Lilli: Why Wasn't I Told About Heaven

‘You know the fact we hang out so much and go out all the time as not dates. Maybe we should go on a real date.’ Grant says trying to make sure his voice doesn’t crack.

After several months of spending time with Lilli he couldn’t help himself. Lilli thinking the same thing gave in.

‘Alright give me a time and I’ll accept’ Lilli says looking at Grant in the eyes with a mischievous grin.

‘Wait that usually means tonight’ Grant replies after a few moments in complete shock.

‘Well I mean yes. But it is still up to you whether you’re serious.’ Lilli tells him.

‘Alright what about seven?’ Grant says, unable to hold back excitement anymore.

‘I think that sounds great.’ Lilli replies.

‘Okay, sweet how does…’ Grant tries to say but is cut off by Lilli, ‘I want the actual date to be a surprise.’

Grant nods and Lilli walks out the door of his apartment smiling. Later that night he took her to a bowling alley called Fat Rollers a city away. But instead of bowling the normal way Grant noticed she wasn’t all that good at it. So he made a new game for them. Trying to see who could knock the least amount of pins. Followed afterwards by dinner. Where they were almost kicked out, due to slinging food across the table and trying to land it in one anothers mouth. It was officially the start of their relationship. As well as her favorite date they ever took.

“Lilli wake up.” A voice fading in and out. But that wasn’t possible, she was supposed to be dead, Wasn’t she? The last thing that she could recall was Grant kissing her on the cheek. Right before she found out she couldn’t breath anymore. Opening her eyes, even with the haze making it hard to see, she could see that she was lying in an old musty library. It was circular and each of the walls were bookshelves. Except one area, she bolted upright and looked around. She looked at the spot missing a bookshelf, it was bricks placed and cut to look like a door. Vines sprawled across the wall to look like it made intricate designs. Curly cues wound and looped into the crevices across the wall. In place of the doorknobs two roses sat the vines growing from either side of the wall. Looking around the rest of the room she noticed that the floor was a sleek black stone, with each crevice held a red colored stone tying each tile together.. The roof was moss covered stone. But where she sat was pure white. Within the crevices that tied these tiles together was a teal colored filling of some sort. It spanned about ten feet from where she was sitting and then hit jagged pieces of the black stone. When lilli rubbed her eyes to wipe the haze away she noticed the sleek shine that it had. It was obsidian, which explained the floor. She notices some form of clothing and looks up. A strange man stood outside of the circle. The robes he wore were red in color on the inside. But the outside was snow white with golden stitching. Each stitch shifting. Startled by it and the strange man she jumps back slightly. She then looks at the man who had a thin face, ember eyes, and goatee and shakily asks, “Where am I? Where is my husband, Grant, I was just with him… In a field I think.”

The strange man just looks down at her with confusion, and his eyes gleamed with tension. Studying her silently and not answering her. Soon after he begins to pace back and forth in front of her while rubbing his goatee. Stealing glances at her from time to time. He stops and looks at her once again. Recognizing the look on his face she stands up and puts her hand out to him. He wouldn’t accept it though. He just took a step back and continued watching her, but not her face. She followed where he was looking and realized that it was her ring intriguing him. She smiled for a brief moment before it began to glow. Worried she pulled her hand back and looked at it. The ring began to change before the warm auburn color became to bright. She pushed her hand away and turned her head so the light wouldn’t blind her so much. But that wasn’t enough she closed her eyes until the light faded away. When she finally opened her eyes and looked at the ring it changed dramatically. In the place of her wedding ring she found that it was now a steal of some form. Rings and hoops were formed as if the metal was folded several times while it was being forged. Creating two colors of steal one being a dark silver. The other was the color of the ringed creases that was jet black. But that wasn’t it. Two pairs of figures were casted on the ring. She looked at the figures and studied them quietly. One of them was casted with opal stone. It was a hooded figure, clearly human. The design on it was beautiful. It was only from the neck up but it showed a smooth distinction between the neck and the chin. The eyes were covered up by the hood and you could see the figures lips pursed into a smile. The other figure however didn’t look so friendly. It was casted in obsidian, the same as the opal it was human in design with a hood. Only this was was looking straight forward uncovering where its eyes should be. Instead it was an open socket and the jagged opening below them showed the nose. Following down to its mouth each detail of the teeth were carved in as well. Looking at it further from the jaw below was the spine melding down into the steel of the ring. The strange man puts his hand out to her finally. When Lilli finally grasps it after some hesitation he brings it up to inspect it himself. Watching his reaction she noticed his eyes widened slightly. Then quickly receding back to normal size. But his eyes still showed he was clearly in a feared awe of the ring. But instead of finding a way to giver her comfort for losing her wedding ring for this he just stood silent. But this time clearly contemplating on what to say. She took her hand away from him and began fidgeting with it. Seeing if it would turn and it did. She kept turning it and pulling upwards. At some points she would bring the ring up to her face admiring the mysterious beauty it held. But for the most part she wouldn’t stop trying take the thing off. With all the fidgeting, and prying, and at one point attempting to gnaw at her finger and the ring. She gave up after a few minutes and let out a growl. Flustered by this she fell to her knees and slumped own onto her back. Her legs were still folded at the knees but but slightly angled towards her side so she could lay comfortably like that. With how fast she lied down her brunette hair spread across the floor like a fan. She looked at the strange man again trying to figure out who he was. She gave up and looked at the ceiling. Her curiosity of this place rose again. A perfect circle edged with a white aura spread across the ceiling. In it played out some of the most cherished and favorite memories of her rather short life. Such as the time her father taught her to shoot a bow. Or when she met Grant in high school. How she would run into the ever expanding world of horror out of pure fascination. Then one night particular came into view. It was the night that Grant and her snuck out three days before summer vacation started. He was so excited to show her something. She knew that she might get into a ton of trouble, but that didn’t bother her this time. If Grant was excited for something then she needed to witness the fuss. They just sat in the field outside of their high school and talked for hours. Then the conversation waded off. Grant looked up at the sky in shear and pure excitement. The memory faded away from the roof but she held onto it. Remembering each moment. He tapped her hand repeatedly, with the other he wouldn’t stop pointing towards the sky. When she looked up it wasn’t just the magnificence of the stars across the otherwise ever expansive heavens. The moon was cast in the hues and colors of every sunset that could ever dawn across the land below. In the corner of her eyes she noticed the color of the ground change as well. She looked around and saw that a mix between bronze and garnet color casted across the field. She looked at the moon once more then turned to Grant. It was that moment that she knew she fell for him. She turned back to the sky, realizing that she wasn’t only remembering it. But was fully relieving the memory itself in physical form.. The memory began to fade away from her mind and she realized that she was staring straight at the mossy ceiling. Her eyes were hazy again but this time when she wiped them she felt a warm liquid press onto her hands. Pulling her hands away from her eyes she was crying. Then a pale cream colored light came from her hands. Looking at it it changed colors, from blue, to gray, to red all of which glittered. Out of nowhere she was suddenly filled with pure joy and yet pain and sadness engrossed her at once as well. Unknowing why she looked around the library almost honed in on the only other person with her. The strange man stood in the same spot and was watching her rather intently. Looking at him she saw a light emit from him as well, just no glitter like the one she was witnessing on her. It was just a burnt oak color a deep trance encompassing her. She felt like she was sitting in an immeasurable depth. Pressure was all around her forcing her down. Making it feel as if she couldn’t move and was slowly drowning. Then with seemingly nothing she was relieved, everything released followed by an immense amount of curiosity. A light beamed through her filling her with warmth. Almost immediately though she was overwhelmed with the feeling fear, desperation, pain, and sadness all blasted at her once again. Pride and happiness followed shortly after. With that it stopped and her sight was back to normal but that created more questions, the man walked to her at a brisk pace. Holding out his hand to help her up. Lilli cautiously took it and sprung to her feet. After getting on her feet she stumbled back from the stranger. Making it apparent that she was on edge by him. Whether out of fear or misunderstanding she didn’t show it. The man just continued to read her for a few more minutes. She walked around the room and looked at all the books. They shelves seemed to have everything. From the entire history of the universe. She picked one off the shelf and read the cover. It read “The Convergence of Radiance” She opened it up and it began reading. It soon came apparent that this was documented proof of the universe and it’s creation. All the way to the present. She closed the book out of curiosity for the rest on the shelves. Walking from shelf to shelf she grabbed book after book. Looking at the title, reading a few pages then placing it back in it’s spot. Finally she reached the end of the shelves. The space that was covered in shrubbery in order to look like a door was gone, in its place was an actual door. The door was brazen in silver trimming. The wood was dark and polished, as if it was just created. The silver trimmings coiled and snaked across the expanse of the door, ending in little flails. The door knobs were nothing more than latches. Wrought Iron circlets attached to a nickle sized silver brace. Cracks in the dark wood showed slight aging however new it may have looked from a distance. To Lilli it felt really familiar for some ominous reason. She couldn’t quite create a sure reason as to why. The writing of the indistinct languages from what she read earlier was etched across the door as well. She just ignored it and looked at the stranger behind her. He waved his hand towards the door, she opened it and peered on the other side. It was a serene and enticing sight to behold, she exited and the man followed through. She glanced back to see if the door was still their. But it wasn’t, in its place was a cobblestone wall. Looking back she was engulfed in the beauty once again. The sound of a babbling brook filled her ears, the room was the size of a large field. She looked for the brook, once she did her eyes trailed down it. Shrubbery and trees sprung up around the field. At the end of the brook a pond was strewn surrounded by juniper, mahogany, and pines. Feeling like home to her. Her emotions began to rise however she pushed it away. She then followed the brook in the opposite direction, a fountain stood as the source for the stream. Looking across and beyond the large room there was a field of wildlands, a mountainous area, and an area that seemed to be meant for camping. Hot springs, at least that is what the area looked like, and lakes sprawled across that last area. You could hear birds chirping in every direction. Looking towards the field of wildlands something caught lilli’s eye. She looked and saw the stranger standing in the water of the fountain. Squinting to try and see clearly due to a gleam that shined in her eye. At the back of the fountain was a mirror with silver trimming. The trimming was styled like grape vines winding around the mirror. Walking closer she noticed that twelve gems were strewn across the top, either side of it, and the bottom. Looking at the top first she noticed a split gem. It was the white cream color of the living figures on her ring. The black side matched exactly the skeletal figures as well. Looking to the left of the gem she noticed that a blue topaz sat their. Looking at the other stone she couldn’t quite tell, like the white and black stones, what it was. Orchid and lilac in color and though it was smoothed out. The patches of the other color that lay across it looked as if a battle over dominance was held. Finally she asked, “Um, Excuse me mister. Where am I?”

The stranger paid no attention to her comment, instead he was back to looking her over. Like she was some absurd anomaly. Sometimes he would purse his lips or begin to say something. Only to stop, still trying to find what to say to her.

“Please, sir just tell me where i am. I could have sworn I died just minutes ago.” Lilli asks.

Her voice cracking slightly but held more persistence this time.

The stranger just turns from her and walks out of the fountain and away from her, towards a table. It’s legs were spiraled from bottom to top Spikes protruding from them. I looked like it was taken from the top of Notre Dame itself. The slab that was placed on top had a teal trimming. To match the legs it was notched and curved out every couple of inches. The slab platform itself was a slate of polished obsidian. Sitting on the table was a golden charm, chain linked together to hold a glass ball. The charm looked to be nothing more than a knick-knack until looking closer at it. Lying within the glass ball sat an hourglass suspended with nothing hoisting it up. The sand would fall like any other hourglass, but when it was depleted to the bottom it would rotate on its own. Restarting the cycle once again, in an ever lasting loop. When the stranger picked it up the sand somehow went in reverse. Taking the sand to the top followed by falling to the side. That way the sand wouldn’t escape unless you could reach inside and flipped it back to normal. He walks towards her and hands her the charm, unclasping it to put around her wrist. Once it was unclasped the hourglass seemed to turn towards her. Every time she tried to move away from it the hourglass would mimic. She reaches out and allows him to clasp it on her. When he does the clasp vanishes and the hourglass falls vertical, the sand in it disappearing. She grabs it with her free hand and examines it. Now that it was in her care she could physically feel a heartbeat that wasn’t her own. Slowly, though, the sand began to react to her touch and reappeared. The sand just sitting on the bottom half, only enough to fit onto a staple was left on the top half. Shrugging it off she looked at the table and noticed the man was still watching her. She turned to enjoy the scenery some more only to be stopped by a tap on her shoulder. Ignoring it she walked forward to actually enjoy everything surrounding her. Tapper her on the shoulder again she kept facing away from him. Soon after she walked towards the brook humming to a tune that she knew. However the words escaped her at the moment. She knelt down and placed her hand in the brook. The swishing as it washed with the flow and the ever so slight sound of crashing on either side of the shores. The sound was almost calling invitingly to her. She dipped her hand in and waved it around, feeling the cool current rushing past. Taking off her shoes she glances behind her to see if the stranger was watching her still. Unsurprisingly he was, so she continued to dipping her feet in. Making her feel like she was at home, up the canyon that she spent so much time at. The combination of her friends and family, the familiarity felt good.

“I’m sorry for ignoring you my dear. I’m just slightly skittish about you, you may ask me anything. I will answer to the fullest extent I can.” The man says.

Lilli continues to stare into the brook as she contemplates his request. Still refusing to meet his gaze she mires her newfound experiences here. She shifts her gaze to the right and notices four seats that were about the same size as one another. However, just like earlier, a sense of familiarity came to her when she looked at the middle pair. She just admired the handiwork from afar for a short while then turned back to the expansive fields before her. Curiosity won her over, getting up she walked to the seats. Looking at the three of them she admired the accuracy of stone work that they had. Looking at each of the backs and then the arms. But coming to the middle two she saw two things that at first seemed like banners. Looking closer at them though she realised that one seat was draped with blue shaded cloth. Picking it up she felt both sides, one side was extremely smooth. The other had a fluffy coating on it with the trim being baby blue silk. It looked cut in half, looking at the other arm she found that it was the missing piece. Smiling she picks them both up and rubs them against her cheeks. When she felt stitching she took it from her face. Realizing that it was her name embroidered on it she realized that this wasn’t just a replica. But the exact same blanket that her grandmother had made for her when she was a newborn. The style of her name said it all, laughter rose from her surroundings. Filling her ears and thoughts, the memory of her eighth birthday sprung to life around her. Shaded figures formed and walked around the room, they were much taller than her. Looking down her arms were the same way when she was eight. The room where the party was came into view around her. None of the shaded figures fully filled out. But they each had the voice of one of her family members, able to pinpoint who was who. Looking up a chandelier was there, but it was made from elk horn husks with the horns facing upward. She heard her mother call her from the other room. Walking in there she realized that she had to look up at her, the same way a child looks up at an adult. The laughter and conversation rose but a hushed harsh whisper whipped around the room. It seemed that only she could notice it though, distracted she followed it back into the kitchen. Only certain words could be made out at a time. It bounced between the living room and the kitchen. She stopped in the living room and noticed the shaded figures weren’t moving. But the conversations were still going. The figures turned to her and slowly the whisper over encompassed the conversations. It continued until she could clearly hear the words spoken.

“The twisting fates of a sickening life, and the destruction of the fruitful shall stand united.” The sound of many voices rose. Though it couldn’t be discerned the wall began to glow with each word. Although they were to distorted to read any distinct words or letters. The party and the memory faded away but the Grove came back into view. The words still imprinted on the stone walls. She turned to the stranger finally admitting defeat she asked, “Where am I? You said you would answer but please don’t give me anything vague. Just a straight answer with this please.”

However she was admitting defeat due to fear, her tone of voice showed it. Nodding in agreement the man answered, “Well my dear you stand within The Grove. The only place where the dead can’t be judged by the reaper himself. However I don’t know how your judgement would bear to begin with. Seeing as you have an odd acceptance of death.”

She smiled but looked past his shoulder. The writing was pulsating on the wall and the whispering faded in and out of her ears. The newfound world feigning away and rushing back. Something was wanting her to follow the scribe, but she fought it. However her death was known already, but a place between the planes of death and life. Where the cold embrace of Death himself could not reach, that didn’t make any sense. Not even from an atheistic perspective of life.

“The Grove huh, how come I ended up here instead of heaven?” She asks.

The whispers still being heard, but she tried to push any acknowledgement of it away. Though the overly bright light from the scribe was another matter entirely. The robed man just looked at her with a forlorn expression on his face. Trying to find a way to answer the question.

“Well child I must sadly admit. There is no heaven or hell. But it is reincarnation. Back into another body and a new life.” He answers showing no dissuasion.

Lilli’s heart skipped a few beats and her breath caught in her lungs. Quickly recovering and accepting it. One question wouldn’t escape her thoughts however.

“Where is Grant now. Is he in the same predicament as me? Oh and I have to follow up with when can I see him?” She asks.

“well he is still on earth it seems, and I wouldn’t describe your situation as a predicament, but more of an honor. As for seeing Grant he should be back soon. Oh and I forgot to mention, my name is Alguro” he says while looking around the grove he takes a deep breath.

“Come with me and allow me to show you something that will take your breath away” Alguro says before walking away. Lilli raises an eyebrow but follows none the less.

****

“Wipe those looks off your faces. She is my wife I will not lose her again.” Grant grumbles at Alex and Death while wiping tears away. Alex and death exchange a quick glance. Grant turning from them so that he doesn’t feel quite as ashamed for sheading a few tears.

“I would have done the same if I were in your shoes. So don’t worry too much about it.” Alex says in a humble tone.

Grant takes a glance over at them. Death gives him a quick glance before looking away. Grant whole heartedly swore he saw tears shed and fall down his cheeks. Thinking nothing of it due him being the being with nor form of feelings. Looking around he realizes that he kept his promise of running away. Even with the outcome a little more dark than he originally sought for. Both needing to die to officially see that. Yet, possibly in her mind, this could be purely romanticized.

“So now what is the plan Grant? You ready to handle what can happen now? Do you understand the power that you hold?” death asks.

Belligerently obvious looking for an answer. Grant looks at him with confusion and just shrugs his shoulders at him. He just started walking away shortly after Alex and Death follow.

“So where to now?” Death asks.

“The grove, I need answers that only Alguro can give me. And he will give them to me.” Grant replies.

****

“Do you know why people cherish life so much Lilli?” Alguro asks as he opens a door and walks inside.

Lilli follows him in while pondering the question. But once she enters the room she forgets it altogether. Within the room there were no walls, just flor. The cosmos outstretched in all directions. Galaxies flew by in the expanse. Purely awestruck Lilli walked towards the nearest clump of stars. But, Alguro tapped her shoulder to snap her out of the trance. Looking over her shoulder towards him, a structure stood behind the door they entered. The structure was so surreal Lilli didn’t know whether to pinch herself. The structure was gold in color, but gleamed hues of purple, red, and blue. The base looked, hoping that this was still scaled by earthly laws, about half a block wide. As it rose it would jolt at an angle towards onside. Then it would level out and a giant sphere would protrude towards the sky. I continued to do this until eight spheres sat atop each leveled out area. Walking towards it she noticed the spheres weren’t different hues in color, but different materials altogether. The first was opal, and as she walked closer she noticed something. The structure looked like a tree with multiple spheres protruding from each branch.

“What are those?” Lilli asks pointing at the spheres.

Alguro looks up at them and smiles, while he continues walking towards it. Still concerning herself with the structure. She didn’t acknowledge Alguro speak or wave his hands around. When she finally gave him acknowledgement Alguro was waving his hands in her face.

“Alright seeing as I’m sure you didn’t hear me the first time. Why do people cherish life so much?” Alguro asks her once again.

Lilli scrunches up her nose making her freckles more prominent, as she tries to think of an answer. After a few moments of thinking a Cheshire grin grows across her face. As well her eyes widened.

“For me it was quite literally living. But wonder and the feeling of exhilaration as I built a life. Why do you ask?” Lilli replies.

“Well for starts, everyone answers differently. Secondly fruition, willpower, life, curiosity, and creation are five of eight blocks of life. I’m sure by now you have noticed that the weird structure is like a tree. Well that is its purposes it is, the tree of life if you would. Each of those modules exceeding from each branch holds the purest forms of those eight blocks of life. The modules themselves are forming into embodiments of each block. Only one person has ever entered them to see what truly creates those embodiments. What he told everyone is that those modules looks different to anyone that looks at them now what is it you see?” Alguro finally finishes.

Lilli raises an eyebrow at him then looks at the tree. Taking in each module and trying to piece together what they are before finally answering.

“Well the first branch holds a giant opal. The second is pearl, then silver, rose quarts, dirt, grass, wood. Finally obsidian. What do they mean?”

Alguro chuckles before answering “Well opal means life. The pearl glimmers with every color if put in the right light. Standing for imagination, or wonder, or hope. Then the silver is, well kind of confusing but the third block is fruition. In your case it seems to show in a form of wealth. Rose Quartz is love. Dirt is a seed of creation. Grass is life that sprouts as we grow and learn. Wood is willpower, trees are resilient and find ways to flourish. Finally we have obsidian. The stone that means death as well as finding comfort and making amends. Each a bearing fruit and block in life. Every person latches on to a set of these bricks. Which create their reason for cherishing life."

Lilli, with her newfound knowledge, stood in amazement. Mouth agape while she took in the sight of the tree of life. Taking in each detail and pinning it to memory. For some reason she felt drawn to it. That here was something that resonated with her. Each brick of life she recognized from memories of her life. The more she focused and pondered on the outline and idea of the tree. The more connections she could draw and the more sensible it became.

“You are free to come and go from this room as you wish. But keep this a secret, even most elders don’t know the existence of this place.” Alguro says as he gently places a hand on Lilli’s shoulder.

Lilli just nods her head without taking her attention from the tree. Alguro just chuckles and leaves her alone in the room. Behind her a door closed shut and she just loomed at the tree.

“You are devout in the ways that cherish life. As for death you have embraced it with grace. But we have yet to see who you truly are Lilli Ann Michaels, now don’t we?” a voice cracks through the silence. Lilli glances over her shoulder. With no sight she turns back to the tree. Each fruit of life literally glowing. Lilli standing their in pure silence. A calm wave consuming her. She takes a seat and watches the tree. Each branch swayed and shifted to another point on the tree. Though there was no wind to give way for movement.

“What are you deepest fears? May it be that you never see your family?” the voice returns.

Although this time it was a whisper teeming into her ear. Prying for her most intimate thoughts. Lilli gives a slight chuckle and gives in to the otherwise crazy situation,

“Well I guess not seeing my family will become overwhelmingly sad, but I will find a way to push past it. Honestly I’m afraid of what I left in life.” Lilli says softly.

after she put her knees up and rests her head on her hands. Her eyes begin to water reflecting on her short life.

‘What did I leave behind? Better yet why did I leave it all behind? I was too obsessed with my sulking over grant that I never thought about what, or who, I was missing. But now that I’m dead it’s easy to see.’

A hollow chuckle fills the void, “So you feel you were selfish. I understand now what your greatest fear is. The foundation you have laid behind each step as you lived was a clean slate. Or did you leave a path riddled with cracks and corrosion? Was your life truly a path as an impact to be remembered?”

Lilli just shakes her head trying to wave off the comment. But the voice just rang through her head. Resonating down to her very being. Letting out a loud wail in pain, sadness and regret, could all be sensed in it.

“It’s fine I felt the same way, more or less, when I dawned the title.” The voice from before chimes in this time in a calm voice.

a hand fell on Lilli’s shoulder clenching her muscles she kept weeping. The figure stepped into the room, almost like he just walked into existence.

“The time to grieve and reminisce is now. Tell you what I’ll give the entry to this room to you too. It’s quite calming isn’t it?” the young man says squeezing Lilli’s should.

Attempting to reassure her he sits with her, in silence he just sat their for comfort. Finally Lilli finds strength to swallow her grief. Setting her head up to loom at the tree some more. She turns her head to see the person accompanying her. He was lanky, dressed in a zip up hoodie, long shaggy and gnatted hair, to finish his ensemble he wore tattered gray jeans with the color fading. He was giving her a crooked grin but it didn’t alarm Lilli at all. His face was sunked in looking like skeletal features. She extends her hand in greeting, the boy accepts it in a humble manor.

“My name is Lilli Ann Michaels. It’s good to meet you Mr.?” Lilli says in an unnaturally calm tone.

“Lokee, been here so long that I’ve forgotten if that’s my real name or not. most just call me death though.” Lokee replies in a chippy tone of voice. Lilli nervously chuckled, but felt no fear or curiosity. Just sadness strained across her. But almost as quickly as the feeling rose she fought it back down. But not fast enough for Lokee to identify it. Instead of prying he just stood up gently tugging on her hand.

“Let me show you how to get out of here. If it isn’t for me then do it for that mopy sap you call a husband.”

Lilli’s eyes perk and she smiles, “Grant is here too? I thought that was just a dream.”

“Now, it wasn’t. I’m sorry but you truly did die in his arms. I was here trying to destroy the tree. Sometimes, even with fate or destiny playing its hand, it destroys a life gleaming with so much light. But of course you have to be a guardian.”

“I’m sorry a what? And I remember seeing you there watching me die. So how were you here too?”

“Ah, yes, I forgot to mention that I have omnipresence. It means I can be in one spot or multiple if I so wish.”

“Oh, so you’re still with my mopey? How close are you guys, because I don’t want to leave.”

“Pretty close, and to come back you can just do what I’[m about to do. As for the guardian thing Alguro and the others will explain it better than I can.”

With that Lilli pulls herself to her feet with the help of Lokee. He reaches into the void behind them and makes the gesture of opening a door. When he reels his arm back the glimmering light from the grove bleeds through. Lilli peers through in disbelief. The warm light seeped through followed by a brisk breeze. The field and brook came into view. Lilli began to walk through, but paused to ask, “You promise that I can come back whenever I want?”

“I promise, just do what you saw me do and it will open a door to Eden. Now hurry we are almost here.” Lokee replies.

With that Lilli briskly walks through the door waving goodbye. She turns and finds the brook so she could dab her feet. As she walks toward the brook she takes off her sandals. When she reaches the water she dabs her feet in. it wasn’t ice cold but a perfect blend of and warm. Lilli breathes a sigh of relief.

‘Things might not be so bad.’ Lilli thinks to herself. As she waves her feet back and forth she looks around the grove a bit. Noticing things that weren’t there before. Such as the forest area having a light breeze whisping through. The branches gently swaying, while the leaves were being flicked back and forth. Standing off in the brush Lilli caught sight of a doe grazing alongside its fawn. The sole fact that other creatures were able to live here shocked her. But it still held an earie serenity to it. Quickly she looked over to the vast field, looking closer to find signs of life. It would pass closer to a meady than a field. The brook ran into it winding and curving. Giving the meadow a feel of harmondy. Especially after noticing that it flowed through to the lake with the waterfall. Movement caught lilli’s eye. Looking over to the meadow off in the distance a large nearling blinding light. A road materialized in front of it and ended at the cobble plaza where Lilli was at. The light itself formed into a circular opening. Like a gate opening into the very fabric of existence. In the same fashion of Lokee. Three figures walked through the gate and onto the pathway. Lilli watched them, the one in the middle was taller than the other two. But it seemed to be slouching. The other two figures walked faster on the pathway. Sometimes one would walk closer to the other and throw a punch hard enough to teter them off balance. Lilli couldn’t help but laugh at the two. As the figures drew closer lilli was able to identify the lanky one goofing around. He was with a younger kid. Probably seventeen or so. The kid had mid length curly brown hair. As they came close lilli notices the kid has blue eyes. To make things even more confusing the kid had milk chocolate skin. The bulky mopey figure dragging his feet lilli instantly recognized. Grant sulkingly walked up the pathway the gate closing and behind him the pat dissipated. Lilli just shook her head instead of going over to him. She waited for him to notice her. Heading over to Lokee to be introduced to the kid she had no recognition of. Lilli put her hand out to him. The kid looked at her and gave her a goofy grin. He grabbed her hand and courtsied before kissing it,

“My, my, what a rare find we have here. My name is Alex what is yours?”

lilli couldn’t help but chuckle before replying, “Lilli it is quite nice to meet you.”

Alex just looked at her with a quizzical look looking back at grant, who is still dragging his feet in the plaza. Alex dropped her hand to make sure grant didn’t see. Lilli just giggled and threw her head towards grant. His head was still down so Lilli just rolled her eyes and turned to Lokee and alex.

“So how long have you two been here?” lilli asks.

Alex’s smile slowly fades away. Lilli looks him over trying to judge whether her words might have been a little crude. A pained expression sprung up on Alex’s face. Lilli put her hand on his shoulder trying to reassure him. Alex clears his throat and finally says, “Only about a year. Still kinda stings knowing I’m technically alive but can’t be with my family. But I’m doing everything to protect them from here so it’s not all that bad.”

Lilli looked alex over one last time before turning to Lokee. Without thinking much on it she blurted out, “So how long have you been her exactly, Lokee?”

Lokee’s eyes just widened and motion with his hand towards his neck. Lilli knew immidietly she had struck a chord.instead of pressing she just looked around and pointed to the first person she saw, which was Alguro. Alex and lokee both laughed.

“That is Alguro, you’ll learn as we go along Lilli.” Lokee says.

She gives him a half crooked grin and looks around for grant. She couldn’t spot him anymore. When she turned back to alex and lokee they just stood their pointing behind her. Lilli with a quizzical look slowly turned, slightly worried. But when she turned she saw her husband mesmerized by something in front of him. She waved at him and watched him do a half wave back. Which was followed by a halfcocked grin. But he didn’t seem to believe what he was seeing so he slowly trudged towards her. Lilli smiled at him and he picked up his pace towards her. Lilli couldn’t help but giggle at him as he paced from walking to running. His burly figure go through the motions. Lokee and Alex snickered behind Lilli watching. Once grant finally reached lilli he grabbed her by the waist and lifted her up. He began to spin her around and round. Lilli laughed in glee and grant kept his goofy grin plastered on his face. To neither of their attention Alguro began walking towards them. He only stopped because a voice began to echo through the grove. Grant finally put lilli down, both still blissfully unaware of the ever growing voice. When they locked lips the voice boomed,

“Alguro, did you catch your sister! Or have you failed that as well?”

startling the both of them they jumped from one another. Looking around lilli only heard a crackle spreading through the air. Out of seemingly nowhere lilli’s normal sight faded away. She saw the grayish blue highlights of the grove once again. She clenched grants hand in fear, but just as in life, her barely noticed. But gently tightened his grip around her hand. Giving her the reassurance she needed to brave this. When she turned to him he was fully colored in. it was almost crystalline and each color of the spectrum gleamed from him. Turning to Alguro he gleamed of the same red glow from earlier. She paid no attention to him, but a glance. She loomed over at Grant once again. Almost instantaneously she knew why he was colored like that. The fact that he embodied so many strengths as well as acknowledged his flaws. Almost too much at times, but including now, as it was then. She still couldn’t help but fall for him more. She turned her face away from him as she felt her cheeks heating up. She caught a glimpse of a rose glow. Without even realizing it her attention went towards it. Realizing who it was slightly took her by surprise. Though it was only through not knowing who alex truly was that it shocked her so much. Something else was drawing her attention though. Turning her head ever so slightly she caught sight of what was supposed to be lokee. In his place was a black void. It looked like all the light around him was dimming and being drawn to him. Everytime her moved it would take a moment for the darkness to follow. Almost like it was following him in slow motion leaving traces behind. Slowly lokee’s characteristics came through. He brought one of his hands up to his face. Putting his finger to his mouth. The other arm was extended to her. She let go of grants hand and grabbed lokee’s when she grasped his hand the surrounding world turned into a gray haze and everyones body began to glow. Only to have there bodies twist and crack, only now they were encased in some form of crystal. When that happened the whole world began converging on itself until she saw the warm glow that the tree of life gave off. Gasping for air Lilli knelt over and placed her hands on her knees. Her vision was splitting into two. Fading between staring at the pitch colored floor in eden and hearing a strange man yell at Alguro.

What is happening!” She yelled in shock. Laughter drowning out the other noises and consuming everything she hears.

“I knew their was a feeling I felt intertwined with you. You truly are of the new era.”

“What does that mean and weren’t we just in the group?” Lilli asks hands still on her knees.

Looking up and seeing Lokee with a mischievous grin he nods.