[The Trybrid Chronicles 2] The Fourth Guardian

Chapter Four: Resurrection

Justin

I stood there in the kitchen watching my family. Meg was helping all the kids get ready for school, and Dylan was carrying Skylar and his youngest Tasha. Three weeks ago, I had gone to Meg and asked her for a decision. I hadn’t heard anything from her. Not yet at least. The deadline was a week, but I managed to convince them to give her more time. Just then Meg looked towards where I was standing, and I froze. She only looked at me for half a minute, but I could have sworn that she could see me, but then she went back to talking. I heard my name and turned to see Dylan standing on the stairs now. I moved closer to him.

“She said yes.” Dylan mumbled. He was staring at a picture of Niky and I on our wedding day. It appeared that he was telling Skye our story, but something made me listen more closely. “Meg told me everything, and she said yes. I can’t say that I happy with the circumstances, but I look forward to having you home.”

I smiled softly at him, even though he couldn’t see me. He had no idea how happy his words made me. “Thank you Dylan.”

He sighed. “I don’t know if you can even hear me man.” He walked away, and I turned back to the kitchen. Everyone looked happier than they did a few weeks ago, and I felt a pang of sadness. I felt her before I saw here and I turned as Niky tripped into the kitchen, Ethan caught her as she fell. Niky had lost a lot of weight, but she looked better than she did when she gave birth to Skylar two years ago.

“You won’t believe it.” Niky breathed out while waving her phone in the air.

“What happened?” Claire asked.

“I just got off the phone with Chloe. They found a heart for Sky.” She all but squealed.

The whole family yelled in excitement, and I couldn’t help but smile. I was happy for all of them, and soon I would be celebrating with them, at least I hoped I would. They never explained what would happen when Meg said yes. I shook my head and turned back to the conversation.

“When?” Meg asked.

“Tomorrow. The poor kid is on life support, but the parents have asked for twenty-four hours before they pull the plug and proceed.” Niky told them looking sad. “As happy as I am that Sky is getting a heart, I am sad for that family.”

I smiled ruthfully. This is why she is my perfect match, and I couldn’t wait to be with her again. I flinched just then as Ambrielle appeared beside me. “Justin, I need you to go collect his soul.”

“Absolutely.” I nodded. “I will go now.”

I turned to leave but Ambrielle stopped me. “Justin when you are done please come to my office.”

I nodded again and teleported away. I wasn’t surprised to see that I was standing in a hospital room. There were people surrounding the bed of a sixteen-year-old boy laying there with many tubes and wires. A wave of sadness washed over me as I looked at him, and I distracted myself by opening the information packet. Kaden Zander Lewis, sixteen years old, died in a car accident. I sighed and touched his head.

I hated picking up kids. While we were waiting on all the pieces to fall together, I took a job as a reaper. It’s a sad job, but it gave me the ability to travel between dimensions and I can keep an eye on my family. I was brought back to the present, when the kids soul left his body.

“What’s happening?” Kaden asked, looking around.

“Sorry Kid you died.” I told him. “It’s time to go.” I had gotten used to the spiel of telling people they were moving on, and it made me a tad colder to people.

“I don’t want to go.” He yelled. “What about my mom and my little sister?”

“I don’t know Kaden.” I told him.

“What happens now?” He asked.

“Since I came to get you, you will go to heaven I guess, then your family will donate your organs to those in need and have a funeral for you.” I stated.

“Do you know who will get them?” Kaden asked.

I sighed. “Not all of them, I know who is getting your heart though. She is two and a half years old and has had a hole in her heart since she was born.” I kept my face a stony mask so he could see my pain about talking about my daughter.

“Can I see her?” He asked and I stopped, no one had asked that before.

“Why?” I asked.

“Curiosity mostly.” He stated.

“I guess, as long as you agree to go with me afterwards.” I told him and he nodded.

I opened the portal and we stepped into my family home. Kaden looked around in awe. Claire was holding Skye now and cooing at her, but I couldn’t hear anything. Kaden stopped in front of a picture on the mantel. It was of me and Niky on our wedding day. He looked at me. “This is you?” I nodded. “This is Skylar, she’s the little girl that will be getting your heart.”

“Wait, is she your kid?” Kaden asked.

“Yes.” I sighed.

“That’s messed up that you were tasked with collecting me.” He said sadly. “You don’t even get to be there for the surgery. How long have you been erm..”

“Two years.” I chuckled. “I have a unique ability, so they gave me a job.”

“I’m sorry man, that's rough. You don’t even look that old.” He told me.

“I wasn’t. I was only twenty-five, but I was shot in the line of duty. Leaving behind my pregnant wife and two children.” I sighed.

Just then Niky walked into the living room. Sitting down next to her Mom and taking Skye from her. “That must be your wife. She’s hot.” Kaden said and I laughed.

“How are you feeling?” Claire asked.

“I am feeling stronger these days, and I am happy for Skye to be getting her surgery, but I keep wondering about the kid who died.” Niky told her Mom. “I want to meet his family and give my condolences and thank them for the fact that my daughter will live.”

Kaden’s mouth dropped open, and Niky continued, “And I can’t stop thinking about Justin, I thought I smelled him in our room this morning and then again in the kitchen, but it must be my imagination.”

“Or maybe he is watching over us.” Claire said softly. “Justin loved you so much and I know leaving you must have been impossible.”

“Alright kid, time to go.” I said quickly, wanting to get away from this conversation, and Kaden nodded in understanding.

I opened another door, but this time to the sorting office. I took one last look at Niky and locked eyes with her. I knew she couldn’t see me, but it felt like she could. After Kaden and I stepped through the door and snapped shut.

“Was she looking at you?” Kaden asked.

“It felt like it, but no she couldn’t see us.” I told him.

Amelia, one of the sorters, stood up. “Thanks for bringing Mr. Lewis, Justin I will take it from here, Ambrielle is in her office.”

“Alright kid, this is where I leave you, good luck.” I extended my hand, and he shook it.

I spun on my heel and made my way to the elevator and pressed the A. It was a direct line to Ambrielles office. She looked up as the doors opened. “Ah Justin there you are.”

“Hi Ambrielle.” I replied sitting down. I saw that Jaden, Selene, and Clotho were all here as well.”

“So, what’s the plan?” I quirk an eyebrow at them.

“It’s time Justin.” Ambrielle tells me. “Are you ready to go home?”

“Yeah of course I am.” I chuckled.

“Don’t forget Justin that you will only get forty-eight hours.” Jaden cut in. “You need to start Meg’s transformation, or you will be forced back here forever.”

“He will do it.” Clotho laughed. “No matter what it takes to get back to his mate, even if he has to force her.”

I shivered at her certainty. “I will do what needs to be done, but I need to be sure you won’t go back on your word.” I glare at Clotho.

“That is why I have a legally binding contract.” Clotho grins.

“I read it.” Jaden tells me. “It says that if you don’t start Meg’s change in the next two days then you will have to return to the afterlife. If you do, then you will be granted your life back. Permanently.”

I nodded. “May I have a copy of it, so that I can have my brother look it over?”

“Your brother did look it over.” Clotho snarled.

“No, he means our little brother who is a lawyer.” Jaden snorted. “Yeah Jay I will make sure that he gets a copy of it before you land back on Earth. With that Jaden disappeared.

“Are you ready?” Selene grins at me.

“I am.” I laugh. I’m a bit nervous though.”

“Why?’ Ambrielle quirked an eyebrow.

“What if Meg backs out.” I sigh.

“She won’t.” Clotho snarled. “My sisters and I have seen it.”

“Don’t worry Justin everything will work out.” Selene said softly.

“We will call you when it’s time.” Clotho shooed me out of the room. “Go!”

I left the office and headed home. Jaden lived on the edge of the territory line, next to the seer well, and resurrection pool. I had been staying with him for the last two years, and as I looked around, I realized that I was going to miss this. Jaden showed up a bit later as I was staring at the seer well. Turns out only a handful of people have the ability to see what it says. Thos people are Gods.

“Dylan looked it over. Both Meg and Dylan have agreed to the terms and have signed it, now you need to as well, and we can get you home.” Jaden took a look at my face and frowned. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing I- just got used to the way we live.” I sigh. “Going back is going to be a real adjustment.”

“Well I have faith that you can do it.” Jaden told me.

Three days later I was called back to Ambrielle’s office. “It’s time Justin.”

“Thank the Gods.” Clotho grumbled. I got the feeling that she didn’t like me very much, but I brushed it off.

“Some changes have been made.” Ambrielle continued. “When you go back, you will still have two days to change Meg. Once you have completed the change, you will be restored fully to life. To add to that, all four of you will receive nine lives.”

I nod in agreement, even though I’m not entirely sure what she is talking about. “Anything else?”

“No, that is it.” Ambrielle laughed. “As always it’s been a pleasure, and we will see you soon.” Selene and Ambrielle pointed their fingers at me, and then the world began to twist. I landed flat on my back, the air whooshed out of me, and I coughed. I stood there for a moment dazed. Then I heard the birds and looked up. The sun felt hot on my skin, and I sighed happily. Looking around I noticed that I was in a cemetery. I looked at the headstone.

HERE LIES JUSTIN OMSFORD

LOVING FATHER

HUSBAND

AND SON

MAY HE REST IN PEACE

I laughed at the irony of my situation. I knew that it was a morbid thing to laugh at, but I had been dead or two years and just like that I was back, and Ambrielle had placed me on my own grave. I heard crunching pebbles and flipped around. She was looking at the ground and hadn’t seen me yet, but there was Niky walking towards me, or more like walking towards my grave. I quickly ducked behind a nearby tree to watch. I watched as Niky kneeled down and began talking.

“Hey Jay, I know it’s been a while since I was last here, and I don’t know if you can hear me, but I needed to feel close to you. Skye is getting her heart today. I am so happy, but I wish you were here with me to celebrate this with me.” Tears were streaming down her face now. “I love you Justin and I am not really sure how to keep going without you. I try so hard, but I feel detached from everyone including our babies. The only one who eases the pain is Dylan and I assume that’s because he’s a Trybrid and knows my pain. I have to go now, but I wanted to tell you that I am okay, and I will be okay. I love you handsome.”

Niky began sobbing into her hands and my heart clentched. I moved to step out from behind the tree, but I stepped on a twig, and it snapped loudly. Niky jumped up and pulled her sword out of thin air. “Who’s there? Show yourself.”

I didn’t move, but I could hear her getting closer. I held my breath, I didn’t want to face her like this. “You have three seconds to show yourself, or I won’t hesitate to kill you.”

I took a deep breath and stepped out with my hands raised out in front of me. “Hey Baby.”

A scream ripped from her throat, and she tilted backward, but I caught her. “Oh s**t!”