Afterlife Academy

Chapter 2: The Ladder of Souls

I  heard a faint voice calling me. Yet I can't help but cry. "Iesha..."

"Mother? Where are you? I missed you so much. Where have you been all this time?" I said with eyes starting to become teary. I tried finding where the voice came from but it felt like I was running in an endless cycle of scenarios.

"Leave this place..." Mother's voice said in a more fainted tone. "Mother? Mother! Please don't go! I... I want to see you again." I tried shouting but it didn't work.

I opened my eyes and saw that I am in a white tinted room. Am I in a hospital?

"Finally the princess of the realm is awake." I tried finding the one who said those words and saw a boy who was looking at me too closely in the face. To my surprise, I punched his right cheek and moved away.

"Ouch! You really like punching people, don't you milady? He said while holding his right cheek.

"That's what you get from being such a play boy Frost." A girl with a gentle face said as she was walking towards our direction. She looks like a girl just about my age that has fair skin tone and a gently voice.

"Where am I? Who are you people?" I said with a scared voice. The girl patted me on the head and said with a shushing sound "Calm down milady." I suddenly felt calmer.

"As usual, your ability still never fails to impress me Iris." Said Frost but Iris ignored him.

"Oh, finally the lady is awake." Another voice said and it was the human with the green and blue eyes.

"Pyro! There you are my little kitten." Said Frost while trying to put his arms in Pyro's shoulder but failed.

"I'm allergic to play boys and I'm not a kitten. I just needed to use a cat as a substitute because lions are far too ferocious looking than cats."

"What did you say? You don't have the right to call me a play boy you worthless lion!"

I got shocked when suddenly Iris sighed and called their names out in a terrifying way which made them stop fighting and shiver.

"Boys you know what might happen if you keep on quarreling right?" Iris said with a terrifying grin in her face. "So, can I get some peace and quiet?"

"Yes ma'am!" They both answered quickly.

"Now, Ms. Yorkshire, for now this might be too much to handle but you are currently located at the witch's healing cottage. Pyro brought you here because you fainted from being too overwhelmed by the things you are seeing."

"Please, how do I get back? Why did I even need to be here?" I said while looking at Iris.

"You can't. The passageway to the human world opens only twice a month. Every 15 days to be exact." Pyro said.

"So I have to wait 15 days before I get back?" I said. How about my father? He'll worry about me.

"Your father will have selected amnesia and will not become curious to why you have been gone for 15 days."

"In addition to this, you are already destined to come here." Iris added.

"Why me?" I said with a helpless look.

"Because you are the Ladder of the Souls milady. You were born with the ability to lead the unfortunate souls to their eternal peace.

"I don't understand what you all are talking about." I said and they smiled slightly in response. "You'll understand it soon."

The door suddenly opened and an extremely beautiful maiden came rushing inside the cottage.

"Forgive me for being late. So is she the ladder of the souls?" The beautiful lady said while still panting from being tired of running.

"Yes she is Haily. Please escort her to fate and take her to her room afterwards in Zarathustra Avenue." Pyro said with a calm yet authoritative voice.

I stood up and walked towards Haily. "I pledge to obey even if my life costs it." Said Haily and walked beside me.

I was too mesmerized by her beauty and what is going on in this so-called world that I forgot to ask the people earlier where is the letter I was trying to get. "Milady, do you mean this letter?" She showed me a letter with the same details and elegance as the one I saw and gave it to me.

"The Contents of that letter is that you are going to enroll to our school, Afterlife Academy. In the school you'll be thought on the history of the academy and how people handle souls of the dead and balance the world based on God's plans..." Haily continued on explaining the whole thing about this sort of school while she was leading me to my temporary place to stay while I'm here.

We got to the place and she gave me some papers which are the requirements needed in the school. She also told me that a uniform is already ready for me to use and some casual clothes for everyday wear.

"Tomorrow morning Pyro will be assisting you on getting all the requirements you need for attending school. Don't worry because he knows where you live and will be the one who will accompany you. That's all there is to know for now. Have a nice rest Ms. Yorkshire." She said then closed the door.

I lay down on the bed and tried to let everything that happened sink in my brain. I sighed.

"I hope I could get back soon." I slowly felt sleepy and then fell fast asleep.

While the maiden was sleeping two people are having a conversation where no one can hear them.

"The order that was given to you was to take the letter without her seeing you right?" The first stranger said.

"Forgive me, I have tried my best but the letter suddenly flew to her like a metal being attracted to magnet." The other stranger said.

The first stranger sighed. "I guess opposing Fate isn't really a good thing after all. Let's just hope for the best. I think Fate knows something. Something seems wrong with her movements."