

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