Beyond the Afterlife

CHAPTER 1

Lyra walked through the dark void, unsure of why she was there. She looked around, but there was nothing-only eternal darkness. What had happened? She couldn't remember. Why couldn't she remember?

"Lyra Mendez?"

Lyra turned toward the voice. From the emptiness emerged a figure in a black coat that trailed down to its feet. The hood obscured most of the face, but she could see enough to recognize a woman by the timbre of her voice and the shape of her curvy red lips. The visible skin was pale, and she noticed this in the half-concealed face from the nose down to the chin. The woman held a lantern, rectangular in shape, with a flame inside that seemed to have no source-no wick or anything else to sustain it. Lyra was surprised, but more curious about why this woman, whom she didn't know, had approached her.

The figure pulled out a black card and held it before her.

"Twenty-six years old. Currently in residency at Holy Cross Medical Center as a dermatologist."

Lyra nodded, baffled. What was going on? How did she know this about her?

"Cause of death: Severe internal hemorrhage."

Lyra sighed as the words sunk in, and the black card transformed into a long death scythe. It resembled something wielded by the collectors of the dead, with a skull at the top and a skeletal figure from the neck down, forming the blade from the upper torso to the waist. The handle was like a silver cane resting on the ground.

Severe internal hemorrhage? How did she die? Why did she die?

"S-Soul Reaper, is that what you are?" she asked, already knowing the answer. The death scythe was a clear sign that the woman was indeed a Soul Reaper-a powerful entity wielding a weapon forged by consuming ninety-nine evil human souls and one witch soul.

Wait, how did she know that? Where did this information come from?

"Isn't it obvious?" the Soul Reaper replied sarcastically, a dangerous smile playing on her lips.

Lyra suddenly felt nervous. She didn't understand what was happening. How did she die? Why couldn't she remember anything?

"Let's go. They're waiting for you in the Judgment Hall," the reaper said, placing the scythe around Lyra's neck.

Surprisingly, her neck didn't snap; she was simply pulled forward. Well, what could hurt her now that she was already dead?

As the Soul Reaper began to walk, the surroundings started to change. There seemed to be no end to this place. She noticed people walking ahead of them, likely souls also being escorted by other reapers. But she couldn't stop thinking-she needed answers. She needed to know why and how she had died.

"A-ahh... Ms. Soul Reaper?" she called out to the woman beside her.

"Demise," the woman replied curtly. "My name is Demise."

Lyra wasn't sure how to respond.

"We're on our way to the afterlife, but we must first stop at the Hall of Judgment. There, you'll find out where you'll be sent. You might be given the chance to return to a new life in the human world. But you could also be condemned to the sea of endless suffering and repeated death."

Lyra shuddered. She understood what the last part meant-hell. And suddenly, she was filled with dread. Why couldn't she remember anything?

"What happened? Why did I die?" she asked, her voice tinged with frustration.

Is this what happens to those who die and journey to the afterlife? Are they unable to recall their past? She desperately wanted to remember. Had she been a good person? Or had she done something terrible? She needed to know what to expect when they arrived at the Judgment Hall.

Demise stopped walking, and Lyra halted as well. When she looked at Demise, she shivered again. Her lips were pressed together tightly as if she was about to deliver bad news. Even though Lyra could only see part of her face, she could feel the gravity of what the Soul Reaper was about to say.

"You committed suicide," Demise said, her tone devoid of emotion.

Lyra gasped, overwhelmed by astonishment, confusion, and a flood of emotions.

She didn't know why, but a profound sadness and regret suddenly filled her chest. Why was she feeling this way? What had happened?

"B-but why did I do that? You said I was in residency? I wanted to become a professional dermatologist, right? My life was going well, wasn't it?"

The Soul Reaper nodded, deepening Lyra's confusion.

"Then why did I commit suicide?" Her voice trembled as tears escaped her eyes. She didn't want to feel this way. Why was she so sad? Why did she feel so much regret? What had she done while she was alive?

"You want to know?"

Lyra nodded, tears streaming down her face, unable to hold them back. The sadness and regret were unbearable.

Demise lifted one hand and gently held Lyra's right hand. Lyra felt her body grow light, as if a breeze were carrying her away-back to her past. To her life before.

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