Maliah will never complain about waiting at the Secretary of State office again. Yes, she was actively ignoring the fact that she may never see one again, as she was pretty sure they didn't have them in the afterlife.

She had no idea exactly how long she had been waiting in a line that seemed to stretch on for miles over the hills. Twilight was perpetual as if eternity froze here.

When Ayinde dropped her at the shore, a young woman in a black dress suit and wide brimmed hat escorted her to her place in line. But not before Ayinde had pulled her aside and spoke to her for a few minutes. Maliah was curious as to what was said but the young woman gave a strong nod and promised she would.

Ayinde smiled at her and told her to go with this Aper. Maliah was a bit reluctant at first only because Ayinde was the first one that seemed safe in this strange situation. Like a child parting from his mother, she couldn’t help but to look over her shoulder at him. He still smiled at her and even gave her a wave, which she shyly returned.

The Aper pulled out a clipboard from seemingly nowhere and took great time to insert Maliah in line before disappearing off in the distance. Apparently they were in line according to the time they died. And the order wasn’t just where you died but within the timeframe of the total deaths in the world. Which meant they had the death time down to a millisecond. It made Maliah’s head spin to think about it.

Maliah saw people from all walks of life standing in line. In front of her was an elderly Asian man and behind her was a young girl from India. She had tried to talk to them but they both spoke in their native language so that Maliah did not understand it. After awhile Maliah thought, perhaps since this was the afterlife, everyone that worked here could understand anyone that came through. There were people dressed in black dress suits with wide brim hats that milled around. They frequently interacted with any kind of person from anywhere in the world and it seemed to Maliah that they understood anyone that talked to them.

It seemed rather peaceful usually, except the time that it seemed two people got into a fight who were further up in the line. They escalated from a verbal match to literally throwing fists. It disrupted the line so that it seemed the Aspers hanging around was having trouble settling them. Maliah watched as suddenly two big men that would rival any NFL player appeared. She couldn't help but to think they looked like Egyptian guards. Their stoic faces did not change a wink, as they each plucked up one of the people that were in the fight. Even with them flailing trying to get to the other, they did not not even seem to phase these Egyptian like guards. As quietly as they came they came, they disappeared with the two fighters in tow.

The line simmered down and there wasn’t anything else of interest as it slowly moved forward. Maliah was never one that could stand long but so found that she didn’t get tired nor did she feel hungry. She tried not to think about it very much but there seemed to be too much time to think.

So she had no idea how much time passed before she was close enough to see the looming city. And then eventually she was close enough that she saw what she thought might be the end of the line.

A bunch of people also dressed in black sat at desks in front of a large ornate door. Maliah couldn’t help but to be reminded of a convention check in. Over the ornate door was a sign in a language that Maliah didn’t recognize. Maliah realized underneath that symbols were moving. The longer she looked at it the more it solidified into something she could read. “Judgment Palace.”

Maliah swallowed. This was really real? Was she really dead? This was it?

Finally she was directed by the same Aper who had placed her in line, to a woman who looked a few years older than her. Maliah liked her hair. It was braided back halfway to her head before letting it go as a wild puff in the back. Maliah thought she saw something familiar in the cowrie shells braided in her hair. She gave Maliah a huge smile, that flashed her dimples. When Maliah saw that she felt some tension leave her.

“It seems my husband wanted me to check you in personally”, she said with preamble pulling a black folder from the huge pile besides her.

She flipped it open and scanned it. Maliah stayed silent, not sure if she should say anything. However her statement finally landed. Husband? Who was that? Did she know him?

"Maliah Anderson…" the woman finally drawled.

She stopped suddenly and blinked rather comically. Then she picked up the folder and brought it closer to her face as if that was going to help her in reading it. Then she looked up at Maliah really looking at her.

“Oh….my….” she said before shooting up out of her seat. She gave a reassuring smile before taking the folder and flagging down two other people. Maliah thought they were looked to be twins, a man and woman, both with the tips of their hair dyed purple.

Then suddenly she had both of them in her face as they leaned over the desk.

“Maliah Anderson?” they both chorus.

She leaned back a little from the two tall, lanky figures that were gazing at her.

“I can’t believe she finally appeared!!” the man spoke in awe of her.

“I know right!” the woman said equally in awe.

Maliah would have laughed when they were suddenly both knocked upside the head by the one checking her in. Although she was shorter and rounder than the twins, the two only sheepishly inclined their head and stepped back, both voicing an apology.

The woman spoked, “Forgive these two. They forget their manners. Now I see why my husband wanted me to personally process you.”

Maliah found her voice then, “Who...is your husband may I ask? I don’t know anyone here. I don’t think.”

“Surely the ferryman told you his name, Ayinde.”

“Oh, I’m sorry”, Maliah could have slapped herself, “Right.”

There was way too much going on yet Maliah felt a sense of embarrassment. The older woman waved her hand, “Do not concern yourself. You are a special case.”

“Special case?” Maliah echoed.

The woman gave a firm nod, “Yes, you have nothing to fear, These two will calmly…..” she glared at the twins in warning before smiling at Maliah, “...take you to the Debate Palace to see him. I will forward your file.” she tapped on it once.

Him?

Maliah looked confused but the older woman didn’t elaborate. It was besides the point as she found herself on either side of the tall twins, both of them hooking their arm around hers.

“This way, Big Sister!” they chorus.

“Wait what?” she muttered.

Maliah forgot the whirlwind of whatever was happening when she saw the dark purple almost black carriage that would be pulled by a black stallion. Maliah couldn’t help but to stare. “Pretty?” the twins chorus.

“Uh, yes. Very.” She said as the young man released her to open the door.

He gestured for her to climb in. Maliah pointed to herself and he nodded. It took a moment but just before she did, the horse looked over his shoulder and Maliah swore that his eyes were gold. His sister scrambled in after Maliah, giving a big grin as she sat besides her.

Maliah turned and looked at the man before her who had an identical grin. Then she finally looked out the window only to be taken by the view. It was gorgeous if Maliah stopped and thought about it. They passed many sprawling buildings. It looked like not many buildings were above about four levels. The pyramid loomed closer to her than when she was on the boat and she was mesmerized by the yellow white glitter glow that shot out of the top of it.

If Ancient Egyptian decor met gothic was the sum total of what she was seeing in her estimation.

It wasn’t until she was in front of a large palace-like house that the carriage finally stopped. The twin brother got out before Maliah before helping her and his sister down. Maliah saw a similar sign as of the Judgement Palace. The longer she looked at the moving symbols the finally came together into something she could read. This one read “Debate Palace.”

Once again the twins were on either side of her, arms hooked around hers as they entered into the palace. Maliah had to take two steps for their one as they twisted and turned through the hallway. She had long since lost the way back to the door. It wasn’t until they turned the corner that they came across another set of twins. Suddenly, there was a lot of talking over each other and together at times, that made Maliah lose the thread of whatever was being said completely.

It wasn’t until the practically shorn twin finally raised her hand did it quiet down. She was being back hugged by the blue tipped haired male twin.

“We are alarming the poor soul.”, she said softly.

Maliah would have found it funny that all four of them turned to her and said sorry at the exact same time, if she hadn’t been thoroughly overwhelmed by now.

She just blinked stupidly.

Ayana peeled off her husband’s hands. The longer Maliah stood the more her breathing began to quicken. Ayana shot her husband, brother and brother’s wife a meaningful look before taking Maliah and leading her away from them.

“It’s okay. Just breathe.” Ayana spoke softly arm around Maliah’s shoulders, “You are okay.”

Maliah reached out her hand to find a grip on the wall as her world spun once, “Where...where am I? What’s going on? I want to go home.”

“Miss…” Ayana knew her name but was concerned if Maliah knew that she might not be able to take it, “...this will be explained. I promise. Just come with me.”

Maliah knocked Ayana’s arm from around her and glared, “Who are you?”

“My name is Ayana. I’m sorry about that. We got a little over zealous.”

“Where am I?”

It really wasn’t Ayana’s place to say, so she kept quiet as she took Maliah’s arm and guided her down the hallway. Maliah followed her.

“Am I really dead?” Maliah asked after a moment.

“Miss….”

“A simple yes or no will suffice.”

“Yes.”

“Okay….” Maliah licked her lips, “What happens to me now?”

“My brother will explain that to you.”

“Brother?”