Redeemer

Chapter 3: Essentials Of Your Final Day

A flash of white, everything slowly faded into place. 

"Where are we?" Nika says as she turns to survey her surroundings.

It was dark, but she could see that she was surrounded by storefronts as far as her eyes could see.

"We're at... the mall?" Nika turned and asked Syb. 

"Yep." He replied as he tapped the ground with his cane. 

The mall roared  to life, lights going on in every single store. 

"I thought that getting you some clothes would be a nice start." Syb said. "If it's your last day before you pass, best to be stunning while doing it right?"

Nika turned to look at her reflection on one of the storefront windows. She was still in her oversized shirt and pajamas. Her hair was a mess from falling off the roof deck. She was NOT a snack.

"No consequences here so, take whatever you want." Syb says as the cane folds up and he places it in his suit pocket. "I'll give you...20 mins."

"2 hours!" Nika shot back.

"No. 30 mins." Syb replied "We only have 24 hours."

"1 hour!!!" Nika replied. "PLEASE!"

"Fine. 1 hour. I'll be here." Syb said yeilding.

"YES!" Nika exclaimed giving him a quick hug. "Thank you, Syb!"

Syb choked back a gasp while Nika just turned and ran off.  Syb's eyes follow her as she runs into a store.

"She has to Redeem." Syb mumbles to himself. "I'm so close."

Meanwhile, Nika was blazing from store to store. She took a shopping cart from the hardware store and now she was riding it from store to store, picking the cutest things she can find. She didn't have time to fit them yet, she was gonna bring all of them together and decide after. One hour isn't enough time to dress your best for your own death. She remembered everything: shoes, top, bottom, jacket, handbag, cardigan, make up, and everything else.  After about 40 mins, she was inside the biggest fitting room with a mountain of combinations to try just outside the door. Meanwhile, Syb sat on a nearby bench, eating more mint chocolate chip ice cream. Beside him was a backpack he picked up from the sport shop that he prepared for the day.  After Syb was about 3 tubs in, he realized one hour was just about up. 

"Oy! Oy!" Syb started as he stood up clutching his tub of ice cream. "Nika! It's almost one hour wher-"

Nika walked out of the store. Syb dropped his ice cream. She was absolutely stunning. She wore a casual off shoulder dress that stopped over her knees; it was black and had red petals printed on it.  Red petals that matched perfectly with the red stripe of hair. The stripe Syb realized he should've paid more attention to. Her hair fell perfectly around her face and onto her back. Syb was impressed that she took the time to brush it. But the thing that stood out the most to Syb... was her shoes. She wore high cut sneakers; They were black with a red graphic line pattern and had clean bright white laces. She gave him a sheepish smile.

  "Is this okay?" Nika said as she extended her arms a little. "Oh, what happened to your ice cream?"

"I- uh" Syb says as he regains his composure. "It slipped."

"So?" Nika says as she does a little twirl. "What do you think? Is it okay?"

"Yeah. You look okay." Syb says coolly. "What's with the shoes tho? Don't you think heels or sandals would work better?"

"We'll I wanna be comfortable because I thought we might be running around." Nika says as she shifts her feet and looks at her shoes. "Why do they look bad or-"

"No! No!" Syb said a bit too quickly. "They look goo-, uh, they're okay. Good choice."

Nika gives him a smile and Syb turns to look at the wall.

Nika continued "Well, I was thinking a watch and jewelry but since time isn't moving why a watch? and the jewelry is locked in the jewelry store so, can't do anything about that."

"Well, you have about 8 minutes left. " Syb said "We can do something about that, if you want?"

Nika smiled and nodded. Syb turned and started walking towards the jewelry store, Nika skipped and arrived beside her. She smelled like hazelnuts.  They arrive at the jewelry store and Nika slowly walks in and looks through the glass displays. She hopped from display to display looking at every little piece of jewelry. 

"Stand aside Nika." Syb commanded calmly but firmly.  

Nika moved to the side as Syb drew his steel cane and began to smash each glass case one by one. Nika watched him in awe, watching Syb's normally calm and blank expression change into one of strength and concentration. Syb was done smashing all the glass cases when Nika realized she was staring.

"Which one do you want?" Syb says gesturing her to stand beside her. 

Nika walked over and decided what she wanted. On her right hand she chose a golden chain bracelet and on her left, a small analog watch. With a tap of Syb's cane, it started to work again. Nika was pretty satisfied, she never really had the flare to jewelry but she thought it would be nice to have some small pieces on her.

"It's lacking." Syb says observing her. 

"Eh. I never really had the flare for jewelry anyway." Nika replied.

"How about this?" Syb says as he slowly picks out a necklace from a glass case. "I think it fits your style."

Syb holds out a gold chain necklace with diamond butterfly pendant. It was beautiful. It wasn't massively flashy but it stood out, beautifully. 

"Syb, that's beautiful." Nika said with a smile.

"Turn around." Syb said avoiding her eyes. "I'll put it on you."

Nika turns around and Syb puts the necklace on her. 

"There." Syb says standing back. "Perfect."

Nika gives Syb a smile. "Well then. What's next?

"Well" Syb says as he walks out of the jewelry store and slings the  bag over his shoulder. "Are you ready to go?"

"What's the bag for?" Nika asked curiously.  

"Its for today. " Syb said proudly. "Everything I need to convince you to live."

"If the reasons to live can fit in a tiny ass bag like that" Nika said in a sassy manner. "Dont get your hopes up."

Syb let out a nervous chuckle and he reached out and ripped open a portal with his cane. Together they both walk through the portal together.

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A flash of light, everything just faded to darkness.

There was no light anywhere. The air was cold and nothing could be heard but the swaying of trees. Darkness surrounds Nika and fear and unfamiliarity begins to take a hold of her. Her hands begins to shake and she begins to reach around her blindly. Her hand is met with a firm grip.  

"Syb?" Nika says quietly. 

"I'm here. " Syb replies calmly. His voice reassuring her. 

"Where are we?" Nika asked as Syb began to lead her forward.

"You'll love it." Syb said as they continued forward. "Trust me."

They continued to walk forward in complete darkness,  Nika being guided by nothing but Syb. After a few minutes Syb stops.

"Here we are." He says proudly.

"Where exactly are we?" Nika replied shivering a little from the cold wind.

Syb produced his cane and struck the ground with a loud CLANG

.

.

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"Woah"