After Death

Chapter 1| Death

Amber's P.O.V

Death. Would this be my end? I haven't lived for long. I continued to stare at last bit of light I saw. I was dying. I was stuck drowning in a lake, all because I wanted to have some fresh air. I couldn't breathe for much longer. I wonder what it will feel like. Would someone come collect me? Would I be reincarnated? Would I go to hell or heaven? I don't know much about death, considering I've never died before. I took my very last breath. I felt the water enter my lungs, pain engulfed me. My lungs felt like they were on fire. Slowly my eyes started to close but I still saw a light. Cliché, I know. Cliché but..real. I saw every good thing in my life. I saw my little brother Aikio, my big sister Alina, my father, my mother, my best friends and my grandparents. Oh how I would miss them! I wish I didn't have to die. I was only 18. But life will go on...for those living. As for me, I hope to live on in my friends and families memories. Good bye world, I'll miss you. After my memories pasted, everything faded to black.

I woke up in a strange place. It was weird. It was almost like a town center. There was a water fountain in the middle with tall black buildings nearby. I saw people bustling around. Wasn't I dead? Was this the underworld? It didn't seem all that scary to me. I walked around for a while observing. Everything seemed a bit dark but still colourful. I walked and walked until I saw a dark figure lurking in the shadows. I wasn't all that afraid, after all what could they do, kill me? I was already dead. Still, intrigued I watched them. They had a black cloak on that was covering their face. Something was shining in the palm of their hands. Strange. Deciding not to get involved I continued walking. I looked around at my surroundings. These buildings were smaller. They looked like normal stores. There was a grocery story that were selling apples for 10% off. There was a unisex barber shop. There corner stores, costume stores, bowling places, restaurants' and etc, etc. As I walked, I stumbled upon a little book store/ café. I love books! Coming to think of it, I was also pretty hungry. I walked in and was instantly overwhelmed by all the book choices. The book store/ café was a lot bigger on the inside than it appeared on the outside. In fact it was humongous. Forgetting my hunger, I rushed over to the book section. They had all of my favorite series and more. Deciding on my book, I went to a small corner of the book store and sat down. It was designed exactly to my liking. It was a corner with a padded bench/couch. There was a table in front of it. It had fairy lights hanging around it, and pictures of food. I love food. Speaking of food, my hunger reappeared. Just as I was about to get up to go get some food, a waiter came up to me.

"Hello, I'm Jamison, I'll be your waiter. Would you like anything to eat?" The man said. He looked to be in about his thirties. He looked a little frightening and discerning. Never the less I politely smiled and said.

"Yes." I looked at the menu for a moment and instantly decided on what I wanted.

"Can I get a slice of cheese pizza, a burger, fries, a coke and some brownies please?"

He looked at me with his eyes widened at my order.

"Er..ok.." He walked away shaking his head slightly. What, I'm hungry! A girls gotta eat!

I went back to my book. It was 'To Kill a Mockingbird'. I have always been intrigued by this book but never had the decency to pick it up and read it. I started to read it, the waiter, Jamison, came after a few minutes and handed me my plater of food. I stared to eat like a ravenous beast, whom hasn't tasted or eaten food in a million years. I was so hungry! After I had finished my food and made sure my hands were clean, I went back to reading. I sat down, my legs made a V shape next to me as I leaned into the backrest of the couch. I was up to page 71 when Jamison came up to me.

"The store is starting to close. You are welcome to come tomorrow but you will have to leave right now." He said with a glint of happiness. I doubt he likes his job.

"Er.. of course.. Can I bring this book with me? I promise to bring it back tomorrow." I said hopeful. I was too into my book to just wait until the next day to continue reading it.

"Sure, just don't damage it." He said, getting impatient.

"Thank you! See you tomorrow Jamison!" I said cheerfully, as I walked to the door.

I walked outside to see the sun setting. It was probably about 7 o'clock. As walked away from the store, reality started to set in. I have no place to stay, no friends or family, and I couldn't contact them anyway because I was dead and they were living. Erugh! What am I going to do?

I know what I'm not going to do, though. I'm not going to mope about my situation and I'm actually going to do something. I started to try to find people I could ask for a place to stay. Person after person said they don't have any spare spaces. This is getting hopeless. I saw a girl walk out of a bakery. She looked friendly enough.

"Hi, excuse me. I'm new here, do you have any place I could stay?" I said, almost pleading.

"You could live with me, if you'd like. I've always wanted a roommate." She said.

"Omg, thank you! I have been asking people nonstop." I say.

She chuckles at me, then ask "What's your name girly?"

"Amber. Amber Marline Rose. What's yours?"

"Jade. Jade Whitlock."

"Alrighty then, Jade Whitlock, lead the way!" She nodded with a smile.

"So have you been to the palace. You know, the place where you get all of your information. Like where your going to live, or if your going to school."

"Er..no. Do I have too?"

"Yeah, Zelso already knows your dead and you obviously were a good person, other-wise you wouldn't be here right now. But going to the palace helps make sure you get a home and things to your liking. If your haven't visited the palace within the first week of your death then you just get put into a cubical. Its just a plain boring house that only has the bare necessities."

"Oh. I've only been dead for a day. It feels so weird to say that."

"You get used to it. Anyways I can take you to the palace on Saturday. Today's Thursday so it will only be 2 days away from now."

"Ok."

We continued to talk about our likes and dislikes. I think Jade's pretty cool. She seems like a laid back, chill, but kind person. I like her. We got to her apartment pretty quickly. It was apartment #321. She opened the door and stepped in.

Her apartment was pretty neat. It had white walls with a light peach couch. She had a Flat-screen Tv and a glass coffee table in the middle of the room.

"Let me give you a tour." She showed me the kitchen, which was near the living room.

"...And this is where you'll be staying. We'll have to share a room. If your not comfortable with it, I can just sleep on the couch."

The room had a baby blue walls, 1 large dresser, and 2 Queen sized beds. The bed looked so soft. It dawned on me that I was going to share this room with her. I was going to have a roommate! I've always wanted one!

"I love it. And I have a super cool roommate."

"I have some clothes you can borrow."

"Thank you."

I walked over to the bed that didn't have pictures on the bed frame. I put my book on the drawer top the was next to me. The second I sat down, I felt the softness and the warmth from the bed. Drowsiness overwhelmed me. I crawled under the covers and felt sleep overcome me. The last thing I heard was Jade walking out of her closet and saying "I guess she was tired. Goodnight Amber." Darkness swelled before my eyes and I was off to dream land. Unicorns and rainbows showed in my eyes... dreams...

So what do you think so far? I worked very hard on this. Don't forget vote and comment on this story. Tell me what you thought of this story! Ok and uh.. yea that's it. Vote and Comment! byeeeeeeeeee

                                                           ~Jasmine