Too Broke For Afterlife

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After some grumbling and jeering, Isabella had calmed down again and in the end even renewed her offer of buying me a new outfit which I had accepted this time.

Considering there will be people present at the auction who for some reason are fighting against my safety, I wish to not stand out.

Wearing a pair of high-waisted dark grey pants and an elegant black velvet blouse, decorated with small white stars, I look like I'm on my way to a job interview at the next best publisher but Olivia does look nice in this outfit, her red hair burning on top of the muted sea.

A pair of simple stilettos rounds off the look and I think I've never felt more like an adult.

Two or 3 hours have passed since the registration and preview period and now we are back at the convention center to attend the auction. 

"I want food." I pout at Isabella, stopping in front of a small bakery stand between halls 13 and 14. Lots of people are roaming around, on their way to different conventions but this stand luckily is empty. 

Isabella stops and turns around to me. "What do you want?"

Okay, I'll admit it, I am exploiting her a bit. With Isabella being both caring and carefree, I know that she will pay for a snack despite knowing that I could very much do so myself.

But I like saving money whatever way she can and now that I know that this woman has enough in her bank account to own a house in Greece to basically gamble with it, I feel a little less bad.

"Can I have a pretzel? Please," I whine and once again, playing the helpless protégé works.

"Sure. Can you go get some water?"

She hands me a dollar bill and points at the vending machine a few feet away.

I trot over to the machine when my phone buzzes.

The screen shows a new message from Michigan. I open it.

'How is your trip going? I miss u.'

I smile at my phone before I return my attention to the water bottle mission.

I had told Michigan that I was going on a spontaneous trip with a friend and he believed it.

But then again, he could have never guessed the real reason behind my disappearance.

The water bottle drops and I bend down to pick it up.

Suddenly, Isabella's hand appears next to me, holding a pretzel, wrapped in a tissue.

"Food!" I exchange water for baked goods and immediately start munching. 

It's still warm and so fluffy. Oh my god.

I look at my companion. "Are you not going to eat anything?"

She shakes her head. "Why would I? Try to hurry a bit, okay? The auction starts in 10."

"Mhm," I mumble with a full mouth.

Together we slowly make our way to hall 4 and I try my best to finish my snack before we arrive there.

Then I remember the text. "Michigan asked me what I'm doing. What should I say?"

"I got this."

Isabella's hand glides into my purse and she pulls out the phone.

"Hey, wait!"

But she has already unlocked it. Dammit, I should have changed the password!

I try to grab it out of her hands but she turns away.

"Stop! Give me my phone!"

I start scrimmaging with her as she has already started typing.

Right now I don't care if anyone is watching us. I need my phone!

"Relax. Here you go."

I quickly grab the device and look at the screen to read the message she sent.

'About to grab dinner, ttyl x'

I stare at the phone. "That's it?"

"Yeah, what did you think I'd write? Let's get going."

Isabella continues strutting down the hallway and I'm forced to follow her.

At the entrance to hall 4, I slide the phone back into my purse and together we enter.

Most seats are already taken but there are two empty chairs next to each other in the third row. After we are handed our bidder cards, we sit down.

Mine is 42, Isa's is 41.

My eyes glide over the people, checking if anyone is looking back at us or just acting suspiciously. But the room seems to be full of regular people. I wouldn't be able to tell them apart from our enemies.

After a few minutes, the light is dimmed slightly and the auctioneer steps behind his podium. The stage, where all the items had been presented earlier, is empty now. Only a table is standing in the middle.

Above the stage hangs a projection screen, zoomed in on the table, probably to showcase the items better.

The man starts to speak into his microphone.

"Good evening ladies and gentleman. I am delighted to host tonight's auction. All items up for sale are remnants from the household of the late author Jacobson Bixby. As you might have already noticed, tonight we are auctioning some very beautiful pieces."

Is that why we had to dress so fancily? Because this is a noble auction? 

Suddenly, I feel very uncomfortable. Instead of honoring the dead Mr-What-Was-His-Name, the audience is about to pounce on his stuff like hungry wolves. Somehow that feels highly inappropriate.

"We will start with item number 1, a blue porcelain vase in Biedermeier style, dated at around 1820."

A woman wheels the small vase onto the stage and puts it onto the table.

It's a pretty piece but definitely too old-fashioned for my taste.

"We will start with $100. Any bids?"

Immediately, hands holding bidder cards shoot into the air.

120.

150.

200.

210.

God, this is boring.

I yawn which earns me a warning glance from Isabella.

With tired eyes I watch as the auction continues.

Every item finds a new owner, no matter how ugly or useless it is.

Damn, how much stuff did this Bixby guy have?

But then I get shaken awake.

"Item number 12. A necklace with a crescent moon pendant. 900 carat.. We will start with $200. Any bids?"