|COMPLETE| Life after death, ironically enough, does not live up to expectations.
When the entirety of the afterlife is upended by unexpected chaos after the gods took a leisurely vacation, Death himself enlists Evyionne's help to find out what went...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Dying was painful. Death itself, not so much. When I opened my eyes, I was no longer greeted by the stark walls. I didn't see the flurry of strangers by the bed or hear the sobs of the estranged mother I hadn't seen or talked to in years. There was only silence, a welcome reprieve. Free of the ear-grating hiss of air being pumped through the tubes in my mouth and the beeping echoing the beat of my heart.
Had I ascended to paradise? Before me, a forest of tall and straight trees framed a sky marbled in hues of dark blues and bright pinks. Stars riddled the horizon and a comet raced through the expanse, bathing the field of grass in gold. I spread my fingers, testing the feeling of my hands. I felt everything clearly and with none of the pain.
I welcomed the air in my lungs, picking up a scent sweetened with wildflowers, and exhaled.
"How long do you plan on lying there?"
Startled, I turned to the owner of the voice. Glowing amber eyes came into view, vibrant like fresh, unsullied rosin awaiting the kiss of a bow.
Hearing no reply, he leaned forward. "Did you hear me?"
I smiled, sheepish. Despite his rudeness, his good looks helped offset the bad greeting. "Sorry. I don't know...Where am I?"
His strong face rippled with displeasure upon seeing my confusion. "You know the answer to that."
I pursed my lips and wondered why I even had to ask. Perhaps I needed to hear the confirmation. Death was not easy to accept, especially when it was mine.
"Okay then. What are you supposed to be?" I asked instead.
"Your guide. Now, stand up. I can't do my job if you stay there staring up at the damn sky like a buffoon." Impatience strained his voice. He wasted no time, turning his broad back and walking away.
My brow twitched and I sat up. Frustration over his harshness bore down on the corner of my lips. "Is that really how you're supposed to be greeting people?" I flicked off a leaf from my hair and rose to my feet. "Less is more they say. And your attitude is definitely on the excess."
He looked over his shoulder. More than half of his face had been covered by a dark and black hood, allowing only the tall profile of his nose and his prominent lips to be visible. "Your wit will get nowhere here," he said, pausing on his tracks, "but your feet will."
Speechless, I went after him, crossing the field of grass on bare feet. While I tried to think of a counter to his words just now, I failed. I wasn't fond of defeat but thought first of who this man possibly was. If he held the key to heaven, or anything close, then I would only be in a bad position if I earned his ire. Nonetheless, he clearly didn't like me at all.
Or he could just be like that. Grumpy.
Whatever his problem was, I decided I would leave it be. For now.
