Chapter 2: Too Bright

Ivy silently blinked. The sky above her was a vibrant blue, painted with pastel white clouds. Where had the grey ceiling lined with deep cracks and open support beams gone?

Ivy slowly turned her head to the left where a baseball laid, just inches away from the tip of her nose.

"What the-" Ivy gasped, startled by the sound of her own voice. Her cheek was pressed against the soft grass beneath her, still damp with morning dew. She quickly sat up and looked around- only to freeze from what was before her.

It was an open field of grass that glistened under the afternoon sun. The edge of the field was straight and bordered by a smoothly paved path. Opposite of it was another picturesque field that was lined with a baseball diamond. Players dressed in loose shirts and shorts stood at the bases, while one jogged over with upturned brows.

"Hey, are you alright? Geez, that ball didn't hit you, did it?" He asked, stepping under the tree's large shade.

Ivy's mouth hung agape. She pulled her legs close while looking up the male with wide eyes. This surely wasn't heaven, was it?

"Where…where am I?" She stuttered, eyes darting around like a lost puppy.

"Uhm," The male scratched the back of his neck, "School? Crap she must have a concussion…" He hissed under his breath. "Coach is gonna kill me."

The words he spoke sounded foreign to Ivy, who slowly shifted her gaze to the huge building to her left.

A tall set of grey steps lead up to the front doors. Four rows of glass windows stretched around the building's grey exterior. It was shockingly familiar.

"Abbott Tech High school.." She murmured.

The male in front of her perked up and nodded. "Exactly! Looks like you're just fine then." He flashed a relieved grin before reaching down to grab the ball.

"Well I'll be going now."

"Wait!" Ivy scrambled to her feet, forcing her wobbly knees to keep her up.

"Why am I here? I…I was dead just a second ago. Why am I back at my own highschool?" The question rolled off her lips as fast as they'd come to her head. Being here didn't make sense at all. Was it her own form of heaven?

"Uh," The male began to back away, unable to hide his bewilderment. He suggested that she go visit the school nurse before dashing back to his baseball game.

Ivy watched with wide eyes before looking around and taking in the bustling area around her. There was no mistaking it- this was her old school.

"No way," She looked down and flinched. Her black leather jacket and jeans had been replaced with a beige cardigan that loosely hugged her small frame, a plaid skirt reaching her mid thigh and a white undershirt with black tie. It was her old school uniform.

Blankly, Ivy went over to the nearby oak tree and kicked it's stump as hard as she could. Pain radiated through her foot, and the tree failed to disappear. This…was all too real.

Suddenly the loud sound of a clinking bell went off and herds of students responded by walking towards the school's front doors. Ivy's feet began to move on her own.

The chaotic thoughts that swirled through her mind quieted enough for one voice to break through.

Everything was a dream. You've finally woken up.

The voice was her own, and Ivy felt inclined to listen. Perhaps all those years living without a purpose was just a terrible nightmare. One she finally woke up from. Ivy grabbed onto that theory like a lifeline. Using it, she pulled herself closer towards the doors of the school. She probably would've gone in without much question. However, just as her foot pressed against the first step, a frantic shout caught her ears.

"Ivy!"

The girl froze in place as waves of students passed by her. She slowly turned around.

A tall male with dark black hair stood a few metres away. His face was younger, but Ivy recognized him instantly.

"...Cilian?"