Not Broken, Just Bent

Nine: Drifting

Jen's POV

I woke up at the bottom of the elevator shaft. I saw the firefighters lifting bodies out of the elevator. I don't remember anyone else being there. I thought. Oddly, after a long fall in a little metal death box, I didn't hurt. I looked around, and there was a sudden flash of light, then a door appeared in the wall in front of me. I stood slowly, reaching for the doorknob. It swung open just before I could touch it, and I took a step towards it There wa a man waiting inside, a gentle, comforting smile on his face. He reached out his hand for me to take, and something in me made me take it. He pulled me into darkness. I was standing on sonething solit, but it's darkness blended in with the rest of the world.

"Hello, I'm Kade." He finally spoke. I tilted my head, wondering why he didn't just introduce himself before bringing me here. "Everyone wonders what I am and why I don't introduce myself. I'm a worker of some sort. I died after being brought here, and I became a guide. If you are brought here, you have the choice to fight for your life and loved ones, or you can let go and decide to work or stay here. The only catches are, if you come back after chosing to live, you cannot see any more futures, and if you choose to stay with us, you can't see your family until they die themselves. I don't talk eyt because as a soul, my only way of communicating is motions in your world." He explained.

"What do you mean, see futures?" I asked, biting my lip.

"Cuttung to the chase, I see! I love it when customers do that. Here, you have the option to glimpse into the future of someone's life. You can see life with or without you. You can either see life with and without you for one person, or you can see with or without you for two. Would you like to see or choose?" He talked fast, but somehow I understood.

"Can I ask a couple questions first?" I asked. He nodded quickly. "Colin O'Donoghue, was he sent here? Did he choose already? I only want to live if he does."

"Mr. O'Donoghue is waiting on your decision. He said the same about you. He wanted to see your future, but since you control this, we cannot predict anything for you. Would you like to see him?" Kade asked.

"Yes! Can I?" I asked.

"Somewhat. Instead of a future, you may communicate with one other soul here at the transition."

"I want to see him." It wasn't even worth thinking about.

"Jen?" Someone asked, the darkness around me innuminating and I could see Colin's face.

"Colin! Oh, my God, you're OK! Look, I think the choice is obvious here, right? I mean, we have to go home." I yelled.

"Of course. I can't wait to hold you. I'll see you?" He replied.

"Of course you'll see me, dork." I laughed, and the darkness returned.

"I've got your ride home booked now. Let's get you home." Kade said cheerfully. "All right, behind this next door is the room your body is in. All you have to do is grab your hand, and you're home free. Have a good life, hope not to see you!" He left in a flash of white light again, and another door appeared. I let the door swing open. I saw Colin sitting up, talking with my family, and Julia was hovering over me. It all went so fast. Almost like someone was fast forwarding a movie. My parents and sister left the room and I tried to walk, but my feet slipped. I almost fell, but I began floating towards my body. I took my hand, and in a blinding flash, I was holding tight to Colin's hand, my arm hanging off the bed.