The searing pain coursed through my body as if I was being burned from the inside out. Darkness surrounded ...thick, suffocating, and impenetrable.
It was unlike anything I had ever experienced. My voice trembled with fear as I scread into the void.
"Why am I burning? What is this place?" I cried out, desperation lacing my voice.
"You are in the Condemned Zone," the husky voice replied, its tone calm yet chilling. "This is where hate, pain, regret, and revenge reside. You need to experience it."
The agony was unbearable, and anger began to rise within . "Why would you bring here?" I demanded, clenching my fists despite the intense discomfort.
"To understand the light, one must first know darkness. This is what the inside of soone consud by bitterness and anger looks like. You must feel it to appreciate its contrast," the voice explained.
I wanted to argue, to fight back, but my energy waned as the pain intensified. Just when I thought I couldn’t endure it anymore, the darkness receded, and I found myself bathed in a kaleidoscope of light. A serene lody filled the air, soothing my spirit.
"Where am I now?" I asked, my voice trembling, but this ti with awe instead of fear.
"You are in the Zone of Peace," the voice said softly. "This is the state of those who have made peace with themselves and the world. Their inner and outer lives reflect harmony, despite any pain or challenges they may face."
I closed my eyes, absorbing the calm energy around . The vibrant colors and lodic tones made feel whole, as if all the broken pieces of were being nded.
"I could stay here forever," I murmured, a faint smile crossing my face.
The voice interrupted my thoughts. "It is beautiful, isn’t it? But your journey is not yet over. We must move on."
Before I could protest, the serene surroundings faded, replaced by a familiar yet unsettling scene: my conversation with Alpha Derrick and Mona.
Flashback: Confronting Derrick and Mona
"What if I refuse to make the sacrifice and let you all die?" I said coldly, my voice dripping with defiance. "Your lives are now in my hands, and I decide whether you live or not."
Derrick’s fiery gaze locked onto mine. "If you refuse, I’ll drag you there myself and force you to comply!" he barked, his voice filled with fury.
A bitter laugh escaped my lips. "If I’m forced, it’s no longer a sacrifice. It won’t work, and you know it." I smirked, watching his desperation grow.
Mona stepped forward, her face twisted with malice. "Then you’ll die before any of us do!" she spat, her voice laced with venom.
I shook my head, disgusted by their lack of empathy. "The only reason I’ll go through with this is for the good people I’ve t here—the ones who deserve to live, not because of either of you. Mona, tell , why do you hate so much?"
Her eyes flared with anger. "Because you get everything without trying!" she shouted. "You’re the perfect little angel, and it’s sickening! I was consud by jealousy until it beca a fire strong enough to burn you to the ground!"
Her words hit like a punch to the chest. The person I had trusted most was admitting that she wanted to destroy . I turned to Derrick, searching his face for any hint of humanity.
"And you," I said, my voice shaking. "Why did you reject ?"
Derrick smirked, stepping closer. "Because you’re too good for , Kimberly. I hate goodness. I thrive in chaos. Mona is as twisted as I am, and that’s why I chose her over you."
The mories ended abruptly, and I found myself back in the present, breathing heavily.
"Now, do you understand the zones they live in and why they act the way they do?" the voice asked gently.
I nodded slowly, the weight of the truth settling over . "I understand now. But why would anyone choose darkness when peace is so beautiful?"
"The universe grants everyone the freedom to choose," the voice replied. "But with every choice cos a reward—or a consequence."
I wanted to ask more, but the voice interrupted. "Look down there," it said, guiding my gaze to another vision.
Vision: Alpha Theo’s Determination
Alpha Theo stood in a dimly lit room, his expression a mixture of longing and frustration. "Since that night, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about her," he admitted to his friend. "I heard she was given to Alpha Derrick of the Night Walker pack as a slave. That’s the Moonstone pack’s tradition after a rejection. It’s infuriating!"
His friend, a tall man with a calm deanor, shook his head. "Theo, why fixate on her? You’re the Alpha of the Lock’s Heart pack. Won would line up to be your Luna. Why risk war for a slave girl?"
"Never in your life call her a slave again!" Alpha Theo’s voice thundered through the air, each word charged with a fury that made his friend flinch. "One day, she will beco the Luna of our pack, and I’ll make it happen—no matter what it takes!"
The sheer intensity of his words was matched by the anger in his eyes, burning like a fire that wouldn’t be extinguished. His friend, now visibly shaken, lowered his gaze in submission, avoiding Theo’s wrath.
"I’m sorry, Alpha. I didn’t an to anger you," his friend said, his voice trembling slightly. "I only thought... pursuing her might lead to war with the Night Walker pack."
Theo’s jaw tightened, and for a mont, silence hung between them like a storm about to break. "You thought wrong," he said, his tone sharper than before. "She’s worth any war, any risk. I’ll fight whoever stands in my way."
His friend nodded quickly, his face pale. "As you wish, Alpha."
The scene vanished before I could process it fully. I wanted to stay longer, to see more, but I was abruptly pulled away.
"I know you have questions," the husky voice said, cutting through my thoughts. "I’ll allow you to ask three. Choose them wisely, for there will be no more after that."
Only three? I felt a pang of frustration but knew better than to argue. My current reality left no choice but to comply.
I took a deep breath and asked my first question. "Why am I being shown all of this, especially since I’m no longer among the living?" My voice wavered, reflecting my confusion.
"Even after life, there are lessons to learn and duties to fulfill," the voice explained, calm and patient. "This journey is your chance to understand all that you missed while alive."
I frowned, my heart sinking. "But it wasn’t my fault I didn’t know these things. How could I have seen what was hidden from ?"
The voice didn’t respond to my lant. Instead, it waited for my next question.
Taking a mont to gather my thoughts, I asked, "The last place you showed —Alpha Theo doesn’t know what happened to . Why does he care so much about soone like ? And why do others hate for no reason?"
The voice replied without hesitation. "You possess sothing they do not. Sothing even you have failed to recognize in yourself."
The statent left stunned. "What is it?" I blurted out, unable to contain my curiosity.
"That is not for to reveal," the voice said curtly.
A wave of frustration washed over . How could others see sothing in that I was blind to? And why was I not allowed to know?
The voice spoke again, interrupting my thoughts. "Your next question will be your last. Make it count, Kimberly. Be wise."
I hesitated, feeling the weight of the decision. My mind raced, trying to pinpoint the most important thing to ask. Finally, I settled on a question that encompassed all my doubts and fears.
"After this, where will I go? Is there any hope for —any chance that sothing good can co from my existence again?" My voice trembled as I spoke, the weight of my emotions pressing down on .
The voice responded with an almost solemn tone. "For a soul that has departed its body, what you’ve seen and heard here is no longer relevant to the living world. But it is the rule of the universe to reveal these truths to you. All will be clear in ti."
The weight of those words crushed . Pain and regret swirled in my heart as I reflected on everything I had seen and learned too late. My mind filled with thoughts I couldn’t voice aloud. *If only I could turn back ti, I would cherish those who loved , repair the mistakes I made, and live differently.*
"If you could make one wish now, what would it be?" the husky voice asked suddenly, its tone softer than before.
I froze, taken aback by the question. "A wish?" I repeated, unsure if it was even worth answering.
"Yes, Kimberly. Speak your wish."
I thought about it for a mont, then spoke hesitantly. "My only wish... is to return to the land of the living."
There was a long pause before the voice responded, a trace of curiosity evident in its tone. "Is that not too much to ask for? If granted, what would you do with such an opportunity?"
I closed my eyes, letting the mories of all I had seen flood my mind. Determination rose within .
"I would make the land of the living a better place for everyone," I said firmly.
"And how would you accomplish that?" the voice pressed.
"You said I possess sothing special," I replied. "If given the chance, I will find it and use it to bring change. I’ll make things right."
The voice seed to ponder my words before speaking again. "If you are returned, would you trade all the mories of what you’ve seen here for the purpose of creating a better world?"
The question caught off guard. I hesitated, weighing the value of my mories against the possibility of a aningful life. Finally, I nodded, resolve hardening in my heart.
"Yes," I said, my voice steady. "Purpose is greater than mory. A good purpose can bring light where mories might only cause pain."
There was silence. No response from the voice. Panic set in as I called out.
"Where are you? Talk to ! Please, say sothing!" I shouted, fear gripping .
But there was only silence...
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