Crying in My Prom Dress

One

      If I had thought that this was how my senior prom would end, I wouldn't have wasted the time picking out a dress.  What a waste of 300 dollars! If I had KNOWN that the school would catch on fire from the kitchen, I sure wouldn't have worn heels! My second thought was that's a stupid final thought . Fire was a really painful way to die. I was dying, and I was still complaining? Yep! That's the kind of person I am. As my world went disappeared around me, I had a strange sensation of falling. As I blacked out, I heard a voice that I thought I would never hear again. "Hello again, Mia". 

When I woke, I was aware of a burning sensation. I wasn't in what was left of the school. I wasn't at home. I wasn't even in a hospital! Then why was the voice of the boy who broke my heart playing through my ears as I- wait. Was I dead? Shit! Just the way I wanted to end the supposed 'best night of my life'. Not only was I dead, but the voice of the only person I had ever loved was still ringing in my ears.  Jack Foder had broken my heart, and he had laughed. I decided to push that aside for the moment, and took a look at myself. I wasn't wearing the old pink-and-white dress that, in retrospect, was probably burned to a crisp. Instead, I wore a dress that began in black and faded from black to maroon to scarlet. It was nice, I grudgingly admitted to myself. I would still rather be alive.

 As I looked around me, I noticed some people that I recognized from my school. None of them, as far as I could  tell, had gotten a wardrobe change. "Where are we?' I thought aloud. Confused looks from everyone just added to my frustration. We were disturbed from our confusion with the same voice that had greeted me as I had died. 

"Mia Johnson, the boss will see you now". 

My hands shook slightly as I took a step towards the voice. Though I hate to admit it, my voice was laced with hope and longing. "Jack?" 

That voice laughed scornfully. "I suppose that is what you know me as, and I do not know you as your true name either. I suppose we are all in the same boat, as they say". 

I decided to ignore the whole shebang about his true name. "My name is Mia". 

He just snickered. "Fine, Mia, the boss is getting impatient". 

"Who is your boss?" 

"You'll find out". 

"Well that's not ominous at all" muttered a woman who I had not seen before. She had long jet-black hair and wore a short cocktail dress the color of blood. She also had dark-colored eyes and pale, pale skin. 

"Shut it" snarled Jack, hands clenching into fists at his side. The woman just laughed. 

"Darling, you would say that to your own sister?" 

"I said SHUT IT!" Jack launched himself at the woman-his sister-with reckless abandon. She just stepped to the side. 

"Honestly, little brother, what will father think? Besides, you wanted this one for a pet, didn't you?" Her voice was like caramel. Silky smooth, but laced with poison. 

"I'm sorry" I burst into the conversation, "but what the fuck is happening?" 

Jack laughed his scornful laugh. "Mia, dearest, welcome to hell".