Fate of the Blessed

Amara

We waded through the water in silence, the gentle swishing of the oar a comfort to us all. It had been a simple escape. Did Aeron let us go? I let my mind wander to the guy that saved me. After what happened to Connor, I didn’t want to pull anybody else into this fiasco, but if he could help find a way out? There were so many questions swirling around in my mind, I wasn’t able to focus.

“Who are you?” I said, breaking the silence.

I looked at Tae-Seong, but he refused to meet my eyes, so I tried to shuffle around to look him in the eye, but he just turned back the other way. Exasperated instead, I turned my head to focus my attention on the portly gentleman rowing the boat.

“Since he won’t answer me, perhaps you could tell me your name at least?” I said.

“Ha, I like her, let me introduce myself, I am Charon the ferryman of the dead.” He chuckled.

Although on the inside irritation reigned. I smiled at him. He was infectious with his jolliness. It was like a breath of fresh air after tonight’s ordeal.

“Well, pleased to make your acquaintance, sir.” I dipped my head in mock greeting.

“Kind lady.” He did the same. I genuinely laughed, something I didn’t think I would do for a long while. Charon and I exchanged further pleasantries. I laughed at his obscene jokes, but out of the corner of my eye I noticed his intense gaze. Yet, he still refused to speak to me so I, instead, pushed my nose in the air. Why was he being so cold when he came to save me?

Tae-Seong

I observed the exchange with interest; she had an air about her that made me feel comfortable, but I didn’t want to get too close. I wasn’t here to make friends I just wanted to get out of here and if she is the way out, then I would just have to go along with it. I knew I was being rude by not to speaking to her, but I couldn’t afford the civilities. It was a waste of time..

Although I could not deny she was alluring, despite my misgivings, I considered myself warming to her. I smiled, relaxing I sank into the coarse wood and closed my eyes. This time the darkness didn’t take flashes of a scene that seemed so far away, yet so familiar. I was floating above myself as if I was in a movie. The bizarreness of it all almost made me laugh.

I walked down a gravel path next to the Tancheon, a tributary leading from the Han River in Seoul. My hands were stuffed into my pockets to save them from the freezing weather. My black jacket zipped all the way, partly covering my face. I stopped at the bridge near Jukjeon, gazing curiously at the sight. From behind the pillar stepped an older guy in filthy jeans and a blue ill-fitting hoodie. His head darted from left to right, like he was on edge that someone was going to overhear us.

“Do you have what I asked for?” he hissed. I pulled out a small non-descript bag full of white powder. The mysterious man reached to grab it. I pulled back and stuffed it in my pocket.

“Do you have the information I asked for?” I said. The man continued to look about, fidgeting with his fingers as he did. My patience was wearing thin.

The stranger beckoned me closer; I did so with reluctance. From my vantage point, I could tell something wasn’t right. The man was reaching into his pocket. I tried to scream at myself, but no sound came from my mouth. Why the hell was I here, what was happening? This had to be a dream. The other me stopped as he pulled a handgun from his pocket, waving it in front of me. I put my hands up in mock surrender. Before I could do anything, I heard two gunshots ring out.

“Jung-Soo sends his regards.” He spat as he dug into my pockets to pull the package free.

The bullets hit me high in the chest and I slumped to the ground, gasping, trying to catch my breath. But each drag became difficult. Panicking, I saw the astral me pull towards the sky, leaving the other me lying in a pool of my blood. I tried to fight it; however, but it was too strong.

I awoke with a gasp, looking about I was back on Charon’s boat with a concerned Amara sitting over me. I scrambled to sit up, pushing her away as I did so.

“Hey, you don’t need to push me away I’m here to help.” She said, concern spread across her face.

“I don’t need your help.” I said.

She glared at me as she manoeuvred her way back to the other edge of the boat. Charon shook his head at me.

“You are both in this predicament together, you’ll do best to play nice Tae-Seong.”

“I’m sorry, Amara, I don’t mean to be angry. I just want to go home.”

“That’s okay, I’m scared too.” She said.

Amara

I regarded him silently; he had closed his eyes and lent his head back towards to the wood of the boat. I couldn’t help but note how handsome he was. He had unruly hair that stuck up in places and a strong set jaw. His dark brown eyes held a hint of danger that I found enticing.

I continued to stare when Charon cleared his throat; I looked away, my face reddening.

“I know, he is one handsome devil I sometimes can’t help but stare as well,” he laughed, and the heat in my cheeks grow hotter as I turned a nice shade of beetroot red.

Tae-Seong whimpered in his sleep. I scooted over to him, placing my hand on his arm. His eyes shot open, startled he pushed my hand away. His face had a sheen of sweat, which he wiped away with his t-shirt.

“I don’t need your help!” he scolded.

I glared as I moved back to the other side of the boat, trying to hold back the tears that pricked my eyes. Regret filled his features. He tried to reach out, but I held myself out of his grasp. He sunk back defeated and looked up, apologising as he did so.

In that moment, we both held an understanding that needed no words. We were both caught up in this together, and that brought with it a sense of camaraderie we both needed. 

I was filled with joy to be back amongst friends, even if I had only just met them. The person I was when I first awoke in this world seems to ebb away as I was growing and changing, but I wasn’t sure where it was going to lead? A courage and conviction were granted upon me, I liked the sense that it evoked.

I took my attention away from my thoughts and brought it back to Tae-Seong; he was observing the swishing of the river with quiet resolve. Pain was etched across his face. What had he been dreaming about? Charon gave me a light kick, nodding towards him.

“Tae-Seong, what were you dreaming about?” I said.

He didn’t respond to me for the longest time; I had given up hope of an answer when he turned his attention away from the river and focussed on me.

“It was more like a nightmare. I dreamt I got shot in the chest.” He said.

I gasped in horror as it brought my thoughts back to the nightmare I had whilst unconscious. I was so blinded by my misery that I had missed the fact that there were other people out there who suffered the same way I did. It was time to fight I had to stop feeling sorry for myself.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” was all I could think to say. It was lame, I know. I scooted closer to him, and this time he didn’t stop me. We sat in silence for a short while until Charon spoke up.

“Those were residual memories, your last one before you came here to Midgard.”

We both looked at each other, then back to Charon. I reeled at the thought that they were showing our potential death. My thoughts strayed to my nightmare. My bike collided with that car, my body hitting the floor, my head hitting the tarmac. It was painful to remember. Our bodies were still alive in the actual world for now. It was up to our souls to make us conscious again or; I shuddered at the thought. Move on to the next world.

There was still a chance we could go home, as our decision hadn’t been made yet. We needed our orbs for that; they held our souls. However, time was running out but, I was hesitant to think about what would happen when our time ran out and no decision was made.

Tae-Seong tensed beside me. I didn’t know how much he knew or how long he had been here, but I guessed Charon must have filled him in.

“Are you saying we are dead?” he said in a hushed, defeated tone. Charon shook his head.

“Your body is alive, for now, your soul and consciousness are here in Midgard.”

We both sat up to listen to Charon’s words. After all, he was the ferryman of the dead. It would be wise to listen to him. Tae-Seong looked at me, raising his eyebrow. So I guess he didn’t know the full story.

“You are working on borrowed time. They keep your soul in the orbs in which Aeron possesses. You only have a certain amount of time to make your decision.”

“What decision?” Tae-Seong said.

“Whether you go back to the Earthly Plain or continue your journey into the afterlife.”

Neither of us answered. Charon took this as an acknowledgement to continue. He explained everybody had a different amount of time depending on how damaged their body was in the Earthly Plain and how long it can stay alive without its soul. None of it made sense. My head was reeling with all the information swimming around in it. Tae-Seong stayed quiet, his facial expression never straying from more than mild interest. It was hard to tell what he was thinking.

“What happens when you run out of time?” I said. Charon pointed towards the water. I saw the haunted expressions of long dead people floating in the water.

“That, my dear, is the lost souls doomed to misery for eternity in the water. They eventually fade away into nothingness and your body dies with it,” He said.

“What about the people that just die and aren’t comatose.” I fired off another set of questions. Charon put his fingers to his temples, his jolly facade slipping once more. The tone he answered with sent a shiver down my spine.

“If you die outright, it means your time is up. You don’t journey here, you go straight to where your soul is meant to.”

“I think that is all for the questions today, Amara,” Tae-Seong said, putting his hand gently on my arm as I went to protest.

After that, a tense silence fell between us. I was almost glad when I saw the shore come into view. I was itching to get off the boat. Being next to Charon made me feel uneasy.

I took one last look into the water and the distorted, twisted features of the people that were trapped in there forever. A shudder ripped through me.