The Day I Died

The Day It Began

Chapter 9

The Day It Began

After our conversation, Steph takes me to a room and tells me to sleep because tomorrow will be extremely busy.

As soon as my head hits the pillow, sleep takes over.

By the time morning comes, I'm awake and feeling fresh. Dressed in my new uniform, the badge, the dress, the boots and the shimmering circle hovering above my brown curls.

Steph comes and gets me as soon as I'm ready. She takes me along another corridor, one with plush red carpets and gold trimmed wallpaper.

I'm currently sat in the waiting room. There is only 3 other people here, all of them in the same outfit I am. Except the boys are in trousers and nobody else has wellies. We all seem to have a token, something gold that must be important to us in one way or another.

The girl closest to me has striking red hair and a gold friendship bracelet on her small wrist. Her face is pale with a sprinkle of golden freckles across her nose. She sees me looking and offers me a shy smile before ducking her head and moving the bracelet around her wrist. She's swinging her feet, they barely touch the ground.

She can't be older than 10.

The guy sat across from me has his arms folded, a stormy expression on his face. He has a shaved head and a thick beard, his token is a wedding band wrapped around his left finger. I'm hoping that he doesn't see me looking at him but when he does he surprises me by grinning and leaning forward.

"It's rude to stare you know." He says gruffly, raising an eyebrow. He continues to grin though so I know he's not angry about it.

Nevertheless, I just nod and put my head down, peering at the guy on my left instead.

He is looking at his feet, black hair falling into his face. A pair of gold rimmed glasses cover his eyes and he must be in his twenties. What an odd token. Although mine are wellies so I guess I can't judge.

I look down at my shoes and pull my hair over my left shoulder.

How many days has it been since I died?

3 or 4 maybe?

I wonder how everyone is, my parents, Alice...

My heart sinks and when I look up again, only me and sunglasses guy are left.

"What did you do?" A voice asks, I turn and sunglasses is looking at me.

"Who did you save?" He repeats slowly.

"A girl, Maisie. She was going to get hit by a car..." I pause, watching as he nods.

"Cool. I saved a dog." He grins. "A flipping dog got me a second chance." He shakes his head in bewilderment.

"I don't even know how." He taps his glasses. "I'm blind you see, so I don't know what hit me but something did and it bloody hurt!" He chuckles to himself.

"Anyways, good luck. Ill see you around." Just as he finishes his sentence, he vanishes leaving me alone in the bare room.

A few seconds later, I myself find that I am drifting through the air. When I finally stop, I'm in a room, sat at a desk. Steph is on the other side and she gives me a small wave.

"Hey, Scarlett. Lets get you sorted. Firstly, do you have any questions?"

She smiles encouragingly.

"How long has it been since I died?" I ask quietly.

Steph thinks for a moment before replying. "About 8 days... Possibly 7-" she stops and taps her pen on the desk, mouthing the days of the week. "7 days, honey. You died on the 25th and now it's the second, okay?"

"7 days!" I exclaim, I thought it was 3 or even 4 perhaps.

Steph nods. "Time goes 2x quicker up here. It can get confusing but don't worry, you will be back to your old life in no time. William will die on the 14th but as long as you save him you will be fine."

I nod. "Have you seen Sam? He told me he would catch up with me before I leave..."

Steph shakes her head. "Any contact with family members on the day of the second chance is prohibited. Sorry hon."

She smiles sympathetically.

"Can you say Hi to him for me? And Maisie perhaps?" She looks around the room nervously.

"Usually I wouldn't ask but you are remarkably smart and I think you can do it without the council knowing." She winks and I smile.

"Sure, I can do that."

"Oh and the tattoo on your wrist will count down the days."

I look down and sure enough there is the number 12 written is cursive on the inside of my wrist, shimmering slightly.

"Any more questions?"

I shake my head no.

"Lets go then! You ready?"

What, now? As in right now? Wait! What do I-

"Good Luck!"

My thoughts are cut off when the world begins to blur. The last thing I see is Sam rushing in the room, looking flustered, his mouth open.

"You can't save him! He's-"

I don't hear the end of his sentence because I'm in a bathroom.

Where the hell am I?