Chapter 1

-INTRODUCTION-

Darrel has finally awoken, but, he's not awake...and he will never awaken again, for Darrel is dead.

In front of him, all around him, is a forest, he is right above his mauled dead body.The world is grey around him... all that was different was a tome, ten feet away from him, safely tucked in between two branches that seem to hug the book, as if protecting it.

But the tree seems to shift and deform in front of him, to form a bearded elderly man, wearing an antler crown, holding the book and a staff made of pine.

The man stands about six feet tall, wearing a brown cloak, that reaches to his ankles. He wears a cape made of burlap, covered in glowing green leaves. The boy stares in shock, for he has seen a tree transform before his eyes.

"Do not be afraid my boy," the man assures him.

"Sir, where are we?" The boy asks the man.

"This is the Realm of the Dead, I am Demitri, the guardian of the afterforest," the man explains and watches as three people enter view.

"Where is my son..." his father stops as he sees his bloody corpse, his mother rushes to his lifeless body.

"Oh my god! Darrel NO!" His mother sobs uncontrollably above his sons body.

"MOM I'M RIGHT HERE!" Darrel yells.

"They can't hear you... I'm sorry," Dimitri apologizes, knowing he was to die one of two ways.

To die young, from a bear attack.

Or die alone, no friends,his parents dead, from suicide at the age of 17.

Ten minutes later his body was gone, along with his parents.

Dimitri kneels to the boys height.

"I want to show you something Darrel,if you're ready,"

Darrel follows him to a long table with six seats, with five people seated, Dimitri among them.

     Dimitri sat in the centre of the table. On his left side sat a young man wearing a long white robe, with blonde hair and bright blue eyes. His name is Soren.To his right is a man is his late thirties, wearing a black suit with black hair. His name is Damien. On Dimitri's right side is a young woman wearing a Cloak with a hood as black as the night sky with long brown hair and green eyes.Her name is Keria. On Keria's right is an elderly woman with grey hair in a neat bun, wearing a black dress with a blue cape. A cane is positioned at her side. Her name is Janice.

  "Have a seat." Janice states clearly.

Darrel sits in the chair in front of them, he is positioned directly across from Dimitri.

"Darrel. The afterlife is still your afterlife, and we will read your page of life,this will not only determine where you go, but who will mentor you," Soren states bitterly.

"...no crimes good" Soren reads.

"No friends, Good family, No siblings," Damien says uninterested.

"Died from a mauling on April 3rd 1989," Keria states.

"I'm sorry, um..." the five look up at the boy awaiting his question.

"What do you mean by mentoring?" Darrel asks.

"Ahh, right allow me to explain..."

    "There are few who see the dead, mainly depressed teens, around the age of fifteen, but no one will believe them, dub them insane,But if one were to befriend a ghost like you my boy, they will no longer experience the pain within them, and will gain unfathomable powers, and you will need make sure they use it correctly," Darrel nods at Dimitri's explanation.

"Now, who would like to take him?" Dimitri asks his colleges.

"I'll take him, if you will let me," Keria says quietly.

They eye Darrel expecting an answer.

"I'll join Keria," he says.

"Alright, rememberer Keria I will check on him periodically," Dimitri says.

"I know," she says.