Chapter 3; Underworld

It was dark. Surrounded by pitch black darkness, I floated about. It was quite comfortable. Not cold, not hot either, the perfect temperature embraced me together with the darkness.

So this is death huh? Always thought it's a one end street, so how come i'm still conscious?

No matter which direction I looked, it was all plain darkness. So death is a lonely, dark place where you are left alone with your thoughts?! Which difference does that make to actually living? Overthinking is something I can do alive as well. What a joke.

"Are you going to give up?"

A little taken aback by the sudden childish voice I sat up. There stood a girl, at best 5 years old with her big round green eyes staring at me. White skin like that of a porcellain doll, made out her face, while golden hued brownish, shoulder lenght messy hair embraced it. From her face alone, you would think she's just a normal girl, but when you looked down on her body, one would instantly think otherwise.

I knew this view by heart, yes this girl was indeed me. Cuts, bruises, burn marks and even the traces of a recent strangulation attempt, these injuries were something I knew too well.

"I ask you again, will you just give up like that?! Didn't you promise me something?"

I looked into her deep empty big eyes, that lost its glimmer a long time ago. She was right, I did promise her , didn't I? When was it that I forgot? When did I come astray from my path?

Many questions about my own failure popped up once more in my mind. I couldn't give up, I owe her a life of happiness after all.

"You are right... I'm sorry, I kind of lost myself for a moment"

"So... will you keep trying?"

"Yeah"

"I see. What will you do with that guy? He killed you, so you should kill him. Eye for an eye, as usual ,right?"

Silence. I couldn't reply to that, after all something intrigued me about him. Why did he kill me? He even said "so it's really you" , did he know me? If so, why would he comit murder before trying to talk things out? Did I piss him off at some point in my life and he held grudges all these years?! That couldn't be right??

"Are you going to question him before you kill him? I would kill him when I get the chance for it, because he will surely come again for your neck , when he meets you"

Yea, of course you would. You were raised in an environment , where survival of the fittest was the one and only rule. I don't blame you for that.

"I can at least try to talk to him , right? In the worst case ,a fight is still an option"

"So you made up your mind. Hopefully you won't regret it"

"Did you forget our basic rules? Rule number 3: we never regret our decisions, no matter what, so we only take the decision we won't"

"I didn't. But something tells me, that this time, you might really will regret it. However, do your best. I'll wait"

"Right."

I stood up and made a turn, to walk away. I don't know where I am and hell I got the worst orientation sense on this planet, however for some reason I knew exactly where I had to go. As if I knew the way by heart, I walked ahead without looking back.

"Until we meet again, Me"

I'm pretty sure I heared my younger self wisper something behind me, but I couldn't make it out.

Not sure how long I've been walking by now, I started seeing a light up ahead. The closer I got the more I could make out shapes and colors. Standing at the end of the tunnel, I finally was able to look and realize where I was. Of course it would be this place, where else?

Huge anthrazit marble walls where all over the place, that reached up to the ceilings , which were painted with extremely disturbing images of sacrifices and a war scenario between the heavens and hell. Whoever painted these, must be one great artist. The ceiling paintings reminded me of those you could find in the Louvre in Paris. I remember I admired them more than the paintings they exhibited on the walls. It just was so astounding how someone could create something so realistic and beautiful on a ceiling. While I stared at the ceilings with admiring eyes, someone approached me from behind.

"So here you are"

How could I not notice someone sneaking up on me?! Spinning around I faced a person that was almost 2 heads taller than me. There was no trace of a face, just a skull with blue flames where the eyes should have been, wearing a dark tattered robe and a weird looking staff.

"It's quite unusual for a soul to get lost down here and wander about, however, follow me. I shall guide you to your designated spot"

"Are you a guide of the underworld?"

The skeleton turned to me again and probed me with an undefineable look before answering.

"You seem to know a bit of the underworld. That is correct, I am a guide in the service of the King and Queen. My name is Calci"

Quite the unique name not gonna lie, but then again, he's not human so I guess the name might even be normal to him.

"It's my pleasure to make your aquaintance. I'm Reverie"

"I know who you are, now follow me, we wasted enough time already"

"I don't plan on staying dead" , I promted without hesitation and continued forth.

"I want to meet the King and Queen!"

"Their majestys do not accept visitors"

"Well if that's the case...I'm asking one more time politely, to bring me to them"

Smirking and sounding sassy whenever I wanted something was my biggest strength. No, getting whatever I wanted actually was. And now I wanted to meet the rulers of the Underworld.

"As mentioned already, I cannot comply"

"Too bad"

I grabbed the guides staff in a moment of carelessness and started smashing and hitting on anything that came to view. A vase, the paintings on the marble wall, the small stone statues on podestals that marked the way, literally anything. It didn't took long to cause a commotion and getting more guides to show up.

"You-"

"How dare you!"

"Stop her, before she damages even more!"

Totally ignoring their yells I just kept hitting on things in my way, till I was completely surrounded by guards and guides.

Guess I got their attention now. I smiled and placed my weapon down, all the while raising my hands up above my head.

"I surrender! I could never win against such overwhelming force"

Declaring this, with a mild sarcastic tone, some of the guards started complaining about me for mocking them. Of course I mocked them. Ganging up on a single soul really isn't cool. However my goal was something entirely different. As I've been arrested and guided towards a castle, I once again began to smile.

Chapter 3 end