Heaven & Hell

Chapter 11

Melody

I had to go get him, but I didn't want to. I didn't want to believe that, only a few weeks after my own death, I was now in charge of collecting my best friend, only to take him to hell. Nevertheless, I went down to collect him. Killian was my responsibility and my charge up until the very point he walked through the gate to hell. After Killian walked through that gate, I would never be able to see him again. Good don't communicate with evil. I don't communicate with Killian anymore.

When I saw Killian, he wasn't the killer, out for blood, that I had seen many times in the last few weeks. Killian was a broken version of the person I left behind. He was on the ground crying, in pieces. I couldn't handle seeing him like this so, I spoke his name. He stood hastily, wiping the tears away. I ran up to him and hugged him. I didn't think in that moment, I simply did. The moment I remembered why I was even there with him, I broke the hug and slapped him hard across the face. A red mark instantly appeared on his cheek as he moved his hand to rub it, as though he was trying to soothe a stinging sensation.

"How could you? You were my best friend only a few weeks ago. You weren't meant to die yet. I never blamed you for my death, but I don't think I can forgive you for what you've done." It broke me to say those words, but I couldn't forgive him for what he had done, the lives he had taken. It wasn't meant to be like this.

Tears streamed down my cheeks as I stood in front of him, words failing to leave my lips. There was a look in his eyes that broke me. To see the boy, who I had become friends with eleven years ago - that I had come to fall in love with - stare at me as if he was a monster, broke me into a million unrecoverable pieces.

I turned around, grabbing his hand before summoning the gate. I took a moment before taking my first step. Words continuing to stop in my throat, I wiped the tears from my eyes. I didn't explain anything and he didn't ask. We walked in silence for what seemed like forever. I didn't want to lose my friend forever, but I had no choice. He had made his decision in life and there was nothing anyone could do anymore.

We approached the gate to hell, slowly, before he finally spoke up. Only two words managed to leave his mouth. Not a sentence, not a question. The only words that left his mouth were 'I'm sorry.' We had both apologised many times in the last few weeks and, even though I was sorry, there's only so many times someone can say sorry before it loses it's meaning so, I gestured in the direction of the gate and explained that he had to go.

"So am I." The three words escaping my lips in a whisper as he stepped through the gate. Three words I didn't want to say because I knew they would break me into even more pieces. I turned around and flew off, not waiting for Killian to reply. The tears running down my cheeks, leaving droplets behind as I flew away. Landing back on Earth, I didn't hesitate to summon the gate to heaven. The moment the gate appeared, I was gone.

I landed back in heaven before running to my room. My parents, Killian's parents, Drake and Beth all took turns trying to stop me, but I ignored all of them. My best friend was gone and there was no way of reconnecting with him.

***

It had been a few years since I last saw Killian. Seeing his parents everyday made it hard at first, but I think it eventually made it easier. Knowing that I could see them, whenever I wanted, made me feel like he was still here with me every day. I felt like wherever I went, Killian was watching me. At times, it was a terrifying thought - the thought of a demon watching over me - but at times, it was a relieving thought - the thought that maybe he hadn't forgotten about me.

No matter how I felt about what Killian did, he was my best friend. Killian was the best friend that I allowed myself to fall in love with. I was a fool that fell in love with someone who never loved me back.

I didn't hate Killian for what he did, I was disappointed that he allowed us to be separated.

"M... Melody?" I had gone back down to Earth to check on my new charge when I heard my name. I recognised the voice easily, but I didn't want to believe it. I had to ignore him. Good don't communicate with evil.

I started to walk off when I felt a hand on my shoulder. The hand was cold, colder than any hand I had ever felt. He begged me to stop walking so, I did. I turned around and I stared at him. His face, his smile... his smile was gone. Killian didn't look like Killian anymore. His features were hollowed and cold. I closed my eyes for a moment, scared of what I was seeing. When I opened them, just the slightest, his smile was back. Killian's features weren't hollowed or cold and his hand, on my shoulder, warmed up. My Killian was back.