Curiosity Killed the Cat

“You must kill her if you want your suffering to end.”

“Shut up! I know, okay? I just need a bit more time,” Lydia hissed, her brows furrowing in frustration. God, why couldn’t the voice just leave her alone? She had enough on her plate as it was; she didn’t need a ghost entity telling her what to do.

She and her sister were currently trapped in limbo. Lydia had no recollection of how they got there, but all Lydia knew was that she wanted no part of whatever this was. She wanted to be back home in their grandma’s house, where it was warm and safe and smelt of cinnamon and apples. 

If Lydia were to describe limbo, it’d be like a graveyard. Just without the dead bodies. There was something ominous in the cold air, like if something was watching them from afar. Whatever it was, it sent shivers down Lydia’s spine.

“You okay?” Sylvia asked. Her blue eyes were wide with worry, and Lydia couldn’t help but mirror her sister’s face. Sylvia was three years older, but everyone showered her with limitless affection and love. To everyone, including Lydia, Sylvia was the sun with a cheerful smile that’d light up anyone’s day. 

Yet, the decision of life or death hung over Lydia like a veil.

“I’m okay.” No, Lydia was not okay. Nothing was okay. 

But she had to be strong for the both of them. 

“C’mon. Let’s see if we can find a way out.” Lydia led the way through the monotonous scenery. They followed the cobble path that led to who knows where. White trees with black leaves towered over the pair, shadowing the ground in an inky black, cut only by the grey path on which they trekked.

“Do you think there even is an exit?” Sylvia asked.

“There has to be one,” Lydia stated with conviction. If they could just find the exit, Lydia wouldn’t have to make that decision.

The trail seemed to stretch on for miles. Even though they were walking in a straight line, it felt like they’ve been walking in circles. Lydia had lost all sense of time. They could’ve been walking for hours, or even minutes, and she wouldn’t even know.

After a while of silence - they had long run out of things to talk about - Sylvia finally spoke up.

“You know, everyone loves me much more than you.”

What?

Lydia whirled around, coming face-to-face with her sister. She looked surprised at the sudden attention.

“What?” she asked.

Lydia wanted to ask that. 

“Did you hear a voice just now?” Lydia whispered, wary of their surroundings. Her eyes darted around, skimming the trees for a clue. Before definitely sounded like Sylvia, but if she didn’t do it-

“Let’s go, yeah?” Lydia grabbed her sister’s ice-cold hand, continuing to lead them along the path. 

“You’ll never be the better sister.”

The voice continued to assault Lydia’s mind as they continued their journey into the never-ending abyss. Lydia did her best to ignore the voice’s taunts, forcing herself to think of happy memories instead of drowning in jealousy. She didn’t want to acknowledge the small part inside of her that truly envied her sister.

“Look! A bridge!” Lydia snapped back to reality, her eyes zoning in onto the grey wooden structure. Chalk white water rushed beneath the bridge, roaring in anger as it tore downstream. A shadowy sign erected from the ground next to the sisters. It read in bold white letters:

Make your decision, Lydia.

“Lydia?” Sylvia questioned. “What does that mean?”

“I don’t know,” Lydia lied.

Then, the sign changed.

Don’t lie, Lydia. Bad girls get punished.

Sylvia convulsed to the ground in pain, screaming hysterically, pulling at her hair in a fury to tear them out. Lydia fell to her side, unsure of what to do with her hands. Fear and panic raced through her, her brain malfunctioning at the most important of moments.

Suddenly, like a whisper of breath, a silhouette formed behind her. It towered over the ground, bathing her in its shadow.

“Make your choice, or I’ll make it for you.”

A pale, bony hand appeared in the corner of Lydia’s vision. Even though Lydia wanted to pretend it didn’t exist, a force made her look up at the 10-foot scythe. There was a ring of seven skulls hooked around the handle. But near the top, there were two empty hooks. Lydia tore her head away as pain seared behind her eyes. 

The scythe moved, the blade hooking under Sylvia’s chin. The metal pierced the skin of her neck, drawing a trickle of blood. Sylvia had gone stock-still, unshed tears welling up in her eyes. Lydia was afraid she would pass out.

The ticking of a clock echoed loudly in Lydia’s ears, and she knew she didn’t have much time left. She had to make a choice.

“Fine!” Lydia shouted. “Me! Kill me!”

At first, the scythe didn’t move. Then:

“A fine choice.”

Lydia squeezed her eyes shut, bracing herself for death.

Schlick!

Lydia felt no pain. Snapping her eyes open, she found herself in her grandma’s house - the last place she was before the whole limbo shenanigan. Her room was orange from the evening sun. Lydia had never felt so happy to see colors again. She couldn’t stop the overflowing emotions even if she tried. Tears of joy ran down her ivory cheeks, wetting the deformed bones.

“Lydia!” Lydia clutched on to her sister as they hugged. If she saw her skeletal hands, Lydia dismissed it as an illusion.

“Are you alright?” Lydia asked, searching her sister’s neck for any wounds. She saw only smooth, unblemished skin. Good. That was good. “What happened?”

“I don’t know, but we’re okay now,” Sylvia answered, nearly crying. Scratch that. She was downright bawling. They stayed in each other’s arms for the rest of the evening.

Later that night, before Lydia went to sleep, she spotted a book on her desk. The cover was a dusky white with black cursive scripture scrawled across the length of it. The title read ‘9 Lives’. Eight black skulls hung from chains, their jaws open as if they were screaming.

Curiosity getting the better of her, Lydia flipped open the book.

The first thing she saw was a world of black and white.