AFTERLIFE

The Afterlife (also referred to as life after death) is the belief that the essential part of an individual's identity or the stream of consciousness continues after the death of the physical body.

Warning: Due to the nature of the prompt, there will be a character's death in this Chapter. Don't hate me.

{This picks up from Week 2's prompt "Quarantine."}

The BAs were having a full rehearsal one week before the State Acapella Championship when they were interrupted by Beca's dad.

"Dad?" Beca said upon seeing him enter the Auditorium. "What are you doing here?"

"Beca, may I speak with you for a moment?"

Beca nodded and turned to the group.

"Great job today, everyone," Beca said. "I'm calling it. Get out of here and have a great weekend."

The girls started gathering their belongings, and Beca walked over to her dad. Chloe stood watching because something seemed off with Mr. Mitchell.

"Dad, are you okay?" Beca asked, seeing her father's red-rimmed eyes. "Did something happen?"

"There's no easy way to say this," Warren said. "Beca, your grandmother passed away in her sleep last night."

"Grandma Mitchell?" Beca choked out. Warren nodded his head and wiped a tear from his cheek.

Chloe jumped when she heard a heart-wrenching sob echo around the Auditorium. Her head jerked toward the sound in time to see Beca collapse into her father's arms. Chloe put a hand to her mouth as she watched Beca sob against her father's chest. If Beca was crying, something bad happened, and Chloe's heart broke for Beca.

"What's going on?" Stacie asked, also watching Beca and her father.

"I don't know," Chloe said with tears in her eyes. "I'm going to go check on Beca."

Chloe slowly made her way over to the father and daughter.

"Mr. Mitchell, is everything okay?" she asked hesitantly.

"My mother passed away in her sleep last night," Warren said with a catch in his voice.

Chloe let out a gasp as tears filled her eyes. "Oh, my God, I'm so sorry."

"Thank you," Warren said as he gently pulled Beca back so he could look at her. "I'm going to take you home, okay?" Beca nodded. "We'll stop by the office and have you excused for next week since we have to fly to New York for the, uh, the fu-funeral."

Hearing the catch in his voice, Beca pulled her father toward her and hugged him tightly.

"Mr. Mitchell, if there's anything my family or I can do, please don't hesitate to ask."

"Thank you, Chloe," Warren said. "I appreciate your kind offer. I don't know what we need right now. We're still trying to wrap our heads around it."

"Beca?" Chloe said softly, causing the girl to look at her.

"Anything you need, call me, okay?" Chloe said.

Beca nodded her head and wiped the tears from her face. "Thanks," she mumbled. "Could you tell the girls?"

"Absolutely," Chloe responded immediately. She pulled Beca into a hug and whispered, "I'm really sorry about Grandma Mitchell. I'm going to miss her so much."

Beca nodded into Chloe's shoulder. "Me, too," Beca whispered as fresh tears fell.

~~ Afterlife ~~

Later that night, Beca had managed to get her emotions under control. Picking up her phone, she saw a few texts of condolences from the team, and it warmed her heart. She pulled up her text thread with Chloe and sent her a text asking the redhead to give her a call. It felt like only seconds before her phone was ringing and the caller ID popped up with Chloe's name. Beca answered.

"Hey, thanks for calling," Beca said.

"Are you okay?" Chloe asked softly.

"No," Beca responded honestly. "But, I will be."

"Is there something I can do?" Chloe asked.

"Yeah, that's why I wanted you to call," Beca said. "I won't be flying back to Barden until next Saturday."

"That's the day of the State Acapella Championships," Chloe said.

"I know," Beca said. "Everything has been taken care of to get you guys to Atlanta, and that's where I'll be flying into. Once I land, I'll meet you guys at the Conference Center. I just wanted to let you know."

"I"m glad you're going to be able to make it," Chloe said. "It wouldn't be the same without you."

"Don't worry," Beca said. "I'll be there." There was a brief moment of silence before Beca spoke again.

"Hey, Beale?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't let this go to your head, but I'm glad we're friends again."

Chloe let out a small gasp and tears came to her eyes. "We are?"

"Of course, we are," Beca responded with a light chuckle. "I don't cry in front of just anybody."

Chloe chuckled. "I'm glad we're friends again, too. So, um, I was going to hold rehearsals while you're gone. Is that okay?"

"I think we're more than ready," Beca said, smiling when she heard a somewhat frustrated sigh on the other end of the phone. "But, I trust you, and if you think more rehearsals are needed, go for it."

"Really?" Chloe squealed.

"Yes, really," Beca said. "I have to go. We have an early flight tomorrow. I'll try and call later."

"Okay," Chloe said. "Be safe and call me if you need anything. Oh, and send me the information on the funeral arrangements once you know them. We want to send flowers."

"Yes, ma'am," Beca said, ending the call.

~~ Afterlife ~~

Before turning in for the night, Beca set her alarm and sent a few thank you texts to her team. She laid on her bed, staring up at the ceiling and wiping the tears that started to fall again.

At some point, sleep took her into the world of her dreams, and her Grandmother Mitchell was the headliner.

"Beca," a voice called entering the murky depths of Beca's sleep. "Beca, wake up, sweetie." Beca's eyes fluttered as her brain caught on to the sound of the intrusion. "Beca, I need you to open your eyes." Beca opened her eyes to close them immediately. They opened again and closed just as quickly as she was not ready to wake up. "BECA!" Beca sat straight up in the bed, her heart pounding. She swallowed and looked around. Her eyes widened, and she scrabbled back until her back hit the headboard.

"Who-who are you?" Beca asked the figure standing at the foot of her bed.

"It's me, sweetie," the figure said. "Grandma."

Beca got on her hands and knees and slowly crawled closer to the figure. Suddenly, the figure transformed and was now a human form. A human form that Beca knew well. Tears came to Beca's eyes as she whispered, "Grandma?"

"Yes, sweetie, it's me," Sophie replied.

"But how can it be you? You're de-" Beca stopped and swallowed.

"Dead?" Sophie finished. "I know. I am."

"Then, how are you here?" Beca asked.

"I could feel your sadness and came to comfort you," Sophie said. "It's what we Grandmas do."

Beca let out a watery chuckle because it was something her grandmother always used to say to her.

Beca let out a small sob and looked at her grandmother with tears streaming down her face.

"I don't know how I'm going to feel when I walk into your house, and you're not there."

"Oh, my sweet baby," Sophie cooed. She spread her arms wide and said, "Come here."

Beca closed the distance between them and fell into her grandmother's arms.

Grandma Mitchell held Beca until her sobs turned into hiccoughs, and she calmed down. Beca pulled back and looked at her grandmother.

"How can you be hugging me?" Beca asked. "In the movies, when someone tries to hug a ghost, there's nothing there."

Sophie laughed, and Beca's heart warmed. Beca loved her grandmother's laugh.

"The Afterlife is quite surprising," Sophie said. "My body is no longer alive, but my stream of consciousness, or spirit as some call it, is alive. I can show myself in my true physical form so you can see and touch me."

"Thank you for coming to visit me,' Beca mumbled against her grandmother's shoulder.

"Don't worry, my sweet girl," Sophie said. "I'm always around and will visit you when I feel you need me to be there for you."

"I love you, grandma," Beca said, squeezing Sophie tighter.

"I love you, too," Sophie said.

~~ Afterlife ~~

Beca woke the next morning with a smile on her face, remembering the dream she had where her grandmother had visited her. She got up and took a quick shower before dressing and heading downstairs. Her dad and Sheila were drinking coffee when she walked into the kitchen. Her dad stood by the center island, staring down into his cup. He looked sad, so Beca walked over and hugged him.

"You okay, dad?" Beca asked as her father returned the hug.

"I am," Warren said. "We need to leave in about an hour for the airport. Are you packed?"

"Yeah, I packed last night," Beca said.

Warren opened his mouth as if to say something, but closed it when his phone rang. He let Beca go and answered the call.

"Hey, Matt," Warren said, answering the call from his brother.

Beca and Sheila could only hear Warren's side of the call.

"That all sounds good, Matt. Thanks for taking care of everything."

"Could you send that to me, Beca, and Sheila? We have folks here we need to share it with."

"Hm-mm," Warren said. "Hold on, I'll ask her."

Warren turned to Beca. "Matt wants to know if you'll pick out a dress for mom to be, um, buried in."

Beca nodded, and Warren got back on the phone. "She said she would do it."

"Got it. We'll see you at the airport in a few hours. I love you, too, Matt."

Warren ended the call and looked at his wife and daughter.

"Matt finalized the arrangements and is going to send them to all of us."

"That's good," Beca said. "I promised Chloe I'd send them to her."

"I have a few more things to pack," Sheila said as she stood. "I'd better get to it."

Sheila left Beca and Warren in the dining room.

"I had a dream about grandma last night," Beca said, causing Warren to look at her.

"It seemed real," Beca continued. "I hugged her and could smell her perfume."

"Jean Naté," Warren said with a chuckle. "Matt and I used to get her a bottle for every birthday and Mother's Day."

"It is her signature scent," Beca said with a soft smile.

~~ Afterlife ~~

"Uncle Matt!" Beca called out as soon as she saw the man.

Matt hurried over and grabbed his brother, Warren, in a hug. The two men stood unashamed as they held onto each other in the middle of JFK Airport. Matt pulled back from the embrace, sniffling, and wiping his nose.

"You okay, Matt?" Warren asked. "I'm sorry you had to handle everything on your own."

"Don't be," Matt said. "You know how mom is, was. She had everything planned out down to the music and flowers.

Warren chuckled. "That sounds about right."

"Come on, let's get your luggage and get you to the house," Matt said. "Before I forget, we have an appointment with her lawyer on Wednesday for the reading of the will."

"That's good," Warren said.

"How are your kids holding up?" Sheila asked Matt.

"They're doing okay," Matt responded. "I don't think they're really old enough to understand." He turned to Beca. "How are you doing, sprout?"

"I'm good," Beca said. "It won't hit me until we get to grandma's house, and she's not there."

The three older adults became quiet as they nodded, having the same feeling.

~~ Afterlife ~~

The ride to Sophie's house was quiet. Warren, Matt, and Sheila exited the car while Beca remained in her seat.

"Are you planning on sitting out here all day?" Sophie's voice startled Beca.

"Jesus!" Beca blurted out.

"Nope," Sophie said. "Just grandma is fine."

"You're scared the daylights out of me," Beca said, looking to her left to see her grandmother sitting there.

"I'm sorry," Sophie said. "Maybe I can wear a bell around my neck, so you know I'm here."

"Are you planning on popping in on me on the regular?" Beca asked.

"Maybe," Sophie said, causing Beca to grin. "I felt how anxious you were, so I thought I'd walk into the house with you."

"Is anyone else going to see you?" Beca asked. "Or will I look like I'm talking to myself?"

"They'll see me if I want them to," Sophie said. "But they don't need me as much as you do."

"Can you promise me that you'll always be there if I need you?"

"I always was and always will be," Sophie said.

Beca looked down, nodding her head. "I think I'm ready to go in."

"Let's go then," Sophie said.

Beca opened the car door and stepped out. She was surprised to see her father, Sheila, and Matt waiting for her.

"We thought we'd all go in together," Warren said as Beca joined them.

Beca smiled, and when she looked back over her shoulder, her grandmother was no longer there.

~~ Afterlife ~~

"Beca, I don't want to push you, but we need to pick out a dress so we can get it to the funeral home."

"I'll go do that now," Beca said and slowly made her way up the steps.

Beca entered her grandmother's bedroom and went to her closet. She looked through the clothes hung there and pulled out a sky blue dress. Beca smiled because it reminded her of Chloe's eyes.

"Rebecca Cooke Mitchell," Sophie's voice called out from outside the closet. "You are not having me wear that for all eternity. It makes me look like an old lady."

"You are an old lady," Beca said with a smile.

"Don't be cheeky," Sophie said. Beca could tell by her voice she was smiling. "Just because I am an old lady, doesn't mean I have to look like one."

"Okay," Beca said, hanging the dress back on the pole. She pulled out another and stepped out of the closet, holding it up for Sophie to see. "How about this one?"

Sophie smiled when she saw the dress. It was one of her favorites.

"That's the one," Sophie said.

Beca stepped out of the closet and gently laid the dress on the bed. She then chose whatever else she thought was needed and placed everything in a small bag.

"I guess that's it," Beca said, looking around at the same time realizing that she couldn't see Sophie.

It was late when Beca and her family got back from the viewing for her grandmother. She was in her room when her phone's text notification pinged. She looked to see that Chloe had texted her, asking her if she could call.

Beca placed the call the Chloe instead; Chloe immediately answered.

"I wasn't expecting you to call me," Chloe said, answering the call.

"I thought I'd save time," Beca said. "Is everything okay?"

"I was going to ask you the same thing," Chloe said. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Beca said. "It's been a little weird, but my grandma is helping me get through it."

"What?" Chloe asked.

"Okay, so don't be freaked out, but I've seen my grandmother. And can talk to her."

"What do you mean?" Chloe said, sounding confused. "You can feel her around you?"

"No," Beca said and let out a sigh. "That night, after I found out my grandmother had passed away, I had what I thought was a dream. My grandmother was calling my name and woke me up. When I did wake up, she was standing at the foot of my bed."

Chloe listened intently as Beca told of talking to and hugging her grandmother. And how her grandmother helped her pick out the dress she would wear for her funeral.

"I swear I'm not making this up, Chloe," Beca said.

"I believe you, Beca," Chloe said. "The next time she shows herself, tell her I said hi and that I'm going to miss her."

"You're making fun of me," Beca said, pouting.

"No, I'm not. I swear," Chloe said. "I believe that you believe your grandmother has visited you. I just don't believe in ghosts."

"She's not a ghost," Beca said. "I hugged her and didn't go through her like in the movies."

Chloe let out a small scream. "Are you okay, Chloe?" Beca asked.

"I, uh, take back everything I just said," Chloe whispered to Beca.

"Hello, Chloe," Sophie said, causing Chloe's eyes to widen.

"Grandma Mitchell?" Chloe squeaked out.

"Is my grandmother there?" Beca asked through the phone.

"Uh-huh," Chloe said, nodding her head as if Beca could see her.

"Ask why she's visiting you?"

"Wh-why are you visiting me?" Chloe asked Sophie.

"I'm not sure," Sophie said. "I can sense when Beca needs me, and I sensed it just now, only I ended up here with you instead of with Beca."

"I was, um, Beca was telling me about seeing you," Chloe said. "Only I, I didn't believe her."

"Oh," Sophie said. "Do you believe her now?"

"Yes!" Chloe said, nodding her head.

"Good," Sophie said and disappeared.

"Grandma Mitchell?" Chloe called out, reaching for the empty space where Sophie was just standing. Chloe shook her head, unable to comprehend what just happened.

"What's going on, Chloe?" Beca asked.

"She was here, but now she's...gone," Chloe said.

Beca chuckled. "Yeah, she does that. Here one minute, and gone the next. I think she knows when I need to see her and then gets pulled back once the need passes for the moment."

"My heart is racing," Chloe said with her hand on her heart. She let out a small laugh.

"Beca!" Warren's voice called from downstairs.

"Chloe, I have to go," Beca said. "My dad's calling me."

"Okay," Chloe said. "I'll talk to you later."

~~ Afterlife ~~

Beca saw Sophie several times over the next few days. Her grandmother seemed to know when Beca needed her. Either to talk, or just get a Grandma Mitchell hug.

Beca was packing on Friday night when Sophie appeared again.

"Did you come to say goodbye?" Beca asked with a smile.

"I sensed your sadness," Sophie said.

"I'm going to miss you and this place," Beca said, sitting on the edge of her bed.

"Don't worry," Sophie said. "I'll still be around."

"I just wish," Beca started and stopped. She ran a hand through her hair. "I just wish you had seen me perform with my group. We have the State Championships tomorrow, and I wish you could be there."

Sophie pulled Beca into a hug. "I'm sorry I haven't gotten to see you perform, too."

Beca sniffled, and Sophie hugged her tighter. Suddenly, Beca fell back onto the bed as her grandmother disappeared.

"Grandma?" Beca said. She frowned when her grandmother didn't reappear as she had expected she would.

~~ Afterlife ~~

The next morning, Beca's plane landed, and she texted Chloe to let her know. Chloe texted back to tell Beca their rehearsal time had been moved to two o'clock, and the girls were having lunch at the hotel.

Beca read Chloe's text and decided to head to the hotel and join the girls for lunch.

"Beca!" Chloe called out when she saw Beca walk into the hotel's restaurant.

"Hey!" Beca said as the other girls welcomed her.

Amy grabbed Beca in a bear hug, whispering, "I'm sorry about your grandma."

"Thanks, Amy," Beca said.

Beca seemed sad and looked around, hoping to see her grandmother. She got sadder when she didn't appear.

"Beca, are you okay?" Chloe asked, having seen Beca looking around.

"I don't know," Beca said softly. "I haven't seen my grandma since last night. She usually shows when I'm sad, or anxious and I've been both today. I, I think she might be gone forever."

Chloe put her arms around Beca and laid her cheek on the top of Beca's head. "I'm sorry, Beca."

"It's okay," Beca said sadly. "She said she'd always be here when I needed her." Beca let out a small sob, and tears ran down her face. "And I really need her."

Tears came to Chloe's eyes as she continued to hold Beca. After a moment or two, they separated, and Beca wiped her eyes. Chloe was grateful that the other girls didn't say anything about seeing Beca cry.

~~ Afterlife ~~

After lunch, the girls made their way to the Conference Center for their final rehearsal. Chloe stayed close to Beca, in case Beca needed her.

The rehearsal was a bit lackluster—Beca's sadness casting a shadow over the team's enthusiasm.

Chloe spent the rest of the afternoon just sitting with Beca until it was time to return for the competition.

Chloe wanted to do something to cheer Beca up but didn't know what to do.

The Barden BAs were waiting backstage for their turn to take the stage. Beca looked around, the sadness oozing out of her when her eyes suddenly widened, and she grabbed Chloe's arm.

"She's here!" Beca said excitedly.

"Who?" Chloe said, looking around.

"My grandma," Beca said. "She's really here!"

"I don't understand," Chloe said.

"Don't you see her?" Beca asked, her eyes bright with excitement.

Chloe shook her head but couldn't help the smile that came to her face when Beca started bouncing up and down. The rest of the team looked at Beca with furrowed brows. Worried about this sudden change in Beca's demeanor.

"Barden BAs, you're up next," the stage manager told them.

The girls got excited, spurred on by Beca's sudden enthusiasm.

"Let's do this," Beca exclaimed as the emcee announced them.

Beca literally bounced out onto the stage, followed by her team. They got into position, and Beca counted down.

By the time the Barden BAs finished their set, the entire place was on their feet, clapping and cheering. Beca grabbed Chloe and spun her around.

"What has gotten into you?" Chloe asked, laughing.

"I was sad earlier because my grandma was gone," Beca said, trying to catch her breath. "But she's here. Chloe," Beca said and took a breath. "This is the first time my grandmother got to see me perform."

Chloe looked around and smiled when she saw Sophie give her a small wave from the side of the stage. Chloe waved back, and Sophie disappeared.

Chloe wiped a tear from Beca's face and softly said, "I'm so happy for you."