by Jerry Hart
Then, “Daniel?”
The voice had come from straight ahead, just over the hill directly in front of him. A moment later, she appeared.
“Alyssa!” he screamed as he ran to join her.
They embraced for an eternity. When they stopped hugging, Daniel felt like it hadn’t been long enough.
“I can’t believe you’re here,” she said to him.
Daniel looked her up and down; she looked exactly the same as he remembered her. “I never thought I’d see you again,” he said as the tears flowed down his cheeks.
Alyssa cupped his face in her hands. “Well, then, shame on you.”
He smiled. “Do you know where we are?”
She looked around. “I have no idea. I’ve seen others. I can’t talk to them or touch them, though. I feel like I just got here, but at the same time, I feel like I’ve been here for a while.”
“We’re dead, you know.” Daniel tried to say it as gently as possible.
“I know, Daniel.”
“So, do you think this is heaven?”
“Maybe. Feel like exploring?”
He nodded. She took his hand and they went over the hill together.
Even though they walked for what felt like a significant amount of time, they saw the same old black-and-gold landscape. Daniel felt like they were getting absolutely nowhere. He was thankful his feet didn’t hurt; he wasn’t out of breath either. Was he even breathing?
“Have you seen Owen and Chris?” Alyssa finally asked.
“No. They’re not dead, are they?”
“No. I saw them, though. When they were racing home to save you from Michael. I don’t know how, but I saw them when I closed my eyes and focused. I was afraid they were going to get caught up with red lights or cops and I didn’t want that and … somehow they made it without trouble.”
“Not in time,” Daniel said quietly, remembering the fight with Michael.
“I know,” she replied. “I’m sorry.”
He stopped walking. “Oh, no, I don’t blame you at all. I didn’t mean—”
Alyssa shook her head, her eyes watery. “I know what you meant. I’m still sorry you died.”
“I’m not. If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t be here with you.”
She smiled, grateful. “This place isn’t all that great.”
“As long as we’re together, it’s better than it was.”
“Thank you.”
They stared at each other for a moment. Then Daniel said, “They never found your body, did they?”
“They will. I know they will.”
“I feel bad for Owen and Chris,” Daniel said as they started walking again. “They’re all alone.”
“They won’t be for long.”
“What do you mean?”
Alyssa smiled. “The Unstoppable Titans will live on.”
“How do you know?”
“I don’t know how I know. This adventure we had was just the beginning. Even though we’re dead, that doesn’t mean we can’t help out in the future. We’re still part of the team.”
“Really?” Daniel closed his eyes. “You said you thought of Chris and Owen real hard and you saw them, right?”
“Yes,” he heard Alyssa say.
So Daniel thought of his friends. What he saw in his mind startled him. “They aren’t together. I see Owen, but Chris is … I don’t know where he is.”
“I saw that too,” Alyssa replied as Daniel opened his eyes. “They won’t be separated for long, though. I don’t know that for a fact, but I truly believe they’ll find each other again. Until then, we’ll help them whenever we can.”
“We can’t help them now?”
“I don’t know how.”
Suddenly a bright light appeared next to them. Daniel was amazed he could look at it without hurting his eyes. The light was in the shape of a person. It began to dim and Daniel saw a beautiful woman in a white dress standing there. She had long brown hair that reached past her shoulders.
“You’re right, Alyssa,” the woman said. “You will be able to help your friends, and I can show you how.”
“Who are you?” Alyssa asked.
“My name is Seneda. I’m Owen’s mother.”
Daniel was speechless. He didn’t know much about her because Owen had never spoken often of his mother. Nor had Daniel ever seen a picture of her. He believed her to be who she said she was, though.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, ma’am,” said Alyssa.
“Yeah,” Daniel said simply. It was all he could manage.
“Likewise,” Seneda replied. “As you’ve already figured out, you aren’t alive anymore. This is a place where the life force goes when its shell is destroyed. I know that sounds a little crude, but it’s the best way I can explain it.
“You see, some people on Earth are special. They were created by a force. Once those people die, they go to a special place.”
“Here?” Daniel asked, skeptical.
“No, not here. There’s a better place. I came here to escort you there.”
Daniel and Alyssa looked at each other. And then they took each other’s hand once again and followed Seneda. A door made entirely of light opened before them. Seneda stepped through and disappeared.
Daniel stopped before the door, dragging Alyssa to a halt. “I’m scared,” he said.
“Don’t be. We’ll be together, no matter what.” And then she kissed him on the lips.
He brightened at that. Finally, they stepped through the door together. What they saw on the other side was beautiful beyond anything they could have imagined. They would gladly wait there until it was time to help their friends once again.
