The car raced past me, not even attempting to slow down. I dropped to my knees, hands cradling my face, memory flooding my vision. The tears ran through my fingertips. I wailed under the dark sky that glittered with no stars.

“KK, what’s the matter?!”

It was Alice’s voice alright. Embraced into her arms, she lowered my hands down. I looked up, her blue eyes dripping down my cheek.

“Are you alive?” I sniffled.

“Of course I’m alive, idiot. That car wasn’t even close to hitting me.”

Alice brought a handkerchief under my eyes, wiping away the stray tears.

“I thought it was happening again. To lose another the year after I lost Emalin. I can’t handle that.”

“You are being overdramatic. Now come on, up you go.”

Alice lifted me by the shoulder and sandiwiching my face between her palms.

“Better?”

I nodded my head, letting the last of my sniffles go without restraint. She took my hand and darted her sight to both sides until crossing the road.

When we reached the entrance of the chiseled white stone, we were met with a guard in a red uniform. Gold plated buttons on his blazer with a mustache that the Monopoly man would be jealous of.

“The baron has been waiting for you.”

“The baron? Why would baron want to speak with us? KK, any idea?”

“No, I haven’t a clue.” I said, trying my best not to sniffle.

The guard walked in military fashion with heel to toe. He bowed to a tilt, beckoning us with his gloved hand.

“This way please.”

I squeezed Alice’s hand tighter, the feeling I had churned my stomach for a reason I couldn’t explain. I turned to Alice who was still bearing a smile. She really is weird.

Our footsteps echoed through the large lit room filled with displays on each side. They were a continuous scene. It must’ve been the astrology section.

The scene displayed to our right was of the sun and a knight. A knight who lifted their sword up to face off against an army with only three beside him. A bard, a princess, and a young priest. With each scene we passed, the battle waged on.

The images of fallen enemies trailed behind the group like they were snipped rose petals.

The Bard enemies knew when to disappear, for the sound of music would drift across the breeze. The caress of the melody would have them throw their weapons down at his feet and fall into an endless slumber.

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The princess’ beauty was unmatched. Enthralling the hearts of the enemy with a single gaze. Luring them close only to stab them in the heart to the hilt of her blade.

The priest who offered them the heavens if they demonstrated the resolve to be forgiven. So they did, one by one they ran off the cliff Into the pit of spikes wanting to be relieved of their heavy guilt.

And finally the knight, growing wings on his back and soaring through the orange sky. Without taking the life of any, he was welcomed by the souls of the dead. They granted him passage into their side of death.

I couldn’t look away from what was being depicted. It was a masterpiece that defined art. I put my hand to my chest and felt...something. It was thumping so loud I couldn’t think.

When we reached the middle, the displays on the right reached an end and continued on our left. The beating of my heart changed rhythms. The sound resonated like that of a cheap drum.

I looked on to the new images being depicted.

Behind the knights stood a crescent moon. The lifeless trail behind them was no more, instead they were on their feet following the four who were unaware.

To the bard who played them beautiful songs, the spirits overwhelmed him and possessed his body.

To the priest who showed them compassion, he was shown an illusion. Being lifted up to the heavens while unconsciously walking off the same cliff he preached.

As for the princess and knight, it was no love story. When they stood atop a hill and the knight leaned in for a kiss, the princess stabbed him. He bled out where he laid and the wings were cut.

The princess who was filled with animosity became the one who flew to the moon instead of the knight. The wings however, never stopped and she kept flying high into the sky.

The displays ended there. The heavy beating in my chest ceased. All that I could hear were the echoes of our shoes through the narrow hallway.

“What a cruel tale.” I said, feeling the shaking of my hands in Alice’s.

“Is it really cruel though?” Alice questioned to my astonishment.

“Well of course! Trusted by his lover, having his wings cut and paraded at his expense. A selfish deed.”

“So you say, but wasn’t it the knight who was selfish?”

I dropped Alice’s hand and stared at her back as I paused in my steps.

“How can you not see the hideous nature that was the princess?”

Alice didn’t turn around. She kept walking close behind the guard.

“The knight kept the wings to himself. He soared through the unknown while leaving his ‘loved’ ones to wonder to themselves. That is selfish to me.”

“Alice…”

I reached my hand out to her, but the baron cleared his throat beside an open doorway.

“The baron is just beyond this door.” He said.

He beckoned us inside and closed the door behind us when we walked in.

The room was dark. Not at all like the outer part of the museum. If I had to describe it, it was the exact opposite of the pure white that was in the afterlife entrance.

In the middle stood a silhouette that was difficult to make out. He walked closer, the rattling of chains made apparent with each step.

What is this? This eerie feeling.

“Kayla, you have intervened in the balance of life and death. Your continuing annoyance to… cheat death has finally landed unto the ears of restless spirits.” The gruff voice bellowed.

The man towered over us, draped in a dark cloak. He circled us with patience in his step.

“Cheat death? I have not cheated anything.”

“Lies! You continue to cheat death even now.”

How am I cheating death?

“You even dare to bring others into the atrocities of your actions.”

He pointed to Alice with his boney finger.

I turned to Alice, her smile sinister and her eyes wide.

“So I’m finally here?”

“Alice what’s going on?”

“Haven’t you realized it by now, KK? You’re dead.”

What is she joking about!

I looked down to my hands, they were becoming transparent. It was pulsating between being clear and being solid.

“Well, I say dead but you will come back to life.”

I stared at Alice, at her feet was a crimson trail I didn’t notice. Blood that led to the door, and puddled below her.

I dropped to the floor, hugging my knees while I shook.

“No, no, no! You’re dead?”

“Yes.” Alice said with the blankest of faces.

“But I don’t have to be.”

Alice outstretched her hand to me with her palm up. Inching closer to me with each step.

“There’s only one thing that needs to happen.”

She towered over me with a candle lit just above her head on the ceiling. The pressure of the air weighed on my shoulders until I was pushed down.

“It’s simple really.”

I swallowed my throat.

“What do I have to do?”

“Just, die.”