Lost

Chapter 6

She stood back in the crossroads, Shiri standing behind her. He had changed into a form which he had thought would terrify her. His human face was visible, but his body was dark, seemingly mist just like the creature from before. His expression had changed, softened more and filled with pity. Her face was still stained with tears and he knew it would hurt her even more once she returned to the real world, they'd still be dead and she would still feel the pain from the losts. He wished to ease it for her, but knew that he couldn't, he was surprised to feel a pang in his chest at the thought. He wondered about the choice she would have to come to, would she return to the real world, or perhaps stay with him in this world to help guide people through.

He silently scolded himself, noticing how he had gotten too shy to had guided her and the others. He was the reason they had all died there, because of his selfishness and fear he had simply watched from a distance instead of being there unless absolutely necessary. He remembered comforting her at the castle, the first time he had appeared in this form. They had to take a break on the way back here to rest, she had surprisingly fallen asleep far quicker than him despite him losing energy due to the transformation. He had assumed it to be grievance, he was worried about going to sleep and leaving them both defenseless, but he knew he had to recharge.

He remembered finding her in the castle, a simple body mirror in front of her, shattered with glass on the ground. He didn't understand it himself. He quietly sighed to himself, wishing he had wished to return to the real world. Here it was too dangerous and terrifying, he now wanted to return with her, despite them both not remembering what happened here, and he'd hope that they would meet once again in the real world. He looked at their shadows. Two angels were on the ground, one looked terribly worn, the other looked to be reaching out to the other, but neither of them moved. He knew that this place was much more simple than the shadows, or the rest of the world revealed. He knew what this place was.

He watched as she went through the invisible wall into limbo, and sighed to himself, knowing their time was limited. He followed her through. Her eyes trailed along the lost souls around them, they didn't have enough hope to continue out of here or as a shiriyama, and had died trying to find the exit. He knew she would be fine however, his eyes instinctively looked at the heart on her chest that shone a silver fifteen on it. She'd be just fine, he reminded himself as she walked deeper into the white space. All fear she had previously held was long gone along with her friends.

She continued walking, even, constant steps. Any signs of the corruption that had filled her veins was gone, only where the wound once was showed signs of blackness. People in black cloaks could be seen, but she didn't falter in her steps. They floated high above everyone else, but she kept going. He quickly ran over, glancing up at the judges before them.

"You've finally made it Ayana." the tallest one said, he's figured out that this one was the leader, not due to height but due to the caring, fairness that the judge had, the judge was a quick thinker that always had a response to a situation. "We've noticed the events of your travels and we're severely sorry." a sniffle came from Ayana as she wiped at her eye.

"We'll give you three choices" the shorter one added in a soft voice, lowering to the ground. This judge was a lot more caring, willing to be level with the person they were judging. "For your bravery and strength that you've shown throughout here."

"You may return home," the last one, ranging between heights voice boomed, unsettling the souls around before they continued moving. "You may die, and go with your friends."

"Or," the first one was speaking again, despite their faces being hidden, the third one glared at the first, hating have been interrupted. "You can be a judge along with us." shiri's heart tightened, this was not an option presented to him, they didn't even offer her to be a shiriyama like him. He thought to himself, realizing that he had never been to the castle like her. Never faced his own dark side. He knew he would still be able to see her if she chose this option however, she would still be in this space and he could come and go as he pleased to see her. Check in with her, seeing how she is handling everything. Only then, she wouldn't exactly be her. She would, and wouldn't at the same time.

"I want to go home." she quietly said, looking at the ground with grief. Shiri felt pain in his heart, slowly remembering his past.

He had known her as a child, they were close friends. He had liked her, but had never admitted it, since they were simply children. He had wanted to stay and grow up there with her, but his parents had moved away. He was marked as weird, strange, and other things. He was in pain from being beaten up one day, he even had a concussion. He couldn't remember how much medicine he had taken, or just how much he was bleeding, or how bad the concussion was. He couldn't remember how he had ended up there.

"Then home you will be sent." he watched as the judge lowered to the ground, touched her shoulder, whispered something into her ear, which will not truly be forgotten, something that would resonate in the back of her mind as she woke up, and she disappeared. He could feel the judge look over and he slightly smiled, it had sadness in it, but he had known this is what he signed up for. The judge came over. "You can be sent back as well." for once this judge's voice was as soft as the second's.

"But my body is already dead."

"No, it is not." the judge gently shook its head. "Your condition is different from other shiriyamas. You had not truly died, you went into a deep coma where it is unexpected for you to wake up, but your parents are more caring than you believed. They love you, because you are their child, and they had not moved because they didn't want you to live your wish, but because they thought you would get a better life in the new area, where they were making much more money than before. They hadn't given up hope however, they still believe you will wake up. Once you do, if you so choose, you will have much to learn in the years you've missed, but you've always been a fast learner."

Shiri felt his eyes water with this truth, he had never thought he'd be able to return to the real world after he had chosen to stay. He thought that he was long dead. He smiled to himself, small trickles of tears running down his face.

"I'd like to go home." the judge lowered his hood, and smiled.

"Alright, I'll send you back then." the judge before him looked familiar, but he couldn't place his finger on it. "Find her Ray, alright?" that was the first time in years he had heard his true name. "Be safe, alright my son?"

Everything disappeared.

She woke up, drowsy and tired. A snow white roof above her. Her vision blurred and she finally saw the two figures looking down at her. Her parents were crying, standing above her. Their words a rushed mess as they talked to her. She could barely understand it, nor did she bother.

"What...?" her voice was raspy, barely audible, she had no memory of what had occurred before she woke up.

"You overdosed on medication, like Ethan did..." her mother's voice went quiet on Ethan's name.

"Ethan...?" both parents went silent. "What about Ethan..? Where is he..? And Nick...?" the two parents glanced at each other.

"I'm sorry hun, they're both dead. Ethan died in his coma, then there was a boy who had woken up, just barely enough to try to climb out of bed while saying your name before he fell died as well, he was identified as Nick." her mother's voice was filled with pity, Ayana's eyes filled up and she burst into tears. Her body once again wretched as it did once before, in a time she did not remember. She wished for Nick and her brother to be back. She wanted them by her side.

The doctor discharged her a few weeks later, she was claimed to be alright. Her parents kept a much closer eye on her, paid her more attention, all of her childhood wishes. She didn't find as much happiness as she thought she would've however. She wished to live this life along with both Ethan and Nick.

She snuck out one night, walking along the park sidewalk where she had met Nick. She had barely paid attention to where she was going and ran into a man, falling onto the ground.

"I'm sorry, are you alright?" his voice sounded familiar as he bent down and held out his hand. "I'm Ray, what's yours?"

There was the northern star above his head.