Purgatory Chapter 2 Phoebe's Church

Introduction
Chapter 1 Death

The rain began to slow, so Edward escorted Death inside his house. The entry room was decorated in a rustic style, almost everything was made out of Spanish Cedar. The red tint of the wood gave the house a warm, comfortable feeling. Death feeling antsy to leave pushed ahead of Edward into the dinning room. He sat down on the table. "Be careful that table is expensive!" Edward spat without hesitation, a clear lapse back to his attitude among the living.

"Relax, except for specific spells, nothing that has died can effect any object within the living realm. Go ahead Edward lift this fork, or throw that plate. Its time for the bitch of a wife, Irene, looses some sleep, like all the nights you spent 'trading stocks' to get to have even one hour away from her." Death shot back.

Edward attempted to pick up the knife, even with all his strength, it did not budge. "It must weight 1000 pounds.." Edward stammered. He slumped onto the ground, "I..I feel so tired."

"You have much to learn, and a lot to do with very little mortal time to do it in," Death replied. " Take this to the church 5 miles east. Its a small yellow church just off the main road, if you get lost just whisper your question into it and await your answer. Beware though there is no such thing as safe passage in Purgatory, and don't wander to far, your wife will be rejoining you in this life before long." Death left a white rock on the table, and dashed toward the hall. Just before leaving he said, "rest for now, mourn your wife, but don't dawdle or you wont make it back in time to comfort her."

Edward stood up and grabbed the rock. He made his way to the window just in time to catch Death flying off into the distance.

Half human, half dog hybrids running around and all he can spare to help me is a useless cheap rock... I wonder what he thinks will happen to Irene. Poor Irene has to wake to find my body, she probably won't recover. I will be here to help her transition into the after life. Together we will ascend to heaven, I'm sure of it.

Edward put the rock in his breast pocket. He walked into the hall and headed up the stairs. He was slightly less surprised then before to find that none the stairs creaked under his weight. He went to his bedroom and only struggled, attempting to pull the covers over his head for a minute before curling up and staring at his wife sleep peacefully.

Irene I'll deliver this stone, and protect you I promise.

Edward slept for a couple mortal hours before being stirred awake by his wife's slow roll out of bed. This felt like a weeks worth of rest. Even though he felt he had plenty of energy, he stayed still for what seemed like 20 minutes, waiting on her to leave the room. He slowly stood up and followed her to the bathroom, like every morning first thing is first.

What am I doing she can not see me, I oughta leave before she finds my body.. I don't want to have to see her reaction, she may be relieved that I have passed and that would KILL ME! I have a 5 mile trek to get to.. Gotta deliver this rock, you know the most expensive and important thing I have ever delivered...NOT

Edward peered out the peep hole in the door before opening it. Obviously still intimidated by the lesser demons he first rose up to. He slowly walked down the pathway towards the lawn gate, still peering all around him. If he's this afraid of the smallest Purgatory demon, how will he ever get the gumption to fight a fully formed demon.

With no protection how will I ever make it out of town, let alone miles out, just put those thoughts away think about anything else. What did Death say, you can see heaven from anywhere on earth, to bad its too cloudy to see. I wonder what it's like. Is it as golden as everyone says? Did any of my family make it?

Before Edward even realized it, he was on the main road heading out of town. In a blissful state of mind, he wasn't concerned with why he had not encountered even a single other soul, demon nor angle. To anyone who is a seasoned Purgatory adventurer, this is more terrifying the facing a pack of soul eaters. There is only one reason all the souls would run or hide, a much stronger soul is near.

The sky is beautiful. The full array of blues, reds and purples dancing on the clouds, I wounder if there is no sun, what is making the colors and light. The afterlife is surprisingly relaxing.

The living had stirred and slowly more and more cars were heading down the highway. Living humans, returning to their regular lives, nothing has changed to them. Edward was only moving slightly slower than the cars, he stopped to watch them fly by. A large brown and red bull, running on two feet, came barreling towards a semi truck.

Dead things can't effect the living, nothing to worry about then.. right?

Edward fumbled for the rock in his pocket as the minotaur grew closer and closer to the truck running along side it. "Can this..THING.. hit the semi truck?"

"I've not been told of such event" it replied. The minotaur stuck his horn in the second tire on the big rig. 80,000 pounds of steel was screeching towards a jack-knife into on coming traffic. A small red convertible wedged itself into the back of the trucks cab. Even though the occupants were dead instantly, the shocked souls were left screaming in the rubble. Neither of them were able to get free of the vehicular carnage that encased them.

How am I supposed to help? How did he change the living world? Why did the rock sound like Death, was that Death?

"Hello, son," a familiar voice from behind said. "Did you like my display of power, serve me and that raw power will protect you. Its only the wise choice, join me forget about your life among the living."

"You killed them and left them trapped, if that's how you treat other souls, why would I ever serve you?" Edward challenged. " You didn't even treat me as a son when I was young. I was left on my own, so when you died, I didn't have the skills needed to lead."

Edwards father began stamping the ground, he began squaring up his shoulders. The look on his snout was mean, as if steam were about to burst from his animal ears. "You say that today, Edward but in the future you will be forced to make a deal with me. You could at least be thankful I have protected you so far on this journey, Death left you by your lonesome." He began charging Edward who tried to duck away, but ended up knocked skyward.

AHHH, what has become of my father Charles?.. I know he wasn't a good man, but morphing into a bull, I could never have imagined that...Is that death?

Edward could just make out, what looked like to him, a giant black and silver bird, capturing the souls of the two damned as the jaws of life freed them. Edward spun around and realized he was still flying ever higher into the sky. He flew for quite a minute before landing in a bush patch a ways off the highway. A small forest area lay in front of him.

If only being dead meant you didn't feel any pain. I have a massive migraine and I don't understand what all has transpired, but I guess I should keep heading towards the church.

Edward stood up and began pushing his way through the spaces between the thickets. Eventually he found his way through, he stood at the foot of a hill. At the top of the hill stood a small yellow church. Outside stood what looked like a living human knight. A woman who was guiding the blue light that shown from the top of the church tower in his direction. She was wearing a full silver and white, with gold trim, suite of armor.

She is a real warrior, is this who death wanted me to meet? I feel like I am being pin balled back and forth between spiritual deities that have been here longer and understand the rules better.

"I've been expecting you Edward." She said slowly and eloquently. "My name is Phoebe Palmer, I died in 1874 and choose to stay and fight the demons. In life I tried to get others to cleanse their sins before death, But now I help worthy cases clean themselves after death. Won't you come inside?"