The Day I Died

The Day I Was Interrogated

Chapter 2

The Day I Was Interrogated

There was no light, no great clouds, no angel wings or long lost relatives.

It was slightly disappointing if you ask me. I expected some golden gates, or at least burning red ones.. Something amazing, vivid and typical of death.

Unfortunately, there was neither of those things.

As my eyes crept open and took in the surroundings, my breath caught in my throat and my palms clenched around the loose white dress I was now wearing.

I was in a room. Standing upright, though I have no idea how. Like an interrogation room, but all white. With 2 chairs, a table, a mirror. Blinking several times, I couldn't help but gasp at my reflection.

It wasn't because of the honey coloured halo that now surrounded my dark curls, even though that in itself was amazing. It was the 6 cm gash, cut diagonally into my forehead, the gravel seemingly imprinted into my right cheek, the dried river of blood that ran down my neck, stopping at the pristine gown. The way that the black and blue bruises down my arms seemed to contrast against the pallid room so eerily.

Cautiously reaching up to pick a gravel piece out of my cheek, I notice something strange. Peering down to look at me feet I can't help but grin, red wellies. Still pristine, perfect, as flawless as the day I bought them.

I laugh. The sound is too loud and it echoes around the solitary room, making my skin prickle. It seems wrong, inappropriate but I can't stop, maybe I'm hysterical?

"Let's see.. Scarlett is it?" A deep voice booms from behind me and I turn to face the stranger. My heart skipping a beat, my laughter ceasing.

"Uh, yes." I say, taking in the tall, grey bearded man who is also wearing a flawless white dress like a toga, tied with a gold belt. No halo though. Huh.

"Very good, very good indeed." he grins, flicking through what seems to be a solid gold clipboard.

"And you are?" I prompt, hoping I don't sound rude. He continues to flip through the clipboard, his fluffy grey eyebrows furrowed, ignoring me completely.

I cough and he looks up "What's your name?" I repeat, tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear.

"Sit." he says, putting the clipboard down on the white table in the middle of the room.

"Sit?" I repeat, now it's my turn to furrow my eyebrows. "What a.." I struggle to find the right word "..peculiar name."

He laughs, a deep, jolly sound that shakes the room. "I don't have a name and I meant sit." he explains, gesturing towards the opaque plastic chair opposite him.

"Oh." I mutter, I would be embarrassed but I'm too busy thinking about how much he looks like Dumbledore... I take a few small steps and sit down in the small, not-as-uncomfortable-as-it-looks chair.

"So!" He exclaims, snapping me out of my reverie. "I see that you died at approximately 9 am this morning, English time and you saved a young girl! How wonderful! Who was she? A sister a cousin?" His eyebrows shoot up "A daughter!?"

I tuck my legs up so I'm sitting cross legged and frown "I didn't know her. I think her name was Megan? Milly?" I close my eyes and picture the road, the rain, the wellies. "Maisie! Her name was Maisie.. Is she okay?" I ask, leaning forward a little. The man just stares at me for a second, his mouth opening but no sound coming out.

"You didn't know her? At all?" He says after several, very quiet, very awkward moments. "Well no-" At that, he picks up a pen and begins to frantically write on the golden form on the clipboard.

"Excuse me?" I begin "But where am I? And what are you writing?" I ask, peering forwards. I see a few words Brave, Chance, Death, Extraordinary..The man turns the clipboard over quickly, looks up and puts the pen down.

"Scarlett, you are in Heaven and I am writing your 2nd Chance report." he says quickly, running his fingers down the length of his beard.

I look at him, confused "2nd Chance report?" I repeat, tugging at the bottom of my dress.

He crosses one leg over the other and leans forward "You saved a life, very good. Very.. selfless." he nods in approval "This gives you a second chance, to be alive."

At this I jump up "Oh my goodness! Really!? When do I go? Are my family okay? Am I in hospital? Do I-" I stop when I see the smile leave his face. My own smile fades and I slowly lower myself back down onto the chair.

He shakes his head and leans back "There is a catch, to earn your second chance you must save another life. We will tell you the name of the person you will have to save and if you succeed, you go back to the day of the accident. Where you must stop the girl, and yourself from getting hurt. Do you understand?" He looks at me hopefully but all I can do is shake my head.

"Will I get to see my family?" I ask, my voice shaking.

"You will be able to see them, but as for them seeing you..." he smiles sympathetically at me and stands up. "But that's enough for now, someone will explain the rest to you tomorrow. For now, take time to clean up-" he points to my head and I self consciously reach up and touch it, my fingers coming away sticky with blood "-and take it all in, someone will come and get you tomorrow and take you to Steph, she will guide you through everything."

He turns to leave and I look around. In the few minutes we were talking the furniture has gone, it it's place lies a soft ivory rug, a small beanbag and a number of books lying haphazardly on the floor. Two doors are placed where the mirror once was. One labelled Bath, the other Bed.

"Oh and Scarlett?" I turn and face him. "Good luck, you'll do great." he puts a thumb up and I smile, nod and turn away.

Lets see what books they have then.