After Death

After Death
Flash Fiction
Katherine Rochholz
All Rights Reserved

The young girl looked at the words that were in an ancient book. It was made of a strange leather, she was sure it wasn’t human nor animal, the words were red as if written in blood, and they were telling her a story, or the truth, she couldn’t decide. It seemed to be a story of her life. It talked of her parents meeting, her birth, her childhood and then the pages went from white and bright and happy to a pitch black, the words barely legible. It talked of her death. Of the horrific way she was killed by a person her family had trusted. She didn’t want to read the words. But she was forced it seemed. Forced until she read every word of her horrific death; once she was finished the book fell to her feet and she looked up at the being in black that stood in front of her. “Why?”

The being gave a smile. “That is what happens when one dies young one. You are forced to relieve your life, the book made from your very ash and blood and sins. Once you are finished reliving your life, I am allowed to take you to your judgment.”

“This happens to everybody?”

The being nodded. “Yes. Your body takes its last breath and your soul is brought here, and from the ashes of your achievements and your failures the binding of your book is made giving it a leather like quality. Then the sins that scar your soul and the emotions of the events of your life are used to make the pages. Depending on the events determines the color of the pages. For those events like your death the pages are black, but your childhood happy up until thing. The tears and creases you see on the pages are from your sins. As you see, be but barely a teenager, very few but white lies give your pages any flaws. Then your life blood is used to write your story, as it carries the essence of your life, of your soul, of your emotions, of your talents and thus the story of your life. You are forced to relieve this as the judges view your life. Now come. Your judgment and choices await you.”

The young girl was lead to a court room where the seven archangels sat. Lucifer with his black wings, Michael with his gold, Gabriel with his scrolls spread out before him, Raphael had a medical text book, Uriel was playing with a ball of fire, Phanuel was making a list of actions on could take in life to gain forgiveness. Selaphiel was telling him the list of prayers that their father accepted in exchange for forgiveness. The seventh archangel was sitting in the middle between Michal and Lucifer, Barachiel to bring balance and to give the judgment decided upon. He was the voice of the archangels. An eight was sitting with Lucifer with a three pronged whip, his name Jegudiel and he was Lucifer’s right hand to punish those who went to hell. The young girl swallowed as she stood in the center facing them in this court.

Barachiel spoke up. “This is a simple case. Lily Marie Richards, age fourteen, kidnapped, raped and murdered by her mother’s step –brother. Sins include, petty shoplifting, white lies, and punching a child for bullying another. Religion was Catholic, she never went to church but did believe in the faith, she stood up for others. She is an innocent soul.”

Lucifer sighed. “Why do we do this? I mean most of the time you and Mister Perfect here can set judgment, why must we sit here all the time judging the souls? Heaven.” He gave his vote.

Michael sneered. “Because it is what our father asked of us. Rebirth.” Michael gave his vote.

Gabriel sighed along with Raphael, who finally put down his book. “Look , must you two always fight? Rebirth.”

Raphael nodded. “Lucifer does have a point. We have other things we must do, and though time runs different in heaven and hell we are always busy and can never relax. Rebirth.”

Uriel nodded and put out his fire. “I agree. We must talk to father about this, but stop fighting. Heaven.”

Phanuel looked at the girl. “Heaven.” He wasn’t about to get drawn in again to the fighting.

Selaphiel nodded. “This fighting should have stopped thousands of years ago. Rebirth.”

Barachiel sighed. “Please stop this bickering you are thousands of years old. Jegudiel, you are not needed to send this child on. Rebirth.” He looked at the child. “You have been judged to be reborn to live again. I hope you have a longer and peaceful life. Afriel, take her to be reborn.”

With that Lily was lead to the reincarnation chamber. Lily smiled, she was happy she would have another chance at living and she blocked out the sounds of the bickering angels as her soul was given a new life.