Life in Death

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Info

Collaboration between кαℓι.

Prompt 10

Tags

#WinterMasquerade

Other

Word Count:

1,834

"𝐖𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐝𝐢𝐞. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥."

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Maxine laughed as she walked down the busy sidewalk, in her small little city that never seemed to sleep. Her eyes never leaving her phone as she responded to her girlfriend's messages. The conversations between them are always about what was on their mind.

'All I'm saying is, We can't keep a horse as a pet.' Maxine replied, a small smile fell on her lips as the dots came.

"First of all, you can afford to keep that ancient turtle who was probably in Finding Nemo, but we can't afford a Mastiff? Secondly, just because he swim in water doesn't mean he isn't harmless, You sure he not Bowser?"

"Well excuse me, but I can't just willy nilly buy a stable and horse. And what do you mean he isn't harmless?? Pfft, my little baby wouldn't hurt a fly!"

"You obviously have never been bit by him and it shows."

"Oh hushhh, shaddap".

"But really, I got a question. How would you feel if you came back to a dog? More specifically a horse dog."

"What? Are you buying me one??"

"Why buy one when you can pick one off the street?"

"Whaddya mean I can just pick one off the streets?"

"The mastiff. I saw it eating out of the trash down the street and now it's eating out of our trash can."

"Are you serious???"

"I couldn't just leave them outside. It's almost Christmas. And they kinda cute. Kinda looks like your mom."

She couldn't help but roll her eyes as she read her girlfriend's comments. She lets out a soft cackle, considering by this point, it's going to be hard to get her girlfriend to give up on this horse.

"So I'm guessing it's already in the house?"

"Yes. We can talk more when you get home. Stay safe, I love you! :heart: "

"Love you t"

She couldn't help but look to her side when she heard something skid on some ice, only to see a flash of white.

Then just merely black…

…

She couldn't breathe.

All she felt was a pang of pain… spreading across her chest and down her spine.

Was this it?

She could barely hear her own breathing, now covered by the noises all around her. The sounds of people screaming all around her… and the notable sound of her phone, ringing in her clenched hands.

Her vision was cloudy, she couldn't see anything besides the blobs of light that danced in front of her.

Yet even those… started to become a blur

Everything around her was becoming dark, and silent.

Was this it?

'...Is this… it?'

'am I going to die?'

'..I guess this is what I get for not sending that post to 5 friends..'

'I should've told her to just keep the Mastiff..'

…

'I don't want to die'

Maybe it was the surrealism to it all that scared Maxine the most. The fact that she'll no longer be here anymore… that she'll be facing death soon enough. That this was the bitter end for her.

She didn't get a chance to do all the things she wanted to do. Marry Michelle and start an animal family with her, visit all the countries that the two wanted to go to when they had enough money, finally meet her brother, all the things she will never be able to do.

She didn't even have the chance to say goodbye.

… and that's when she woke up.

She felt as if she had just woken up from a terrible nightmare, as she suddenly was able to see… Sitting up slowly, she felt… confused

Was that not the end of her?

Had she… survived?

Those thoughts plagued her mind as she glanced around, ready to find her bed and lover… she was ready to just wake up, and see her beloved laying beside her…

Yet all she saw a hospital room …And two figures

Nearby, was a deer-like animal and someone else, who appeared to be watching her. The hooded figure was riding the creature, and looked semi-transparent just as she did. The two creatures were floating, their legs nowhere to be found. Neither seemed like people, nor creatures she's seen before.

At first, she was going to leave and merely ponder on why she was still here… yet, soon she found herself staring at the deer-like creature, which seemed to be staring back straight at her.

Before she knew it, the figure came closer… or was it her who came closer? Either way, the details of the figures became more apparent… the boney head of the deer-like creature, similar to ones of a cow's, with horns larger than what she's ever seen sticking on its head. The more human-like creature had its hood covering it's face, yet she could see it's bone dry hands holding onto the other creature.

'Ah, dear child. It seems like you're awake'

The sudden deep, raspy voice echoed in her head, surprising her in the process. It was as if it had simply came from her own head.

'You've come far earlier than we've expected… but that no longer matters, now it's time for us to leave".

"Leave?"

Her voice echoed through the yard, as if they were sitting in an enclosed room. Her eyes looked at it in disbelief, a soft chuckle left her mouth.

"What… what do you mean leave? I'm going to go home and meet Michelle and-"

"Child, the first stage of Grief is denial."

"What denial?!"

"You've died."

…

Those words slowly echoed through her head, as if showing her the truth she had refused to believe. Her eyes gazed down for a second…yet all she could do was cackle

"Very funny, considering we've all died inside a few times at least right? Funny joke, can I please go home now?"

"...I am many things, but a liar and a jester is not one of them."

"Save me the cryptic speech and show or give me a mirror."

"A mirror wouldn't reflect your image anymore."

As the voice echoed through her head, her eyes scanned around, atherr laid her body beneath her… unable to move nor feel. Her eyes soon landed on a nearby mirror, to which she began to walk towards it… yet step by step, she felt herself becoming lighter and lighter, till she could no longer feel her own footsteps…

And when she looked back at the mirror, all she saw was the reflection of the walls.. without herself in it.

A soft hackle could be heard, as she couldn't help but laugh…

"...I..I died.."

"I died from… a stupid car accident didn't I?"

"Indeed. It seems like your clock has stopped ticking… and your time is running out"

"...You couldn't… give me anymore time? Not even just a bit more? You could've given me time to go home, or for me to say goodbye or-"

"There is no more time. Not for you, nor for many others. Your clock has stopped ticking.. and it is time, for us to go"

As the figure finished its words, it stretched out it's hands, as if inviting her to hold it.

"No, NO! I refuse to believe you."

She took a few steps back, both afraid…And angry. She moved back towards her body, as if it was deep in sleep. As she tried to shake her own body, trying to wake it up… all she succeeded in was phasing her hands through the bed.

And at that moment, even she couldn't help but feel despair…

"...I..I don't want to die.."

"How come? Do you fear death?"

"..who doesn't?"

"Many others, do not."

She could feel someone… softly comforting her, as if telling her that it'd be okay. As her eyes looked away from her body, she saw the deer-like creature spoke

"You do not need to fear death, child. It's simply the cycle of life," it spoke. "You humans treat death so unfairly, and take life for granted. Why so do you fear death, when you're not even living?"

"What… do you mean I haven't been living? Of course I've been. Otherwise, I would see no point in living."

"Many souls, have simply been surviving, child. You, have merely been surviving. Throughout your time, have you done all you wished for? Have you always stalled because you felt as if you'll live another day?"

"Have you never stopped caring of what others see in you, and started living?"

"Even then, why do you fear death? Do you not understand… that without death, life would simply be meaningless?"

"But without death… we would be able to live to do what we've always wanted, what we've always strived for! Of course-"

"But do you truly need to remove death, to finally start living as such?"

"What would you do after you've done all that? After you've reached your dreams, and all your wishes."

"...I.."

"Life would simply be meaningless without death. And even with death, it's not as if life does not continue."

"With death, there comes a new life. And with life, it carries death. That is simply the law of this universe, and this world."

She couldn't say a single word against what the creature had said, and instead… remained silent. After all, she couldn't deny what the creature had said.

"...Do I.. truly need to leave?"

"...It doesn't seem like so"

...those words

It felt as if those words were simply mere lies, especially after what Death had told her multiple times.

"It seems like.. it's not your time yet, child"

"Do not worry, you'll this conversation as just a mere dream"

"So now, wake up child, and enjoy life"

She found herself looking at a bright light, so bright that she had to cover her eyes, looking away from the blinding shine…

And when she opened her eyes… she was

Alive.