Reclaiming Souls (17 page)

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Authors: Arielle Caldwell

BOOK: Reclaiming Souls
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Kellin stood behind me and placed a hand on my hip. “Looks like you've done an amazing job but I knew you would. If you wouldn't have had the memory wipe, none of this would be happening or possible. You really are a God send to us all.”

“Okay, now you're just sucking up,” I laughed.

“I swear I'm not!” he defended himself.

“Go watch your crew and make sure they know what they're doing,” I retorted. He laughed, walking away to supervise his own.

I sat down on my chair and studied the screens in front of me for the rest of the day. Not one problem came up. The Collectors starting trickling back up one by one.

I stretched out in my chair to loosen up my sore limbs. “Okay folks, I think that's a day. Finish up your current job and head back home with the souls. When you get here, make a line in front of the tombs to close the day out. Nicely done, all! I couldn't be prouder.”

I took the headset off and walked out of the control room. Everyone was starting to get in a line. I shuffled through them to the front and opened the book of records. As each Collector stood in front of me, they called out the names of the reclaimed in their hands. I marked them down and told them which tomb their souls were going in. At the end of the week, there would be one, big judgment for all the ones reclaimed instead of doing it every day. For those going to hell, it was a blessing but to the others, it was a mere inconvenience. After at least two hours, the line ended and I closed the book to head home.

***

I opened the door to our house and could smell Kellin already cooking dinner. He danced around the corner, grabbing my hand and pulling me to him. We danced around the living room until the song he was listening to was over. “Welcome home, love.” He kissed my cheek.

“Dinner smells great,” I kissed him back.

“Why don't you go climb in a bath and relax while I finish up with dinner.”

“Okay, sounds like a great plan to me.” I went into the bathroom. There was already a bath ran for me. I stripped my clothes off and sat in the water. I could feel the water but I couldn't feel how hot or cold it was but it was just fine. I could still relax in it.

“Dev,” I felt Kellin nudge me gently, “you need to wake up,” he laughed gently.

I shot up in the bathtub. I had fallen asleep. “Oh crap. How long was I asleep?”

“Not long. Dinner is ready unless you just want to go to bed.” My stomach growled and I turned red. “So dinner it is,” he took my hand, helping me stand to my feet and get out of the tub. He took the towel and dried me off, running it down my body. He also placed gentle kisses down me until he had me all worked up and I wasn't thinking about dinner.

“I'm thinking I have some other plans, first,” I bit my lip and pushed him back into the bedroom.

“Oh is that so, Mrs. Banks?” His voice was low and enticing.

I dropped the towel to the floor as he lifted his shirt over his head. “We haven't had a chance to really seal our union and I think it's about time.” My voice was heavy with lust.

He walked over and picked me up. I wrapped my legs around his waist as he carried me to the bed and laid me down. His lips traveled all over my body for the rest of the night. His hands were all over me. I completely lost track of time and forgot the fact I was starving. He satisfied my hunger in a different way. The next morning I woke up, completely sated. Our union was completed and I was his and he was mine for the rest of our afterlife...or at least until we drove each other utterly insane.

***

After the first week on the new system, I did an evaluation of the overall program. Everything was moving along smoothly. We held the weekly judgment and all was great. I was really proud of myself and the difference I was able to make in so many afterlives.

Kellin and I decided to take a trip down to earth and relax on the shores of some unknown island. After the portal dropped us off, we made our way to a little bungalow that we had built over a few visits after our union. We unpacked and went to lie out on the beach. I wanted so badly to feel the heat of the sun beating down on us.

“What's on your mind?” he asked me.

I shrugged, “Not much.”

“Then why do you look so sad on our vacation?”

“It's just...I wish I could feel the heat. I want to feel the heat of the sun burning my skin and run into the water to cool off. I really miss it...and a heartbeat.” I wrapped my arms around my knees and rested my chin on top. The breeze from the ocean and the sounds of the waves crashing on the shore had me wanting to never leave.

“I'm sorry, love. I wish I could help you with that, but I can't. I've wanted the same thing for a long time and it gets frustrating knowing I never will again. The feelings will get better in time.”

“I know. It sucks though.” A terrible migraine overcame me and I grabbed onto the sides of my head and screamed as I fell over into the sand. The pain was so intense I thought my head was going to explode. A horribly bright white light filtered through my brain and then images came to me. My past broke through the memory wipe and hit me all at once. Kellin asking me to be his, my death, my life with Kale before my death, everything. I started crying after the pain subsided and wrapped myself in the fetal position.

“Dev! What's going on!?” Kellin pulled me into his chest and sat me on his lap. I was bawling like a big baby.

“It hurts so bad but it's a great feeling at the same time,” I cried out.

“What is it?”

I buried my face in his shoulder as the crying slowed down. “I remember. I remember you, my death; I remember it all.”

“How is that possible?” He was stunned just as much as I was.

I shook my head and lifted it to wipe the tears from my face. “I don't know. I had given up trying to remember anything and just when I had made peace with it, it comes back on its own. It hurts to know what happened to me but it's so beautiful because I remember meeting you.”

He took his fingers and gently wiped the rest of the wetness from my face. “This is beyond a miracle. No one ever gets their memory back after the wipe. You really are something special but I already knew that. How about you lie down and relax some, okay? I want you to be as stress free as possible.”

I was about to agree with him when Lexie and Kale popped up next to us out of the portal. “Hey guys! You really thought you could get a nice vacation away from us!?”

I laughed, shaking my head. “I was just waiting for you two to pop up.”

Lexie looked at my tear streaked face. “What's wrong?” she asked me, narrowing her eyes at Kellin.

I shook my head, “Nothing. Everything is perfect. I remember everything,” I responded, grinning from ear to ear.

“That's so awesome! So guess what.”

“What?”

She held her hand out and showed me the beautiful ring on her finger. “I decided it was time to move on and not let Jackson have a hold on me anymore.” She was beaming with happiness. Kale wrapped an arm around her and kissed her cheek.

“That's great news! From what I remember during my life, Kale was a really great man. You two will be so happy together.”

“I sure hope so.” Kale was the happiest I had seen him since we were both alive.

“Everything seems so perfect but we all know that perfection never lasts. Something is bound to come along and fuck everything up but for now, I'm going to be happy and enjoy my afterlife...again.” Lexie jumped up to her feet and ran into the clear blue ocean with the three of us hot on her heels.

Kale swam under the water and lifted her up, throwing her in the air. She screamed as she fell with a big splash. I looked around for Kellin. I couldn't find him and then I felt him underneath me. Instead of throwing me, he grabbed onto my waist and lifted me to him; wrapping my legs around him. His hands traveled up and under my bathing suit top.

“I think we need to go back to the bungalow for a little bit,” he whispered, his voice heavy with wanting.

“I think that sounds like a perfect idea. Hey guys, we'll be back in a little bit,” I squealed as Kellin lifted me out of the water and onto his shoulders as he waded back to shore. They laughed, waving us off.

I couldn't have asked for a better ending to my life and I couldn't wait to see what the rest of my afterlife had in store for me. I never would have thought in my entire existence I would be happy to be dead. There were some things I missed about being alive and having a heartbeat, but I wouldn't change a thing. I was happily dead and loving it.

 

 

 

 

Chapter Fourteen

 

“Look, I really don't want to reclaim you, but I have to. If you would have just followed the simple directions, we wouldn't be here talking right now. Do you understand me?”

I had a man named Langston pinned to a wall after chasing him down the streets of London for over an hour. I was hurting from the exertion but I was thrilled I was able to catch him.

“I don't want to go back,” he cried out.

“Well don't you think you should have thought about that before you knocked off three people and stole everything from them? You've been given enough leniencies and now it's time to pay for your mistakes. Judgments were yesterday so you get to sit in the tomb for a whole week. Ouch. That's going to suck for you.” I pushed my hand in his chest, wrapped my hand around his heart and pulled out his soul, stuffing it down the necklace.

“Way to go, Dev,” Kellin spoke to me through the headset.

“Thanks. I didn't think I was ever going to catch him.” I shook my head and rubbed my temples to try and get the headache to stay away.

“Hey, before I come back, I need to go to New Orleans and see Clotille and uphold my end of the deal.”

“Okay, do you want me to watch your back?”

I shook my head, “No, she isn't going to hurt me. She saved us. I'll be back in time for dinner.” I shut off my ear piece and waited for the portal to drop me off in New Orleans.

***

When I walked into her shop, she was sitting at her little table like she had been waiting for me. I didn't have to speak a word. She knew I was there. “Glad to see you are a woman of your word,” she spoke.

“Of course I am. I wouldn't do that to you.”

“That's good to know.”

“So what exactly was my part of the deal?”

“Come sit down.” She waited until I was seated across from her before talking again. “I need you to do a big favor for me. No other Collector would do it but since you owe me, I know you will.”

“Anything; you name it. You saved us all.”

“I need you to take me back with you.”

I was shocked. “Clotille, I don't know about that. We're not death. We can't collect your still living spirit if it's not your time.”

“I need to go. I've been on this miserable earth long enough and I don't want to kill myself. Death hasn't seen me fit to go yet but my body can't take it anymore. I've made my peace with everything.”

I was torn. It wasn't for us to take lives. “This is something that could possibly get me sent to the tombs forever.”

“I understand that but it's not like you're killing me. You'd be assisting.”

“Please, don't ask me to do this,” I begged her.

“So you're going back on your word? You're not going to uphold your end!?” she yelled at me. “None of you would be alive right now if it wasn't for me!”

“Why can't you let death come and get you when it's time?” She looked so desperate. Her eyes were jumping around the room.

“The dark spirits are coming for me. I can't go there and I can't protect myself. They're upset that I've helped you.”

I sighed heavily and put my head in my hands. “Oh shit.” I decided she was right. If I went away to the tombs, so be it. I was getting good at disobeying and making it out so I was going to take my chances. I stood and walked behind her, slowly sliding my hand through her back and wrapping my hand around her beating heart. “You won't feel a thing,” I whispered as I softly pulled her light from her chest. Her body fell out of the chair and landed on the floor.

I looked up when the portal appeared and headed back to the In-Between with her light cradled safely in my hands. I popped out of the portal and walked straight to the Creator. Lexie was headed for the line and I called out to her. “Lexie! Come here.” She ran over.

“What's up?”

“I need you to drop off my lights. Here's the list of names and stuff. I'll explain later. Thanks.” I handed them to her and kept going to the Creator. He was tucked away in his garden, reading a book. “Excuse me, I hate to bother you but it's rather important.”

He looked up and put his book down. “I already know. Give her to me.” He held his hand out.

“I'm sorry. I had to uphold my end of the deal and do what she asked from me.” I handed him her light.

“I know. I knew what was going to happen. She's asked several Collectors to take her and no one would because they all thought the same thing as you; that they would be sent to the tombs.”

“So what are you going to do with her?” I was curious. It had never been done before.

“She can be useful to us. She knows how to sense the dark spirits which none of you can do. No one will ever see her so they don’t have to protect her. If the dark spirits find her, it would be a very grave situation.” He stood and headed out.

I turned and walked back to my house. I hoped that death was every bit of what she hoped for. Instead of heading straight home, I turned towards the edge of the pavement and decided to go star hopping alone to think. From star to star, I made my way further and further away from the In-Between until it was just a speck in the distance. I sat down on one of the bigger ones and let my legs dangle underneath me. It was calming to be in my special place.

I sat there for hours before anyone even noticed I was gone.

“What are you doing out here?”

I smiled a little, “Hi Lexie. I'm just taking a break from everything. What are you doing here?”

“Kellin said you hadn't shown up at home and asked if I knew where you were. Of course I knew.” She sat down on a star across from me.

“So how are things going between you and Kale? Still good?”

“Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you...I hope you're not mad at me...but we decided to go ahead and have the union. It was like, a few days ago. He wanted to invite some of you to come but in the end, I decided it would be best for us to do it alone in private. Please don't hate me.”

“I don't hate you. I'm happy for you. If that's what you wanted, then I have nothing to say about it. It's your decision, not mine. Congratulations to you both.” I really was happy for her. She had been through so much and I wanted nothing but happiness for her. I didn't want her to feel guilty for not telling me.

“So this is it, isn't it? We'll just pester each other for the rest of eternity and be in this place until who knows when.”

“This is it,” I laughed, “Who knows what will happen next but I'm happy where I am right now. Aren't you?”

“After everything that happened with Jackson, I'm completely happy. All of his stuff is long gone and there's nothing to hold onto. Kale has been super supportive and helping me through some of my dark days where I feel like everything is crashing down even when it's not.”

“You know, you can come talk to me, too.”

“I know but I need him to feel like he's the most important thing to me, which he is, but sometimes he doesn't feel like it and that's my fault because I'm still getting over trust issues. I mean, my last one had me killed...that kind of stuff just doesn't go away.”

“You know, I don't think we've ever had a serious talk like this before.”

“Don't get used to it. I don't like it. Makes me feel all deep and grown up. Yuck.” We laughed together before helping each other up and heading back to town.

I gave her a hug when we were standing in front of her house. “Thanks for everything. I'm really happy you're still here and not...ya know.”

“Trust me, I'm glad I'm not...ya know,” she grinned.

“Guess I'll see you around sometime. Have a good night,” I waved and headed back down the street towards my own home.

Kellin was sitting on the front porch swing reading a book. I stopped a little down the road and watched him. He was so focused on his book as he looked with creased eyebrows at each page as he turned them. I was incredibly lucky to have him and to be his. He made me so happy; happier than I could ever remember. He looked up from his book and saw me and the biggest shit eating grin crossed his face like it did every time he looked at me. I started walking again. “Hey stranger, how was your day?”

“The same as always. What about yours?”

“Nothing crazy happened. I guess I should get use to a boring normal afterlife but that's kind of hard to do after all the shit we've been through in a short amount of time.”

I walked up the steps and went to sit by him. He draped his arm around my shoulder. “It could be worse.”

“And how's that?”

“We could be stuck back on earth with the living walking around aimlessly trying to acquire the most material things and outdo each other. There's so much hate and turmoil there. At least what little we have here is just that...hardly anything. I don't count Jackson losing his shit as a reason to hate being here. If I didn't die and the Creator didn't make me a Collector, we probably never would have met. You do realize that, right?”

“Of course I do. You never would have had the chance to know my awesomeness.”

“I'm pretty sure it's the other way around, love.”

“How about we just agree to disagree this one time?”

I nodded my head in agreement. We sat quietly on the swing watching the sun set on one side and rise on the other side of earth. It had become a habit and one I loved to do. I rested my head on his shoulder and closed my eyes, listening to the sound of the swing creak back and forth.

“As long as Lexie is around, I have a feeling nothing will ever be boring,” I laughed.

“Yeah, that's very much true. She definitely livens up everything, doesn't she?” I felt him laugh as his body shook from it.

“We don't have a lot here but what we have is more than enough. I have you, Lexie, and Kale. You guys make up my family...a weird and slightly dysfunctional family, but one none the less.

He stood up and grabbed my hand, pulling me to my feet and flush against his body. “I agree with everything you've said, I really do, but right now I want nothing more than to lay you on our bed and make love to you.”

“So what are you waiting for? Just because I'm dead doesn't mean I can wait forever.” I pulled the door open and grabbed his shirt, yanking him inside the house. Since Lexie had a habit of bursting in whenever she wanted, I made sure to lock the door behind us before proceeding to our room where I didn't plan on leaving until the next day.

 

 

The End

 

 

 

 

Epilogue

 

“Devalynn! Wake up!” I heard the banging on the door as usual. I rolled over and groaned.

“Go away, Lexie!” I yelled at her.

“You have to get up! You have a new group of Collectors waiting in the training hall! The Creator sent me to get you because you're like almost an hour late!” She burst through the front door and stormed back to my bedroom, shoving the door open and turning the light on.

“Oh shit!” I fell out of the bed trying to get up. Lexie fell over laughing  at me. I hit my head on the table next to the bed. “Stop laughing you freakin heifer!” I eyed her sharply.

“Sorry, but that was hilarious!” She was grabbing the sides of her face. “I can't stop laughing. It hurts so bad.”

I rolled my eyes and looked over to where Kellin should have been. “Is he out there?”

She shook her head, “No, him and Kale went down to earth to do some fishing for a little bit. Who would've thought they would be best friends after everything that happened, ya know, considering Kale kinda lied and had Kellin locked away for eternity. No biggie, right?”

“Yeah, men are so weird. Just like when two men get in a fight and damn near kill each other then turn out to be like brothers afterwards.” I quickly threw some clothes on and wrapped my hair up in a bun.

“I say after your big speech we should go down there and crash their party.”

I grabbed a quick bite to eat off the counter on the way over to the new training hall. “I say that's a perfect plan,” I stuffed the food in my mouth.

She looked at me kind of disgusted. “You really shouldn't talk with food in your mouth. How does Kellin live with you? I would have killed you by now if you weren't already dead.”

“Funny, I say the same thing about you,” I teased, “Come on, we need to hurry and get there. Nothing like being super late to make a great impression on the newbies.” I shook my head.

“Where else are they going to go? They're dead. They have a lifetime to wait.”

“You're really morbid, you know that?”

“Yeah, I've heard that a lot.”

We walked quickly to the hall. Everyone was sitting outside the room since I had the key and locked it up the week before. “Guess it's show time. I'll see you afterwards and we'll go to earth for a little bit but then I need to get back up here and check on the new program designs.”

Lexie waved as she sat down outside the room. “See you later. I'll just sit here and wait. Not like I have anything else to do right now. I finished up my list earlier. Only three today, can you believe that?”

I smiled and shook my head as I unlocked the door and flipped the lights on inside.

The new Collectors walked in the training room. I was standing up front smiling and greeting everyone until they were all in and seated. I stood at the podium to give my usual speech.

“Good morning. I'm sure some of you are wondering what you're doing here. You have all died and joined the elite team of Collectors. We reclaim the souls of second chancers who have awakened the monster that lies dormant in us all. They may have died the first time a great person but somewhere in the crossover back to earth, something triggers their monsters. We are the repo men of the dead and must set the balance of nature right again. My name is Devalynn and I will be walking you through your training. If at any time you have a problem, please come see me or any of the other Collectors. We don't bite...hard. Your first week will be training on how to fight the dark spirits that want to kill your inner light and if they succeed, you just disappear like you never existed. After that, you will meet the Creator and learn the control room first then you will be assigned a sponsor who will show you the ropes and when they feel you're ready to move on, you'll do your test and be set free to reclaim the souls on your own. Are there any questions?” I looked around the room and only one hand went up. “Go ahead,” I pointed to her.

“So we don't have a choice on if we want to do this or not because it would have been nice to decide my own fate.”

I smiled, thinking back to how I was in the same state of mind. “No, you don't get to decide. Your fate has been decided for you by the Creator. I thought the same thing as you and now I'm so completely happy I couldn't imagine any other ending to my life. It's the start to something beautiful; so much more beautiful than you could ever imagine. You may not like it now because you just don't understand yet, but give it some time and you will get to the point of wondering how you ever existed anywhere besides here. Welcome to your beautiful afterlife, where living really begins. I’ll see you all bright and early tomorrow morning to begin. Go explore and have a great day.”

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