Hello world! I don't even know where to start!
In case you don't already know, I adore writing. I have written multiple stories in the past but I always end up thinking "its not good enough". This time, however, I have it all planned out. I am writing a story on wattled called "Until Hell" and I've really been working hard on it; it would mean a lot if you could give it a vote (USERNAME: TaleenAli). But I guess it wouldn't hurt to share it here too.
So, ladies and gentlemen, I present to you... Until Hell.
***
HEAVEN- NOT REALLY
Everything was black. Not white like the movies, which usually implies your on the way to heaven. That's what terrified me- I must be on the way to hell.
Looking back at my life, I seemed like a pretty decent person. I mean, the worst thing I ever did was forget my brother at school because I was so engrossed in studying for my psychology test. In fact, now that I think about it, I was a really good person. Almost like a baby Jesus! Ok fine, I might be over exaggerating. There was this one time I kissed Kimmy in the closet at my best friends birthday party. But to be fair, we were both crushing on each other and it was a one time thing.
I did lie a lot though, only white lies but lying nonetheless. And I guess I screamed at my parents a couple of times but only when it was totally not my fault. I think. Why is it so hard to remember anything? What's my name again? Wh- but my train of thought was cut of by two loud voices. "-No Ally! I'm telling you the girl was an angel! She used to volunteer at orphanages, cook meals for the poor, and even babysit her little brother so her parents could go out on date nights."
"Jensen, I don't think we're taking about the same person! This girl is a lying, manipulative little scum!"
"Oh come on! Ally don't be so-"
"CUT IT OUT BOTH OF YOU." A deeper voice.
"We're so sorry Mr.-" but their mumbles drift away and it's like they were never even here in the first place.
Were they talking about me? I never volunteered at any orphanages. Or any of the other angelic deeds (Jensen?) mentioned. Hmm, that's weird but I can't really dwell on it because for some reason it's so hard to keep any information in my head! What's going on? Do I just sit here and wait?
"-How did she die anyway? Wasn't it a car crash?" It sounds like Jensen. I think.
"Yes, poor girl. But I must say that she-devil deserved it! What a little-"
"Ally! Hold your temper, she could be here any minute."
I think about speaking up. I don't think they're aware that I can hear what they're saying. They sound quite far away though. Maybe I'm not quite there yet.
All of a sudden, I'm overcome by this weird sensation that I'm falling- extremely fast.
***
It feels like waking up, except I was always awake. It's like I was dead my whole life and now I've finally woken up. Does that make sense?
For some reason, it's not scary or even boring here. It's extremely calming. Until, two faces appear right above me. Jensen and Ally.
It turns out they're both males, or at least they look like males. Except Jensen has a high pitched squeak and Ally has a deeper voice.
"State your soul." I'm not sure who said it. All of a sudden I completely forgot how they sound and all I can hear is a monotone drawl- no emotion at all. And how do you state your soul?
"Um... a good soul?" I answer feverishly.
"Huh!" Ally tuts loudly, rolling his eyes. Black eyes. And for the first time, I notice his devil ears. Yes, devil ears.
I look to Jensen, but all of a sudden, he's gone. In fact, they both are. And then it's that booming voice that hushed them before.
"FELICITY, YOUR CURRENT STATUS IS: UNTIL. YOU ARE TO BE TRANSFERRED TO DELEGATION STATE IN APPROXIMATELY 2 MINUTES."
And before I know it, something extremely bright flashes in my eyes, and a group of faces are staring down at me. "Welcome until 20."
***
UNTIL 20 IN PROVINCE 20
The boy who spoke helps me up and introduces himself as "Nate". A circle of people just over a dozen surround us. They all look normal enough to me. Most pretty and thin and each looking either like they want to turn you to stone or bake you a cake. How nice.
"Did I go back to Earth?" I'm asking because we are standing in a very Earth-looking park. No birds though, and now that I think about it, not even any bees. Strange.
"No. Your until 20, in Province 20." A perky-looking blonde with one green eye and one brown eye. "I'm Kendra."
"I'm... but suddenly I can't remember. All I can remember is one memory. One really really bad memory. I did that? No, this can't be right. I wasn't that bad of a person. Was I? All of a sudden it's hard to breathe and I fall to my knees and look down at the soil. No, let me rephrase, the purple soil. What is this place?
"Your in Delegation State. For kids that apparently aren't ready to be judged," replies Nate. Oh, I must've asked my question out loud.
"Yea you did. And that too," he smiles, but it doesn't seem genuine. Nothing about this place does actually.
"Ok, take me to your leader," I say firmly. My statement is met by a hurricane of laughs from each and every one there. No, one person doesn't laugh, and he's also the one to speak.
"We don't have a leader, Felicity." How does he know my name?
"Your probably wondering how I know your name. The Overseers informed us you were coming. And by the way, my name is Ian." The Overseers? What the heck?
Is Felicity even my name? Or is that just the name they gave me? Every question leads to a hundred more, but I'll think about all that later. "Ok fine, take me to them. Now."
Begrudging, the group, or should I say the untils, start to move toward a very, very large building at the far end of the park. It's a very big park. The building is half white and half black like the painters decided to paint on side of it but then gave up. I assume the journey would take at least 20 minutes, but surprising, it takes 5. Looks like time here doesn't play by the rules. Nate walks up to the enormous, mahogany door, grabs the swan-shaped knocker, and knocks very softly. Once. Twice. And then the door is wide open and we walk into the great room beyond. Half the room is lit up brightly and decorated with pretty ornaments in gold and white. A polished marble floor shines beneath our bare feet, and a soft tune is playing- it almost sounds like Mozart. The other half of the room, well, you can't really see it. It's pitch black and very dusty. The music completely stops as soon as I get close to the dark side and a dark, eerie mood spreads like hell fire. But then I look up, and it's the Chandelier that really takes my breath away. An enormous contraption lines most of the ceiling above, and it seems to be hanging all by itself. So I guess even gravity does it's own thing here. The Chandelier is dark gray and lined with drooping thorns that look they would just love to impale you. Cobwebs and age-old candles lie at the top, and that's about all I can see from where I'm standing.
"Um, Felicity, are you OK?" asks Ian quietly.
I'm about to answer 'I'm fine' even though I know I'm not, but then Kendra says,"So, which one?"
"Which Overseer, you mean? Um, what's the difference?"
"Well hello there, Felicity. What a pleasant surprise," the voice comes from a dark figure standing in the dark side that seems to have just appeared there. As he comes closer I notice his horns. Devil horns.