Up or Down

“You’re early.” Said the Grim Reaper with a hint of surprise. I grit my teeth as I look down at the scene before me. “So a 13 year old girl can’t die in a police chase?” The Grim Reaper grinned his chilling, toothy smile. I shiver and then sigh. “Let’s go.” He says. I find myself chained to Grim Reaper’s scythe. “Where are we going?” I ask. “To the Choosing Place.” Reaper says matter-of-factly. I feel like crying. Does this mean I have to go to Heaven or Hell? I hold back tears. I was considered the “bad girl”, but I still don’t want to go to that place. I owned t-shirts saying “Hell was too boring for me” but I don’t think that will be true… I still was dragged to church. I have had a strong belief of Heaven and Hell. Now I know why my mother made me go to church… I muffle a sob as I see an island among the clouds. Reaper looks back at me and he sighs. I can tell under that dark cloak and mask is a big heart. My thoughts are interrupted as we bump into another soul on their way to be judged. I look up and see a boy with black hair and big blue eyes. I can’t help but wonder how he died. I frown as I am jerked back up by the Reaper. I look to see the boy’s Reaper. I look up at my Reaper and whisper a question. “How are there more Reapers?” He looks at me blankly. “One person dies every four seconds. It would be impossible for one Reaper to reap all of their souls.” “Then-” Reaper interrupts me, “How is Santa Claus real? He isn’t. He’s a creepy myth who breaks into innocent children’s houses.” I laugh. “And you aren’t a creepy myth?” Reaper processes this with great concentration. “If I’m a myth, then how are you dead? How are you being taken to The Choosing Place?” “Touche.”

We landed on the island I saw hours ago. I see hundreds of other dead souls around me. Through the crowd I see the boy I ran into. 

It has been several hours of waiting and then finally I see the one who chooses. She’s an angel with devil horns and a tail. The creature is draped over a throne high up in the sky. “Hello?” I call. She looks down with unimpressed eyes. “Hello.” She says with a bored tint in her voice. “Who are you?” I call out. “The name’s Malia. I’m the one who chooses.” I roll my eyes and shout, “I assumed that.” “No need to be snarky...Lillith is it?” I blush and nod. “And next to you is… Lucas!” I become impatient. “So you gonna judge me?” Malia snorts. “I don’t feel like it.” I roll my eyes again. “In fact, I don’t need to even look at your record. I can tell from your punk rock crop top that you are a ‘bad girl’ and your buddy seems the type, so yeah. Have fun in Hell.” And just like that, Malia has pulled the lever and we fall down into the abyss.

We fall for what seems like years, but then we finally make our rough landing. I look at the boy and he looks back at me. “I never told you my name…” The boy said guiltily. I itch my neck and try to make this situation less awkward. “Me neither… but I heard at the choosing that your name was...Luke? ...Liam?...Lucas? That’s it! Lucas!” Lucas nods and replies, “Yeah. I heard your name was Lillith.” I nod too. He was so quiet yet confident. He was not the type that would go to Hell.

“How did you die?” He asks without hesitation. Clearly he was just as curious as me. “I was in a police chase… I was shoplifting and the police ran after me. One of the men was driving a car and he hit me. I’m pretty sure I died instantly.” I try not to cry. Lucas saw a tear in my eye. He put one of his hands on my shoulder as a tear escaped my eye. “I died saving my grandmother. She was crossing the road and a crazy drunk man came flying up the road. I was almost too late. I pushed her out of the road. I tried to run but I was too late. I asked my Reaper to let me stay to see what happens. My grandma survived, she was severely injured, but she survived. The drunk man was caught eventually and they put him in jail.” His death was so much more noble than mine. I wanted so badly to lie and to say that I shoplifted medicine for my dying mother but I couldn’t. I already was in Hell, I didn’t want to make it worse. “You must love your grandma a lot…” I say. “Yeah.” “I deserved my death…” I wanted to kill myself, but I was already dead. “That’s not true.” I laughed. “I shoplifted! I hurt people! I deserve all of this.” I utter a quiet sob. “I’ll bet you if Malia looked at your record, you would’ve gone to Heaven.” Lucas’ voice was soft and gentle. But slowly, his anger boiled over. “That idiot! That lousy, worthless piece of crap! Somebody should fire her!” I half expected the boy to swear. He didn’t though. I did. I muttered so many curses and swear words I could make a sailor blush. He’s so… pure. Clean and unblemished, the opposite of me. I look back up at him. He had tears in his eyes just like me. I lay my head on his chest and sob. He watches me cry for several minutes. Soon, he cries too.

After our crying session, we explore. We were just in the entrance, so we had to go in. We walk through the gate made of thorns and fire. The sky was dark red and the clouds were raven black. As we walked into the place, we heard screams. Loud, agonizing screams. I see men and women of all ages being burnt, tortured and mocked. I look at Lucas with a terrified expression on his face. We walk to another throne adorned with skulls, fire, and blood. Sitting on the throne was a man with black eyes and hooves. Satan. I cover my mouth to keep from screaming. He looked like a demon with a long cape made of black fire. “Hello child.” He said with a hoarse and demonic voice. Lucas spoke up for once with fire in his eyes. “This is a mistake. Your lazy Choosing Angel sent us here without looking at our records. We need to go to Heaven.” Satan laughed his demonic laugh. “Dumb and useless boy. You think me of all people, will help you and your...girlfriend?” Lucas blushed. I look at Satan and swear. Satan looks at me and smiles. “This is exactly what I want. A swearing monster. That is what you are and all you will ever be. Congratulations, you’ve earned my approval.” Satan says in a sinister voice. “Lillith and Lucas the demons. The devil couple. I like the sound of that.” Satan hisses. I see Satan move his fingers like he was casting a spell...he WAS! “LUCAS! RUN AWAY!” I scream. Lucas doesn’t budge, so I push him away from Satan’s throne. As I push Lucas away, I see a heavy black chain shackled to my neck. I see large cuts appear all over my skin. They got larger and larger until they revealed a black demon. I scream again, but my voice is like a banshee’s. Loud and shrill. Satan laughs as I cry red tears. Lucas’ eyes are as big as saucers. He cries out as a maid-like demon takes Lucas away. To my joy, I hear Satan tell the maid to take Lucas to Heaven. Me? I stay. I don’t think I’m getting out of here. I at least hope someone will save me. Lucas? Maybe. I know he won’t. But I still will wait and hope he comes to save me.