REBORN INTACT

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

JELENA

“Sit,” Mira says.

“Uhm... okay,” I reply as I walk toward the sitting area where several bowls have been laid out on a small table.

The room is still as silent as ever.The strange glow around us flickers softly, making everything look unreal that I hesitate before taking a seat.

“Each bowl contains the qualities you lack as an individual,” Mira explains. “Before the judges, not even the smallest atom of weakness can be shown.”

My eyes drift toward the bowls again, they all contain the same thing, a transparent liquid so clear that I can see my reflection in it.

“The bag over there is filled with the portions needed for your journey as the path to the Parlance will take at least a day. Do not speak to or acknowledge any being you encounter along the way.”

“Okay,” I say quietly.

“When you finish the meals, carry the bag and only then will the doors open for you.”

And just like that, she vanishes, I stare at the spot where she stood.

“What was that?” I mumble to myself.

The silence offers no answer, I guess I can't waste time now so my gaze returns to the bowls.

The liquid inside them doesn't look particularly appetizing, if anything, it looks suspicious, yet considering everything I've witnessed since dying, drinking magical mystery liquid feels surprisingly normal.

I pick up the first bowl and take a cautious sip, the moment the liquid touches my tongue, my lips and mouth go numb.

My eyes widen, it feels as though electricity explodes through my body, a wave of pleasure rushes through me so suddenly that I nearly drop the bowl.

Warmth spreads from my chest into every part of me, every insecurity and fear all seem distant, I take another sip, then another and soon I am gulping down the contents greedily.

By the time I finish the first bowl, I already feel stronger, I move to the second bowl, then the third and the fourth and each one sends a different sensation coursing through my body, confidence, patience, courage and determination, it feels as though pieces of myself I never knew were missing are finally being put back where they belong.

When I finish the last bowl, I lean back and release a long breath.

For the first time in what feels like forever, I feel complete, my eyes move toward the bag Mira mentioned, I stand and walk over to it and the bag is heavier than it looks.

Opening it, I find a rolled map already marked with a route, beside it lies a folded piece of cloth and underneath are dozens of small bottles containing substances I don't recognize.

Some glow faintly and others swirl with colors that shouldn't exist, I lift one curiously.

“They will come in handy when the situation demands.”

The voice suddenly sounds inside my head.

I nearly jumped out of my skin, it sounds exactly like Mira. I glance around the room but nobody is there.

Maybe I'm finally going mad.

Honestly, after everything that's happened, I wouldn't even be surprised.

“Well,” I mutter, shoving the bottle back into the bag, “let's get this mission started already.”

The moment I lift the bag onto my shoulder, a deep rumble echoes through the room, I freeze and slowly, the wall ahead begins to split apart.

A doorway appears and beyond it is nothing but darkness, swirling black void, I guess we're traveling by portals now, Sarah would never believe any of this.

Actually...

A lump forms in my throat, I can't tell her, I'm dead and the realization hits me all over again.

What are they saying about me right now?

What story are they telling?

Do they think it was an accident?

Do they know what happened?

Are they crying?

The thought makes my chest ache.

Enough thinking, Jelena, I scold myself and step forward and the instant my foot crosses the threshold, the world disappears, then I start falling fast and the darkness spins around me up and becomes down, down becomes sideways, I twist and tumble through endless nothingness and there is nothing to grab, the feeling of weightlessness turns into panic, at some point, I realize I'm screaming, the sound echoes around me, like I'm hearing myself from far away.

Then suddenly—

I crash onto solid ground.

“Ow!”

Pain shoots through my back, I groan and sit up and the sight before me steals the breath from my lungs, the most beautiful garden I have ever seen stretches endlessly around me.

Flowers bloom in colors I've never seen before, crystal streams flow through emerald grass, golden butterflies dance through the air and everything glows with life.

Then something moves and my attention snaps forward, a creature emerges from a hole directly ahead and my jaw nearly drops.

A dragon, like an actual dragon, huge and beautiful, its scales shimmer beneath the sunlight, eyes glow with ancient intelligence.

For a moment, I am too stunned to move.

Wow.

The dragon approaches slowly, it lowers its massive head to sniffs me, its warm breath washes over me, then, after a few seconds, it simply turns around and walks away.

That's it, just a sniff and goodbye.

Well.

That was unexpected, shaking off my shock, I pull out the map and begin walking and according to the markings, the path leads through a long tunnel, straight ahead lies the palace, simple enough.

At least that's what I think, until I hear it, a sound that sends chills racing down my spine.

A hiss, long and low so I freeze, slowly, I look ahead, the serpent from every nightmare story I heard as a child emerges from the shadows, its body is enormous, eyes glow like molten gold and every instinct inside me screams to run, or scream.

Then Mira's warning echoes in my head.

Do not acknowledge any being.

Pretend not to see them.

I force myself forward, one step then another, the giant serpent slithers closer.

“I see another dead soul coming to plead her case,” it says.

Its voice vibrates through the tunnel walls.

“I wonder how you survived long enough to get here.”

My pulse races, I refuse to look at it, refuse to respond and ahead, I can see the tunnel's end, a brilliant light shines there.

So bright that it should illuminate the darkness inside the tunnel but somehow it doesn't, I increase my pace.

Sweat drips down my neck, my breathing grows heavier and the serpent continues speaking temptation but I keep moving and eventually the voice fades.

Relief floods through me and only for it to disappear immediately because standing near the exit are the largest Kongku spiders imaginable.

My stomach drops.

Oh no.

I'm cooked, the creatures are enormous, their legs stretch across the tunnel walls and their black eyes gleam hungrily, one of them suddenly spits venom and I barely have time to react before the venom reaches me, a blue light flashes, a translucent shield appears around my body, the venom splashes harmlessly against it and the shield shimmers then stabilizes.

The bottles.

One of Mira's protections must have activated, the spiders pause all confused almost as though they cannot see me.

Realization dawns.

The magic isn't merely protecting me, it's hiding me, heart pounding, I carefully walk around them and none react, a few moments later, I finally step out of the tunnel and everything changes, the air smells different, warmer and comforting but strangely familiar.

For reasons I cannot explain, it smells like Mom, the thought makes my chest tighten, ahead stands the most beautiful palace imaginable, its towers reach toward the heavens, walls gleam like silver and windows sparkle with impossible light.

“Welcome, my lady.”

I nearly jump, a butler stands beside the entrance, perfectly dressed, he opens the massive doors.

“This way, please.”

I follow him inside and the hallway is enormous, far larger than any building should physically contain and above us hangs a chandelier crafted from gold and crystal, the light dancing through it is almost blinding and the floors are covered with rugs so soft that my toes curl with every step, everything feels impossibly luxurious, like stepping into a dream, we continue walking and eventually, we reach a massive pair of doors.

The butler opens them then steps aside soI enter alone andthe sight before me leaves me speechless.

The courtroom is gigantic, rows upon rows of beings fill the seats, creatures of every kind imaginable from lions, wolves, weregoats, weretigers, cycotes and ghostly cloud-like beings that resemble Mira and countless others I cannot identify and every single eye turns toward me.

The attention is overwhelming yet my feet continue moving as if guided by some invisible force, I stop in the center.

Silence falls.

“I see you finally made it, Jelena Hayden.”

The voice booms from above, I look upward and my breath catches, a colossal lightning cloud hovers over the courtroom, power crackles through it and the sight is terrifying.

“You stand before the Judges of Life and Death,” the voice continues. “This court has gathered to judge your case.”

My mouth goes dry.

“Would you say you deserve a second chance?”

A second chance?

What does he mean?

“With that look on your face, I am guessing Mira failed to explain things properly.”

A sigh escapes him and the entire room falls silent not that it wasn't already but somehow the silence deepens.

“Your case was presented by the Goddess of Productivity, who has requested that you be granted another chance at life. So I ask again, do you believe you deserve a second chance?”

Gasps erupt throughout the courtroom.

Disbelief, shock or confusion, I swallow hard.

“I...” I begin.

Then memories flash through my mind, Olivia's face or Aaron's face., the betrayal and pain, the unfinished parts of my life and strength fills me.

“I would do better if given another chance,” I say. “I would become a better person.”

“Why should we return you to life simply so you can become a better person?” another judge asks.

The question leaves me speechless, I open my mouth then close it again, memories continue flashing through my mind, all the hurt and mistakes, the things left unresolved so I prepare to answer but before I can speak, every judge speaks at once.

“Then it is settled.”

The words shake the courtroom.

“You shall be granted another chance.”

The floor vibrates beneath my feet tears instantly fill my eyes.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

I think that's the end then suddenly the room erupts into celebration, cheers, applause and laughter, the sound surrounds me and then I see her, a woman floating toward me through the air and something about her feels familiar.

My mind races trying to place her then realization crashes into me.

Mom.

This is Mom.

The mother I never met, the mother I spent my entire life longing for, I try to run toward her but my body won't move, it's as though I'm rooted to the ground.

Only my tears move freely.

“Mom,” I croak.

“My darling child.”

Her voice is soft and gentle, she cups my cheek, wipes away my tears and the dam breaks, I burst into sobs, years of pain come flooding out, mom pulls me into her arms and for the first time in my life, I know what it feels like to be held by my mother.

She strokes my hair.

“It is okay, my love,” she murmurs. “Mom is here now, you will be fine.”

Instead of calming me down, I cry harder.

“Can we go together into the world?” I finally ask between sniffles.

Her smile turns sad.

“I'm sorry, dear, but I have a duty to serve here.”

“But I need you more, Mom.”

“I know, my darling. I have always been with you, and I will continue to be with you in this new life but I have an entire world looking up to me.”

“Why?” I ask. “Why didn't you ever show yourself?”

She brushes away my tears.

“I'm the Goddess of Productivity. One day, you will understand my decision but for now, go, my love. My love will always be with you.”

Suddenly, I hear pages shuffling, thousands of them, the sound grows louder and louder, the sound of celebration fades, the courtroom disappears and everything goes quiet and goes dark.

Mom is gone and I am alone again, exhaustion crashes over me and my eyes grow heavy and with Mom's final words echoing in my heart, I close them.