19

           On a ship on dramatic waves that throw you side to side I stand beside Jax. “I never thought that I’d be friends with a demon.” 

           “And I never thought I’d be friends with a marine.” 

              He snickers at that then sighs and looks over at the waves. “Layla called. She told me that you came and took care of her. She says she hopes that she can see us all again.” He turns to me with sadness and seriousness. “She went to the hospital when she didn’t get any better…they say she only has a week left to live. I would go and see her final moments but I have to stay here.” 

          “I can take you.” 

          “No. Thank you, however, I do have a request.” 

           “Ok, what request do you have?” 

           “She loves roses. Red ones preferably. Could you give her some for me?” 

             “Sure.” 

              His captain blows a whistle and calls for him. “Looks like this is goodbye for now.”

                I nod. “Goodbye friend. May you be safe.” 

               Then he nods back at me and pats my back. He walks up to his captain and I teleport to a flower shop. I bought a bouquet of red roses just like he requested. I write on a little tag,”From Jax.” 

               At the hospital Layla was weak and limp. She however still managed to speak clearly. I placed the roses on a table beside her hospital bed. How has she become so sick? The doctor comes in and calls me outside of the door. “Are you someone close to her?”

              “Yes.” 

              “Ok, so I’m going to be straight with you. She is dying. Her liver is horrible. We think that she may have cancer but even whether she did or not there is nothing we can do. She’ll be lucky to even live another week.” 

               I sigh and look out the door window at Layla. Laying there still like some sad drawing nailed on a wall. “Thank you doctor. Can I go back to her?” 

             “You're welcome, and yes you may. I’ll leave you two be.” 

                 I walk back in the room and sit in a chair in front of the window beside her bed. 

                 “Ash?” 

                  “Yea?”

                  “Am I dying?” She reaches out to me and I take her hand. 

                   She’s become extremely pale and looks awful. She looks away and her soft smile fades from her face. “Layla?”

                   She’s gone silent. The heart monitor stops beeping and starts screaming at me.  I sit up. I shake her. “Doctor! Someone!” I turn her face towards me. Her eyes open but pale and lifeless. “Layla!? Come on… Layla. You gotta stay. You can’t leave! You just can’t!” I feel a sense of rage come over me and I know what I must do. 

               I go to Anpu. He’ll know what to do. He’s the god of the dead for crying out loud. If he doesn’t know what to do then I’ll just have to keep looking until I find someone that does. I roam all the bridges going as fast as I can looking for Anpu.  I decide that he must be in the earth realm or something and just wait by the teleportation key. I stand there just staring at it waiting for Anpu to show up. 

         A small flash of darkness goes in and fades out of the room. Anpu stands in the middle of the circle. He turns and looks over at me.”Asheem what are you doing just standing there?” 

        I walk up to him,”Anpu,”I grab him by the shoulders, “I need your help with something!” 

         “Wha-”

           “Is there some type of way to bring someone back to life or just being their soul here?” 

             “Slow down. Chill. You're yelling and you're talking fast.” He sighs and moves my hands from his shoulders. “Come on, it appears we need to talk.” 

                 We walk through the long mirrored tunnel and sit down on the ledge of a bridge. You can hear distant screams and hollers of tortured souls begging for help and forgiveness. 

                   “Tell me Asheem, why in the world would you want to resurrect someone or bring them here?” 

                    “It’s Layla. She died today. She can’t be dead yet. I need to know if she loves me back.” 

                     “So, she’s a mortal, correct?” 

                      “Yes.”

                      “Ah. Forbidden love I see. This sounds like something Lilith would like to hear about. An immortal being in love with a mortal. Not very common, you know.” 

                       “Please Anpu, you gotta help me. Won’t you?” 

                       “Yes , yes. I’ll help you but you have to do your part too.” 

                        “Yes, I’ll do anything.”

                          “You have to bring her body here, and then I’ll do my part. K?” 

                            “Got it!” I stand up and run off to the teleportation key. “Thanks Anpu!” 

                             Then you hear a distant, “Your welcome!"