Vincent was about to question the man again but the office disappeared and he found himself in a large room like a hospital waiting room, with what looked like green walls and ceiling and a jet-black floor. Bench seats formed a square perimeter the size of a classroom and he noticed there were a couple of other people, a man and a woman, already seated there. A large clock was on one side, hanging in space with its hands showing half past two. Vincent picked a spot near the man and across the corner from the woman.

"What happens here?" he asked the man.

"Nothing. I've been here for days it seems."

"Days?"

"He doesn't know how long he's been here," the woman spoke up. "Time doesn't move."

"Can't you tell by the clock?" He looked at and saw that it now had three hands, the new one pointing to four. "What the heck?"

"It's not a clock, it's a counter and a locator." She pointed to the three of them and their relative positions.

"She just thinks she so clever," the man complained.

"Maybe because I've been here the longest."

"How long?" Vincent asked, and received a withering glare. "Sorry." He gazed at the clock for a minute then rubbed his eyes and leaned forward. "I don't get any of this, what is it all about? If I'm dead what does all this mean?"

"What did you do?"

"Huh?"

"Geez, I was hoping for someone with a little intelligence. You violated your contract, right? What did you do?"

"Oh- something against what I signed for."

"Eeew, big secret." She crossed her legs and watched as Vincent instinctively followed the action. "Woman trouble, eh?" She laughed and ran a hand through her luxurious hair.

"There she goes again," the man sniffed.

The woman grinned maliciously. "Ask the whiner what he did."

Vincent looked at the man and shrugged. "I don't really care."

"You will, 'cause there's nothing else to do here but talk to one another." She lifted her chin at the man. "Tell him; you told me."

The man frowned and twisted his fingers together. "I stole money, from seniors in a home... for drugs."

Vincent made a face. "That's gross." He thought for a minute and then asked. "But how did you wind up here?"

"I uh- said I wanted to give all the money back."

"Yeah?"

"I took more and got wasted."

"Oh man, that's really dumb. When you had a chance..." He saw the woman smiling at him and he blushed hotly.

"You were much smarter of course," she laughed.

"What did you do, Miss Smarty?"

"I murdered my husband." She held her smile and Vincent lost his. "When I signed away that I wished I hadn't, I was thrilled to find I could do it all over again. You don't get many chances like that... dead or alive." Her laugh was absorbed by the empty space around them and they were left sitting in silence."

Finally Vincent looked at her and asked. "What do you think happens next?"

"Whatever it is it'll be no better than just sitting here forever."

"Maybe that's our punishment," the man said. "Sitting here forever."

"I sure hope not, Charlie, I might have to liven things up by killing you." She laughed again and slapped her thigh.

"I don't think you should be saying things like that in here." Vincent cautioned.

"In where? You know where we are? What the hell does it matter? We're dead."

"How did you get here in the first place?" Vincent asked.

"I committed suicide." She jerked to a halt and turned away.

"So that's why you don't want to leave; you're afraid of the consequences for taking your own life. Are you a catholic?"

"Mind your own bloody business. What's your name anyway?"

"Vincent. And if it doesn't matter, how come we got ripped for contract violation?"

"See, I told ya, Michelle, it does matter." Charlie nodded and folded his arms.

She studied Vincent for a minute and then ignored them both and sat up stretching. Both men watched.

They all jumped at the sound of a deep bass voice telling Charles Meadows to leave the room by the same door he entered. Charlie stood, shaking and made his way toward the door.

"Sheep," Michelle scoffed.

He left the room and immediately the clocked reverted to two hands.

"What do you mean?" Vincent asked.

"They all do exactly as they're told just like a bunch of sheep."

"What would you do if your name was called?"

"Same as I've done up to now; I ignore it."

"Why? Surely you don't really want to stay here forever?" Michelle avoided his eyes and feigned indifference but Vincent caught the glint of fear in her eyes. "You are afraid to go."

"Don't be an ass. What have I got to be afraid of?"

"What will happen if you leave here; you're worried you'll be punished for breaking your contract."

"Aren't you?"

He thought for a moment. "We're dead, what else can happen?"

"Anything, look what's happened up to now." She stood and began to pace and Vincent was struck with her physical beauty, wondering how she could have murdered somebody... twice!"

"Why did you kill your husband, Michelle?"

"Because he was a lying, cheating, thieving, abusive bastard."

Vincent jerked at the sound of profanity. "You swore!"

"Well, excuse me." She shook her head and continued pacing.

"No, I mean I tried to swear and I couldn't." He considered a minute and then he tried again but couldn't. "I still can't! How come you can swear and I can't?"

The door to the room opened, causing them both to start, as Meditatio entered carrying his ledger.

"There has been a council meeting with respect to you both. He considered them silently, his demeanor bathing them with a calm compassion. He moved closer and addressed Michelle. "Your refusal up to now to move on, Michelle, has been revoked in the interest of all parties. Each of you presented unusual circumstances in your Hall of Decision contract that must be resolved before we can move on."

"Resolved how?" Vincent asked, becoming bold with this man with whom he'd already dealt. "And what happened to Charlie?"

"Charles Meadows is of no concern to you. He has moved on accordingly."

"But he broke his contract too, so what's the difference between him and us."

Meditatio studied Vincent with great patience, turning over in his mind the ramifications of explaining council's ruling and then he gestured for both of them to sit and he took up a position in front of them.

"Charles Meadows was a man who stole from helpless citizens domiciled in senior care facilities. When he broke his contract it was purely out of greed; he had no other motive. Consequently, Charles has been reassigned to Status Referrals for a final ruling and from there will likely join those in the Exchange Station."

"Where?"

"We are here to discuss your own status, Vincent, so please let me continue. Because there were extenuating circumstances in both your cases, it has been ruled that you spend a period of time in the Repentance Garden."

"And we... repent?"

"You take time to examine your motives and what they mean, if anything, to your final summation of your life on earth."

"And then?"

"One stage at a time, Vincent." Meditatio turned to Michelle. "You've been very quiet, have you nothing to say?"

"I can give you an answer right here and now."

"Sorry, Michelle, rules." Meditatio turned and walked to the door and disappeared. The waiting room dissolved and in its place was a lush garden of flowers, trees, plants and musical birds. There was velvety plush lawn and above a sky so blue it almost hurt. Vincent walked about with his mouth hanging open, taking in the sounds and scents.

"This has to be Eden."

"Yeah, watch for snakes then." Michelle found a patch of grass beside a small pond of gold and silver fish.

"Why so negative, this could be an opportunity?"

Before Michelle could respond, the pond's surface turned to a large window and they both stared into the image presented, Vincent with eyes agog and Michelle clasping her throat and holding her breath.