『 Dying of Asphyxiation was seriously not my goal in life. 』
Neither was meeting a Governor of the Afterlife and getting sent to another world for a second chance at life.
Drew was assaulted by a group of men for reasons she didn't understand. Drown...
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2. Void
Three stood.
Colour-coded hats held precariously in their right hands, placed above the heart, they leaned forward with robotic synchronization, settling in a respectful bow. Synchronously, the three fixed their posture, straightening their backs and standing upright.
A chuckle rumbled in my throat. How nostalgic, that was our usual performance.
...but 'Nostalgia'? Why do I feel this way?
The shortest of the three would toss her hat to the sky, prancing steps ahead-- perhaps she would do an extra twirl today; maybe she'd do a somersault instead, or maybe she'd dance. It was different every day, but it always ended as she caught the hat with her head.
It was her, my signature starter, it was the beginning of our show. It was the startup of everything, the little warm-up act everyone and she loved.
And then, she would say... "Ladies and Gentlemen!"
Speaking in unison with her, I chuckled. Wincing at my parched throat, I frowned. Was my throat always so dry?
She was wearing her favourite white tailcoat. It was garnished with green trims, finished with a smart green tie. Her top hat was white, with a green ribbon tied into a fancy and huge, yet somehow adorable bow.
Her hair was tied into a low ponytail, part of her fringe pinned up with two bobby pins with a red and blue gem.
Why am I looking at myself?
-----
"Drew," my brothers called for me.
"Hm?" I made a natural response, lifting my head from my homework and getting up to make my way to Eve's room upstairs.
"Close your eyes," Eve said playfully. Standing meekly behind him, I could see Zen with hands pushed behind him, evidently to obscure a little something from my eyes. The desk was a mess.
I giggled lightly, knowing I was in for a pleasant surprise. Obediently, I closed my eyes, lifting it towards my brother. "You better not draw on my face or something, kay?"
"We won't!" Eve whined in a promise, "Just stay still."
I felt warm fingers brush across my forehead. Warm fingers; Warm hands; This was Zen.
"Okay," said Zen.
The warmth of his hands left my forehead, quickly being replaced by cold; thin fingers petting my head and ruffling my hair into place. Cold hands... Eve had cold hands.
"Open your eyes," he said, removing his hand.
I saw a mirror, myself. My bangs had been brushed apart neatly, now held up by two bobby pins. They gleamed as new, each garnished with a sparkling gemstone. One was red; the other was blue.
