CHAPTER 7: A SECOND CHANCE.

Thorns grew from the petals of roses around, forming a spiral shape. The air, husky and aggressive. Lana, clothed in white linen that stopped around her knees, barefoot walked the straight path to where she could see brightness. Jerked out of her trance, she whined in pain, reaching for her feet. They were bleeding, having been pricked countless times by the thorns on the path she wasn't conscious of.

She sat, trying to pick them out. Where was she? How did she change into white, transparent linen that barely covered her nakedness? Dealing with the splinter, she heard the happy giggles of a child who soon grew into cries. Lana jolted to her feet, ignoring the harshness of her twinge. Her mind was confused.

All traces of the flower withered, and it began to rain. Not water, but blood. Lana was drenched in blood, her white linen stained. She broke down in tears, sobbing, palms over her face.

Determined to leave her current state and find answers that could explain where she was and why she was there, she continued to walk. Quickly, she arrived at the end of her path. Facing her was a dark, scary pit. She took her steps back to avoid falling in. The more she went back, the more she felt drawn to the pit until someone or something pushed her into it.

Lana screamed until her voice couldn't emit any more sound. Surprisingly, she wasn't falling as she presumed. She was floating. Her eyes hastily blinked, trying to adjust to the hues of the darkness. They neglected her. There was no source of light. 

Even in that awful environment, the slow hurt of her pain that ached began to restore and reply. She was trying to deflect and vanquish what happened to her. She found it difficult to comprehend, and all seemed like a bad dream that she would wake up from. Her best friend would never hurt her. Neither would her maid. Her mate loved her. He did. He had started warmly up to her despite their class difference. 

'It's a dream. It's a bad dream, Lana. You will wake up,' she repeated in her head. She was terrified, but more hurt that the truth of her body floating in a dark pit seemed like a prank to her. The last she remembered was that…it kicked in that she was dead! This was the afterlife for her. Was it?

If it was, then life was unfair and all gods were partial. She was the one who was offended, and they decided to send her to a place with darkness instead of somewhere beautiful where she could get peace and rest from what happened to her. It was a shame she had so much faith in Moon Goddess that she didn't even speak against her. What did she do wrong? Nothing. Often, she played, fasted, and offered sacrifices to the Moon Goddess. 

“Has everyone forsaken me?” Lana screamed in tears. The first words she forced herself to vocalize. 

Her voice thundered, farther and farther until nothing was left of it. She was still floating, angry with herself and everyone.

Bowing her head in silence to give room for the strokes of tears that fell from her eyes to her cheeks down to her chest, the streaks of her tears that fell into the pit began to glow. It grew in number until a glowing orb was formed from it. Lana wiped her eyes, frantically looking at the orb. It glowed so brightly that the entire pit was illuminated.

A voice that came from all over the pit startled Freya. “Child,” the invisible voice called out. “You have not been forsaken. Truly, you did nothing wrong. Those meant to protect you became the source of your sorrow. Indeed, man is wicked.”

“W…who are you?” Lana stammered, her body filled with fear.

“I am she, who has heard your cries.” The echoes of the voice became melodious, and the floating orb turned into a beautiful combination of glowing mixtures of iris, sunflowers, and carnations. They began to grow from the body around the pit until it looked like a garden. Birds appeared, chirping, and a waterfall stood at one corner. The once bottomless pit suddenly had vegetation underneath, with creatures of a different kind playing around. 

Lana's floating body dropped into the grass. Her stained and ruined dress differed into a yellow flowing gown that struck a resemblance with the sunflowers. A garland of sunflowers also appeared over her hair, pushing the once wet wavy hair into a straight, sleek form.

Lana grew into an appreciation of how glamorous, peaceful, and pure everything was. If this was the true afterlife for her, she had no problem. Nobody would hurt her weak body and mind. Her innocence will remain with her without getting corrupted. She could play around with the animals and make friends with the flowers. Maybe fall in love with the water, but never with a man again. All this she planned in her mind.

The voice came again. Lana hoped that she could convince whosoever was in charge to stay and not go back. She wanted to.

“Lana. I'm sorry that I have failed your trust. However, your pleas have been heard. A second chance at life has been given to you. You will go back to your body. Use this opportunity well.”

Gathering courage, “but, I don't wish to go back. They will only hurt me. Earth is chaotic. Humans are greedy. There's no place for the weak and worried.  You have to fight to survive every day. I'm tired. I don't wish to continue that way. Please, let me stay here and take care of it.”

“Lana, your purpose only began. This death was to reborn you as that who will end the reign of evil in the wolf kingdom. From the ashes, you have risen. You will find your purpose. Your steps shall be guarded and that which has been entrusted in your hands will be successful.”

 “I don't want to,” she began to sob. “Whatever it is, I don't want to. Please — don't send me back. I can't deal with being alone. Cast out, rejected, and dejected. Please, let me die.”

The surrounding beauty began to fade thanks to a violent wind. “Lana, you are not alone. He who has found you is your second chance mate. Your destiny is entwined with his.”

“Please, no. I don't want to go back. Please!” Lana began to drift violently as she tried to reach for one of the sunflowers. She had no idea what she wanted to do with it, but she fought and struggled to get it. Maybe touching something would stop the place from disappearing. Even eating it will keep it permanent.

She pulled and strived until her body reached the last sunflower. When she managed to grip it, it became rock-hard and felt more than just a sunflower. It was larger under her touch. Trying to plug it, she heard a shriek. The voice of a man. Not just any man. One that soothed her ears.