C21 The After Life 1/2

'The afterlife?'

As I was sitting on the floor as I wandered my eyes around the place, only to see an endless white scene with only me, the girl and a bright light behind her.

So this is what they call the 'purgatory'? A place where my sins will be judged?

But what's there to judge? I'm obviously a sinful soul, if God were to judge me, it's no question I would be sent to hell instantly.

"The place you calleth 'purgatory' doesn't exist. Thy 'afterlife' was created when monsters broketh in your world."

I'm not going to be judged? Then what am I doing here? And this is disturbing, why does she keep answering me, when I'm not even talking.

"Your face telleth everything, little girl. Thou not even the need to read you mind anymore."

"Uhm… could you explain everything to me directly?"

Only answering when I have questions, this only leads to another question, it's really inconvenient, and what's with the weird accent?.

"tch."

She flicked her tongue before adding:

"You're an enthusiastic girl. You're dead! Why are you so ardent? You have nothing to catch up to, there's no need to worry about punctuality! We have all the time in the world. In fact, the concept of time doesn't even exist here!"

Oh right. I'm dead, there's no need to worry about time.

I won't need to wait for dad anymore.

I won't need to cook breakfast anymore.

I won't need to come visit mom anymore.

I won't need to wake up my brother Seth anymore.

I won't need to look for my little brother, King.

Ah, he died so there's no point. I might not even see him anymore because he must be in heaven and I'll go to hell.

My head slowly leaned towards the floor in reminiscent.

"Worry not little girl!"

I gazed up to the little angel in wonder of her sudden proclamation.

"Your real brother is not dead!"

My real brother is not dead?

Ahh, King is not dead.

"King is not dead!? But I saw his ghost!"

"Yes, little girl, the ghost you let kill you was just some random ghost who slipped inside the walls. It must have been your guilt that you saw his image with the ghost."

"But what about mom? She saw it too!"

"I think not, your mom was just…"

Just?

Oh wait, I think I know what she means.

"So do you have anything else you want to ask?"

I do want to ask about Seth and mom but, do I really have the right to ask that?

After all, I left them both to ease my own selfish guilt.

Are they alright?

Are they eating 3 times a day?

Are they waking up in time for work?

Is Seth looking after mom? After experiencing what happened when dad disappeared, I think mom would lock herself up again without a care of the outside world.

I hope they're okay though. I have so many worries in my head and I can't do anything about it.

"Hey little girl, ask your questions, don't just think about it by yourself! I don't want to waste energy reading your mind!"

Why does she keep calling me 'little girl'? She's a lot younger and smaller than me. It's really annoying.

Staring at her ticked face, I thought, maybe she has a complex about her height?

"Yes! I do have a complex! But you have one too!"

Hearing her false charges, I batted at her:

"No I do not have a complex! It's not like I'm small like you! I'm tall and I'm sexy too!"

"Haaa? You dare call me small, you little runt!"

Even after seeing her furious eyes, my words didn't falter. I figured I was dead anyway.

"Yes I dare call you little, small, tiny girl! You're not sexy at all! Unlike me, men would run when they see you because they wouldn't want to be called a pedophile!"

"You! You! You!... Sl*t! B*tch! Man eater and, and, Sl*t!"

She ran out of words so she turned to baseless insults?

"Why youuu!!! ywo lwttlew adowrabol!"

I walked towards her and leaned to pinch her cheeks then she pinch mine in response.

What's this?! So squishy! So soft! This face is…

Oh! My! Ghhhhad! She so cuteeeee! adorableeee! Kyaaaaah!!! Can I take her home???

*sob

"Uwaaaah! Eat's knot liek I chos two bee smol! I don't like this figure but I have no choice!"

Seeing her starting to tear up, I stopped squeezing her face to listen to her cries.

"That's why I don't like this job! They always make fun of me! Daaad!"

Job? Dad?

I noticed something unusual about her cries but I ignored it because her face was so adorably cute!

I don't have any more words to describe it, so it's just 'adorable' and 'cute'. I know that!

I'll take her home! I'll reel her with me with words. Hehehe

"Me too! I don't like this figure! I can't get married like this because people always look at me with lecherous eyes. It's disgusting."

I'm not lying but I'm also not saying the whole truth.

Guys look at me with lecherous eyes but they don't really come too close to me because most of them want me to themselves. They would fight each other all the time if someone would come close to talk to me.

It's gross, in a way, but I don't really mind it that much because peace is created through it. It's a win-win but really stupid.

"You're thinking too loud lady. I can hear your thoughts clear as day."

"Ahh I got found! Tehee!"

"I don't know if you're sympathizing with me or just boasting."

"Ho ho ho! My daughter!"

An old man's voice resounded the place disturbing our little quarrel but the source was nowhere to be found.

"What was that?"

"Ahh! Dad? What is it? We're quite busy here, please wait for your turn."

"Okay... I'll just stay here and watch you two talk by yourselves... while I'll be here sitting by 'myself'... waiting."

Did he just sulk?

"Dad please let's not do this in front of the lady."

"Okay… all of you will leave me in the end anyway. You will have to leave me too anyway… By myself. It's alright. I'm fine."

Just who is this adorable little girl's dad that he gets lonely too easily?

"He's the God all of you on the surface worships. Our creator."

"You mean you're a Goddess?"

"That's your question!? Should you not be more surprised that God is speaking to you?"

"Ah! You're right… but I talked to him all the time but he never answers. It's like…"

I averted my eyes in shame. I shouldn't do this…

"Your faith is wavering little lady. Your front is thin. Do you perhaps think that…"

I can't hide anything. I'm far too shameless to just talk to God considering all I have been doing on the surface.

"I am not worthy… My sins are as dirty as a rug tossed in a pool of mud."

"Yes! Good thing you know!"

Irked by her hurtful words I tried to speak up but she added something else before I could.

"You just left the person who tried saved you a second time to guard your own forsaken mother!"

Mom...

"A second time?"

As far as I know, the only time he tried saving me was at the hospital. Did something happen that I didn't know about?

"The ghost! Did you think that the ghost went after you at the hospital because of some coincidence?"

The ghost?

"Yes the ghost! The ghost's target wasn't Seth, it was you!"

I stared at her with confusion. If that was the case, then I think I already know that and experienced it first hand too.

"The ghost that killed Seth one time from your home was after you, not Seth! Seth intercepted it and the ghost got annoyed and went after him instead! But it was only a matter of time before it chased after you once more. Ghosts are devoted monsters wouldn't you say so yourself? They target the most vile of viles."

"You mean?"

I stood frozen from her sudden revelation. Tears were flooding my eyes and were trying to burst with all their might. I was completely lost, and before I could cry in regret, the little Goddess voiced another claim:

"Do not worry! Just apologize and he will forgive! He will make your sins whiter than snow!"

Apologize…

I know that God is merciful but it's not that easy to just forget about it just because he will forgive me.

"Ho ho ho! Your worries are my worries. I will bear all your sins if you pray it. Have I not done it already before?"

I don't know why, but hearing those words made me tremble in both joy and sadness.

Is it really that easy? Those years of detestable acts can be forgiven just like that?

"You are but a simple girl, just like all the creatures I have created, but I hold every inch of your existence as special."

'Special'

Yeah right.

"You take me too lightly my little child. Do you really want to repent with your actions rather than just apologize with all your heart?"

"…"

"Very well. We're having trouble with the missions on the surface, will you be willing to take some of them?"

…

"My cute daughter, fulfill your promise with the boy and make it so that he won't regret anything. If you manage this by yourself, I will relieve you of your restraint."

"Really Dad!? I will go immediately!"

"Remember, you have to do this without my help otherwise it won't count."

"Yes!"

After reading through me and the kid, God's plan went into place and everyone except me started to move.

By everyone I mean there was just me and the little girl who was beginning to be enveloped by a bright light then vanished with an excited expression on her face.