My Travel To The Beyond

I was dying and I knew it. I laid in the hospital bed listening to the beep of the machines around me. The doctor had told me I had between two to four weeks, but  I could feel my time coming. I was sleeping a lot more now and I was never hungry. The only time I forced myself awake was when my children came to see me. It was so hard to say good bye to them each time they left but I was glad I got to see them as they are living their busy lives.  Holding my Granddaughter and Grandson one last time made me realize holding on was hurting them more than it was hurting me.  Then it happened I dozed off to sleep and when I woke up I was standing next to a empty bed.

Looking around I heard a voice, "You won't see your body, they took it an hour ago.  You had me worried something got you before I showed up."

Wandering around the room I stopped in front of the mirror and a gasp left my mouth, my eighteen year old self was staring back at me. "how?"

The voice chuckled, "Most people come back as their eighteen year old self.  Even i don't understand and I have been around for a milenia.  Are you ready to go?"

I turned and faced the voice. There in black billowing robes was the grim reaper. Not a skeletal face or body, but a warrior. Then what he said started to dawn on me. "what do you mean when you said I thought something had got me?"

"you my dear are a wanted commodity. Your soul floats between the heaven and hell which means your a very rare soul. It means you can visit both and you don't get a one way ticket you go to what is known as the gardens and you can indulge in the best of both worlds. However, there are forces out there that wants souls like yours and us reapers have to protect you to get you to the gardens. So shall we go we don't want to keep god and lucifer waiting do we?"

I stopped and looked at the reaper, "But I do have a question. I was a Wiccan who not only believed in the old gods as well as god and lucifer. So shouldn't that play a factor in what I get to chose?"

The reaper laughed, "You would think it does but nope, As some have said it's more universal judgement kind of thing.  Heaven and hell of all the afterlives are all connected."

I started laughing, "My ex mother in law will be pissed she was convinced Christianity is the end all of everything. She always told me I was gonna burn in hell."

"Grace your mother in law is in for a shock when she is collected because God really does dislike people who push any religion on anyone." He said.

"So your my guard?" I said. "Whats your name?"

"My Name is Gabriel. Not to be confused with the archangel." He said.

"Well Gabriel its a pleasure to meet you," I said. With that I took Gabriels arm and we were off to meet with God and Lucifer.

We traveled a dirt road and I kept humming highway to hell. Gabriel laughed and said, "GO ahead I know you want to say it?"

Laughing I said, "Well based on people I am guessing more people take the highway as I have seen no stairway?"

Gabriel laughed and said, "You do have a point. But it really does not work like that. When we get to the afterlife you will understand."

I gave him a look and said, "So when I poofed back why did you say you were worried something else could have got me?"

"Well Grace lets just say as you were a Wiccan and respect all religions you opened up a great opportunity for universal judgment and heaven and hell. So basically before you decide what you want to do with your heart after they want to talk to you about an opportunity." He said, "I am kinda curious to see what they want to offer you."

We walked the road of the dead and Gabriel kept a watchful eye over the surroundings. We saw other spirits with their guardians. Once in a while Gabriel would nod or say hello. All the guardians looked super vigilant and guided their wards along the path. Then it happened we heard a roar from a distance.

Looking at Gabrial I said, "What was that?"

Gabrial grabbed his sword and took my arm, "We need to move now. Get to the tree line."

As we ran for the treeline the growling and roar became louder. We got to the tree line and I looked at all the remaining guardians and souls still running. Then I saw a monster that looked like a three-headed dog. I whispered "Cebrus?"

Gabrial said, "Not Cebrus. Its a Akul a nether dog. They are horrible and when they escape the carnage they leave in the wake." 

I watched the Akul charge another Guardian. The Guardian raised it sword and slashed as his ward ran to the woods. It fought and then we heard a horn and a legion of demons ran and fought the Akul. A few of the demons started getting everyone to move faster and others moved down the road to protect the new travelers.

Gabrial took my arm and said, "Lets go Grace we have an appointment."

We continued walking and soon came to a set of doors. Gabriel led me to a door with the infinity sign. He nodded at me and said, "Ladies first."

I opened the door and walked into what looked like the fanciest lobby ever. I saw angel and demons standing around a water cooler talking as well as people running here and there working. I looked at Gabriel and said, "Holy crap do catholics walk through here because they have to be pissed."

Gabriel let out a laugh so loud that people turned and stared, "Actually Grace all religions have their own separete entrances so people do not lose it. This area is a central meeting hub and very few mortals get to come through here. All religions, faith and dieties come through here and meet up." 

He walked me over to a elevator and hit the button for the pent house suite. When the doors opened we walked in and headed up. He looked over and asked, "Are you nervous?"

"Not really," I said. "To be honest with you I didn't think I would make it this far."

Gabriel looked at me and said, "Do you doubt my ability to protect you?"

"Not at all," I said. "I used to have horrible luck so I thought something would happen."

He chuckled and said, "Well I can tell you no matter what happened when you were alive it does not carry over when you are dead."

Looking at him I said, "Well that is good to know."

When we got to the penthouse Gabriel said, "Are you ready Grace?"

"No," I said. "But at this point let us get this done."

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Grace-Main Gabriel-Guard/reaper Akul a nether dog