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Purge, Inc.
Into the Vortex
By: Everleigh Allen
Chapter 10
"This is where some souls go after they die so they aren't in danger of trying to return to their deceased bodies. They can and if they so choose, they watch their funerals and such from a safe place and then move on… yours is a bit tricky, I am sad to say. I wish I would've caught on sooner." Lacey said quietly as she glared at Chloe.
Bella had so many questions, but before she could, Lacey gestured for her to follow her after Chloe and Atty left. The door was merely an outline of light she drew from within the mist. There were no more shrieks of pain, nor any other souls (fragmented or otherwise) that she could find.
The room seemed to look like the night sky now that the fog was gone. The inky sky was alit with vibrant, fiery and icy hues of distant nebulas and solar systems. "This is where I leave you," Lacey grinned. "Though I am sure we'll be meeting here again in due time."
"What is this place?" Bella couldn't remember how long it had been before she had seen the night sky, but it didn't compare to what she was getting to witness.
"This is your sacred space," Lacey laughed with amusement as Bella's eyes a lit with wonder.
"This is mine?"
"It is." Lacey nodded. "It really belongs to us all. We are a part of it as it is a part of us."
"Oh," Bella's dejection was noticeable.
"Do you not want the stars to dance for you? Do you not want such beauty within you? Because it's already there. You need to look closer."
"Closer?"
"All will come through in due time."
With that, Lacey faded into the stars right before Bella's eyes. She could see a slight outline of her body before it completely melded with the night sky.
Sitting on the ground, which was also just like the night sky, Bella took in the beauty of the moment. The stars really did seem to twinkle just for her. They seemed to glow brighter as she looked at them and falling stars that she shared her wishes.
She didn't know how long she stayed there when another door finally opened, filtering a bit of light into the starry abyss.
"No wonder ghosts are always trying to find hidden doorways," Bella scoffed with new understanding.
"Well, it helps if you have a key!" Senna dangled a glittering silver key as she laughed. "Hello, Bella. I am Senna."
Senna was a tall woman with dark, flowing hair that looked like it was blowing in a non-existent breeze behind her. The woman grabbed Bella's hand. "Did you see anything that stuck with you in that void?"
"No." Bella scoffed, "I got out of the void that Chloe put me in from Lacey."
"You met Lacey? How lucky!" Pulling Bella along her, they moved quickly through the halls. "What brought on that assembly?"
"Chloe killed me off too soon and so Lacey took my string and tied it with a strand of my hair and said I'd being going back."
"Thank goodness you're somewhat receptive," She laughed. "You get another incarnation as a human."
"And if I don't want it?"
"That strings been strung, buttercup."
"When?"
"When you're work here is done… in perfect universal timing… when you're ready to go back… when you're whole."
"So nothing specific."
"Not at all," Senna grinned. "It all depends on you."
"I see."
"You ready?"
For what?"
"We have to go fetch the file," Senna rolled her eyes as if it was obvious.
"My file?" Horror laced over Bella in an instant.
"Of course. It's been completed since you were otherwise occupied."
"Oh no."
"It's a well-oiled machine!" Senna cackled, "Well, usually." Her eyes darted toward Bella which made her frown.
"How did they die?" Bella was trying to control her emotions but she could feel the hot churn of seething anger inside her. It was more than she's felt for a very long time and it wasn't a welcome experience.
"I have no idea." The woman sighed with disinterest and completely aloof to Bella's internal emotional turmoil. "Wasn't that in your file?"
"One of them," Bella hissed, causing Senna's complete attention.
"What's with you?"
"How do I find him?" Bella countered.
"Oh, uh," Senna took a step back emoting thinly laced concern, finally feeling the rise in tension. "Have you tried booking?"
"Booking? There is no such place."
"Of course there is! Don't you remember your booking?"
"Of course I don't remember my own booking!" Bella lashed out, she couldn't help it. She was tired of people around her asking her questions that she didn't understand or go through. She didn't know that she was a reaper or anything else, she just did her job. She didn't think of her previous life, just was told to do something and went with it. She never questioned anything really, nor did she know there were places and people who may miss her, people she may have hurt and are looking for that energy and love.
She didn't know she was merely existed in a holding pattern awaiting the enlightenment that was long overdue.
"I want to know where Edward is right now- that he's okay!"
"Oh," Senna's eyes widened in understanding.
All the sudden, a whirlwind of freezing cold air ran through them and both shivered.
"What was that?" Senna looked visibly upset but she knew the answer. It had come from Bella, though she didn't think the woman knew it was her.
Senna was much like Bella, doing her job. "I didn't take anyone, Bella." She whispered kindly as anxiety filled Bella's features. "But I know where he probably is."
"Please show me."
Bella was almost ready to take back her words, but instead decided that she had come so far and wasn't about to turn around. She already was made to give up her job that usually occupied her time. All she could think about was the weird feelings she had when she saw his file and how she wanted more of that- more of him and the way he made her feel… something. Bella knew she felt the distress when she had the file taken by Chloe. But she was not used to feeling feelings either so it had her on edge.
Senna nodded.
"He's down here?'
"This is a part of booking, Bella," Senna sighed, shaking her head.
She had worked there for so long that she knew that most souls there didn't know where they were or what they were doing in their abysmal afterlife. They were in a suspension period, of sorts. They weren't energetically powerful to be free thinking enough to figure out viable ways of ascending like those on higher levels. "You don't remember being here do you?"
Bella shook her head.
"You don't remember me either, do you?"
Bella's eyes widened. "Sorry, no. I don't."
Senna looked around cautiously then whispered. "I named you, Bella."
"So you know my real name?" Bella could barely get the words out of her mouth.
But Senna didn't say a word. She just pointed towards the area where a door appeared moments later in the long grey hall.
Bella was sick of hidden doorways.
"Welcome to the next phase of your afterlife," Senna said sadly before she opened the door and pushed Bella through it.
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A/N: Thank you for reading!
I hope you are all still going with the flow of the story and that it's making more sense! Thank you for trusting me with this story and sticking with it! I'll try to update The Journals tonight or by this weekend! I have a painting due by September 15th and so I have a deadline- plus only one day off per week right now. Blessings!