Someone hugging me. That was the first sensation I became aware of.

Not breathing or the cold air on my naked skin or even the sensation of hunger in my abysmally empty stomach. They all came later.

It was the warm arms wrapped around me clenching me to an equally warm body.

Who knew you'd feel this cold after you came back from the dead?

Because that's what must have happened. I saw my body twisted in the crash. Watched them bury me. Wept a hundred tears for every single one of the million Sheila cried over me.

She's why I didn't go to the Light.

I cracked my eyes open carefully. Even through my closed lids the light source nearby was painful.

Sheila moved in front of it, and I opened my eyes a bit further.

Several candles illuminated the forest clearing deep in the heart of the forest. We lay on the wide tree trunk where I'd come to do my spells.

My sluggish brain strained to work. I knew I shouldn't be here, that this was wrong for some reason. It didn't stop me tightly embracing Sheila back.

"Oh, thank God! It worked! I knew you hadn't crossed over. I could feel you around me still."

I opened my eyes fully and cupped my beloved's face. "You are a sight for sore eyes."

Elated tears streamed down her cheeks. She smiled shakily, then leaned forward and pressed her lips to mine. We didn't even notice when we fell off the tree stump to the carpet of fallen leaves on the ground. The heat we generated was enough to warm us during our reunion.

That time allowed my brain to fully wake up. To realise what Sheila had done.

Resurrection wasn't light magic. It was one of the darkest.

I stroked her cheek and asked the question whose answer I dreaded, "What price did you pay?"

She looked at a candle, then buried her face in my hair.

"You made a deal with him, didn't you?"

She simply nodded. I didn't need to explain who.

"I saw the Light, Sheila. I didn't go, because I couldn't leave you. But maybe I'd get another chance. But now this, getting me back, you won't go there."

I shivered at the grim idea that flashed in my mind.

"If you're going to Hell, then I'll make sure I join you there. I don't want to be separated from you for eternity."

"I don't understand."

"Sin, Sheila. The sure ticket to Hell. Being separated from you for eternity would be far worse torture."

Somewhere deep in the woods an evil laugh rang out.

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