He is the Bad Wolf

IN THE AFTERLIFE

Where do we go when we die? Does our life end? Do we become angels and fly into the clouds where an army of angelic faces await us with open arms? Are we going to hell? The truth is, I don't know. I do not have the slightest idea. The last thing I remember is being in Gideon's arms that night, he looked at me with so much love and so much sadness at the same time. I thought he felt the same as me, but I was wrong. How wrong I was. He betrayed me! He played with me! He used me! What was the use of saving me that night if he was going to kill me later?

I am in a place where confused souls wander in pain in search of redemption. There is no one who remembers or misses them and that is why they are here. My mother wouldn't miss me so much, I was sure of that and that hurt. I had no brothers or sisters. My family was just me and my mother.

Tears begin to gather on my eyelids and inevitably fall pitifully tracing wet lines down my cheeks until they reach my jaw. With a sigh I dare to touch my neck with trembling fingers. I let out a cry of pain as I remember the hands of my beloved Gideon pressing hard, choking me, killing me as he apologized for betraying me. And for what? What for Gideon?! You betrayed the woman you loved so much to steal her heart and save your pathetic pack of good-for-nothing rabid wolves. To save yourself! How could you? I fell to the ground and dug my fingers into the reddish sand below my knees, which was moistened by the constant stream of my pure hatred tears. In front of me the sand turned a dark color, black like opal, like my soul. As black as my desire to meet Gideon again and make him pay for stealing my life. I'll make him pay; I swear. What could I do to make him suffer?

Do you want to see him again?

I look up at the sky. What a beautiful setting. I am kneeling on a moor where the sky was made of stars and nebulae of all colors and shapes. Even though the wind is not blowing, there is a horrible embracing cold around me. A deep voice calls to me from the shadows.

“I don’t know.” And that's the truth. I don't know what I want or need.

Let me help you, child.

“How?”

The eerie voice begins to laugh at me. Whoever this being is makes fun of my feelings. He mocks my suffering. I would too if I saw myself crying in the middle of nowhere like a pathetic child.

I would never do such thing. It says daring to sound offended by my accusations.

“What do you want?”

I ask this malevolent entity in the dark as I start to stand up. Suddenly in front of me a full-length mirror with a golden frame materializes that seems to sparkle hypnotically. At first, I only see my reflection. This is me? I had rarely admired my appearance. I ask this malevolent entity in the dark as I start to stand up. Suddenly in front of me a full-length mirror with a golden frame materializes that seems to sparkle hypnotically. At first, I only see my reflection. This is me? I had rarely admired my appearance. My hair is coppery, like the color of autumn leaves once they have fallen to the ground and are stepped on over and over again. A dirty copper. According to my mother, my grandmother and I had the same hair color. My eyes were gifts from my father, who had died in a fight so many years ago. Green like olives. My mother always said that I was beautiful, that the village boys watched me with lust.

Such a beautiful girl.

The voice takes the form of a tall being hooded by an old black cloak, covered in bloodstains. His long, bony hands are gray, his skin looked dry and wrinkled. Claws so long and pointed land on my shoulders causing sparks of alarm and terror in my stomach. I am already dead ... what else could happen to me?

Fear not child, for I come to help and not to cause you harm.

“I have suffered enough.” My voice breaks. “I cannot believe in more promises.”

Promises are words that the wind will carry away.

“Promises are fake.”

Would you like to see him again?

“I don’t know…”

Don’t you want to kill him? Make him pay for what the wolf did to you? He betrayed you after all.

What do I really want? Deep within me the only thing I wanted was to go back in time to be with him once again and live happily until the end of our days. But there is also that part of my being that wanted to find him in the next life and twist him before me, make him beg for mercy while I consumed his life with my own hands.

Let me help you, child.

“How would you do that?”

All you have to do is trust me. I will make your dreams come true, my princess.

“Would you?” I whispered staring right at him through the mirror. The cloak fell from his body and behind me was Gideon. I cry out in fear, consumed by fear and try to escape from his clutches but he catches me in his arms. Even though he looks like Gideon, I know it isn’t really him but something ... someone who had taken on the appearance of the love of my life.

“How is this possible?”

There are so many things you don't understand, my love. There are so many things that you still don't understand and there are so many things that you must learn. You gave your life to a wolf who only consumed you for his own benefit. Your heart lies in the claws of this pathetic animal. I sigh as I lean against his chest closing my eyes for I cannot take the sight of that face anymore. It burns. If you give yourself to me, I promise to give you all the power you need to finish him. To wipe out his kind from the earth and give you what you crave the most.

“What would that be?” I ask knowing damn well I will regret asking.

“Revenge.”