Part 3



The room was pitch black. I lay curled up in the foetal position, on a bed that smelt like clean cotton. My eyes had grown accustomed to the darkness however many hours ago.
I still couldn't remember my life. But I knew I wasn't dreaming anymore. There was no way I could think that now. I did, however, remember every detail of my last moments.
Holding a warm little body close to me as I ran, fleeing down to the basement in desperation when the front door was too far away.
*Eve. She was called Eve. The little girl I was trying to save was called Eve, and she was my sister. Where before I could only guess at her relevance and importance to me – and mine to her – I now knew for certain that she was my baby sister. Her hair was a more washed out red, and had looser, wispier curls than mine, but we had the same dark violet eyes.*
Spying the cupboard I was too big to fit in, and shoving the struggling body in there; At that moment the most precious thing in my world. Kissing her forehead, telling her to stay as quiet as she could possibly be, that I'd be back for her before she knew it. Frantically searching the room for a weapon, something to weild in defence; the weights were too heavy, the old fashioned polaroid cameras too light. Making it to the top of the staircase, hoping to find something in the house I could use. He was on me before I could scream.
I started shaking again. It was so vivid. Alex had had to carry me out of that room. I'd collapsed, shortly after my death had returned to me. Persophone had been true to her word; I now knew I was dead, and how I came to be this way. I couldn't bring myself to be annoyed that she hadn't given me back my whole memory. She had, after all, been specific when she'd said she was going to show me my death. Not my life. My death.
I didn't know how long I'd lain here, wrapped around myself. This room had windows, I hazily recalled - Alex had placed me on this bed, then before I could ask he'd set about firmly pulling every curtain shut, until every ounce of light was banished.
Except his own inner light. He'd stayed with me all this time, letting me shake and sob. Sometimes he'd sit next to me on the bed and rub my back, making soothing sounds and promises that I'd feel better soon. He never asked me any questions, or got me to talk to him, for which I was thankful. I couldn't form a coherent sentence if I tried.
After however long, when the shakes had subsided, and the memory wasn't so fresh or vibrant in my mind, I rolled onto my back and stared up at the ceiling. My mind had been wandering to other thoughts in between flashbacks, which was an improvement from just simply reliving it over and over again nonstop.
I could finally digest all the information I'd gathered. Like that angels existed. And that I had apparently joined their prestigious ranks.
My eyes had become adjusted to Alex's' and my light, which softly illuminated the dark room, like a lamp with a towel thrown over it. It took me a while to realise that there was no ceiling - what I'd thought was just a very detailed mural was actually thick clouds.
*I lay back, watching the clouds roll and twist, feeling a sense of calm wash over me. I was beyond the storm now. I had grieved for my death, for the loss of potential life, of relationships with loved ones. Now I was ready to move forward. My hands were resting on my stomach, as I lay contemplating this new turn of events. I could now think with an open mind, and see that really, I had it better off than most people who died did. If Persephone and Alex's conversation was anything to go by, I was an exception – More than just a spirit, a ghost. I was an Angel. Possibly an Archangel if I'd worked that out right. I'd been able to break Persephone's gaze.
It dawned on me where I'd heard of her before. She was the Goddess Persephone, from Greek mythology. The fair maiden who was tricked into living half the year ruling Underworld. No wonder Alex had asked to speak with her. I recalled her saying something along the lines of 'I of all people, deity or not, would know if she was just a spirit!'. Of course, since she ruled the Underworld, she'd be the one to contact if you had a query about a spirit.
“Alex, what was Persephone doing to me when she first arrived? You know, when I couldn't look away from her eyes?” I was overcome with a new curiosity. I wanted answers, I wanted to know what I was in for. I realized I was eager to find out more. Alex jumped, as my abrupt question broke the long-held silence.
He thought for a moment before answering. “She was drawing your essence into her. While away from the Underworld, she can act as a living gateway to that domain, and so if she'd succeeded in drawing you in, your soul would have traveled straight there.” He watched my face as he spoke, noting every micro expression.*