Ghosts of the Future

A New Queen

Lily's POV

I never speak to Saira again during her last year of high school. The last I see of her is in the lunchroom, as she whispers strange words to Alexis Shin, the weird redhead. Something about the dead being seers, and Alexis making a hard but wrong choice? I don't know.

Ever since my body was laid to rest, I've felt more peaceful. I'm still in the physical world, though, which confuses me. I thought that I would go to Heaven immediately, but it seems like there's still more to do on Earth.

Nightmares plague me during the nights. When I awake from my peaceful slumber, though, I remember none of them. For some reason, during my waking hours, I see flashes of a future. A future with Saira in it.

The first flash I see is of an older Saira. She's sitting on the roof of a building, her legs dangling over the side. Beside her is a dark, tattooed man with bright eyes.

The second flash shows Saira lying on the ground in an ashy pentagram. The desks and boxes around her are burned, but not a single fleck of ash touches her skin or her clothes. A gash across her neck bleeds red. A chill enters me at that one, since it's directly over where my body used to be buried.

The third flash is of the same older Saira and man. Saira is in a bathtub filled with red water. Her wrists bleed red rivers, which makes me feel sick. The man holds her to his chest as she cries.

The fourth image is of Saira in a weirdly-colored land. A one-eyed man stands beside her on a hill, talking about the land. Her arms are bare, and hundreds of scars run in continuous rivers across her skin.

The fifth image is the most disturbing. It shows the older Saira in a dark room. All of her scars bleed red, covering the floor in a perfect circle. Above her hover three blue-white spirits, who hold knives dripping scarlet blood. I don't know these spirits, but they all glow with angry red auras.

I fear the visions coming true. I fear Saira returning with the tattooed man beside her. I fear her suffering through more pain.

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Many years have passed. I don't recall how many. I just know that Saira is back, with a paranormal crew calling themselves the Paranormeon Crew.

They investigate the school. I stay hidden, though it's hard. I want to talk to Saira, but I don't know how to tell her about my visions. About her in a pentagram, or bleeding on the floor of a dark room, or in a colorful land that I suspect is Purgatory.

Saira challenges the demons. She had let them go years ago, but has never come back to check on them. They've rampaged since she left. She was the only one able to control their bloodthirst.

The red-black mass swirls around her. Fire blazes, and I'm reminded once more of my vision, which comes true. Saira lies on the floor, no ash touching her, a gash across her neck. Her camera lies a few feet away, but she seems unconscious.

The men from before-the Paranormeon Crew-come in. The tattooed man has tears in his eyes. I see them revive Saira, and choose that moment to reveal myself.

Saira recognizes me instantly. I didn't expect that, but I keep that fact to myself as I tell her what she did. I tell her thank you, for everything. She freed me by destroying the demons of Sarcoxie. I can feel my spirit aching to go where it was always meant to, but I give Saira one last smile before my body dissolves into white smoke.

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She's here, in Purgatory. She's talking to God on the hill. I watch from a distance, hidden behind a clump of trees. When she's gone, I approach the master of Heaven.

He smiles as I approach, his single golden eye glowing softly. He knows what I want to ask, even without me saying anything.

"She will be fine, Lily. Hardships await her, as they always do. My son and I both have a claim on her. She is strong, stronger than most. She will survive the war to come," God says, his wise, old voice soothing and calm.

I nod, and say, "She's the Queen of the Dead. She's destined to rule Hell." God nods sadly, staring off into the distance. "Yes, she is. But she is also the Spirit Wisher," he says, "She is also destined for Heaven."

I shake my head, and say softly, "She is the Weapon of Good and Evil, God. She cannot go both ways. It's impossible." God laughs, and says, "She is a new queen, Lily Northwoods. A new breed. There is nothing impossible in this world. Wolves with incredible powers rule the woods. Blue-pupilled and heterochromatic-eyed people run across the seas and skies. Hybrids thrive on islands of fire and war. There is no such thing as impossible."

I smile, then take God's hand so I can go home.

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Saira taught me something: there is life after death. She wished to die because of her crimes, because of the pain she inflicted upon others. But she found happiness in the strangest of places.

She was vital in a war on Earth. I watched from Heaven, and even begged some of the angels to help her. Now, I await her return to her home in the sky, to Heaven, so I can see her once more. So I can see how happy she has become.

Every day is a battle, an unpredictable thing. Though the dead know a lot, we don't know everything. The living are even more clueless. But, that's why life is enjoyable. It's endless, uninterrupted, and confusing. But, that's why the greatest thing ever given is life.

Live your life. Trust me. Because if you don't, then you'll be regretting it after your death.