The taste of copper filled Anita's mouth as pain wracked her body. Crimson splattered the interior of her car and her head was smashed into her airbag that had failed to keep her safe. She knew she shouldn't have been driving today. The roads were too slick and the man in the car behind her too carelessly intoxicated and shoved her off the steep slope just next to the paved road. This was the end and she knew it; she prayed to whatever god pitied her situation most that this would end quickly. At least she didn't have a family and kids to worry about… the edges of her vision blurred before enveloping her in darkness, and she succumbed to her inevitable death.
When she opened her eyes again, she wasn't met with the abyss of empty nothingness she'd expected, nor was she engulfed in flames as she was pounded by infinite fists fueled by rage. Instead, she was in a room not too small, decorated with marble floors and a posh little couch in the corner occupied by a cross looking woman with room for one more. Anita sat down next to the other woman, daring to poke her in the arm. A woman in her late thirties with a full head of silvery white her whipped her head around to look at her, "What?" she spat, obviously not in good humor.
"Oh, uh, hi. Where are we?" Anita asked, taking another glance at the room, not recognizing it at all.
The woman just rolled her eyes, "take a look around, we're in a lobby, duh." She said. Well, that explained the little potted plants loitering the place as earthy ornamentation, but not exactly how she got here. The dumb smile on the Latina woman's lips told her that she didn't understand, "see that woman there, behind the desk?" she said, pointing to a pale, glasses-wearing brunette behind a little glass window. "See, she decides where we're going. Heaven, Hell, purgatory, back to our bodies, or to be reborn. After getting the paperwork done, she'll send you on your way." She explained to which Anita nodded.
"Wow… this is really nerve-wracking, huh? I really hope I don't go to hell," she chuckled. To this the other just smirked.
"Oh please, take a look at yourself; I doubt you'll go to hell after they put you in that," she said, gesturing to Anita's new wardrobe, not the battered and bloody outfit she was wearing during the incident. Instead she found herself in a satiny ivory dress adorned with what seemed to be swans' down. The dress seemed to be the epitome of angelic. This put her worries to rest if it had anything to do with where she was going.
"Carriedo, Anita," beckoned the brunette behind the desk. Anita came forth and smiled at her, greeting her with a 'hello!' that was received with an unamused frown.
"Yes, hello," she said, tapping a stack of papers with a pen in her hand before briefing her on the situation at hand. "Throughout your life, although it ended at an unfortunate age, you've always shown sunny disposition and positivity even through countless adversities. You have never been one to judge others, nor discriminate on race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, age, or disability. Because of this, many treasures await you in heave-"
"Yeah? So do I get to go up now? Do I get angel wings? That'd be really cool- Oh! Can I fly? Is there food in heaven?" Anita interrupted to quiz her.
"I was not finished." The woman scolded, "Although you were assigned to go on to heaven, the paperwork was neglected to be stamped. Your death was not expected, so we hadn't prepared for this to happen." She said.
"Wha... Where do I go, then?" she asked, appalled. Were all her good deeds and way of life all for naught?
"You will be going to Hell." She said, pushing her glasses up to rest higher on the bridge of her nose. "However, you will not be subject to torment such as most of Hell's occupants. Instead, you will be staying with the lady in charge, or queen, Lovina. Even though you'll be escaping typical torments of the place, Lovina can be less than pleasant to deal with, so good luck to you." She said, dismissing her.
Opening up on the marble floor below her and just a few steps ahead was a circular hole, eerie with dark swirling reds and mahoganies. She looked back to the woman at the desk, to which she gave a nod, "go on, when the paperwork is stamped you'll return here and I'll be able to send you up." She assured her.
"Ah, okay." She agreed, still not sure about the whole ordeal, but she didn't really have a choice here, did she? She took a deep breath, clamping her eyelids shut and taking a step forward, letting herself fall into the unknown and letting fate have it's way with her.