The Holes in the Surface

Chapter 2

Hazel sat next to Frank for some time before she felt the heat leave his body. Her hand was suddenly drenched in freezing air, his skin doing nothing to warm her up. As soon as this happened, she felt Nico touch her shoulder with a hint of pity. "He's dead."

"He's dead?" Hazel looked up at Nico. "Can we see him?"

"Soon," Nico promised. "It sometimes takes us awhile to wake up. You woke up ten minutes after you stopped breathing. It just depends."

Hazel kissed Frank's forehead, chilled from head to toe. "I'm here, Frank. I'm here. Don't be afraid."

"You love him?" Nico asked. "Truly love him?"

Hazel nodded. "Yeah, I do. Seems weird to hear from a girl that's so young, huh? Well... I can't help it. Love isn't a choice."

"You're right about that..." Nico thought back to Will Solace, thought back to that poor boy that had shown up too late. "Well, you're lucky. You'll be stuck here but you'll be with your love. No pain. Just you and him. You're really lucky."

Hazel looked to Nico to give him a smile of gratitude before looking back down at Frank. "So...so he's in no pain, even before he wakes up?"

Nico nodded. "As of right now, he doesn't feel a thing."

"Good." Hazel sat back but kept a grip on Frank's hand. "Nico... Can I ask you another question?"

"Go for it."

"Do you believe in Heaven?"

Nico glanced away. "I don't know. I really don't know, Hazel. I've seen people pass on. I've seen people leave this place. But if that was the case, then why are we still here? Things are complicated. I'm not sure of anything right now."

"You've...seen people leave? As in move on?" Hazel perked up. "You really have?"

Nico leaned his head on his hand. "Yep. My mom and my sister. They died in this house and their spirits aren't here. I think..." He looked up at the ceiling. "I think they're in Heaven. I used to think of this as Hell but if that was the case, you wouldn't be here."

"You wouldn't go to Hell." Hazel grabbed onto his hand with her free one. "You're a nice boy. You're not evil."

"You don't know me very well." Nico closed his eyes. "Wonder when they'll take your bodies."

"They won't care about mine." Hazel looked away. "But they'll take Frank's."

They sat in silence for some time before a new voice joined them, a voice full of curiosity. "Hazel?"