Beth’s eyes fluttered open, her mind lingering on the strange dream of the night before. The memory of Ana’s words – “You’re one of us now” – echoed through her mind like a distant whisper. She rubbed her eyes, trying to shake off the fog, and sat up in bed. As she stretched, her gaze drifted to the doorway, where her mom was passing by with a laundry basket.
But her mom had… a mark.
A faint green aura shimmered around her mother’s head. Beth blinked, almost convinced she was imagining it. No, it was definitely there. She hadn’t seen a green mark before. The colors meant something, she knew that much: red was for those clinging to life, blue for those who had made peace with death, and black for those on the brink. But green?
As Beth watched her mom move down the hall, she heard a voice murmur in her ear, so close it made her shiver. “Death fears it… yet can’t help but want it…”
Beth whipped around, her heart pounding. “Hello?” she whispered. But there was no one there.
Death fears it? What does that even mean?
A chill crept down her spine. There was only one way to find out. She needed answers, and maybe her friends could help.
---
When Beth arrived at university, she spotted Maxine and Alex waiting for her by the library steps. Maxine, with her cropped purple hair and ever-present leather jacket, waved enthusiastically. Alex leaned against the railing, his usual easygoing grin flashing as he saw her.
“There’s our girl!” Maxine called. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
Beth tried to laugh, but it came out weak. “You don’t know the half of it.”
They found a quiet bench, away from the bustling groups of students, and Beth leaned in, lowering her voice. “You guys won’t believe what I’m about to tell you.” She glanced around to make sure no one was listening. “It’s about death. I… I can see marks on people’s heads, showing how close they are to dying.”
Maxine raised an eyebrow, looking skeptical but intrigued. “What, like a death timer? Are you serious?”
Alex’s smile faded, and he leaned in. “Beth, is this… like a dream, or…?”
“It’s real, Alex. I see colors on people’s heads – red, blue, black, and now green. They’re connected to death somehow.”
Maxine looked at her with wide eyes. “You’re telling me you can see when people are about to… die?”
“Not exactly, but… yeah, in a way. I saw a green mark on my mom this morning. I don’t know what it means.”
“Green?” Maxine muttered, crossing her arms thoughtfully. “Maybe she’s… neutral? Or not close to dying?”
Alex shrugged, looking uneasy. “This sounds… unreal, Beth. But you look like you believe it.”
Before Beth could respond, the classroom door opened, and an unfamiliar figure walked in. A new professor. Tall, thin, with a strangely intense look in his eyes. His gaze scanned the room, stopping briefly on her – and he smirked, as if recognizing her.
And on his forehead was a mark – just like hers.
Beth’s heart skipped a beat. She sat up straighter, the sensation of something electric passing between them. “Did… did you guys see that?” she whispered.
Maxine grinned, nudging her. “Oh, he’s looking at you, alright. Beth’s already making an impression!”
Beth bit her lip, trying to ignore Maxine’s teasing. She glanced at Alex, who shrugged, equally mystified. “I think he was checking you out,” Alex muttered. “Maybe you’re his type.”
“No… it’s more than that. He has the same mark as me.”
---
After class, Beth couldn’t get the image of the professor out of her mind. She made her way to the library, hoping to find something – anything – that could shed light on her strange new life. She sifted through books on philosophy, death rituals, folklore… but none of them had answers.
The library was nearly empty as she stepped outside. The sun had already set, casting deep shadows over the campus. She glanced up at the faintly glowing streetlights as she walked, feeling oddly dizzy. She pressed a hand to her forehead, but the ground seemed to tilt beneath her. Before she knew it, the darkness thickened around her, enveloping her, twisting in on itself until she felt herself being pulled down, down…
When the dizziness passed, she was no longer on campus. She was standing in the foggy field she remembered from her dreams, a world that felt both familiar and alien.
Ana was there, waiting for her with a sly smile. “Beth, welcome back to Nowhere.”
Beth took a deep breath, feeling an odd mixture of fear and acceptance. “I thought I could only come here in my dreams.”
Ana’s laughter rang out, soft but haunting. “Dreams? Reality? They’re not as separate as you think. Now that you’re part of the Nowhere Club, you’ll find yourself here more often.”
A figure moved from the shadows, stepping beside Ana. A tall, quiet man with dark eyes and a calm presence.
“This is John,” Ana said, gesturing toward him. “Your partner in this world.”
Beth gave him a wary nod. “Partner?”
John returned her nod with a faint smile. “We all work in pairs here. The dead, the living, and those in between. You’ll understand in time.”
Beth frowned, her gaze shifting between them. “Why am I here? What am I supposed to do?”
“That brings us to your task,” Ana said, her expression growing more serious. “People like you, Beth, have a purpose. Your first task is to change a green mark to black.”
Beth’s stomach twisted. “Green? What does green even mean?”
A soft whisper echoed in her ear again – “Death fears it…”
Ana’s eyes sparkled. “Green means life, but also something… in-between. Your role is to guide people on their path.”
Beth’s pulse quickened. “Guide them… to death?”
Ana nodded. “Precisely. When a mark turns black, the soul is ready to cross over.”
Beth felt a chill spread through her. “And my first task… who is it?”
Ana’s gaze softened, almost pitying. “Your mother.”
Beth took a step back, horror filling her eyes. “No. I can’t do that.”
John’s calm voice broke in. “Beth, you don’t have a choice. The mark was assigned to you.”
Beth shook her head, clenching her fists. “There has to be another way.”
Ana’s gaze remained steady. “We don’t make the rules, Beth. You are here because you have a gift, a purpose. The choice has already been made.”
Beth’s voice was barely a whisper. “I can’t do it.”
Ana reached out, placing a hand on her shoulder. “You’ll find your way, Beth. The Nowhere Club isn’t for the faint-hearted.”
Another presence made itself known, a soft, amused chuckle. Beth turned, startled, as a small creature floated into view – a shimmering, feathered being with curious, piercing eyes.
“Ah,” Ana said, her tone lightening. “Meet Pinjior. Your guide.”
The creature gave a soft chirp, regarding her with something like amusement. “Beth, was it?” it murmured in a voice that seemed to echo from nowhere. “Welcome to your new life… or lack thereof.”
Beth managed a bitter smile. “You’re my… guide?”
“Indeed. I’ll be helping you with your tasks,” Pinjior replied smoothly. “But remember, Beth, every task brings a choice. To change a mark is to accept fate. And fate is rarely kind.”
Beth’s heart sank as she glanced back at Ana, John, and Pinjior. The weight of her task pressed on her shoulders, but she knew that there was no turning back.
Her mother’s life – her very fate – was now in her hands.
YOU ARE READING
DIE TO LIVE
Fantasylife of a girl who is very much into knowing what is there after death let's know what is death And what is life
