Secrets

The Vengeful World

It looked like a normal office building. But it was so much more than that. The ceiling of the so-called Vengeful world glittered like jewels, and I realized that the ceiling was meant to portray the night sky alight with stars. I lowered my eyes, and noticed at once that the cave seemed to stretch on for miles. Doors lined the walls, never ending.

The main difference between this cave and an office building was the room. The room looked like a ballroom, with a giant, silver chandelier hanging from the center of the ceiling. In the middle of the room sat a desk, looking like a help center. Ghosts, wraiths, and shades stood in a line, waiting to gain entry to the Vengeful world. I guessed that some were newly dead, as they kept showing off their transparency to all who would listen.

Ebony stepped off of the elevator, followed by Drake. They waited patiently for me to get off, but I still stood there with a vacant expression, admiring the beautiful scenery. Finally, I stepped off of the elevator, and stood in line with Drake and Ebony. We slowly inched up the line. At one point, a man turned around with a goofy smile on his face, clearly drunk. He looked around us before motioning me to come closer. He bent low next to my ear, and whispered, "This is a prison. It's a one way route." I waved him away, but before he turned away, he hissed, "You'll see."

As I was pondering the man's strange words, it appeared that we had reached the front of the line. The woman at the desk looked around before shouting, "Next!"

We stepped forward, and she eyed us disdainfully. "Newcomers or Vengeful?"

"N-Newcomers," I stuttered.

She glanced at Ebony, her eyes narrowed in concentration. "And you?"

"Vengeful," Ebony proudly declared.

"Mhmm. Left desk please." Ebony turned to his left, and suddenly, a desk appeared out of thin air. He walked over to the desk, out of earshot.

The woman turned to Drake, and it was then when I noticed that she was not transparent. She looked like an average forty year old, yet her auburn hair was split and frayed in all directions. Her pale, heart shaped face gave off an air of disapproval and her scrunched eyebrows did nothing to help the judgement. Her eyes were brown, but they were cold and distant with flecks of green swirling among them.

Drake muttered, "Newcomers." She nodded, and dumped a stack of papers in front of us.

"Fill these out please." I nodded, and took the papers in my hand. I looked around for a seat, and suddenly, one appeared. I smirked as I sat down on the plush bean bag chair. This place has everything, I thought, amused. I looked down at the form and realized that I forgot to grab a pen.

I glanced around me, looking for any spare pens. Seeing none in sight, I sighed. I looked back at the stack, and it astonished me to see a ballpoint pen lying innocently on top of the pile of papers. I took the pen, and scanned the form.

Name? Harley Parker. Date of Birth? September 26th 2000. I furrowed my brow in concentration. How many dead relatives do you have? What kind of question is that? I sighed. Seven, not counting my mother's cousins. Circle what you look like: •Transparent, blue, with a skull as a face •Dark, black, blurry body •Transparent, white. I blew a stray strand of hair out of my face, and circled "Dark, black, blurry body". All right, next. Have you shown any signs of affection toward a fellow Vengeful? What the--? I pressed my pen deep into the paper. NO. Are you loyal? I rolled my eyes. Yes. Would you be willing to murder and/or torture someone? I dropped my pen, and watched it roll away, too frightened to continue.

"OK, that's enough." I got up from my seat and marched up to the desk. Instead of the harsh woman, a man warmly greeted, "Hello! My name is Gizmo. How may I help you today?" He looked just like the other woman, with his brown eyes and heart shaped face. The only difference being his demeanor. His eyes, unlike the woman's, were warm and affectionate.

I shook my head, and replied, "Yes, I have a problem with filling out the form." He cocked his head.

"And what may that be?"

I glanced nervously around, and decided to wing it. "Err...I don't feel comfortable telling you."

His smile only widened. "You should be comfortable around me. After all, you're going to be seeing me forever and ever till eternity. So, tell me." My heart sunk to the pit of my stomach as he said the word, "eternity". What if we can't escape the Vengeful world? What if we get stuck here?

I shook my head firmly to clear my thoughts, but Gizmo mistook it as disagreeing. His smile faltered a little, then he pressed on, " Tell me. Shade." He spoke the word, "shade" with disgust and hatred.

"I...can't read?" I said nervously, unsure.

His eyebrows rose high. "Mhmm. OK, then. We'll just fill out the form verbally." My eyes widened, and I felt myself being dragged to a desolate room. It looked like a principal's office, with chairs scattered about the room. I took a seat, and looked around for any sign of life.

I jumped back in my chair when I noticed that the fish swimming merrily in a tank next to the "principal's" desk were oddly transparent.

Finally, the door opened and a man sat down to interview me. He looked to be a shade, and he tilted his head slightly to the side.

I gasped as his voice rung out, "Hello, Miss Parker."

It was Ebony.