7

(Dabin, Outwild, Nevve- Another Day)

Tells

I love my friends and all, but this whole mess is killing me inside. I have no clue how to use this sword and shield. Sorry, I should be more exact. Scimitar and buckler. Adam keeps telling everyone “Just keep swinging your swords so you get the feel for them,” but I’ve been swinging since I woke up and there’s been no difference.

Adam seemed like he was even getting a little bored of it. On top of that, everyone except for Vetia was on guard and being quiet so we wouldn’t attract predators, but she was certain that there were none because she could apparently sense them.

“If we get attacked by another mammoth because of all your racket, I’m feeding you straight to the goddamn thing,” Desmond said.

“Straight to the goddamn thing…” Vetia retorted, as if expecting follow-up.

“What?” Desmond looked confused for a second.

“Straight to the goddamn thing…” and then she mouthed something toward him.

“No. No. No. No! I’m not doing this again. No. Fuck you. Fuck your weird hair. Fuck your massive tits. That’s not what I meant and you know it.”

She snickered, “Did widdle Desmond get scawed of da big gween guy and wants to cuddle up with mommy? Is Dezzy Wezzy gonna pee-pee himself again?”

At this point Desmond looked like he was ready to put an arrow in his own skull with how annoyed he was.

Something finally clicked for me. “That’s why Desmond smelled like piss?”

“Oh my God, shut the fuck up!” He stormed forward as everyone let little chuckles slip through.

We kept walking for a while. Desmond led the way in sheer anger. Brenden read his book the entire time, practicing hand motions in the air while little sparks of energy were crackling around his hands. At some points it looked like lightning, and other times like brief flames. Adam recounted the story of Desmond waking up, but I was barely listening. I was still trying to process everything.

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I’m supposed to be in Heaven, right? We died and ended up here, but why? Is this supposed to be purgatory or limbo or something? I don’t know. Am I not worthy for Heaven? Am I not pious enough? Was I wrong about it all? Where will my family go? Where does everyone else go when they die? Does this happen to everyone? Is this a test from Him? Punishment?

Vetia snuck behind me to my side as Adam finally finished his retelling. “Yo Tells. You feel- look like you’re goin’ through it.”

I kept my eyes on the ground and let silence hang until the wind swept it away. “Where do you think we are?”

She raised an eyebrow. “As in… geographically? Chronologically? Cause I got no fuckin’ clue on those.”

“We did die, right? This is what comes after life?”

Adam groaned and walked ahead with Brenden and Desmond.

Vetia put a hand on my shoulder and chuckled. “I’ll reiterate: I got no fuckin’ clue. We don’t know much of anything yet. So don’t lose faith, not until we see more.”

I shook my head. “This doesn’t make any sense.”

“Yeah, chief, I’d be more confused if it did make sense. I mean, the fact that we resemble hominids and not some other form of life is mind boggling to me. What are the odds, right? All I know is we got an opportunity for something new, so why not make the most of it? Isn’t the most important thing to trust in God?” She smirked and patted my arm, slipping into my line of sight with the ground. “Wouldn’t want you turning into a filthy heretic like Adam.”

Opportunity.

I reluctantly raised my head and barely mustered a smile. “Whatever you say, sister.”

She grimaced amusingly. “I ain’t your sister, bro.”

“Well you ain’t a bro no more, sister.”

I could tell by her expression she’d just been reminded of herself. “Heh. You’re killin’ me Tells.” She shot me a finger gun, then bounded away to join the others.

Maybe I’ll try to follow everyone else’s example. Go at this with an open mind.

I didn’t even realize how long it was before the forest opened up to blue sky ahead.

“Ay, ay, stop!” Desmond’s voice bellowed out as we stepped toward the edge of a rocky cliff.

Just then, I heard something like a chittering bug and darted up to join everyone else. Desmond’s fearful eyes locked on something in the woods behind us.