We're Supposed to be Dead

I cracked an eye open. There were two boys in black standing and staring between me and another girl. They looked just as disoriented as I felt.

The other one stired. "hmm I muttered."

"Did you guys die too?" I asked, messing around with my new mask.

((executive decision, we all have black and white masks))

((Sounds good))
This mask was feeling heavy in my hand. "What he said"

It was all a blur of time and events. It always was with me. A friend had finally convinced me to go to a club with her, saying she could 'totally get us in! No problemo' dancing, cute guys that I would never talk to, then the drinks. "Come on Fiora, loosen up! It's just a beer, it'll be fine!" Said Gabby. I was always to quick to try to fit in. The only time I really felt like me anymore was when I sang. More dancing, more drinks, then stumbling home laughing. Such was my life.
Next morning I had a god awful headache. I shambled through the day like a zombie, only waking up as the time for the concert came closer. I was me again, I was about to sing to a room full of people, some of whom may chose to sponsor me! I had a future other than letting Gabby convince me to go out with her. I was dressed and ready to go. In the parking garage, walking towards the elevator. I saw headlights, I remember that. he was high, or dunk, and speeding. He didn't see me until it was too late, and I had to time to move. And then everything was black. I saw a face once, my moms I think, and then it was gone. and so was I.

**********

I woke up and held very still. It was a dream. Just a dream. This is that last time I let Gabby take me out. Then I noticed the cold. the kind of cold that emitted from stone. I opened my eyes. Where was I? It didn't know this place! It looked almost like a church. Had I fallen asleep here after leaving the club? Or was I... I remembered the headlights, I could hear my parents screams too. I was dead. I sat up slowly and looked around. To my great surprise there were three other people. Two guys and a girl. I looked down at myself, expecting to see a battered and broken body, but it was just me. The way I liked to dress, guys jeans cause they were tougher, a t shirt, a hoody and sneakers... I looked back at the others. "Did you guys die too" The one asked. It was only then that I noticed the mask, I had one too. It was black and white and strangely comforting even though I had never seen it before. I looked back up. "I think someone ran me over with a car." I said softly. "Where are we?" I added.

I shrugged for I was in the dark. "He knows." I said pointing at (A.J.). I cautioulsy walked over and held out my hand. "Would you like to try standing?"

I hesitated, then nodded silently. I took his hands and braced my feet on the ground. I was dizzy for a moment, and my legs felt like rubber, I would have fallen over except that the boy caught me. "Thanks." I whispered once I was steady one my feet again. Apparently being dead did nothing to hinder the ability to blush, I could feel the heat on my face.

I let her lean on me as she gained her balance. "Better?"

I nodded, my eyes on the ground. Why was it I could never be outgoing, like Gabby. She'd have flirted the boy to the ground. All I could do was stare mutely at it. Deep breaths. Just take deep breaths. Once I got to know these people better I would be more comfortable.

Her breathing was heavy. "Hey you ok?"

"We ought to leave this place," I said. "Try to figure out where we are. I assume we're living again, but there's also a real good chance that this is the afterlife."

I started walking around the room. Then it happened. There was a voice in my head. It was loud. It was masculine, but cold, and calculating.

I HAVE GRANTED YOU LIFE ONCE MORE. I ONLY ASK OF ONE THING IN RETURN. YOU MUST FOLLOW MY INSTRUCTIONS. OR, I CAN END YOUR NEW LIFE. TO AGREE TO THESE TERMS, ALL OF YOU MUST TOUCH THE STATUE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROOM. THEN AND ONLY THEN WILL A WAY OUT OF HERE EXIST. IF YOU DO NOT COMPLY, YOU WILL BE KILLED ONCE MORE.

I stood back up (I had fallen on the ground the voice was so loud). I looked at the people around me. "You get that too?"

I had cringed when it came through. "You need help to the statue." I asked her?

"What? You aren't going to question it? We have no idea who it was...what it was. And you're just going to trust it? We can't do that. If the voice speaks the truth, why did it bring us back. I need answers. I need to know if this erased my death, or if it still happened. I need to know if my old body disappeared. Heck, I need to know if I even look the same as I used to! We can't just rush into this."

I started to nod, then stopped I wasn't okay. I was dead. and so was he. I looked up. Our eyes met for a moment, but before I could say anything the voice blared in my head. I had fallen to my knees, as had the others, except the other girl, who hadn't stood up yet. I nodded in answer to the other boys question, "Yeah, I got that. A little too loud and clear." I looked up and the one who had helped me was watching me. "You need help to the statue?" He asked. I nodded, he seemed to have better control of his body than I did at the moment. Plus I was scared and having someone there would help. But the other boy spoke up before we could move. Demanding to know why we were listening to the voice. He had a point, but at the same time, "So what do you suggest? We stay here and see if he really will just kill us again? Or maybe he'll just leave us here forever..." I countered. See what happens when I get scared? I might have laughed at myself another time.

"Umm...I heard live. That's all I care bout." I said placing my hand on it , the girl still leaning on me. "I don't know bout you but I know I was gone. The rot was terrible." A tear rolled down my face.

I reluctantly started walking towards the statue. She had a point. Our only chance of figuring anything else out was to get out of here.

I touched my hand to the statue. It was cold, freezing. It seemed to glow when I touched it. Things sure were weird.

I took deep breath and looked at the other girl. "Are you coming?" I asked her.

((do do do do do do do do do waiting for Miara!!!!!
that was sung...by the way))

((Of course. That's what you do.))

"Um, I guess. I'm not a fan of dying again." I said. I propelled myself onto my feet and stumbled only slightly. I straightened my back, took a deep breath, and walked calmly towards the statue.

When we all had touched the statue, the floor where we had just been standing pulled in and revealed a staircase leading down. We shrugged and followed it down. It was a very large staircase, probably 5 stories. When he reached the end, I opened the great wooden door, and we walked into a church. Luckily, service wasn't going in, so we were alone. We walked out of the front door.
"This...this is my hometown..." I muttered.

"So where would that be?"

"Earth I hope." I said trying to make a joke to cover the fear I felt growing. Something big was about to happen.

"Funny, real funny." I stepped onto the wood floor of the church, patches of wood curled and rotted. "The crap?"

"Nainsville, Michigan. C'mon, let's go to chipotle. Does everyone have money."