Images from your life flashed behind your eyes, closed involuntarily as the men above you carried on their discussion.

"Is..." the youthful voice of a boy wise beyond his years held a degree of unusual concern. He sounded sad, and afraid. What he foresaw had come to fruition far more severly than he ever believed would happen. "... is she dead?"

You didn't hear their conversation as it went on. Unbeknownst to you, these two people had never truly been in a similar predicament prior to this one. Now that they were faced with such an atypical situation, they struggled to find a way to fight for a lost cause. One knew more than the other that all hope was not yet lost.

Visions of peace, joy and love replaced the terrors from before. The nightmare had ended, and your dream had just begun, not to end here. Still, what you were witnessing was better than anything you could have pictured before that day.

Your father stood before you, arms open wide, as you ran into his embrace, feeling lighter than air. Behind him loomed high, golden gates, and coming from behind them, shining all around you, was the most beautiful light you'd ever seen. Colors that never existed on earth sparkled as your father flashed you a smile, and you felt an unparalleled sense of happiness, unlike any other. You looked to the right of your father after you parted, your arms lowered, at a lovely woman who offered you her hand, and you took it, pulling her toward you. You threw your arms around her, and she gladly did the same. She looked like you, and you knew who she was. "Mother. I've wanted to meet you all my life." She smiled, pulling back herself so she could see get a better look at her daughter, and though sorrow could not manifest where you were, tears flecked her perfect eyes, silently steaming down her face.

"So have I, my love. I'm so sorry it had to be this way."

"Don't be. What could you possibly have to be sorry for?" You didn't understand. You remembered nothing about what had happened, all you knew is that it was over. You were home. This was where you belonged. This was the doorway to paradise. Just behind those gates was the only kingdom that mattered in the end. "I'm glad I'm here, now. This is where I was meant to be all along. There's nothing significant, no one important, for me back where I was. Isn't that right father?"You turned to him, wanting so badly to finally pass through, to see what was on the other side, far way from the wickedness of the world you longed to leave behind.

Your father shook his head, and you looked to his left. Bowing its head before glancing down in recognition of something far below you, stood a proud, magnificent creature, one you never thought you'd see in person, free like this, not trapped by the cages of man. A lion roared, bearing its fangs. A warning to whatever was down there preceded a return to its former honorary nature. The clouds seemed to tremble as your father stroked its head, its might not broken, its strength never deminished by the familar touch. The gesture was familiar, and though typically incapable of what would be human demonstrations of emotions, the beast appeared to smile at you.

"No." Your father's voice sounded odd. It didn't sound like him, but it wasn't foreign. You recognised it. You began to worry. You should't be able to feel anything negative here; it was impossible! You reached out for your family, and your father merely touched the tips of your fingers with his, gently pushing you backwards, as you began to tumble and fall, the glory of Heaven slipping away as your eyes once closed to the world opened again.

Someone was standing over you, satisfied upon seeing the fleeting relief in his master's eyes.

"Welcome back, {Y/N}." Sebastian proudly declared. "It's good to see you."