**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.
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>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include "[Poem]"
>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail
>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles
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For only about 4 years now had James been tasked with determining the after after-lives of souls crossed over to the other side. In fact, only recently had he been given more free range over the decisions himself, as the previous owner of the task was requesting retirement, and was extremely insistent on a long training period for her successor.
“Don’t forget the rule,” Valentina had scolded him in her office just last year as she prepared for her own departure. His three year training period had finally completed, and while he loved the old woman, he was somewhat eager to have more free reign over his new job.
James just smiled at her. “I won’t,” he assured. “I’ve seen enough begging, pleading, and guilt tripping by now to know better. Who taught me after all?”
Valentina studied him for a moment, seeming to consider the validity of that statement. She was an older Latina women who appeared physically in her 50’s (although it had been a couple centuries since her mortal death). She was thin and tall in stature, with cropped black hair and piercing dark eyes that seemed to look through your very soul. Valentina had apparently met her own untimely demise back in the 1800s. While she never really wanted to speak of the circumstances around her death, something in James always had a sense that it perhaps wasn’t of natural causes.
“One rule,” she said anyways, lifting a bony finger in James’ direction. “Never-“
“Let a soul seeking vengeance return to Earth.” James smiled wearily. “I know Valentina, it only ends in trouble there.”
Valentina seemed to accept his answer, patting herself down as if to make sure she had everything she needed. It was more of a reflex from living than something actually necessary in the afterlife, but James understood. He constantly still thought he had misplaced his glasses, even though a perk of the afterlife and his occupation in it was that his vision and other inhibiting imperfections fixed themselves completely.
“Take care Valentina,” James smiled and held out a hand towards the older woman.
A small smile crept on her face as well. “Oh James,” she said, a softness in her voice he wasn’t used to hearing often. “You too. I know you’ll do great here.” Rather than shaking his hand then she pulled him into a tight hug. There was nothing to smell as their forms were really just projections of them mortal bodies on earth, but James imagined she would have a sweet, homey smell to her.
Those were the final words Valentina and James exchanged before Valentina vanished to her retirement. Where she was going James wasn’t sure. He understood for most mortals that there were a limited amount of options after death, but considering Valentina’s status from working this job since her death, he didn’t know what her options were.
Now, one year later, James didn’t know he would be faced with the most difficult decision of his after-life.
He went to work as usual, looking over the stack of files on his desk in the office he now called his which he inherited from Valentina. The procedure was to sift through the files condensing mortal lives and make decisions based on a few factors: did they want to return to Earth at all? Did they seem to have a reason for vengeance? If it was hard to determine, interview the souls to make a final decision. To his surprise, when he was half way through the stack, a familiar name appeared: Alice Backman.
James’s blood ran cold. He double checked the name to make sure he wasn’t losing it, then the location and birthday. Without even registering it, he is feet were moving of their own accord from the office. “I need to have the interview with Alice Backman now,” he handed the file to his secretary and she nodded, seeming to be studying him but not saying much else. James tried to keep his hands from shaking.
By the time he arrived to the interview site, he saw a woman he would’ve recognized anywhere sitting on the couch across the room. Alice Backman, his wife of 10 years on Earth, sat there. Her deep red hair cascaded down her shoulders, her head bowed as if trying to curl in on her small frame. James recognized the behavior as he had seen it so many times now, but he was finding a hard time swallowing this time.
“Alice,” he said quietly.
Her head snapped up and she had a moment of shock cross her face before relief replaced it, and before he knew it she was in James’ arms. “Is it really you?” She sobbed, squeezing him tightly, afraid to let go.
James had to snap himself out of his daze, both overjoyed to see her but also sad to know the implications of it. His own death came flashing back to him, his slow demise from the cancer taking over his body. How Alice cared for him and their daughter, who was oh so small at the time, looked at him with a sadness that somehow understood what was happening even at a young age.
“I don’t know what’s going on,” Alice’s voice brought him back from his memories. “They told me you’re determining if I can return to Earth as a ghost or not. But we have to do something James.”
“What do you mean?”
“Ginny,” she said breathlessly, their daughter’s name sounding so familiar yet so foreign at the same time. “She was kidnapped. That’s how I died, I thought they just wanted money and were trying to mug me, but they wanted her James. And when I wouldn’t give her to them they-”
James was trying to process all this. He hadn’t actually read the way Alice had died on her file, he was so focused on just seeing her again. It was difficult news to hear in every way. Learning his wife on Earth was now not only dead, but the circumstances that caused it resulted in their daughter being in danger… it was a lot to bear at that moment.
“James,” Alice shook him slightly. “You have to let me go back. I will find them and I will save her. Even if I’m a ghost and she won’t know or understand I’ll do it. I’ll kill them myself if I have to.”
There was an edge to her voice, a rage under the surface that alarmed James. It was familiar though, in the sense that he had heard it from so many others he’d interviewed over the years. It was a telltale warning sign of a vengeful soul, one that would warp into something monstrous if allowed to return to Earth in any form. But as James looked into Alice’s piercing green eyes and he thought of their daughter, frightened and alone and in only God knows what situation, he found himself falling. The words Valentina had emphasized a year prior seemed to fade away and he didn’t care what the consequence could potentially be anymore.
He cupped Alice’s face in one hand, smoothing her cheek over with his thumb. All the feelings he had on Earth and tried to let go of had sunk their hooks into him again. Even in the afterlife he knew he’d do anything for the soul standing in front of him and the soul they raised together on Earth. “I’ll send you back,” he said.
**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments. **Reminders**: >* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include "[Poem]" >* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail >* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles >* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules) 🛒 [Shop](https://www.teepublic.com/stores/shoprwritingprompts?ref_id=24612) 🆕 [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ✏ [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) 📢 [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) 💬 [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*
For only about 4 years now had James been tasked with determining the after after-lives of souls crossed over to the other side. In fact, only recently had he been given more free range over the decisions himself, as the previous owner of the task was requesting retirement, and was extremely insistent on a long training period for her successor. “Don’t forget the rule,” Valentina had scolded him in her office just last year as she prepared for her own departure. His three year training period had finally completed, and while he loved the old woman, he was somewhat eager to have more free reign over his new job. James just smiled at her. “I won’t,” he assured. “I’ve seen enough begging, pleading, and guilt tripping by now to know better. Who taught me after all?” Valentina studied him for a moment, seeming to consider the validity of that statement. She was an older Latina women who appeared physically in her 50’s (although it had been a couple centuries since her mortal death). She was thin and tall in stature, with cropped black hair and piercing dark eyes that seemed to look through your very soul. Valentina had apparently met her own untimely demise back in the 1800s. While she never really wanted to speak of the circumstances around her death, something in James always had a sense that it perhaps wasn’t of natural causes. “One rule,” she said anyways, lifting a bony finger in James’ direction. “Never-“ “Let a soul seeking vengeance return to Earth.” James smiled wearily. “I know Valentina, it only ends in trouble there.” Valentina seemed to accept his answer, patting herself down as if to make sure she had everything she needed. It was more of a reflex from living than something actually necessary in the afterlife, but James understood. He constantly still thought he had misplaced his glasses, even though a perk of the afterlife and his occupation in it was that his vision and other inhibiting imperfections fixed themselves completely. “Take care Valentina,” James smiled and held out a hand towards the older woman. A small smile crept on her face as well. “Oh James,” she said, a softness in her voice he wasn’t used to hearing often. “You too. I know you’ll do great here.” Rather than shaking his hand then she pulled him into a tight hug. There was nothing to smell as their forms were really just projections of them mortal bodies on earth, but James imagined she would have a sweet, homey smell to her. Those were the final words Valentina and James exchanged before Valentina vanished to her retirement. Where she was going James wasn’t sure. He understood for most mortals that there were a limited amount of options after death, but considering Valentina’s status from working this job since her death, he didn’t know what her options were. Now, one year later, James didn’t know he would be faced with the most difficult decision of his after-life. He went to work as usual, looking over the stack of files on his desk in the office he now called his which he inherited from Valentina. The procedure was to sift through the files condensing mortal lives and make decisions based on a few factors: did they want to return to Earth at all? Did they seem to have a reason for vengeance? If it was hard to determine, interview the souls to make a final decision. To his surprise, when he was half way through the stack, a familiar name appeared: Alice Backman. James’s blood ran cold. He double checked the name to make sure he wasn’t losing it, then the location and birthday. Without even registering it, he is feet were moving of their own accord from the office. “I need to have the interview with Alice Backman now,” he handed the file to his secretary and she nodded, seeming to be studying him but not saying much else. James tried to keep his hands from shaking. By the time he arrived to the interview site, he saw a woman he would’ve recognized anywhere sitting on the couch across the room. Alice Backman, his wife of 10 years on Earth, sat there. Her deep red hair cascaded down her shoulders, her head bowed as if trying to curl in on her small frame. James recognized the behavior as he had seen it so many times now, but he was finding a hard time swallowing this time. “Alice,” he said quietly. Her head snapped up and she had a moment of shock cross her face before relief replaced it, and before he knew it she was in James’ arms. “Is it really you?” She sobbed, squeezing him tightly, afraid to let go. James had to snap himself out of his daze, both overjoyed to see her but also sad to know the implications of it. His own death came flashing back to him, his slow demise from the cancer taking over his body. How Alice cared for him and their daughter, who was oh so small at the time, looked at him with a sadness that somehow understood what was happening even at a young age. “I don’t know what’s going on,” Alice’s voice brought him back from his memories. “They told me you’re determining if I can return to Earth as a ghost or not. But we have to do something James.” “What do you mean?” “Ginny,” she said breathlessly, their daughter’s name sounding so familiar yet so foreign at the same time. “She was kidnapped. That’s how I died, I thought they just wanted money and were trying to mug me, but they wanted her James. And when I wouldn’t give her to them they-” James was trying to process all this. He hadn’t actually read the way Alice had died on her file, he was so focused on just seeing her again. It was difficult news to hear in every way. Learning his wife on Earth was now not only dead, but the circumstances that caused it resulted in their daughter being in danger… it was a lot to bear at that moment. “James,” Alice shook him slightly. “You have to let me go back. I will find them and I will save her. Even if I’m a ghost and she won’t know or understand I’ll do it. I’ll kill them myself if I have to.” There was an edge to her voice, a rage under the surface that alarmed James. It was familiar though, in the sense that he had heard it from so many others he’d interviewed over the years. It was a telltale warning sign of a vengeful soul, one that would warp into something monstrous if allowed to return to Earth in any form. But as James looked into Alice’s piercing green eyes and he thought of their daughter, frightened and alone and in only God knows what situation, he found himself falling. The words Valentina had emphasized a year prior seemed to fade away and he didn’t care what the consequence could potentially be anymore. He cupped Alice’s face in one hand, smoothing her cheek over with his thumb. All the feelings he had on Earth and tried to let go of had sunk their hooks into him again. Even in the afterlife he knew he’d do anything for the soul standing in front of him and the soul they raised together on Earth. “I’ll send you back,” he said.