A Quest of Finding Death (Part 1 Chapter 1)

Part 1 Chapter 11

Lillian never thought so many people would be searching for Death. Sitting in that small room, surrounded by people with the same disheartened facial expression, she realized that she was not alone in her quest after all. 2

The black, wooden door opened and a man came out, busily writing something down in a small purple notebook. “Next,” he said, his eyes fixed on the words he wrote. Another man stood up and went into the other room, tightly closing the door behind him, as though afraid that anyone else would hear him. 3

There were all kinds of people in the room: young and old, men and women. Some were taller than others; some were visibly richer than others. Some came with prepared notes and photographs, while others came empty-handed with nothing but hope in their company. Some came alone and fewer came in pairs. But no matter the differences, they all shared one thing, one feeling: a feeling of injustice. 4

The silence was unbearable. Although everyone present shared the same emotion and the same mission, they couldn’t speak of it with others. They couldn’t share their grief, because they feared it would dissolve that way, and perhaps even become less fierce than it was. They grieved, and they embraced it. They grieved, and they were not ready to share it.5

The door opened again and the man came out. He was rubbing his hands together, while his deep thought reflected in him biting his lower lip. “Next,” he whispered. It was Lillian’s turn.6

The room she went into was smaller than the waiting room. It was dark, with a dim scarlet light. The air smelled of different scents and was heavy with smoke. In the middle of the room stood a round table with a black tablecloth; behind the table sat an old woman, wearing a red, hooded dress. She looked oddly contrasting—her age did not go along with the vulgar tightness and openness of her dress.7

Lillian shut the door and sat on the chair by the round table. She waited for the woman to speak, but the latter seemed to be absorbed in watching the glowing crystal sphere within her hands. The whole idea now seemed ridiculous; the woman looked ridiculous, the room looked and smelled ridiculous, and Lillian felt ridiculous waiting for guidance and help from a fraud. She could’ve saved so much time instead of waiting for an hour in the waiting room and then facing nothing but disappointment. 8

“Um… I’m…” Lillian started, but the woman showed no sign of her awareness of Lillian’s presence whatsoever. 9

Lillian stood up and headed towards the door. When her hand was on the handle, the old woman spoke, her voice old and shaky, “Come back when you have enough faith.”10

Lillian stood frozen by the door, her hand in a silly position in midair. She knew she had no hope in finding Death on her own, but trusting such a suspicious old lady was not hope-giving. “I… I’m sorry,” Lillian said, slowly walking back to the chair. “I… I just never believed in anything supernatural and… and honestly, you are the first seer I come to know –”11

“You don’t know me, young lady,” the woman interrupted, her voice not angry but not impartial either. “Perhaps my looks are not the common view you’re used to, but that gives you no right to judge me.”12

“I wasn’t –”13

“Do not, please, lie!” the woman interrupted again, her voice rising. “I will at least respect you for the truth.”14

Lillian sat there, her eyes wide open with surprise. The truth would mean no answers in return… but she had nothing to lose; after all, she didn’t believe the old woman. “Y-Yes, I do not believe you. You… you’re odd and there’s nothing that implies a true supernatural ability of any sort. This is a typical room to attract those that are desperate enough to believe lies flavoured by a few words of comfort.”15

The two women, one old and the other young, sat there gazing at each other in complete silence. Lillian emptied her heart of the rage that she held inside and now sat in silence. She regretted every word she said, but there was no way back. Lillian, raised to respect the elderly, now felt most horrible about her words. She looked down, away from the old woman’s gaze, and tried to say something but couldn’t. She stood up and headed to the door, muttering a pathetic “Sorry”. 16

“Wait,” the old woman said, stopping Lillian before she opened the door. “Don’t you want an answer?” Lillian nodded. “Then come, sit and listen. To believe is your choice. I am here to help.”17

Lillian, for the second time, came back to the chair. “I want to…”18

“Do not waste time explaining the already known,” the old woman said. “I know why you’re here. I know what you want. Death, isn’t it? It is not difficult to guess when more than half of those who come to you seek the same answer. You want to find Death.”19

The seer pushed the crystal sphere across the table so that it was closer to Lillian. When Lillian looked at the old woman with perplexed eyes, the latter nodded reassuringly. “You need to find Death. To do so, you need to reach that other world, the other realm. The door, only you can see.”20

Lillian looked down at the glowing sphere. A woman with pale skin and pale green eyes stared back at her from the sphere – her own reflection. The sphere was red, reflecting the deep red colour of her own hair. The tried to focus… to concentrate… but there was nothing, nothing but her own reflection frowning back at her.21

“I can’t see it,” Lillian said.22

“Yes, yes you can. You are looking at the answer, the door. You – ”23

“Stop it! Stop!” Lillian shouted, pushing the sphere away. She could face no more disappointment. She had enough. She just wanted to find a way to bring everything back to the way it was three months ago. She could listen to those lies no more. “Me? I am the answer? The door?! That is insane! Nonsense!” Lillian opened her purse, took out a $100 bill and threw it on the table. “I am truly sorry for taking up your time,” she shouted, unable to hold her tears back. “I am truly sorry for insulting what you do and doubting it… and I am truly, deeply sorry that I came here!”24

Lillian opened the door and ran out. The most ridiculous answer she could ever get, she got. She was the door! What nonsense?! What a waste of time!25

…It was not until a hand grabbed her shoulder that Lillian had to stop. 26