Chapter One

Cliques are everywhere, inescapable. Even in death, even in other worlds, they exist and are clearly cut. Cassandra stepped out of the stuffy shuttle after everyone else had gotten off. She’d showed up to the hub of this world and now to her exit the same way; dragging her feet, letting out breathy sighs, and rolling her eyes at anyone who dared speak to her. Once she had a clear look at the gate, she threw her head back. Through the slats, she could see everyone in their own groups. There were the clear-cut cliques with their hair almost all matching and their shirts equally as edgy as each other, and there were cliques that weren’t so clear-cut. Girls and boys mixed together, each looking drastically different. Before Cassandra’s shuttle group there stood a tall, slender woman. Her chrome skin gave her an android-type appearance.

“Before we send you through this gate, allow me to check that everyone is here. When I call your number, please make yourselves known,” she called out. Cassandra took the time before they’d walk through the gate to analyze her shuttle-mates. Everybody else seemed to either be looking to the ground or doing just the same thing that she was. Looking at one another like they were contestants in some sick race. Some could cut glass with their malicious-looking glares, some looked to Cassandra like they were going to break down in sobs at any minute. As for herself? She wasn’t so sure what she was feeling if she was feeling anything. Everything happened so fast that all she was left with was this unwavering numbness. Even still as the seemingly glowing woman spoke, she couldn’t feel a thing.

“301B? Are we missing 301B?” The woman brushed her shoulder-length hair behind one ear and Cassandra quickly glanced down at her slip of paper and back up, realizing she hadn’t been listening at all.

“Right here,” she muttered, slipping one hand above her head. The woman gave her a look before writing something down on her clipboard and continuing to call numbers like the group was being auctioned off. Out of the corner of her eye, Cassandra could feel someone staring at her. All she could make out was brown skin and short, black hair. She thought it best not to meet anyone’s gaze, at least not for the time being. Laying low was like art for Cassandra, and she did it well. She could sneak her way undetected almost anywhere, often leaving people surprised to see her behind them. She decided to do the same here. Lay low, keep quiet and wait for this all to be over.

“I will now open the gates. You will split off into groups based on the letter at the end of your number. Group A will be here and group B will gather over there,” Cassandra followed the woman’s finger toward group B’s destination and trudged her way over. She wondered if any of her questions would ever get answered. She had asked questions when she first arrived and got no answers and was getting more sick of it the longer she dealt without. Everyone looked around at their groups now, wondering what would become of them.

“When this gate opens, you are to enter in your groups. Group A first and then group B. Your group’s ambassador will greet you, check you in, and give you a short tour of this land. Any questions you have can be discussed with your ambassador. I bid you all farewell and I hope that you enjoy your stay.” With that, the mysterious woman opened the gate, ushering the groups in silently.

“Hello, newbies! My name’s Leo and I’m the ambassador for group B. Welcome to Tenarum!” The boy that spoke looked to be not much older than Cassandra. He was lanky, though, and had a light, patchy beard. Even still as this new person was speaking, Cassandra could feel eyes on her. She crossed her arms and tried desperately to pay attention to Leo.

“First off, I know everyone has questions. Everyone always does. Actually, if you don’t have questions, I might be a little scared. Before we get to all that fun stuff though, let’s get everyone checked in. Follow me!” Leo called, marching ahead of them toward a dome-shaped building. Cassandra could see group A going to a different entrance of the same building, and her questions were almost accumulating too fast for her to remember them all. Why the split groups? Why the different entrances? What the hell is Tenarum supposed to be? What does all of this mean? Above all though, she wondered how her parents were doing and how her friends were getting on without her. She wondered if she might see them again someday. Everything was buzzing around so fast and yet Cassandra kept her stone-expression and followed the herd into the building.

“So, we don’t need to sleep here but, if you’d like to, you can request a bed here. Other than that, please use the sheets I’m passing out to mark some of your interests. We receive shipments biweekly, and if you don’t put down anything now, nothing will be brought for you on the next shipment set for a week from tomorrow. I’d make sure to put something down if I were you,” Leo chuckled, but his smile didn’t leave as he passed out clipboards with a single sheet on each one. Cassandra looked at the paper and then back up to Leo, who simply ushered her to start writing something. How could she be expected to remember every single thing she liked? She could barely remember the color of her parents’ home and now she was asked to think of everything she liked in her eighteen years alive? She managed to list some old MTV show she loved binge-watching, a band she liked, and that she loved anything with roses on it. She included too that she’d always wanted to play the guitar if that was a possible item that could be shipped.

“Everybody done?” Leo asked, holding his empty arms out for clipboard-pickup. The group all nodded and, one by one, stepped toward Leo to drop their clipboard in his open arms. Once receiving all of them, he carefully unclipped all the papers and dropped them into a slot on the side of the large counter they stood in front of.

“So, I’ll start off with the question that’s probably plaguing each and every one of you. This isn’t my first time doing this and I’d like to say I’ve picked up on the popular questions. Well, this is Tenarum. Specifically, this building is our service building. What is Tenarum, I feel some of you wanting to ask? Tenarum is the after-world. Each and every person you meet here has died. I know that can be a lot to take in, but I’ll tell you the most important rule before we get to the tour. Do not start going up to strangers asking how they died. It’s very personal so, if someone tells you, do not repeat it. To anyone.” Leo’s smile finally faded out, just for a second, and there was enough tension in the room to cut with a knife. Cassandra could use context clues to tell that she was dead, of course, but it still somehow surprised her to hear knowing that everyone else was too.

“Alright, so, tour time and then after that I promise to get to all of your questions.” Leo’s smile was back, and if Cassandra wasn’t trying so hard to keep a straight face and not feel her emotions, she would be too. Leo was the type of person that had a contagious smile. For someone who’s dead, Cassandra thought, he sure did have a spirit full of life. He held the door open and everyone made their way back out. Group A was also herding out of the service building, though the two groups started touring at different spots.

“This is the courtyard. Through the arches on all four sides of the service building are different areas that you’re free to roam around and explore. For the tour, we will be stepping foot into each space just a bit. We like for the newbies to decide where they want and don’t want to explore. In the courtyard, you’ll find benches and flower fields. We do a lot of lounging in this area and this is also where to come when new shipments arrive. Again, the next one will be a week from tomorrow. Don’t fret, though. We always announce when things are ready to be picked up, so you’ll never miss out. Just make sure to go back into the service building if you want to add something to your wish list. That’s pretty much this area,” Leo took a deep breath and Cassandra wondered if he’d even been breathing the whole time. Words were coming out a mile a minute and it was hard to concentrate on him and her own thoughts.

“Next we’ll go straight ahead into the eternal forest. This area is perfect for those who love nature, want to get away for a while, or just like hanging out in forests if that’s your deal. Not sure. We won’t go too far in here, but there’s trails that go on for miles. You could be in there for days at a time if you walk far enough. They go on forever and there are plenty of different paths to take. I don’t like being alone with my own thoughts though, so I don’t tend to go there myself. Again, you’re free to do what you want,” Leo’s smile faded, Cassandra had begun watching for the moments that it happened. Leo seemed very much like her in that regard. She could tell he had walls up around his true self; tall and thick walls that she could only barely see come down when he let himself stop smiling. They just as quickly came back up when he beamed and ushered for the group to go back to the courtyard.

Through the entire time they’d spend in the courtyard since the gate shut behind them, Cassandra couldn’t help but notice everyone that was sitting nearby kept watch over all of them like hawks. She could’ve sworn more than one person had looked her up and down more than once. She wondered if they were a potential threat or just curious. Cassandra didn’t have the energy to care too much though as the group kept going from one side to the other. Leo showed them the entrance and exit where they had originally come in and how the only way they’re allowed through those doors is if the Divine called for someone. They could call for a conference or for reassignment, whatever that meant. Leo also took them to the Cosmic Land and the Azure Sanctum where it was always night and day, respectively. The Azure Sanctum, he said, was mainly for self-reflection. That was also the place that held a building used for seeing the living world. Leo refused to take the group to the building. Claimed that some of them ‘might not be ready.’ The Cosmic Land was a place Cassandra immediately found comfort in. It was always dark, the time of day she loved the most, and the sky was so clear that you could see every star and even some planets that were close. Being in there, even just a few yards that they ventured as a group, felt like a home away from home.

“So, now that the tour is pretty much all done, you’re all free to ask questions or not. Feel free to explore or try to make some friends! We could be here for a while,” Leo muttered, and a few members of the group looked around and trod carefully in different directions. Cassandra stood still, contemplating asking a question or running away to the Cosmic Land to gather her thoughts.

“What’s the matter, blondie? It hitting you now?” Leo came up to Cassandra after she’d stood there silent for over five minutes, nudging her lightly with an elbow. She flashed a half-smile his way, knowing that he meant well.

“It’s not just hitting me now, it’s just a lot to take in and I know I have so many questions. It’s just-” She cut herself off, rolling her eyes and shrugging. “I guess I’m just trying to collect my thoughts enough to ask questions. Or let myself feel enough to actually realize that I’m dead.” Cassandra looked around, not wanting to meet Leo’s gaze. “Is there a way to, like, find out? How you died, I mean.”

“You don’t remember? Death is usually something that people remember pretty well by the time they get here,” Leo chuckled before continuing. “You can ask one of the people behind the counter at the service building and they’ll connect you with the Divine. They’re the only ones who keep those records.” Leo walked away then, set off to answer everyone else’s questions. Meanwhile, Cassandra turned and made her way slowly toward the door of the service building. Just as she got there, that familiar-looking boy opened the door for her.

“Oh-- Thank you!” She quickly exclaimed upon noticing he was even near her.

“No sweat. Real quick, do I know you from somewhere?” He asked, raising one eyebrow.

“I don’t think I’ve seen you before. Your name is…?” She now held the door open with him, both stood there with one hand on the door, now.

“Abdul,” he said with a chuckle. “You?”

“Cassandra. I don’t think I know an Abdul, though, unfortunately. I think I saw you looking at me when we were coming in.” She was finally getting some of her bravery back. Even just a few moments ago, she thought she’d lost her edge with all of the information coming at her all at once.

“I think we used to live in the same neighborhood or something. I used to see you riding your bike around if that was you. Even if it was though, it’s been years. We were both probably thirteen the last time I saw you.” Abdul smiled now, but Cassandra held tight onto her straight face.

“Oh, yeah, I used to ride my bike all the time after school. God, I forgot about that. It’s been so long. I don’t remember ever really talking to or seeing you, though. Quiet as a kid?” She asked.

“At school, no. Home though, yeah. I didn’t really expect you to know me, I could spot your golden hair anywhere though. You’ve still got those natural dark highlights. I never saw anyone else like that.” Abdul smiled softly as someone else approached the doors to go into the service building.

“You study my hair or something? I don’t think it’s that special. I’ll see you around though, I have something I need to do here. Nice meeting you officially!” She called, letting the door slowly start to close.

“You too!” Abdul replied loudly after the door had just closed.

When she walked in, there was a line of three people and two different areas of the long counter open. The short line was taken care of rather quickly and, soon enough, it was her turn to be taken care of.

“Hi, I’m new and was just told that I had to come see someone here that could connect me with the Divine or something like that?” Cassandra ran her fingers through her long hair, nervously.

“Absolutely, sweetheart. What’s your identifier?” The woman beamed at her from the other side of the counter, pushing up her glasses as she talked. Cassandra just stood there, puzzled.

“My… identifier? Oh, is that the number and letter I was given on this slip of paper?” She dug into her pockets and retrieved the slightly-crumbled strip. The woman then nodded with that same smile. The longer she held it, the more fake it looked.

“301B,” she managed to read from the paper before shoving it back into the pocket of her shorts. The woman behind the counter began typing, and after a minute picked up a black, corded telephone. She handed the phone to Cassandra as she finished pressing what seemed like 12 buttons. Cassandra held the phone to her ear as the dial-tone rang and someone picked up after the second ring.

“Hello, you’ve reached X’s office.” A man answered the phone and his deep voice startled Cassandra a bit.

“Um yes, I’m new and am having a bit of memory trouble. I was told you could look me up or something and tell me how I died. I’m sure you don’t get calls like this often and I’m sorry,” Cassandra tried her best to put on a happy voice, though she was twirling the phone cord in her fingers whilst biting her top lip.

“You’re right, we don’t get calls like this very often. It’s no problem though, what’s your identifier? No need to tell me where you’re calling from, I have that information here.” This man’s voice didn’t sound nearly as perky as everyone else she’d talked to that day. It was sort of refreshing, not feeling pressured to also smile and act cheerful.

“301B. Whatever that’s supposed to mean,” Cassandra replied. The questions were finally coming to her slowly. Why is everyone a number here? Why A or B? Why does no one explain anything knowing there are new people? Why does everyone else seem like they know what’s going on already?

“It just makes it easier to look people up. There’s more than one dead Cassandra, so we number all of you just to make it easier.” The man replied. Cassandra could hear the clacking of a keyboard as he talked. She nodded to herself as she waited.

“Cassandra Frost? Says here you were murdered.”