Paranormalcy

Between Heaven and Hell

"You can ask each of them two questions." The man wearing a black hooded cape explained. The Grim Reaper found me seconds after that drunk driver hit me. He then took me to a bus station where two people waited near an escalator called the crossroads. "They are both bound to tell you the truth," Grimmy said. "But beware, for neither will give you a straight answer and what they don't say is as important as what they do. Choose wisely."

My feet moved towards the escalators of their own accord. I avoided bus stations because they smelled like alcohol and piss. I guess there was no avoiding it or the choice I had to make tonight. I always hated making decisions and now my life, oops death, depended on it.

Two figures stood in front of the escalators. A tall man, who reminded me of a used car salesman, with slicked-back black hair leaned detachedly against the wall. A young blonde-haired boy who looked like he couldn't be older than five, wearing white overalls, hopped from foot to foot as if he had energy to spare.

"What are you?" I asked the boy before clamping my hand over my mouth. I forgot that I could only ask them two questions apiece. I wanted the questions to be clever, not whatever popped into my head.

"I'm an angel, of course." The boy smiled. His voice was sweet, like cotton candy and the smile was contagious.

I gave the man a once over. If the boy was an Angel, that made him a demon. He crossed his arms over his chest and didn't look comfortable in his cheap suit. "You got a question for me or what?"

"Who will I see when I get there?" I asked, sure that family members could be in either place, and I wouldn't mind a reunion, except for maybe Aunt Margie. I could do without seeing her.

"You'll meet my father." The demon said sending a tingling sensation down my spine. That guy had to be worse than Aunt Margie!

"Where will you take me?" I asked the boy.

"Up the stairs!" He pointed excitedly.

Up! It was all I needed to know to make my decision but I had one nagging question. "Why do you want me to go with you?" I asked the demon, for I couldn't think of any decision I made, horrible enough to land me in hell.

"I don't." The demon said. "This choice isn't about me, or him, for that matter." He pointed at the Angel. "This is about what is right for you."

I realized that the demon wasn't what I expected. "I will go with you," I told the man.

"You can't be serious." The Angel shouted. Tiny little fangs sprang up like a second set of teeth in his mouth.

White glowing wings arose from the man's back. "The human made its choice Lucifer." He said before turning to me. "Congratulations. I hope you enjoy heaven."