Page 4 of Hollyhocks

Instantly, I’m in another place I don’t know. It’s darker than usual. The sky is black with hints of red. The trees are dead, but right in front of me is a place called Purgatory Pins.

“Where are we?” I ask Trovian, not understanding my surroundings at all. A jolt of fear coils inside me, slithering like a snake.

I shiver, whipping my head left and right to see what else is around me. I’m doing my best not to panic. So much has happened in the last ten minutes, I’m still processing my own death. Now, I need to process this place.

“Purgatory,” he explains casually. “It’s where paranormals go when they die. Some go straight to Hell depending on their crimes. Most of the time, they come here.”

“Paranormals,” I echo him in disbelief. “Like vampires and werewolves?”

He eyes me, giving me a crooked grin. “Exactly, but there are so many more creatures than that. Like you, for example. You’re now a paranormal creature but you know that already, don’t you?”

I nod, tightening the cloak he made me around my shoulders. “Yes, I do know that.”

“You don’t seem bothered.”

“I’m pretty good at adapting. I accepted my fate a long time ago. There’s nothing I can do about it. Especially now, since I’m dead.”

“You’re dead but your afterlife is just beginning. You’re about to have so much fun here. This place can be dangerous and maybe you’ll need to fight to survive, but I have a feeling you’ll be okay. If anything, you seemed relieved to be here.”

“After dealing with what I did, you’d welcome anything else.”

His hand drops to my shoulder, squeezing it gently as a friend would do. “You’ll be alright.”

The front door swings open and another Void stands in the doorway, hands on his hips, and flames dance on his shoulders until they fade away.

The other skeletal creature points at Trovian and growls, “You.”

“Fuck,” Trovian curses with annoyance. “I’m so sorry about this.”

“Trovian! You mother fucker. You stole her soul. That’smyterritory. The area you went to is undermyjurisdiction. You could have picked any other place, but nooo, you had to pick mine.” The angry Void vanishes and then appears right in front of us. “You did that on purpose.” He pokes a finger at Trovian’s chest.

“You weren’t available. I had orders from Death.”

“Death?” I ask.

“Our boss. One of the Four Horsemen,” the new Void says. “Just because you got promoted doesn’t mean you can pop into wherever you want. Unbelievable.” He turns to me, grinning before reaching his hand out to me. “I’m Lorcan. And you are?”

“Holly.” I shake his hand, trying to understand everything he just said about Death being real.

“What a pretty name. I hope Trovian escorted you here without any issue.” Lorcan narrows his eyes at Trovian.

“Everything has been smooth sailing,” I explain, a small magical hint in my voice. I cover my mouth. “I’m sorry. I don’t know how to control certain abilities yet.”

“It won’t work on us anyway. Though, that voice will earn you some eeries while you’re here,” Trovian informs.

“Eeries are our money here. Coins,” Lorcan explains, holding up a coin as an example.

“Ah,” I nod my head in understanding even though I’m not sure I understand anything right now. I’m wondering if this is a fever dream. What if I’m not dead and I’m still alive in the hands of those doctors?

“You’ll be taken care of here. We will help you get on your feet. Want to explain what happened to you?” Trovian questions out of curiosity as we all begin walking to the front door.

I follow them because what else am I supposed to do? They are the only ones I know. Either risk my afterlife with them or without them and right now, I’m feeling a bit apprehensive about being on my own here.

Sighing, I reply, “Not really. Let’s say I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. That’s all there is to it.”

“So you don’t want to tell us how you were a human turned into a paranormal creature.”

“Not really. I don’t want to get into it. It’s not like you have to tell anyone, right? You have other souls to snatch?”

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