So many things are pretty.
Truer words were never spoken. So many things--flowers, sunsets, clouds, grass, Life herself--
Malin was glad he wasn't saying anything out loud.
"I have to say birds," he admitted. "They sing and they're pretty. What more could you--"
The howl of a wolf caught his ear. Malin skidded to a stop, looking around wildly. They were being followed.
In such a situation, only one word would do.
"Sh*t."
Bennie froze, torn between tearing Kayin apart for lying to her and just being relieved. In the end, her relief won over. She heaved a long sigh.
"Well, you could have--she's safe? Why didn't you just--you know what, it doesn't matter. She still needs to be found. Um, the urgency is off, I don't...geez..."
Bennie laughed, running a hand through her hair. She continued walking, her heartbeat thundering in her chest. Everything was fine now...wasn't it?
Bam.
Blood splattered on the wall behind the man's head. Brain matter exploded out from the hole in his head, and from his fallen body, a soul rose. Cherry Blossom reached out to take it by the wrist, the poor soul dazed and expressionless.
"See?" she cooed. "Now you don't have to worry about those pesky grades or anything. You're gonna come live with me!"
Suicide by eating their gun...Cherry Blossom had seen it a million times before. She had long since become numb to the desperation in their eyes, the explosions of blood, the pleading way their gaze lingered on her as they pulled the trigger, or kicked out the stool, or jumped off the bridge...
She hummed a little ditty, dragging her new pet soul up with her to her realm. It was a paradise, really--she gave these poor souls a place to go after they gave up on life.
She was Justine Trautwein.
She was Afterlife.
She was Cherry Blossom, living proof of the transience of life.
Just as Cherry Blossom dropped off her soul, a flash of white caught her eye. With a cry, she rushed to catch the intruder, grabbing his arm.
"Alfonso! What are you doing here, you big bully?! This is my realm! Cherry Blossom's realm, not Alfonso's realm! Only Cherry Blossom is allowed in here!"
Alfonso--her half-brother--looked down at her with something between a smile and a grimace. "Ah, Cherry, my dear!"
"Cherry Blossom." Cherry Blossom hated when people tried to call her "Cherry". Did a name like "Cherry" properly convey the story of a fleeting human soul that joined forces with an entity who created the very concept of the Afterlife? No. It did not. It conveyed the image of a fruit.
Alfonso shrugged. "Want to hear something amazing? I found Life!"
Life? Afterlife recognized that name, and Cherry Blossom felt it resonate. Justine couldn't have cared less, but Afterlife? Afterlife desperately wanted to know more. Cherry Blossom swore her pocketwatch was ticking a little faster.
"Where?" she asked, tilting her head in curiosity. "She's on Earth, yeah? I was just there. Why didn't I see Life? Huh? Huh?"
Alfonso puffed out his chest proudly, sidestepping a wandering soul. "She's in the forest west of the village of Quagmire. I'm on my way to Death to tell her."
"'Kay." Cherry Blossom released Alfonso's arm and pushed him hard towards the exit to her realm. On her command, a swarm of souls arrived to push the man out. He spluttered. "Well, you've been kinda useful for once! Hooray for you! Now Cherry Blossom's gonna go meet Life."
Alfonso uttered a response, but she didn't hear. Cherry Blossom was already on her way to the village of Quagmire, ready to descend upon the souls and meet up with her "father".
There was much to discuss, and Afterlife looked forward to discussing it.