After my ex-boyfriend’s family died, I went all the way to the Underworld to collect a debt.
Even though we had already broken up, he still owed me thirty dollars. I had reminded him a few times, but he ignored me and then blocked me everywhere.
I even went to his house, only to find out that his whole family had just died in a car crash on their way back from burning offerings for his twin brother, Ronan’s seventh-day memorial.
When the Lord of Hell flipped open the Book of Deeds, he saw that my ex, Kieran, had spent both his past and present lives doing good works. Right then, he ruled that he would be reborn into a wealthy family in his next life.
His parents stood to share in that good fortune too and were promised a life of endless blessings.
Just as they were all overjoyed and about to go on for rebirth, I showed up at the gates.
“Kieran Miles! You still owe me thirty dollars. How dare you go reborn before paying me back? Hand it over!”
The whole Miles Family froze, then exploded in anger, pointing at me and shouting. “Mikaela, are you out of your mind?”
“All this for a lousy thirty bucks? You chased us all the way to the Underworld? Are you sick in the head?”
I gave them a cold laugh. “That’s right. All for a lousy thirty bucks.”
——
“Mikaela, you were pathetic when you were alive and now, even dead, you still haunt us for money. Chasing us to the Underworld over thirty bucks? Really?”
Kieran’s father, Zeke Miles, was so furious his teeth chattered. “What can thirty bucks even get you? A penthouse downtown? Or will it turn you into a millionaire overnight?”
Kieran sneered, his eyes full of contempt. “You’re unbelievable. You actually care about thirty bucks that much?”
“Why don’t you just come reborn with us into a wealthy family instead and save yourself from living such a shameful life?”
Inside the grand Hall of Judgment, the souls around snickered and whispered, “A woman like this, unbelievable. Chasing thirty bucks all the way to the world of the dead. Has she no dignity? She’s disgraced all women.”
“For thirty bucks, clinging like a pest? How shameless. I’m embarrassed just listening.”
I kept my face still, letting their ridicule slide off me.
Of course, I wouldn’t have stormed into the Underworld just for thirty bucks. I had a far bigger reason.
I came here because I wanted Kieran and the entire Miles Family to suffer in Hell.
“Silence!”
The Lord of Hell slammed his gavel and the hall shook with the sound. At once, the underworld wardens barked for order and every soul around fell quiet.
I bowed deeply at him and spoke in a steady voice, “My Lord, there’s a saying in the living world that debts must be repaid. This is only right. Kieran Miles owes me money. So I ask you, will you enforce it, or not?”
The Lord of Hell lowered his head and thought with a solemn look. “A debt in the world of the living is indeed still binding in the world of the dead.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, one of his attendants flipped open the Book of Deeds. Sure enough, right under Kieran’s name, it was written clearly: [Debt of thirty dollars, unpaid.]
The Lord of Hell narrowed his eyes at me. “But normally, debts die with the debtor. To storm into the underworld over thirty bucks, don’t you think you’re overreacting?”
I let a cold smile curl at my lips. “I believe debts of this life must be paid in this life, too.”
“Kieran owed me when he was alive, so why should death erase it? You say he’s virtuous, but if he won’t repay what he owes, what kind of ‘good man’ is that?”
Kieran’s face flushed red with panic. “I could’ve sent a dream to my relatives and had them pay you back. Why come here and make a scene?”
Before he could finish, his mother, Esther Grace, rushed forward and hurled a stack of money at my face. “You little witch! Here, take this cash from the afterlife bank! Go spend it!”
I brushed the paper aside calmly and said coldly, “I don’t accept worthless scraps from the afterlife.”
Kieran shook with rage, his eyes brimming red.
