It was midnight by the time Grim arrived, floating through the door. The child's head, waist and arms were coated in blood soaked bandages, the wrappings on her head lifted so her nose held them up, as well as her ears. The young girl's skin was creamy white, with a pinkish button nose, full lips and freckles that coated her body from face to shoulders. Upon further examination of the room, he noticed a camera in the corner. However, it was focused on nothing; not even the door. It simply stayed in its place, staring down at the ground.
On the side of the room, there was a small table with an old, wooden music box with a crank attached to it. Upon further examination, He saw some engraved carvings of a forest, as well as an unusual bird, looking almost like a dove, with its wings spread out as if in mid-flight. The imagery was detailed enough to look as if the moment was stopped in time.
Noticing a large paper taped to the wall coated in a hideous color of what used to be a light blue dry erase marker, now mixed with brown or yellow, coated it with detailed descriptions. Grim would look at it, reading carefully.
"Patient Name: Allison Grace"
"Gender: Female"
"Age: Eleven"
"Reported Injuries: Eyes gouged out by glass; Broken arm, cut open waist"
"Cause: Drunk Drive Crash"
"Extras: Patient has intense anxiety; calmed by music box."
The hooded ruler frowned, as he moved over to the music box, picking up the delicate beauty. He was only interrupted when a tiny, child-like voice spoke up from behind him.
"Papa. . ?"
Grim jolted, nearly dropping the box. He turned around, and slowly floated to the side of the bed. If he just went with it, he'd maybe get this over with faster.
"Yes, what is it?"
The child, who wasn't looking in his direction, beckoned for him to come closer.
"I know you're not my Papa. But the cameras are broken, so they can only listen to audio." Allison whispered.
His head raised in alert, and he spun around. The camera was upright, pointed at him with a light on the side blinking green.
Ally immediately went back in character. "You came to see me?"
Grim relaxed, sitting by her side on the bed. "Of course. How could I not see my daughter?"
The child managed a faint smile, but it disappeared quickly.
". . Can you play the music box for me? I cant sleep."
He'd stare down at the music box; although it was probably a music box that played one of those old, original and annoying tunes, he complied. "Of course." He muttered.
Grim was wrong. As he wound it, the box emitted a beautiful melody, which filled the room as it played a calming, soft tune. He felt at peace, humming along to the theme, to each beat and each long note, while the child seemed to rest her head in his lap as though it were a pillow. The Reaper softly stroked their head, as if they truly were his own child. It was only then that he stopped, once her body grew heavier in his grasp and he knew she was fast asleep. He held her a bit longer, absorbing her warmth, before he finally let go.
On the second day, Grim returned once again as usual; this time during the day. Like last time, he sat down with the young child. Though she did not show it, he could sense her loneliness from a mile away.
He tapped her head softly.
"Good morning." He muttered.
As if on cue, her body twitched, sitting up in the bed while Grim sat back down beside her once again. That was when the door squeaked open loudly, and a nurse came in. Setting up a table for the child with bacon, eggs and toast before leaving wordlessly. Not even to come and check in on her state.
However, Allison merely glanced at where the food was placed, before turning away. Grim grabbed the fork, placing some of the eggs on it.
"Come on, you must eat. You look dreadfully underweight, child."
And it was true. Despite her wearing the smallest hospital gown they had for her age, it was big on her. Her fingers, arms, and even legs were bony, and thin.
Ally looked up at where she heard him, staring at him. Before hesitantly opening her mouth, and eating the fork of eggs. As if on cue, she grabbed the fork, stabbing a bunch of bacon and eggs, stuffing it down her throat. Grim couldn't help but be very amused.
"So. . Who are you?" Allison asked in between mouthfuls.
"Grim."
The child stopped mid chew.
". . Reaper?"
"Indeed." He confirmed.
Ally stopped, as if pondering. Before stuffing more food into her mouth, but more slowly. She moved her thick, long brown hair out of her face with her free hand. Grim hummed a song, as he carefully picked up the music box from the foot of the bed; she must have knocked it over there in her slumber.
"Grim. ." Allison began.
"Hm?"
What the child said next made his blood run dead cold.
"Are you here to. . Kill me?"
YOU ARE READING
''||Ｒｕｎｎｉｎｇ Ｉｎ Ｌｉｍｂｏ．||''
Spiritual"Grim, where are we?" The ground was cold, coated thickly with dead grass, practically burned to a crisp. The trees around him were all dead, yet on them grew leaves just as dark as their bark. ". . Dear child, where we are is not a safe place." "Wh...
