Chapter 1

Skyleene's soul was fighting to live longer in the attic of her home. The girl's body was skin and bones, the effects of not eating for so long showing. Her body dropped on an old couch, her soul showing its glow to this world for the last time.

The rain outside was pouring, just like the girl's eyes. The wind embraced her petite body, making her tremble. She was there for two hours, but it felt like five minutes. Her mind showed her the loving memories of her life, but the bad ones took over. Her soul was ready to leave. Her eyes slowly closed, a white light covering her surroundings.

She was still in the attic, but there were two versions of her. On the couch, her body was lifeless, looking asleep, and her other body stood in front of a big gate, glowing transparently. She acknowledged her face; her hair was messy, some strands covered her cheeks, and her lips parted, their colour slowly fading. She gasped at the skinny figure, not recognizing herself.

"Looking surprised, I see."

Skyleene turned towards the glowing gate behind her. A tall boy with green, big eyes was looking at her. His hair was black, his clothing white. A pair of jeans and a T-shirt were never her style, but this boy rocked it.

"Who are you?"

"I am Mushu, your soul guide. Skyleene Cathle, you died. I am here to help you through judgment and to reach Lights City."

She followed the boy through the gate.

The only thing left in the attic was her limp body, no sign of the gate or the boy.

She walked on the white bricks of the path, listening to the boy's words.

"Long story short, you're dead, but you already know that. You can't go back to the land of the living. The only path you can follow, for now, is the one you are currently on."

"I feel like Dorothy. She had to walk on the yellow brick path to get home. I guess I don't have a home to get to," she said, lowering her head and pitch tone.

Mushu sighed, lowering his head, feeling pity.

"Don't pity me. I know it sounds sad," the girl said.

"I'm not pitying you. Where was I? Oh yeah, like I was saying. We will go down this path until we reach the Judgement Chamber. That is the place where judgement will be passed on you by The Luminescence. They will decide if you can enter Lights City or live again, on Earth, as another different person. After judgement, I will be free and no longer guide you."

"Uh-huh!"

She didn't care as long as she broke loose from her former home.

"Listen, this is serious."

They walked down the path, not talking to each other. Skyleene was curious about what would happen when they got to the Judgement Chamber.

"We are here."

Without even realizing it, her mind flew away in different directions. They reached a beautiful, white door.

"A door. Not going to lie - I thought it would be more dramatic."

"Judgement, remember?"

Mushu led the way, pushing the door. The door opened without sound, revealing a white room that looked like it didn't have walls. Pure gleam was everywhere.

"Step on the pedestal from the middle. I will meet you again after judgement. I will give you the final instructions regarding the path you will have to take."

After Mushu left the room, Skyleene looked around her.

The ceiling started glowing, a man's voice echoing through the chamber.

"Skyleene Cathle, step forward.

Her body moved on its own, stepping on the pedestal.

"You are the most complicated case until now. During your days to shine, you have been very naughty. Like, look at this: talking to the dead? Witchcraft and potions? This one doesn't surprise me: committing suicide to save your skin. You took your life, the biggest sin out there, and now all that is left is punishment. However, since your mind was and still is pure, only poised by words, you can see this punishment as a chance for a better life. Witchcraft is not terrible - you only managed to talk to the trapped souls on Earth, not the ones from the Cities. Consider yourself lucky. I am willing to give you this chance to get into Lights City.

Skyleene lowered her head. She was different - everyone said it in her face all the time - but she never thought herself to be mean. She always loved weird things because of the feeling of a look-alike. At that moment, she knew that she would never prove herself. She would wander between life and death.

"Skyleene Cathle, your soul is condemned to shine again and prove worthy of Lights City.

A strong wind came out of nowhere, blowing her dress and hair in all directions. Some big doors opened ahead of her, revealing a light that could kill a human's eyesight. The light attracted her body like a magnet, absorbing her in the white void.

Her vision got blurry due to the sudden difference. She managed to get herself with another person spat out of the white light in front of some city walls.

"Why am I here?" Mushu yelled, his face showing a terrified look.

"What do you mean?" Skyleene asked.

"I wasn't supposed to be with you. My job was simple: bring you to the Judgement Chamber and show you where to go after. I wasn't supposed to be with you on the other side!" He explained while yelling, pulling his hair in exasperation.

"Calm down! Pulling your hair won't solve anything! the girl said, taking his hands out of his hair. We will figure out what to do! Such a baby!" she said, turning around towards the city walls.

The walls were made of stone and wood, looking quite medieval. The walls had these towers on the sides of the massive gate in front of them. At the top of the steeple, there was a man who looked down at them. He opened the gate, revealing a town with the saddest and mean-looking people in the world.

"Ay! You two! Did you die at your wedding?" The man laughed at them.

"We are not married!" The girl replied with anger in her eyes.

"This is not a good thing. If I'm here with you, that means –" but he did not get to finish his sentence, spiting a ball of black fur out of his throat. "Oh no!"

The boy started taking his shirt off.

"What are you doing?! Put your shirt back on!" she whispered.

"I can't do that! I will transform into the spirit guide form. My clothes are too expensive to get ripped off!" The boy fought.

"At least not here! That man thought we were married. If he sees you transforming, he'll creep out! Act normally and fight that sensation until we manage to get somewhere safe. The only thing I want now is the dead people to think of me weird too," Skyleene whisper-shouted at him.

Mushu felt another ball announcing its entrance, but he swallowed it. The face after the swallow made Skyleene laugh. He looked at her with death in his irises, walking past her through the gate. She followed not too long after.

On the back of the barrier was a sign saying Welcome to Condemned City, filthy sinners! Maybe you can enter Lights City before your family forgets you! - the last part with red spray paint.

The city looked nice outside, but the inside was a wreck. If the sky was all blue outside the walls, on the inside was all grey and ready to pour over them. The houses were not in the best condition, some without a roof or a window. Some children threw stones at a tree, trying to get the cat on the branch to fall.

An older man without an eye looked at them, revealing his only tooth. Skyleene backed away from him, getting closer to Mushu. He flinched but continued to walk.

"We need to find a place to stay and fast. If not-"

"Psst! Come here!" one bodach, in a dark corner, said.

<Always dark corners. Why not flowery corners?> Skyleene thought.

"Why don't you come here?" Skyleene asked.

The man walked towards them, revealing a metal leg.

"I heard you need a place to stay," the man grinned.