The bell chimed as the small girl entered the cramped room. Several piles of papers were piled on the floor, and some of them were even taller than her. She carefully navigated her way among the piles of paper. She carefully took small steps as she moved towards the table across the door.
"What can I do for you, lass?", a baritone voice asked.
Startled, the girl stepped back, causing her to stumble on the pile of papers.
"Ach... Ceferino won't be happy seeing this," he said while clicking his tongue.
The girl bowed her head and immediately tried to pick up the scattered papers. She was about to pick up another piece of paper when a large hand picked it up first. She looked up and saw a fine-looking man staring down at her.
"Ohhh, don't cry on me, young lass," he said while pulling her up. "Now tell me what brings you here? This isn't a police station, so if you're lost, kindly get out and proceed to the next room. I'm sure Bartley will help you."
The young girl pursed her lips, and after taking in a long breath, she composed herself and began to talk.
"I'm sorry for barging in without notice, sir. My name is Ceija... I am 10 years old. My mother and I are gypsies, and we belong to a caravan who were—"
"Aye, aye, enough with the self-introduction, lass. Tell me about your problem or the reason why you're here," the man demanded impatiently.
"I want to see my mother... I want to see her again, sir," Ceija said meekly. Tears were starting to fall down her chin, but she hastily wiped them away.
The man just stared dryly at her and answered, "Do I look like a police officer, lass? As I've said, you can go out and proceed to the next door because the good old police were there, haven't you—"
His words were hung midway when he saw the girl crying uncontrollably. Her small body shook as she sobbed profusely. She attempted to stop her sobs by clamping her hands on her mouth, but that only worsened the matter.
He just stared at her while waiting for her sobs to subside. It was his first time witnessing a really upset girl, so he just decided to lightly tap her shoulder to somehow console her.
After a few moments of silence, the girl finally spoke.
"I want to see my mother...", she said in a cracked voice.
He fought with the urge to say, 'Aye, lass, I know, you already said that a while ago', but he decided not to interfere this time.
"She's dead, but I know you can bring me to her. I heard from Vadoma that you can travel through the borders of living and dead, and there you can visit and talk with them... so I thought you could help me," she said hopefully while staring at him.
He frowned and sighed deeply when he heard the girls' request. He rubbed his chin in annoyance before answering her with a question.
"And you believed her, lass?", he asked in a sarcastic manner.
Her face immediately fell down upon hearing his question. She bit her lips to stop her welling emotions, and then she attempted to plead again.
"I don't have a penny, sir, but I have this golden necklace my mother gave me. I'm sure she'll understand if I gave this to you in return for your aid. I just want to see her again for the last time. I—I want to ask her a lot of questions... please sir, hear my request... please," she begged sincerely. It was evident that she's on the verge of crying again.
"But I—"
He didn't finish what he's going to say when the girl got on her knees; she bowed her head, and even though she's already crying, she uttered her pleas again.
"Please, sir... please...", she said in a cracked voice.
He scratched his head in resignation as he pulled up the girl.
"Tarnation!", he exclaimed. "Fine, fine—you win, lass, but I can't guarantee your safety when we travel across the borders. So watch for yourself," he said harshly without looking at the girl.
"Yes, sir!", she answered in a much more enthusiastic manner.
"Good," he absentmindedly uttered.
'Bad! That was a terrible decision, Ross!', his mind rebutted. How is he supposed to pass through those keepers? And worse, he will be with a girl!
'Achhh, hell, why do I need to start a week with a bloody problem?'
"Are you one of the spirit guides? Or perhaps the keeper?", the girl asked him cheerfully.
He grunted as he pushed a huge boulder out of their way. It's been years since he visited this place, and still not a thing has changed.
"Nay, I'm not a spirit guide," he simply answered.
"So you're a keeper, then?"
Annoyed, he abruptly whirled around. It is apparent that he's not really pleased with her questions—or even her presence.
"You know what, lass? I think I had enough. If you don't stop with your babbling, I daresay we should go back and forget about the little chat with your mother," he said almost angrily.
Ceija just gave him an apologetic smile before they continued walking. As they go further along the borders, the path becomes damper, and soon enough, there are occasional puddles that block their way. She was about to dip her boots in the puddle when Ross hastily pulled her.
"Don't step on things you aren't familiar with," he commanded curtly.
"But it's just a puddle, sir; it can't—"
"Once you step on it, you'll be transported to another boundary, and like I said, I won't trouble myself finding you, lass—so watch yourself!"
"Aye, aye, mister. Sorry."
They continued on their journey, and they became silent—save for the grunts and sighs. The path is getting steeper, and puddles seem to occur more often this time, but the once stark way seemed to aglow. Ceija gazed at the glowing walls, but she walked carefully so as not to touch them. She knew that everything in here wasn't safe, and she also knew better than to incur the ire of the mister again.
"We're almost there... and, aye, we're finally here," he said while pushing another boulder.
"Hey, lass, where's the box I told you to hold for me?"
She immediately rummaged her bag, and there she found a small box. She pulled it out, checked for any damage, and then carefully handed it over to him.
"Good, now she can't say nay to our request. Make haste lass, for you're going to see your mother soon."
Her face brightened as he mentioned the meeting with her mother. Together, they step inside another boundary, and instantly she gasped at what she saw.
It's a beautiful garden!
Her eyes were filled with awe as she turned around to get a better view of the garden that surrounds her. Flowers bloomed everywhere, tall trees towered, and several pretty birds sang sweet tunes.
A tear of happiness fell from her eyes as she continued to gaze at the beautiful paradise. She was about to take another step, but a thunderous voice boomed out of nowhere.
"Intruders! Dare not to take another step! Or else—
"Oh, if it weren't for your lovely voice, I wouldn't have recognized you, love," Ross said in a sickeningly sweet manner.
A ladder made out of flowers suddenly emerged, and a beautiful lady descended from it. Her frown contrasted with her radiant face.
"Ross, you rotten Scott! Why are you here?", she asked in an annoyed voice.
"Ach, you hurt me, gel! Please don't gaze at me like that. Your gaze pierced my heart, and I'm afraid I'll run out of blood if you con—
"Stop with your fatuous theatrics! Now again, tell me why you are here."
"Don't drive me away that fast, love; here, accept my humble offering. I know this will soothe your unpleasant mood," he said coyly while showing her the box.
Her face lit up as she saw the box, and she quickly got it from Ross.
"Mooncakes! You really know how to manipulate a woman's heart, Ross!", she exclaimed as she muched the mooncakes with relish. She hummed a sweet tune as she continued munching the pastry.
"So what do you want this time, Ross?", she asked in between her munching.
"Oh, don't sound too hasty, my dear Lobelia. You see, my little gypsy friend needs help seeing her departed mother, so being the saint I am, I must help her."
"How gallant! So it's a gypsy again!", she scoffed.
"That's none of your business, my bitter Lobelia; just give us your permission so that we can pass and get over with this," he said with an undertone of vexation.
"Oh, now you hurt me, Ross—but not as much as Anne did to you. You can now pass!", she said while chewing delicately the last mooncake.
Ross just gritted his teeth as she dragged Ceija out of the garden. She promised not to talk again, but her curiosity triumphed.
"Who is the pretty lady, sir?"
"Ah, that hag, she's just an old friend."
"I heard you, Rosssss!", Lobelia's voice boomed.
The ground shook, and before they got inside the door, Ross shouted.
"Next time, Lobelia, let that emperor lover of yours bring mooncake to you!"
A loud shriek erupted, and with that, he immediately closed the door.
"You've angered her," she said absentmindedly.
"Aye lass, I did—now don't worry, we won't be seeing her again once we go back to the living world, and...we are here! Welcome to the land of the dead!", he said while tapping her shoulders lightly.
She looked up, and she saw a lot of glowing spirits passing by. She almost panicked when she saw one of them approaching her. Ross noticed her uneasiness, so he told her about the seal.
"Don't worry, lass, I stamped a seal on your shoulder just before we left so you'll be invisible to them, but we need to make haste because it wouldn't be a good experience if we got caught by the keepers—hand me your necklace so that you can talk to your mother now."
She carefully untied the necklace from her neck, and she handed it to him. He put some ashes on top of it, and after that, he blew those.
A hazy apparition suddenly emerged, and when that apparition became more clear, she immediately gasped.
'It's mother!'
"Mama!", she shouted as she hugged her mother.
"I guess you two need privacy; I'll go somewhere for now; call me if you're finished," Ross said before snapping his fingers and vanishing.
Now left with just her mother, she started to ask her things that she wanted to know—things that greatly burdened her. Ceija hoped that her answers would finally set her free from the burden of regret, sadness, and longing. It did set her free, but those answers somehow gave birth to another feeling she never expected to feel towards her mother.
'Hatred.'
She hates her, and her mother knows it.
"That was fast, lass. What happened—did it go fine or awry?", he asked her while eyeing her inquisitively.
"It went fine, sir; I already knew answers to those questions of mine," she said in an obviously fake enthusiastic voice.
He just remained silent as he snapped his finger. Instantly, they're back in his cramped office.
"Thank you, mister; I'm really grateful for your help, but like I said, I don't have a penny, and I also accidentally left the necklace in the land of the dead."
"Accidentally huh? You jest me lass—Anyway, since you don't have money, just work here for a month as my assistant. Ceferino is currently indisposed as of this moment, so I guess a month's worth of rest will do good for his overworked arse—I mean, he's been sitting for a long time doing all the paperworks, and I think I can handle those now. You'll handle the footwork, and I'll handle the papers. Are you fine with that?", he asked while smiling at her genuinely.
She looked down and somehow felt some of her burdens lighten.
"Yes, mister."
And on that eventful Monday, Mr. Ross unexpectedly met her ever-loyal gypsy assistant.
What happened next? Well.. ask the Fates for that.
