Afterlife.

Bailey

"I want to try something different today. A spell."

I glance at Maya with a slight frown on my face "I don't think I'm ready yet."

"You'll never know if you're ready if you don't try. Come on, just a simple spell nothing that'll burn the place down."

I don't know why I feel a bit irked that she mentioned burning the place down, sure it's fun if I say so but I don't like it if other people say it. I sigh "Okay fine, just a simple one though."

"Alright" she pages through her book while I loosen my school tie a bit and unbutton the top button of my school shirt.

Shit, I haven't even done the spell yet and I'm already a mess.

"The Great Beyond."

I blink about a million times as I stare at her in disbelief "Communicating with the dead? I may be a rookie to this whole witch thing but even I know that's a risky gamble."

She sighs "Bailey, we've been toying with your magic for a few days now. I wouldn't give you something to do if I knew you weren't capable of doing it. You'll be in the afterlife for a maximum of five minutes and if you're stuck for longer then I'll help you back." She puts a hand on her chest "Trust me, Bailey. I would never hurt you."

I stared at her for a moment and I tap my fingers on my thigh as I debate what to do. I know it can be extremely dangerous and I could get stuck there if not done correctly but then I think about the possibility of seeing my parents. Apologising to them.

I nod in determination "Let's do it."

She smiles "I knew you were a brave girl."

I give her a smile in return and we close all the blinds in her office before lighting a circle of candles on the floor.

"It's all you now." Maya says and I freeze up as I stare at the candles "You need control of your magic, Bailey. This is the way to get that control."

She's right.

I let out a heavy breath before grabbing the spell book and stepping into the middle of the circle before dropping to my knees and putting the book on the ground in front of me.

"Bound in mortal coil, with crimson tide surging through my veins and a rhythm echoing within, I beseech you, grant me passage to the realm of the departed. Let me walk amongst the shades, a whisperer to their silent voices, a listener to their ethereal tales. I claim this right."

I close my eyes as I repeat it "Encased in mortal flesh, my lifeblood a crimson tide surging through veins, my heart a rhythmic drumbeat within – I implore you, grant me passage beyond this veil of the living. Let me walk amongst the shades, a whisperer to their silent voices, a listener to the tales that linger on the wind of the otherworld. I claim this right, not as a supplicant, but as one who seeks to bridge the chasm between worlds, to honor the wisdom that resides beyond the mortal coil."

I keep chanting it over and over until I feel the breath get knocked out of me and I gasp for air. I open my eyes and look around taking note that I'm no longer in Maya's office, everything looks so much more gloomy and it's awfully quiet.

The Great Beyond.

I hear the faint sound of humming and I follow the sound until I see a pretty brunette "Hello" I say gently, somehow scared that I'll startle her which is weird because it's not like her heart rate will spike.

She turns to me and her eyes widen when she sees me "Bailey?"

I frown "I'm sorry, I don't think I know you."

She ignores what I said and asks instead "Are you dead?"

"No I'm not. I'm just looking for someone before I head back."

Now it's her turn to frown "Who?"

"Michaela and Sergio Harper."

"Oh" she points to the opposite building "You'll find them there."

"Thank you so much" I turn to make my way over there

"Can you tell Eden that I miss her deeply?"

I pause and glance at her in surprise as I take her words in "You're Aurora?"

She nods in confirmation "Please tell her."

"I will." I promise her.

"Also" she clears her throat "Let Marcus know that it's okay to move on, his heart is big enough for both her and I."

A small smile makes its way to my face "I'll have him know that."

I give her a wave before heading to the building and my chest aches as I see my mom and dad slow dancing while he sings "All of me by John Legend" I just stand there for a moment as I watch them and I feel so lucky that I get to witness this because I never saw this side of them. No the side I always saw was the constant fighting and arguing.

"Mom. Dad."

Their heads snap to me and my mom gasps "Bailey!"

They immediately make their way over to me and wraps their arms around me, I hug them close to me never wanting to let go. But I know I'm not here for long so I say "I'm not dead, it's just a ritual."

Dad pulls away to look at my face "You're doing rituals?"

I nod and glance between them as I say softly "I'm sorry."

"What for, darling?" Mom asks and I feel like crying as I hear her gentle voice.

"For burning the house down. For killing you guys." Tears fall down my cheeks "I swear I didn't mean to."

"Oh, honey." Dad says as he brushes my tears away "It's not your fault."

I shake my head "But it is."

"It's not" Mom says and I glance to her "I'm the one who used my powers to make the fire bigger. Sure you started it but it's me who made the house go up in flames."

My mouth falls open in disbelief "I don't understand, why would you do that? Because of your argument with dad?"

She shakes her head and frowns as she looks at me "You're fading, Hail Bail"

I glance down at my hands to see it slowly disappearing and I glance back up at them "I love you. Both of you so much"

"And we love you"

I try to reach out to them one last time but I can't feel them and the last thing I hear is "Look inside the box" before I'm enveloped in darkness.

I slowly open my eyes and blink against the brightness of the room, it takes me a while to realise that I'm in the nurse's office. My head is pounding and I let out a groan as I try to sit up but instead just puking into the bucket next to my bed.

"Hey, hey you're okay."

I dry heave before frowning "Aunt Lisa?"

"Yes it's me, sweetie. You're safe." I feel her put a hand on my forehead "She's burning up, can you please do something?"

I hear another voice and I'm going to assume it's the nurse "I don't know what wrong with her so I cannot give her anything, because it might worsen her. Let's just hope that the antibiotics makes her better, she just needs some rest."

I hear footsteps walking away and I ask my aunt "Can I have some water please? And perhaps a mint."

"Of course" she comes back with a cup of water and I drink it before taking the mint she took out of her bag and lay down again "Better?"

"Yeah" I sigh

"What the hell happened, Bailey? A ritual? You've got to be joking."

If I wasn't feeling so shit right now I would've laughed at the fact that she waited to hear if I was okay before scolding me "It's not that big of a deal, Aunt. Speaking of where's Maya?"

"She left when I arrived. Which was very coward of her by the way, not staying until you woke up."

I glance at her and say dryly "Perhaps she left because you were probably cussing her out."

She huffs "Perhaps."

I smile tiredly before glancing to the door when it opens and Tyler walks in "There she is! You had me sick with worry"

Before I can even say anything he wraps his arms around me in a hug and I let out a huff as I hug him back "I'm fine, Ty."

"Nonsense. You can barely talk properly"

"That's because you're squeezing the life out of me."

"Oh shit" he lets go of me "My bad."

I shake my head before glancing at my aunt "You called him?"

"I did. He's the only one of your roommates who gave me his number and I didn't know who else to call, I figured you might want your friends around."

I frown and glare at Tyler "You slipped my aunt your number?"

He shrugs "It worked out well didn't it?"

I sigh "I guess." I turn back to my aunt "I feel terrible. It's parents weekend and I haven't even been spending time with you."

She shakes her head "That's okay, sweetheart. I know you're busy with classes and Cory- I mean Mr Robinson mentioned that you're working as assistant to one of the professors."

I nod "I am but we'll spend time together tomorrow. I promise."

"Of course, honey."

"Can I join you ladies?" Tyler asks with a smirk

I roll my eyes "No."

"You're no fun" he says and scoots me over before laying down next to me, I raise an eyebrow but he couldn't care less because his taking out his phone and earphones. I glance to my aunt to see her watching us in amusement. Now is probably the time to tell her that I saw my parents but I don't want to ruin this moment. Growing up I never had friends and Aunt Lisa knew that, so her calling Tyler means a lot to me and Tyler actually showing up? Means the world.