Before and after

By Teddy J.

Before and After is a novel, that relates to how negativity and the need to be on top can corrupt and influence the minds of most people with broken promises of riches and fame, along with everything that comes with it.

The main character (Useth/Usemmie) becomes a lost soul after a tragic death. Useth then decides to enjoy his afterlife a bit too much as he starts to disobey the rules of the other world. Then he is sentenced to be reincarnated into one of the harshest realities one can or can't live through. Along with his soulmate, known as Moosy, they both are forced to live in the stink of their own trouble. Death is now denied to both, and moving on is not possible for either of them, until a very valuable life lesson is learned.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fulton Books, Inc.
• Release date: Dec 13, 2023
• ISBN: 9798889820857

Book preview

Table of Contents

Title

Copyright

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

About the Author

cover.jpg

Before and after

Teddy J.

Copyright © 2023 Teddy J.

All rights reserved

First Edition

Fulton Books

Meadville, PA

Published by Fulton Books 2023

ISBN 979-8-88982-084-0 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-88982-085-7 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Chapter 1

It was nighttime in the big city, and not too many people were out at this time, but there was more than enough around to see something if something were to happen. A guy was running from another guy, and all that they passed by stared, as the pursuer shouted, Thief! Thief!

A third guy was slowly taking his time as he quickly stuck out his foot, tripping the guy, who was being chased, to the ground. The guy looked back to see no one there, and the attacker was on him, first kicking him as he thrashed around on the floor, and then he got on top of him and started punching. Some people started to slow their pace or completely stopped to watch the beating, as the tripper turned to a thin, floating shadow. And as he started to disappear, something that resembled a three-foot-tall monkey frog—as it crouched, and another woman with sunken eyes with heavy bags under them—appeared right next to the now-floating tripper. The woman started to speak, and blood started leaking from A thin line on her neck.

The woman said, Why are you so committed to this ridiculous cause, Useth?

Useth said, Listen, Moosy… I will not rest until my job is done.

Moosy said, I didn't think you was serious. I thought you was just a—

Useth interrupted, and as he got angry, his face started to distort.

Useth said, What? A lost soul?

The three of them turned to the commotion, and Useth's face started to return to normal, as there now was a crowd of people, and tension was building fast among them, as others started to fight.

Useth said, Well, at least I'm not Aira, causing mayhem everywhere I go just by showing up. Look what's happening now.

Aira said, Ribbbburrrr…

It ended with unfamiliar whispers.

Moosy said, That sounded creepy.

Useth said, Either way you put it I have a job to do and you two are—

Moosy interrupted and as she speaks, her voice goes in and out as if she was losing her voice and getting it back again if only slightly.

Moosy said, Stopping you? No… We're saving you. If you keep this up, you going to get caught and then transferred and what you're doing, it's not going to be A good one.

Useth said, This is why I'm here. I must make people of the living think white people trip over nothing. I swear, this is the funniest thing I ever did besides chlamydia.

Aira said, Ribuuuuuuuuur.

Moosy said, Whatever… Can we just leave before something to big happens?

None of them faced the now brawling crowd, as the three of them put their hands together and closed their eyes, as they faded away.

The three of them appeared in a different world, where in most areas it was more dim than dark. However, the darkness was beyond what the eyes could see. There were also other souls and entities that you couldn't tell the difference, until they transformed or caused something to happen, which normal souls weren't able to do. And then there were the floating lights or light-and-shadow people. Everything and everyone stayed away from both, but some couldn't help themselves, as they slowly made their way toward the light or shadow then backed away quickly, as if it were pushed, but some willingly went into the shadow. A soul was snatched up by the light, and Useth turned Moosy toward the display, as the soul tried to resist. Her eyes opened wide in curiosity and then fear. She started to back up a little, until Useth looked her way. Useth couldn't stop staring at the light himself. However he seemed a lot more trained, as he caught her attention and walked through the darkness. Aira, along with the other entities, acted as if they didn't even see the light, but they stayed far from the shadow, and other souls either didn't see them or was shocked and afraid as they walked on. A flash of light sped by them like a bolt of lightning and then disappeared.

Moosy said, What you think is in those balls of light?

Useth said, I don't know, and I don't want to know… All I know is once something goes in it, they don't come out.

Aira said, Aaaaagghhhhhokkkk. Whispers.

Useth said, Aira is right… It's best not to think about things like that. Let's go to the Liveyard.

Moosy said, For what?

Useth said, You might see somebody you know this time.

Moosy said, No one wants to see me.

She spoke the words sadly, and she noticed Useth's aura changed to her words.

Useth said, They probably couldn't even if they tried… Unless y'all want to play Ajiuo…

Aira said, Uuuuuuuurrrrrrggggggh whispers.

Moosy said, Not to mention playing that in Liveyard is one sure way to get noticed or even caught.

Useth said, Oh please… Thousands of souls go there with entities, Aira, and nothing happens to them. What could possibly go wrong?

Moosy said, I do want to check on Roy. I haven't seen him since…

Useth said, Don't worry about it… Let's just go.

Chapter 2

Aira said, "Whispers… Aaaagggggggg."

The three of them vibrated into existence in front of an rusty old gate with mold mainly around the bottom, but it was too dark to see through the bars. Useth and Moosy watched as a ghost dog howled and it faded through the gate like smoke being sucked into a vacuum. They turned to the right, and they weren't seen by a lost soul sneaking out of the gate that disappeared into the darkness. The voice of a man took their attention off the gate as he spoke. He wore a hooded dark-gray robe that never showed his face, but a skeleton hand held a safe while the other hand held a book with a long black stash.

The man said, You three wouldn't be planning on going in there, are you? Because you know it is a restricted area where normal souls dare not go. Even entities like you, Aira.

Aira said, Rrrrrrrrr… Whispers.

The man said, This new form of yours is creepy even for a place like this. But I guess even entities don't learn either.

Useth said, We're not going in there, Angel… Just go back to your doghouse before you get sucked in.

Angel said, Even that would be better than being reborn.

Moosy said, What's wrong with being reborn?

Angel said, The first years of your life you remember and feel all of your past, but you're only an innocent, ignorant, defenseless, and completely dependent baby and can't do anything about it. As you get older, you quickly forget your past. And you have smarts, but it will make you an outcast. And worst of all, it's a strong possibility you'll be born into a messed-up situation… I for one can't stand the living world.

Moosy said, I see what you mean… I don't think anything could be worse than when I was alive…

Angel said, I wouldn't be so sure about that… You'll be surprised at how people choose to live… Ignorance may be bliss, but knowledge starts the path to true happiness

Useth said, Enough with the philosophies… I said we wasn't going in.

Angel said, So what are you doing here?

Useth said, Just chillin'… Just because you are keeper of the shadows don't mean you get to harass us.

Angel said, Actually it does, and if I was you, I wouldn't go in there.

Useth said, Is that an order?

Angel said, Trust me when I say it's good advice. That world is more spiritual than anywhere else in this place, and although everything is the same as the living world, it all would be different.

Useth said, Yeah, yeah, yeah… We see the reality of everything. We know this already, Angel. Don't you have other souls to bother?

Angel stared at them with his hidden straight face silently, as he faded away.

Useth said, Okay… Let's go inside now.

Moosy said, I'm thinking maybe we shouldn't do this now.

Useth said, Don't listen to Angel… Almost everything tries to stop you from doing stuff here. The way I see it, if nothing stops me, then I'm free to do whatever I want.

Moosy said, Well yeah but—

Useth interrupted her.

Useth said, Don't worry. If anything happens in there, I'll protect you.

Moosy looked at him and saw sincerity in his eyes. And although she still wasn't sure if she wanted to go inside, she allowed him to lead, as they all misted through the bars.

They just stood there, as they looked all around, and then slowly walked into a world where the dead played among and with the living. A little boy played with to pencils, and a dead-looking child appeared right in front of him. However, the boy didn't notice at first. They walked down a street, as they saw disappearing and appearing houses and even apartments or bedrooms, mainly with people inside, moving as if they didn't know they were in a different world. Most everything looked haunted and or abandoned, while very few looked brand-new, including the one the kids were playing in front of until the child, which looked dead, stopped playing with a normal-looking child and they both walked into the house, as the house then turned old and raggedy.

Angel said, I knew you were lying.

They jumped at the sound of Angel behind them again.

Useth said, You have a knack for scaring people, don't you?

Angel said, And you have a reputation, Useth. Now since I know you're up to no good again, I would like to join you.

Moosy said, What do you mean?

Angel said, I have been called to this world by someone.

Useth said, And?

Angel said, And I'd rather look for him, her, or them that summoned me with a little help.

Useth said, Like who?

Angel said, I don't know… But I have to stay here until I find out what they want or if they play by the rules, which I'm hoping they do first.

Angel said, You mean if some dumb living person plays with a Ouija board and don't say goodbye?

Angel said, Yeah…something like that. Anything could trigger a summoning. Even certain words.

Useth said, "Okay, but