ReLife: A second chance at revenge

Chapter 1: Re-life??

The ringing, almost piercing sound fades away as I open my eyes. The foginess in my head clears and the pain disappears.

Early morning sunlight is streaming through the only window in the room: A box like grid frame with no curtains. The wall on the right is covered with posters: the neon colors in Metal Dunk and Slam Ft glare blearily down at me. A fan swirls lazily and I follow its wings with my eyes, feeling the motion spin the thoughts in my head.

Is this Heaven?

I'm lying on my single bed with a broken frame in the room they gave me when I was in my last year of High School. High School was probably the happiest time of my life - no responsibilities, no crushing debt, a best friend and a whole class that liked me.

I get up slowly, running my fingers through the cotton sheets. It feels surreal. Moments ago I had been stabbed through the gut five to six times. Murdered, brutally. I trace the skin of my stomach, noticing the lack of wrinkles, of warts and God knows the other things that appear on your skin as you age.

I'm young. Very young. I cross the room and peer into the only mirror in the entire room - my bathroom mirror. Yup. I'm 16. I comb my fingers through my wavy brown hair, twisting it this way and that. Such a waste, I think, looking at all cosmetic products and bottles on my desk. In high school, the only thing I was concerned about was looking plastic. Even now, as my eyes scan the colors, I realize I had used the wrong colors - I had a warm undertone but all the colors were cool.

Influenced by the kids in my class and Jessica...

I close my eyes and my heart throbs in pain. Jessica, Jessica, Jessica! My best friend, my sole supporter, my faithful companion had betrayed me, had betrayed me when I had needed her the most, when I had begged and pleaded for her help...

The memory is twisted with emotions of anger and humiliation. Tears well in the corner of my eyes and almost laughingly I wipe them away.

What, so you can cry in Heaven? I didn't know that.

The longer I look at the makeup, the angrier I feel. I had wasted so much money on makeup I didn't need, colors that didn't suit me, over and over again despite the advice the assistants gave me, the others gave me. I had always listened to Jessica, always.

The tears are running now, flowing freely across my cheeks. I grab the first box - a contour kit and I'm about to chuck it in the bin when I hesitate. Recycling must probably be a thing in heaven. It goes on my bed. Lipsticks and lip glosses follow. I upturn my cabinet - anything that doesn't suit me or I don't like goes on the bed. Anything I can't use  on the floor. I'll ask if there's a dustbin here.

I'm sorting through my clothes drawer - I forgot how messy I used to be in highschool, when I hear steps. I freeze, my hands submerged deep within my clothes.

So. They've come to collect me, have they? About time.

I jerk down my spongebob square pants shirt, stand up, square my shoulders and face the door.

Bring it.

The steps, quiet, pause in front of the door. The door knob turns, slowly, silently and the door creaks open. With my heart pounding, I brace myself for grim reapers, death reapers, whatever they call them to come swinging down with their skulls or their wings or their scythes.

In tiptoes - Jessica??

Her eyes are lit up, her smile pulled into a mischievous smirk when she opens the door. Then her eyes land on me and she freezes. We both do. I just stare at her, unable to believe it. Jessica? In heaven? That's totally wrong.

Her face falls but the light remains. "Oh, you're awake. Too bad."

It's like she hasn't aged a day since High School. She looks exactly as she did in the graduation picture we took together - light brown freckles across her nose, red cheeks, fair skin, curly dark hair and twinkling green eyes. A dimple on either side when she grins.  She looks prettier though, somehow made more ethereal by the morning sunlight.

"W-why is that bad?" I stutter, taking a step back. Is she here to kill me? Is this some sort of cage fight - winner gets eternal rights in heaven to pet puppies or something?

"Because I wanted to surprise you for your birthday, silly! Happy Birthday Katrina!  Happy 16th Birthday!" She yells, her face breaking into a grin. She rushes over, pulls me into a bear crushing hug and laughs into my hair.

I breathe her in - take a moment to feel all of her, her arms, her face, her breath before I realize I'm not dead. I'm not dead at all.

And this isn't Heaven.