Sudden Departure

Chapter Eleven

When I opened my eyes I was standing in a completely different room with Nebula at my side. This one was dark and the ceiling was even higher. Balconies wrapped around it in several floors. Each floor had different colored glowing domes resting along the walls.

It was also teeming with life. Thousands of people bustled around in dark colored clothing with accents matching the domes on the walls on the other floors.

"Where are we?" I breathed.

"The Barracks," Nebula stated as she began to stroll forward.

A jogged to stay in step with her. "The Barracks? Paradise has enemies?"

She snorted . "No, we aren't in Paradise. We are in The Barracks."

"Then where are The Barracks?" I challenged.

Nebula stopped and considered. "We are in Death's mansion."

I recoiled and looked around. Everything was kind of lush looking. Underneath a lair of grime on the floors marble gleamed and thick marble pillars held each of the balconies up. Intricate molding lined the doorways and a brilliant unlit chandelier dangled high above our heads.

When I looked back at my side Nebula had reached far ahead of me. I ran and caught up with her. "Wait, so Death is a person and we are at his house?"

She nodded and solemnly pressed her hands together, "Yes, young grasshopper. In good time you will come to meet him." Nebula snapped out of her wise-sansei trance and continued. "And, no, this isn't Death's home, it's ours. He converted it to The Barracks to help us." Yet again, her demeanor changed. In the blink of an eye she went from a helpful guide to an angry one. "You will respect him and be grateful, understand?" she growled.

I nodded and watched her smile appear again. Quickly, she spin around on her heal.

We walked to a tall archway at the far end of the room. Four lines of people slid past us on either side. Then, heaps of people in white clothes like mine shuffled past us with some proud expressions and some disappointed ones.

Lastly, a horde of muscly men and women in tight black clothing and yellow armbands streamed toward us. They laughed and shoved each other around.

A handsome man out of the group of yellow-banded people stopped and smiled at Nebula. He had a sparkling grin. He muscles were huge and showed through the tight black shirt he wore. His eyes were like Nebula's, but were yellowish. His hair was blonde and perfectly coiffed to spike up at the tip.

He strode over to Nebula and grabbed her hips before passionately sucking on her face.

They were kissing and tangling through each others' hair and all I could do was sit awkwardly and try not to stare. Is this how people feel or... felt... when Cameron and I kissed? I mused.

Nebula and the man separated. He glanced at me and winked with a broad grin. He started to walk away, but he looked at me over his shoulder again. His smile was faded and guilt glazed his eyes. He turned away and left.

Nebula wiped her bottom lip with the side of her hand. "That's Terrance. He's a Guardian." Her face fell like Terrance's did. "He was there, fighting, when you died."

I felt a hollowed feeling in my stomach. "He couldn't save me, could he?"

She didn't answer. She just pointed into the dark room behind the large archway. "That's where you'll be meeting Death. Go straight in there and stop when he tells you to."

I looked back at her but she was already across the room with her arms wrapped around Terrance. Everyone had filtered out and the room was empty, except for me. The lights had dimmed and I was all alone.

I was getting ready to meet death. I straightened my dress and took a step forward.