His brow furrows. “When?”
“It was not long after the car wreck. I was trapped and I was in so much pain. I hurt all over, and I kept trying to call out for help. I couldn’t get enough breath to make the words come out. Then I saw a flashlight and…bare feet. There was a man with rich brown hair, and I remember thinking he was going to cut his feet, but he walked on the glass like it was soft sand at a beach. He talked to me and it was like he could hear me even though I know that no were words were coming out of my mouth. It was such a relief to know there was someone there to help. He was so calm and reassuring. But then I started to panic again, because I couldn’t breathe, and the pain was so intense. He… “
I raise my hand to imitate his movement and I fall into a daydream like state as I finish recounting the events.
“Then, he reached out and touched my face and instantly all the pain was gone, and I could breathe. I felt amazing. I wasn’t scared or hurt, just warm and safe. He started to leave, and I tried to follow him but, he told me that I needed to stay. He said that a friend, Lucius was coming to help me.”
Little by little the magnitude of everything that had happened and who had helped me started to sink into me, layer by layer, as if I still had flesh and bones for it to sink into. I hear Lucius clear his throat and I snap out of my reverie to look up at his visibly shocked face. With his voice thick with emotion he asks, “He called me a friend?”
His face crumples like he is crying, and he instantly turns his back on me in order to reign in his emotions. A few moments later, he turns back, and his face is transformed, he is completely elated. “The Son of Man said I was a friend!” he cannot contain his excitement and laughs warm and rich, and the sound of such pure joy causes me to chuckle along with him. I move to pat his arm in a congratulatory manner, and he quickly dodges me. I quickly snatch my hand back trying not to be offended and failing miserably. “I don’t see what the big deal is.”
“The other watchers would become obsessed they would constantly find reasons to put us in each other’s paths.”
I roll my eyes. “We certainly wouldn’t want that!”
“They would assume things about us that are not so.”
“So what! Why do you care what the other watchers say or do?”
“I have a job to do. I will not become distracted. My mission is to gather the departed and bring them to the light. I was given this job over 2000 years ago and nothing will alter my path!”
“Well, I’m here, so, mission complete. See you around, or not, I’d hate to distract you.”
I stalk off toward the other people roaming around the light filled woods, making my way towards what I assume is a clearing. Vaguely aware that souls are parting in the wake of my fury like it contains a poison they don’t want to touch. I tromp through a manicured lawn with no idea where I’m going or what I’m doing but getting angrier with every step. That’s when I notice something familiar and I stop, stunned at the realization I am standing at the edge of Jackson’s garden. The moment I stop Lucius is by my side. “Haven, I did not mean to offend you.”
“What the heck is going on here, why are we at Jackson’s house?”
“This is one of the great assemblies. It is a place where the watchers can gather with little fear of the darkness intruding. It is a sanctuary for the rescued and the rescuers. There are many houses of light. The home of your parents was a house of light, however the watchers that were gathered there have since evacuated to other assemblies. Most have come here to wait for more suitable circumstances for relocation.”
I sigh loudly as I struggle with an internal debate. I’m still pissed at Ares for acting like I have the ghost plague, but I really want to know how everything works in my new half-dead world. I look over at him, debating which has more value in this moment, my curiosity, or my pride. He gives me a thoughtful look back and I can’t help but think he’s a little too inside my head.
“I am sorry to have offended you earlier, it was not my intention. I was only trying to avoid outside interference.”
I decide to play indifferent. “Whatever, I really don’t care. On the other hand, I really do want some information. Do you guys have, like, a dead people’s welcome packet or something? Is there a pamphlet or a video I can watch?”
He smiles at my sarcasm and I tell myself sternly that there is no reason to be happy. So, what if the gladiator’s ghost has a nice smile.
“We have no pamphlet or video, but I would be happy to answer all your questions under one condition.”
I cross my arms over my chest and notice the shimmer of a pale smoky purple come off my arms and torso like a tiny wave. Then I raise my eyebrows at his thoroughly amused expression.
“What condition?”
He leans a little closer like he is going to tell me a secret and smiles broadly. “Tell me, what was the name you were giving me just a moment ago?”
“How do you
