The Drazen World: Purgatory (Kindle Worlds Novella)

what they meant but the pain emanating from Jonathan told me it meant something. Something deep.
"We need to find a way to get you back, Jonathan. I can't live with the knowledge that you're here and she's down there, alone." Again with the fucking crying. I was a regular weeping fountain these days.
Shaking his head, the brilliance in his eyes was testament to his overwhelming emotions converted into brimming, unshed tears. He was a beautiful man, passion resonating throughout his entire body but the truth of the matter was that he had no clue how shit worked up here. I didn't know much more but I couldn't just let this go. I had to do something. Anything.
"I'll find a way, Jonathan. I just..." I blinked, letting the wet trails cascade down my cheeks and over the seam of my lips; the saltiness filling my mouth. "I just need you to promise me something. If you go back, please tell Monica I love her. That I'm sorry. I was selfish but in my heart I knew she was the best friend anyone could possibly have. Can you do that for me?"
I watched him carefully. His determination growing with every word that came from my mouth. His spine straightening with every conviction that grew within him.
"Yes. I promise you." When he chuckled, I was surprised to see myself smiling. "She might think I'm completely crazy but that's a small price to pay if it means holding her in my arms again." His words only solidified my desire to get him back where he belonged.
Looking around, all I saw was gray. The walls, the floors, the ceiling. I had no idea what to do. None.
The past however many days or months I had been in Purgatory flashed in my mind's eye like a film reel, exposing every possibility, every morsel of information that could possibly be useful for this unfathomable situation.
Hunter. Samael. Ernest.
Ernest.
A memory came to me. He'd once said that no one who came in contact with him could go back to life. Maybe...just maybe, Jonathan could go back before he came face to face with Ernest.
I needed to find him, first. Tell him there was a mistake. Convince him that Monica was good and God was good so the logical solution to the equation would be to bring Jonathan back to her. Bargain with him. My eternity for hers. It made so much sense, I knew I was destined for Hell anyway but I had to try. I gave up once, I would never do so again.
Before I knew what I was doing, I looked at Jonathan and ordered him to "Stay put. Do not leave this spot for any reason until I get back!" Without wasting a second, I turned back to the library, shut the door for good measure called out for Ernest.
Within seconds, Ernest was sitting at his desk, his hands steepled with his fingers resting against his lips. The picture perfect image of a worried grand-father, ready to help one of his ailing children.
"Oh, thank God! Ernest, I...Look. I have made so many mistakes. I know this." The words were spilling from my mouth a million miles a second, leaving no room for interruptions. I didn't have time for that. He needed to know everything. For the first time in my life, I vowed to be an open book.
For Monica.
For love.
For friendship.
"Jonathan has to go back. It cannot be his time. Monica...she needs him and I need her to be happy. I broke her and it's my responsibility to put her pieces back together by giving Jonathan back to her. Please, Ernest. I'll do anything. I'll be Satan's secretary if he needs one. I'll live in Purgatory forever as a tour guide, if that's what you want. I'm pretty, I could pull off the nice girl. I've never really tried it on for size but for Monica? I'd do anything. I promise. I could even spend eternity as a fallen angel and devote myself to souls who need guidance. I've learned from my selfish mistakes, I have. Hunter is a great teacher. Please, Ernest. Anything. I'll do anything God believes I must do. Just...take Jonathan back to Monica. Give her back her life in exchange for mine."
I was out of breath after that rant. My chest rose and fell with every breath I labored inside my lungs. I didn't know what else to add, the prospect of not succeeding scared the crap out of me.
"Have you heard music, Gabrielle?"
After all of my pleas and promises, these were the first words he said to me.
Imagine my frustration.
"Wh-? Did you not listen to what I just said?"
"I did. Every single rushed word. Please, answer my question, Gabrielle."
"Ah..." I shook my head, trying to remember if I had, indeed, heard anything when Nina Simone's raspy voice flitted through my mind. "Yes! Not long ago, in fact. I came here to tell you about my revelation. Not only did I hear music but I basked in the sounds of an entire song."
"Good. good. We're happy to hear that, Gabrielle. Very pleased, indeed. Go back to your room, I'll take your request, unorthodox as it may be, into consideration. God and I will discuss the possibilities."
And then he was gone.
Spinning around the room, confirming I was alone brought about a sinking feeling in my gut. Too much time had passed, right? How long before the soul is permanently detached from the physical body? Maybe I should have specified that Jonathan needed to go back whole and not comatose for the rest of his life.
Panic grew once more. The inevitable need to lash out grew from within me, starting at the pit of my stomach and radiating outward toward my extremities. It all begged to come out. Explode.
So, I began screaming.
The frustration