"How did you do that?" I wonder, blinking at Viktor like mad. "That was not present day. NO WAY!"

    He grins, teasing me with a devilish look. Viktor unbuckles the metal contraption he placed on my head and proceeds with the wires on my face without a word. Yeah, we didn't use the globe at all. It bothers me so much too! I don't understand why he can't tell me about what happened when he's doing this. Hasn't he heard of multitasking?

    "Are you gonna tell me anything?" I question as he continues with the wires, which slightly hurts. The stickers used to connect the wires to my face aren't peeling off smoothly.

    "Can you shut up and be patient?" he admonishes. "I am working as best as I can. I told you before the procedure started that you would have questions. Wait until I am done, Parisa."

    "Well, you're taking forever! Don't you know how these things work, or is this the first time you've used it and I'm a guinea pig to s—"

    A touch of his fingertip to my lips, and I can no longer speak. I grunt like mad trying to open my mouth, but it won't budge. I was going to give Viktor a chance since he looks like Kristian, but this does it. No more Miss Nice Pop Star.

    "You can try anything you want, Parisa. Nothing will work. You will not bee able to speak for twenty-four hours your vocal chords are shut off," he explains. "But do not worry; you will be able to move your mouth again the moment you leave this room."

    Great! So much for being my so-called "therapist." Viktor's supposed to be on my side so my soul can peaceably rest. He's not doing so hot. He's not even helping me cope with the life I left on Earth!

    Instead, homeboy is doing the exact opposite of being helpful. He's arrogant, annoying, and I swear he says things sometimes to rile me up. Viktor is the epitome of the type of guys I hate because he's so haughty. He's not the right person to guide me through this.

    He actually reminds me of this guy my mom's parents tried to set me up with the moment I turned eighteen. He was the perfect fit for me in their eyes because he was young, handsome, and successful. I felt like Fiona Coyne, trapped in this fake-perfect relationship. Little did anyone know, their "perfect" suitor was an abusive asshole.

    I'm not saying Viktor's exactly like him—definitely not abusive. I'm just saying there are certain aspects of Viktor's personality that remind me of that person.

    "...time. You did plunge into present-day Russia through Kristian's eyes. What you saw was very real. There's no denying you became him in that moment."

    My eyes widen as I stare at Viktor, surprised. I know, I know. He told me that a few minutes ago. But the reiteration made this time traveling concept more believable for some reason.

    Viktor's lucky. I can't speak and my wrists are still strapped to this uncomfortable wooden chair. I want to yell and shake the information out of him so badly, but I can't physically do it. The nerve of him to taunt me like this!

    I look him dead in the eye and snarl. Hopefully that scares him into doing something useful.

    It doesn't. Viktor laughs. I can't fucking believe this!

    "You need to chill the fuck out, Pop Star," he snidely says as he pulls up a chair. "Stop staring me down like you're gonna kill me. That's why your wrists are still tied down. Just breathe."

    I shoot him a questioning look.

    "Right. That was a uh, bad choice of word. But really, I'll explain everything to you. You just have to trust what I say, okay? I really do want to help you, Parisa. Honestly. I do."

    I sigh. No, I do the equivalent of a sigh. He isn't lying and there isn't a drop of sarcasm in his tone. Well, this is annoying.

    I would attempt to argue, but seeing as I can't speak, I have no chances of winning. And seeing as Viktor is an arrogant prick, he'll say anything to make sure he has the last word.

    "You ready to listen?" he asks.

    Do I have a choice? I wonder as I roll my eyes.

    "That was a stupid question. Right. Just promise you will not judge me and return tomorrow with more questions. What I am about to tell you might sound ridiculous."

    Viktor clearly doesn't know you if he thinks ANYTHING he says will come as a shock. Definitely not a fan, Parisa.

    "I'm uh, I'm going to unlock the cuffs so you don't think I'm holding you prisoner. I want you to feel comfortable. Remember, I'm here to help you so your soul doesn't wander for eternity."

    Viktor says that, but I still have doubts. Something inside still tells me he's untrustworthy.

    You'll need to open up some time in the near future, I think while Viktor frees my wrists. You want to leave this place soon, right? You want to free your soul of its burdens and rest in peace? Trust Viktor. Work with Viktor. Stop pushing him away because he looks like Kri—

    "Следвай ме (follow me)," Viktor instructs, beckoning me towards the door.

    I really should learn to be more attentive for as long as I'm here. One second my wrists are still cuffed to the chair and I can't move. Next thing I know, Viktor's ready to bolt out of here. The mind really is a distraction regardless of whether you're alive or not.

    I rise from my seat, thankful for being able to stretch my legs, and notice a couple of thin, red lines around my wrists. If I could talk, I'd file a complaint. Since I can't, I can guilt Viktor in another way.

    I calmly walk towards Viktor as if everything is fine. Don't be too obvious. Act natural. He'll notice it soon enough.

    And he does. He stares at my wrists, horrified by the marks encircling them. He looks co cute too! The way his eyes fearfully grow wide, the little gasp he makes when he realizes what he d—oh no. I'm thinking about Kristian again.

    "Parisa, I-I'm so sorry," Viktor frantically apologizes. "I didn't know you would get hurt. I did not realize you were in the chair for so long. Parisa, I am truly sorry about that. Please do not th—"

    Sometimes people need a little push to keep going. And to shut up.

    "That was unnecessary," Viktor grumbles as he shuts the door.

    Finally able to move my mouth, I blow two huge raspberries at him. He laughs it off like Kristian would. Crap. I really do need to disassociate Viktor from Kristian. This won't end up well if I don't.

    "I guess I did deserve it," he continues, leading me down some corridor that looks like...oh fuck.

    Viktor continues walking, but I can't follow him. Isn't it enough that I had to walk down these corridors when I entered this castle hospital? Haven't I been tortured enough during my short deathspan so far? I mean, THEY FORCED ME TO LISTEN TO "BEAUTIFUL MESS" ON REPEAT!

    Apparently not. I remember Erela telling me that things from my mortal life may pop up from time to time. I had no idea what she meant until now. First the Accor Hotels Arena corridor, then what?

    "Parisa, COME ON!" Viktor yells from down the corridor. "You too distracted by that bracelet or something? Let's get a move on before you waste more time. I have other clients besides you, you know."

    Right. Kristian's bracelet. The one he fastened around my wrist at my funeral to physically show his undying love for me. Yeah, this won't make me sad at all.

    There's not much I can do but follow Viktor. He waits as I childishly stomp towards him. I swear I'm not a moody teenager. Okay, maybe I am, but I'm tired of being haunted when I'm already dead. Where's the logic in that?

    "Oh, boo hoo! You miss Kristian and it sucks. You'll be alright without him. With time, so will he."

    "I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU HAVE THE NERVE TO SAY THAT!" I manage to yell, much to my surprise. "Wait...didn't you say I can't speak for twenty-four hours?"

    "Хванах те!" (Gotcha!)

    "Ти си такъв дрънкач!" (You're such a jerk!)

    "How do you know Bulgarian?"

    "I don't know. I tried to teach myself when Giovanna learned about Kristian, but I couldn't grasp it," I explain, confused as well. "But I can perfectly understand you and speak it now. Why is that?"

    "C'mon. keep walking, and we'll talk."

    Viktor and I continue our chat, speculating my newfound quadrilingualism. He hypothesizes that it's my connection to Kristian that made it happen. I think that's a load of crap and it's just something I randomly picked up. His idea sounds logical, but it's also ridiculous.

    He also explains how I could see into the mortal world with that thing on my head. It's like I'm Roman Godfrey and he's Doctor Pryce, except I'm actually dead and not an upir. Also, my situation is more complex.

    "I had no clue you TV preferences were so obscure!" Viktor jokes as we reach the end of our journey. "Thought you'd be more into uh, stuff that other girls your age are obsessed over."

    "Like Teen Wolf and Pretty Little Liars?" I challenge.

    "Something like that. Hemlock Grove seems pretty obscure for a teeny bopper pop star like you."

    "Ouch! Should I be offended? Because I'm not. Sorry, Krum."

    He laughs and pushes his hair back. I can't help enjoying the view. I'm a teenage girl and Viktor's cute. Okay, he does look like Kristian and that plays a massive factor into it, but it's normal. Dead or alive, it's completely normal to check out a cute boy.

    "I don't hate you," I mention. "You're just annoying and push my buttons sometimes."

    "Sometimes?"

    "Okay, most times! But I don't hate you. You remind me of someone I used to k—"

    "Kristian," he interjects. "Just admit it and stop being in denial. I remind you of Kristian because I look exactly like him."

    "You're never going to let this go, are you?" I ask for good measure. He shakes his head. "Fine. That is true, but there's someone else. This person, he—he was everything my family wanted for me and more. I just couldn't be with him."

    Viktor sighs and lowers his gaze, as if ashamed of pushing the answer out of me. He shouldn't feel guilty; this is a part of my life nobody knows about except my family. Even my most diehard fans don't know about him!

    Hesitantly, I place a hand on Viktor's shoulder. He slowly raises his gaze to regard me with a look of concern I know all too well. The way he looks at me perfectly mirrors Kristian's expressions. If my heart was still beating, it'd be breaking.

    "Whatever he did to you, I'm sorry," he whispers as he takes my hand. "You don't have to tell me about it, Parisa. It's okay."

    "No," I protest. "N-no. I feel like I should tell you about him. If it'll help me rest in peace, I'll tell you everything. And i-it's been a burden for way too long."

    "You sure about this? I will not force you to tell me anything that will make you uncomfortable."

    "Абсолютно (absolutely)," I confirm without hesitation. The Bulgarian flag on my bracelet catches my eye, and I smile. "At least some good came out of it. I met Kristian."

    Viktor chuckles and opens the door. A cool breeze drifts through and I can smell...salt? I wonder if this door leads to a beach or an exotic island. They have those in the Afterlife, right?

    "C'mon. your session is over for the day. You'll exit through this door," Viktor instructs.

    "But...what's there?" I question. "And will it hurt?"

    "Do not worry, Parisa. You will be fine. Just know that you are not alone."

    "Wh-what do you mean?"

    "Your love is untouchable no matter what."

    Viktor nudges me into the entrance, where it smells like salt. I close my eyes, take a step forward, and hear the door shut behind me. I inhale the salty air and smile as I touch my bracelet.

    Viktor's right. No matter what he has in store for my healing process, I'll always have Kristian by my side. After all, our love is untouchable 🔺.

A/N:

I admit that last sentence got me too. Hope you guys are enjoying the story so far! And I apologize if you don't and this totally sucks. I'm doing the best I can, I promise. What do you think will happen next?