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"If I ever reach heaven I expect to find three wonders there: first, to meet some I had not thought to see there; second, to miss some I had expected to see there; and third, the greatest wonder of all, to find myself there" -quote

...

Chapter 1: Heaven

-flashback-

I was driving home from my friend's house. By now you could practically see the sky darkening. I need to get home. My dad is going to be mad if I'm late again. Of course I wouldn't be late if Eleck, my friend, didn't keep me out so long. She could talk for hours and never get bored. But she was one of the few people I could count on. Ugh. I'm going to be late again. My dad will ground me for sure.

I sped up to the next street. There all deserted anyway. And I can't miss my plans Saturday because I'm grounded. Eleck would kill me for sure. I took a right and looked out my dark windshield into the night.

"No, no. Stop. Take anything. Just leave me alone," whimpering "please...". The sound emanated through the crisp night air.

Oh my god! What was that!I looked to my left. Nothing. Then I turned and saw it. I skidded to a stop with a screech and jumped out.

"Leave her alone", I commanded with more courage than I felt.

The man standing in front of me simply smiled. He was holding a girl I knew from school. Allie, Amy, I didn't know. The name escaped me. She was a quiet girl, but nice.

Everything was coming to me in a brilliant clarity. I could hear every sound and see everything in slow motion. All this happened in a couple moments.

"Well, weeeell. What do weeee have heeeeere?", he grunted out, then smiled, "Coming to join the party?"

Before I could respond he bashed her on the head and was coming for me. As he approached I could tell he was drunk. He smelled of alcohol and thick cologne and wore a winkled dark jacket . I grimaced now only realizing my disposition. But I have to stop him. The girl couldn't die, not like this. She was so young, so innocent. She was nice and smart. She was good. I took a step forward.

"Go home, you don't want this, trust me." I said softly. I really knew what I was saying. And I don't want to go back there. It was horrible. I could feel understanding showwing through my eyes, and for a second I thought I got through to him. My heart was jumping out of my chest and I could feel every breath. "It will ruin your life, you can still turn back, you don't have to do this," I sputtered.

"Whyyyy of cooouuurrsssse I dooooo..." he spit out drunkenly. "I haaaave a wiiiiitnesss now, and I wouldn't want them to not feel welllllcomed, now would Iiiiiiiiiiii?" he slurred. Of course not. Why don't they ever listen?

Then everything happened very fast. He came for me, and I sidestepped to the left. He fell with a grunt and I chanced a quick glance at the girl. Still breathing, but unconscious. When I looked back he was already up and charging. My sorry ass didn't stand a chance. Not against someone his size. I whipped out my phone and punched in 911.

Then he pulled something out and a loud sound protruded throughout the still darkness. I could see lights coming around the corner.

And then another bang.

And then I felt the cold ground.

And then voices and yells and sirens, all making a complicated music. The man tried to flee but didn't get far in his drunken state.

And then I saw nothing.

-end flashback-

At least I saved her. She'll grow up and live a long and happy life. I guess I did one thing right.

The blinding light left me without sight, even in my own mind. My senses were slowly fading. One by one, they all disappeared. First was obviously sight, then taste, as I could feel the taste of my own blood in my mouth. It had a salty rust taste and it made me thirsty. Smell went with it and then sound. And then feeling in my body left me and I was left weightless to the outside world. And then all ceased. Now even my heartbeat was gone. This is weird. Its like I'm here, but not. Now what? Am I doomed to an eternity of loneliness and solitude in an endless abyss of nothingness? Its like theres nothing, but everything. No sound but at the same time there was thousands of them roaring across the air. How can this be? I need to find my way back, or just some place other than this. I have my own consciousness don't I? I willed my self to awake. Slowly my senses came back. I tried to speak, but all that came out was a whisper. What is this place? Where am I? It doesn't seem like Hell, but it doesn't seem like Heaven either. There is no happiness, or pain. I simply felt numb to the outside world. I tried again, this time with more effort.

"Hhhello...?" It came out, but only a barely audible whisper. "Where am I?"

"Your in the Inbetween my child." said a loving resounding voice. It pulled me to my new reality and I became aware of my surroundings. A wide pale blue sky. A soft pale ground that I could identify as the tops of condensed clouds. Little patches of the sky shown through. There was a pathway that I stood on that seemed safe enough.

"You've died and now you will find out where you will go. Don't worry, it will all make since soon, just follow me." He turned and I wanted to stand, and then I was. I looked down at my body and gasped. My once slightly tanned skin was now a glowing alabaster and I wore all white. My lucid arms could faintly seem to sparkle.

Where did he go? Ugh. Even in death I have bad luck. I looked around for him , without success, and then I made my way where he had started to and found my self in a corridor of creams and soft bleached woods. Its beautiful, mesmerizing even. Nothing too scary yet.

I passed many doors all the same but entirely different at the same time. One was the same pale color and size and shape as the others, but as I neared it, hopelessness consumed me. It was unsettling. I quickened my pace and the feeling soon vanished with the door.

Another was peculiar. As I approached it, I suddenly had to open it. I needed to. No one will notice. But then also a foreboding feeling accompanied it, lingering like a bad aftertaste. I'm just, just so tempted, to peer inside and look. It almost pains me.

"Raven", I jumped and looked at the newcomer. "How nice to finally meet you in person."

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