The white was so beautiful. The air was cool and crisp, like a gentle breeze on a nice summer evening. There was a peaceful silence that Maggie had never experienced before. It reminded Magnolia of being out on a walk at summer’s edge, and it reminded her of the soft comforts of getting lost in the nothing.

  Nothing had ever felt so serene. She took a few steps forward, but Maggie felt as if she was floating. The cool air felt fantastic, and she took the most wonderful breath in. She felt as if she had never truly taken a breath before that moment. Everything was hugging her, as if taking her in like a sunset. Magnolia felt the anxiety, the pain, the fear, all of those pesky negative emotions leave her body. Had she ever even been living before?

  The landscape was so beautiful. There was a white tone to everything, and there were evergreen trees surrounding her. The trees had snow beautifully placed on each leaf, branch, and trunk. Snow blanketed the ground and somehow, she didn’t feel cold at all. Maggie smiled softly.

  “Magnolia...” A voice rang out to her. It sounded panicked, fearsome.

  She turned and that beautiful breeze turned into a fiery heat. The calm white turned into a misty grey and deep red. Smoke gathered at her legs and it became incredibly hard to see. Maggie squinted in the fog, only to realize it had gotten darker. There was no light. There was a presence here, and it was closing in. The darkness felt suffocating, and Maggie started running, blindly. Her legs could only keep up so fast to the sudden melting snow, and branches started to scratch her feet. Fear was coursing through her bones, and she felt like she was running from something she would never be able to escape from.

  Where am I? Maggie’s eyes darted around, looking for something, anything. The fog had become so thick that she could no longer see. It felt to her as if she were still trapped inside the fire, and she would be there for eternity.

  Maggie ran and ran, her legs burning with the effort; but soon enough her body crashed into something hard and solid. Her body flung to the ground like she was nothing. Maggie slowly looked up above her, and she was almost paralyzed with fear. A long, dark black robe stood above her, a hood covering its face. Her hands reached to the ground, and she stood immediately, almost as if she was commanded to do so. Skeleton-like hands reached up from the robe’s sleeves and unsheathed the hood. Fear and curiosity struck Maggie’s body, but she immediately felt calm and comforted, as if she didn’t need to be afraid of what she did not know. It was confusing.

  The head was a goat skeleton-like creature, although it looked like it still had a few muscles on its jaw. Its eye sockets had no actual eyes, just dark holes. It felt like they could see all, know all, could peer into the darkness without any fear. Its eyes awoke something inside of Maggie, almost a feeling of childlike curiosity about the darkness. It had horns that were almost bigger than its actual head, and it loomed about four feet taller than she was. A shaky gasp left her lips.

  “There is no need to be afraid,” it said without even moving its jaw. Its voice was deep and smooth. Maggie heard the voice ring in her skull. His voice was deep and jarring, but also incredibly comforting.

  “W-where am I?” Maggie’s lips were trembling, and she could barely move.

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  “You are in the after.”

  “The after?” She asked. “Like the afterlife?”

  A bellowing laugh escaped him, and his head moved forward. His jaw only clacked with the movement, and a chill went down Maggie’s spine. She might have wet herself if the creature hadn’t started talking.

  “No, my dear,” he said, putting his skeleton hand on her shoulder. It pretty much took up her shoulder and half of Maggie’s arm. “This,” he paused, “is the after. The place where you move on. Most ordinary humans are only here for moments before they are judged. But something about you is most curious.”

  Maggie could feel the creature grin. She didn’t know how. Maybe it was the slight amusement in his voice, or the way his head turned ever so slightly to the left.

  “Curious? How?”

  He paused for a moment. “Do you not know your lineage?”

  Maggie shook my head. “I’m sorry, my- my lineage?”

  “Ah, my dear… There is much you do not know, and I do not believe I should be the one to explain all of this to you. However, you have heard of the witch trials, yes?”

  Maggie faintly remembered the Salem witch trials in high school; but she could not differentiate what truly happened other than Maggie had determined it was truly a war against “disobedient” women and children.

  “I remember some, yeah… it was like a war against women right?”

  The creature’s jaw clacked as he let out a soft chuckle. “That you are not entirely wrong about. However, the first few burnings and hangings were of your ancestors. She was a witch who had incredible healing abilities. She could do many of things… Bridget was such a wonderful woman… truly a tragedy… but afterward, the fear of those with actual abilities went into hiding, many others and innocents were slaughtered by people too afraid to accept something they could not understand… Bridget was the first…”

  Maggie could feel the pain radiating from him, as if he was sorrowful for losing such a close friend. She didn’t know what to say.

  “I am Baph, in case you were curious,” He gestured as if he was putting his hand on his heart. Maggie briefly wondered if he even had one under those dark black robes. There was so much to take in.

  “Okay, Baph…” Maggie trailed. “Am I dead? Do I stay here now, or…?”

  He bellowed. “Oh, dear one, don’t you worry. You will not be staying here, nor am I wanting to keep you. I oversee most things interesting here. If you were meant to stay with me, I would have taken you by now.”

  “Then why am I not alive right now?” Maggie asked.

  Maggie felt Baph smile again. A chill ran down her spine. How could a creature with no skin be able to smile?

  “I have a gift for you. Something you have not been awoken to yet. Something has been blocking you from receiving it. Unfortunately, I do not know what, but it seems there is a siphon blocking you.

  Maggie was confused. What the fuck is he even talking about? “Am I going to be disabled or something?”

  “No,” he said calmly. Rage burned in Maggie’s throat. How was he so calm?

  “Your eyes will be different. Your senses will change. The knowing will be upon you.”

  “The knowing...?” She asked.

  “You humans call it a sixth sense. You’ll have the knowing; you’ll be able to do things that you wouldn’t normally do. The elements will bend to your command. The trees and animals will whisper to you. Just trust me. Regain your strength. When you remember me, do not tell a soul. Not your parents, not your pathetic excuse of a fiancé, no one. I will be a secret to all except you. I will visit you, and you will be able to visit me, here in the after, just like your father did. I have been dying to meet you.”

  “But I – “

  “Magnolia Grace, you must go. Or you will be lost in the nether.”

  His skeleton hands reached out, glowing in an array of colors she’d never seen before. His middle finger tapped Maggie’s forehead, so gently, and she felt this electrifying pierce of energy enter her body as she gasped back to life.