How do I get to Heaven?

Chapter 6- So... Now What?

I loaded my plate up with whatever I could fit, and followed Cody to an empty table towards the back. The dining hall was full of long, square, and round tables. Groups of men and women all laughed and talked as they dug into their dinners.

I took a huge bite of chicken and slumped back against the wall. Cody chuckled and asked "Feel better now?" I nodded and took a few more bites before my brain unclouded enough for me to ask more questions.

"So... how did Ryan find me?" I asked. Cody took a sip of his wine before saying "There are Devils who keep track of people who die tragic deaths, and where we are. Then they send the Scouts to go pick them up."

"You mean kidnap them?" I asked, my voice suddenly harsh. Cody's eyebrow raised and I said "I was already floating up in the light when he grabbed my ankle and yanked me down." Cody shook his head slightly, and cut his eyes to his right, where Ryan was sitting with a few other men.

"Right, you did say that, didn't you? Once the souls start ascending, we aren't supossed to take them. I will have to discuss that with his supervisor."

I laughed. Devils have supervisors? Cody's attention came back to me and I asked "Devils?" Cody gave me a lazy grin and said "When the organization was established, they were called somthing else, however as the Christian's developed their religion, and started yelling about Satan and witches, they changed our names. Claims it's more intimidating, but we all think it was for shits and giggles."

I nodded, and took a bite of my roasted potatoes. Had I known Devils could cook so well, I'd have fought Ryan less. This was the best food I had ever eaten. That's when a thought struck me.

"If I'm dead... why am I hungry?"

"Your body is dead, but until you end up in Libertas, your soul is still of this earth, so you still basically have a fully functioning body. Once you entered Bellum you essentially became whole again."

I took a gulp of my wine. I wasn't drunk enough for this. We ate in silence as I mulled over everything that had happened to me today.

"So, everyone automatically goes to Hea- I mean, Libertas... unless they are recruited to be a Devil, or get stuck? How do they get unstuck?"

"Either a Devil finds you and brings you here, like you, or someone from Libertas comes for them. If Libertas doesn't want you... and we don't want you... then you're stuck. Some people figure out how to move on, much like in the movies, but most just float around until they start to lose it. Thats when the Tenebris show up and take them."

"Just one last question... what about horrible people? The ones who murder people and stuff. Do they get to go to Libertas?"

Cody shook his head, a wicked smile crossing his face.

"There is a section of our organization who takes care of thoes souls. You have to be pretty horrible to not get into Libertas, and disposal of thoes souls are also our job."

"How do you do that?" I asked. Cody stacked his empty wine glass ontop of his plate and said "You'll learn all that soon, once your training starts. Would you like to see your living quarters?"

I sighed and nodded. I stacked my plate like he did, and followed him to the conveyor belt that ran the length of the back of the room. We placed our plates on the currently unmoving belt and followed Cody back towards the doors we entered from. As we passed Ryan's table, he caught me eye.

He winked at me, and it made my stomach churn. I saw him chuckle as I turned away, hurrying to catch up with Cody.