“Kayla!”

“I apologize!” I bowed low, hands slammed together above my head.

Alice repressed a smile under her straw fisherman hat.

“Just hurry up. You being conscious this early is a rare event.”

Alice huffed, karate chopping the back of my head.

“What the-” I scowled, but she was already down the steps of the house.

She outstretched her hand upwards, an emotionless face staring down the block. Her blonde hair flowing to the side with the harsh breeze. Wearing a short-sleeved white shirt under her jean-overalls creating a chic look. In all honesty she looked like a princess who was kidnapped and raised to be a country bumpkin. I mean who has shiny gold hair and chooses to hide it under a straw hat!

I smirked, grasping onto her hand and pulling in close to her side.

We trotted down the cracked sidewalk, Alice tapping every lamp-post we passed by with one finger. She always had weird quirks like that, like how she pours milk in first before the cereal or sings loudly when brushing her teeth.

‘Grade A’ weirdo I tell you, but if I ever mentioned it out-loud I would end up with another bruise to the head.

“So, I know you forced me to hang out with you and all, but where exactly are we headed?”

I kicked my leg up into the air with each step.

Alice let out a soft chuckle. “I’m glad you asked.”

She ran in front of me and turned around with both hands to her hips like an astronaut who just landed on the moon for the first time.

“We are headed to the most suitable place to spend this long awaited vacation.”

“The museum?”

“No, not the pool silly. But the muse-!”

Alice’s prideful face deflated.

“Who would guess the museum for vacation?!”

“Hey, hey, the museum is a great place! Plus they have an entry sale going on right now if I believe.”

Alice stared at me with visible disbelief. Her high spirits now falling dead onto the floor. She slouched over, reaching into her pockets, pulling out two checkered tickets.

“Yeah, yeah. We are going to the museum...”

“Really?!”

I grabbed one ticket from her hand and held it up against the sun to examine it. ‘Admission’ and the date of today were labeled at the bottom.

“Mhm…” Alice was over it, dragging her feet with her back hunched.

“Stop sulking, I didn’t actually think you of all people would get tickets for a museum.”

I latched onto her dangling right arm and tried to budge her along.

“Come on! There’s no time to lose, the place is four stops away by train.” Puffing my cheek out, I leaned into her ear.

“Alice.”

“Ah! Stop that!”

Her face bright red. She brought both hands to her ear, taking a moment before breaking into a sprint down the sidewalk.

“Hey!” I grinned, chasing right after her.

The train station wasn’t very far from where I lived, being just a few blocks down. I used it for basically everything, school, library, the small shop made for the occult, the train was pretty convenient.

We descended in a race down the large amount of steps to the station, scanning our boarding passes to speed through the turnstiles.

“First!” Alice yelled when we reached the inside of the train cart.

I dragged through a few moments after, feeling the sweat run down my brow. Panting with my hands to my knees and my back slouched, I contemplated with myself.

Why did I run? I was just swept up into Alice’s obsessive love for exercise. What kind of monster runs four blocks without stopping?! Mutant I tell you!

I perched wearily onto Alice’s shoulder who was still standing upright, not being phased at all. Definitely inhuman.

She looked down at me with a smile, her fang-tooth being revealed. Bringing my arm over her neck, she shuffled us down the train before finally plopping my unathletic body onto an empty seat. The stench of sweat and over-perfumed ladies lingered heavily in the heavily. If I had the energy I would have switched carts but at this moment of time I couldn’t be bothered.

“So, why exactly did you suddenly want to go to the museum? Very unexpected from you to want to visit someplace without the sun.” I huffed the last of my lungs away.

Alice sat down to the seat beside me, scooting over closer. Close, you’re close! Ever heard of personal space!

“I figured we’d start with all the indoor places first to see how everything goes.”

“To figure ‘how what goes?’” I questioned.

It wasn’t like Alice to think ahead. I’m pretty sure her body is made up of impulse and muscle.

“There’s something like that.” Alice replied, leaning her dumb head towards me with a stupid smile.

I don’t have the energy to press farther, I closed my eyes and nested my head onto the idiot’s shoulder.

Just a few minutes. Just until we reach the museum mhm, mhm.

The white slate enveloped my surroundings once more. I stood up from the ground, each step becoming a black square on the blending surface floor. If I spent enough time, I could make the world's biggest chessboard.

I closed my eyes, focusing on my second home. The flower garden.

And in a moment, the scene changed like I was apparated into a field of daisies and poppy flowers.

I grinned, shouting out down the hill.

“Emalin! Appear!”

I sprinted over the side and slid down towards the creek below. Beside it was a giant wooden lodging with two rocking chairs in the front.

Emalin ran through the door in a yellow sundress as I leaped over the small creek and into her open arms.

“Kayla you’re here early. Didn’t you have plans with Alice?”

Alice pushed me in eye view, combing down the sides of my hair.

“Am I not allowed to drop in to see my cousin?”

“Alive, yes. But I’m dead and it’s certainly not normal for a girl to be making casual visits to the afterlife.”

“Well, life would be too boring if it was normal.” I chuckled, sliding away from her grasp and into the lodging.

Inside was a high ceiling with the decor like a retirement home.

Grandpop stood behind a long counter to the left corner blending what seemed to be fruits into a smoothie. Granny was chatting with another elderly couple on the violet draped sofa chairs in the middle of the room.

“Kay! Come on over here.” Grandpop beckoned me over when he finally noticed me.

I skipped through the wide room and sat firmly on the one of four stools in front of the counter.

“Making another health drink grandpop?” I questioned, tapping my fingers in rhythm on top of the smooth wooden counter where I rested my arms.

“Well of course, it is good for the body after all.”

“Wait, but does it really matter? This is the afterlife after all, it’s not like you can die twice right?” I giggled, rolling my eyes expecting a fast answer.

I was met with silence. I glanced back at grandpop.

“Wait can you die twice?!”

“Oh hush, here drink up.”

He placed a tall sleek glass in front of me, pouring a pink shaded smoothie into it. Chunks of strawberry splashing as it fell to gravity.

I seized the cup and swigged half of the drink in one hefty gulp. The strawberry bits were too chunky, forcing me to slow down and chew before continuing.

Is he trying to have me choke to death? And what’s with the dying twice thing. Is it really possible? Where would you go if you die in the afterlife? I thought this was it.

I slammed the empty glass down, trying to push my questions even farther.

“Kayla dear, come meet Helen and Azarel.” Granny waved me over and patted on the cushion next to her.

I turned to Grandpop, still looking for answers but he just motioned his chin to go.

Well, whatever. I can just ask again later.

Grandpop turned around and ignited the stove, frying something in the pan.

“What is it, Granny? And pleased to meet you two, Miss Helen and mister Azarel.”

“The pleasure is ours madam.”

We shook hands but the comment had me taken aback.

“Madam?”

I stare questioningly at the two, they were draped in dark fabric. Not black, not grey. No, something dark.

“They have been eager to meet you for a while now but I keep forgetting to call them up.” Granny said, pulling me into the seat.

“Really now? Any specific reason?”

“Oh nothing in particular. We were umm what’s the word?”

“Curious? Darling.” Helen chimed in.

“Ah yes! Very curious.”

Azarel stroked his black gruff beard that end-pointed like a sharp chin.

“Kayla.” Grandpop yelled from the counter, sliding a plate down.

“Breakfast is ready.”

Snap

I shot to my feet, arms and knees bent to a karate stance. I felt the cool air breeze through the sweat that ran down my brow. My lungs were on fire, feeling like I escaped my responsibilities at home.

“KK, what’s wrong?”

Alice tugged onto my right sleeve where she remained sitting in the same spot. Her face washed over with a pink shade and head tilted signifying that she was genuinely concerned..

“N-nothing. Just a bad dream.”

I shut my eyes and took three deep breaths before surveying around the train. It was empty. Not another passenger in sight down the carts I could see through the door. Out the pushed back windows was only darkness with just the moon providing another source of light.

“Alice! Where are we? What of the museum?”

“I couldn’t wake you at all.” Alice huffed, crossing her arms.

“Did you even try?” I raised my eyebrow at her.

“Of course I did! I tried...quite a bit.”

Her face reddened once again. I didn’t even want to find out anymore of what she did to me while I was asleep. All I know is, I never see her embarrassed and that was enough to tell me to leave it there.

If I pushed any farther I’m pretty sure the heavens themselves would strike me down before I even uttered another word. Damn you princess-like people! Favor me for once, goddesses!

I sat back down, clutching the sides of my seat. The checkered ticket poking out from the kangaroo pocket of my hoodie, taunting me with its antiques and historical inaccuracies that I never got to rant about.

I felt a rustling from beside me, Alice padding over her overalls. She dug into her pocket and pulled out another pair of tickets with a different date. Fanning herself with them.

“While you were out of it, I managed to exchange my ticket for tomorrow instead. I brought your ticket as well but I decided to tease you for a bit.” Alice said with a smug look on her face.

Her smirk was confident but I didn’t feel an ounce of annoyance. I wrapped both arms around Alice.

“Hey! You are going to suffocate me to death. Release! Release I say!”

“So where are we going now?”

“Hmm? The museum of course.”

I stared at her with genuine confusion.

“How? These tickets are for tomorrow?”

“The museum doesn’t close at midnight though.”

My eyes must have lit up because Alice resumed her oh so confident smirk.

The train’s speed decreased, halting to a stop and opening up the doors to another station. I grasped onto Alice’s arm and rushed out through the doors. Sprinting up to the top of the stairwell, a giant grey building stood just across the street.

With a statue of some man sitting down with his leg on his lap and arm to his chin. The long awaited museum was finally in my sights. The museum emitted a bright light that made it shine in the darkness of the night.

We started across the street. Alice skipped ahead and spun to face me. She stood there, smiling the brightest smile I’ve ever seen.

“Alice!”