The Fallen Star

Chapter 3

Anastasia

Mr. Robbert's soul was testing my patience.

"Sir, you can't go to your wife, I don't decide that here. That's the job of other Gods. I just interview you for your life and hand your soul over to the bridge. Your fate gets decided by your actions in the world. Your wife's soul destination was decided the same way. She must have been given a wish if she was a good soul, if she wished for you then you will end up with her even if you are a bad soul, after the punishment of course. And, no, I don't decide that either!" I explained for the umptieth time, maybe?

I love to ask rhetorical questions. I think my entire existence is rhetorical tho. That day I was using Instagram and I realized people take death for granted and I've loved that part of them, I couldn't wait to pick their souls and throw their 'God, kill me' prayer at their face.

I landed back to the problem at hand, gently squeezing his hand. Old, always have difficulty in this process.

"I was a plain man, I didn't believe in the afterlife, but I always believed in death." He stated. I encouraged him to go on as Serine took notes of it.

"My wife was my entire world, we didn't have children but we were kids enough at heart that we never cared about it. Every summer, our nieces, and nephews would come over to stay with their aunt. I cared for them with all my heart. I never tried to harm anyone and would always be patient in everything. That's all I can recall." He took a deep breath.

I looked at him with wet mist gleaming in my eyes, as he shed tears hoping to reunite with his wife. At times like these, we hated our jobs. Kadith helped the soul in explaining the next steps before we bid him farewell.

"Ah, that went well." I thought out loud.

"Kaden, would you check other auxiliary men as to how they are dealing, I don't think I have it in me to do the runs. Lemme know if any soul is creating trouble, I'll deal with it." I said before taking my leave to the rooftop of the National hospital building.

That building was my favorite spot, I allowed myself to be visible when I was there, it wasn't like anyone would come on the rooftop. They had it locked after two continuous suicide took place. It was such a shame that such a pretty place with such a serene view was locked away. But lucky me, I don't need those locks, I closed my eyes and let the calm wind breeze through my tangled locks and whisper much needed words of devotion.

My mind wandered to the boy, his green eyes with specks of silver had a satisfaction, I had never seen. I always made it a point to be there to witness the death of suicidal humans, their souls usually get lost, they aren't ready to leave, and when they are forced to leave they become furious and rebel. So the moment they leave, I'd capture them to save Kaden or any of the auxiliary men from troubles.

His expressions were different than all that I've seen. It was as if he knew he wouldn't die. His smile brightened his entire face even when he was standing on the verge of dying. The strangest thing being, he never died. He crossed the realm between life and death but never made it to the other end. He would stay in the realm but leave as soon as I would get greedy for his soul as if he knew I was thirsty for it. The strangest part being, I wasn't aware of that greed until recently, I had never felt it. The task to collect a soul and be the witness of their death was monotonous but with him, it felt exciting. His eyes gleamed in that realm. I would stare at him, I knew he couldn't see me. No soul could see me until they had crossed that which would never take long and I made sure they never could turn away. I brought death to them but with him, my powers were tied. I couldn't work them even If I would've tried to, I never did.

I inhaled one last gulp of that calming wind as if my life depended on it. Ironical, huh.

And vanished.

"Hello, babies." I greeted my only two friends in this land of death.

Kadith looked up from his game of chess with Serene. He was the serious one while Serene was the fun, outgoing one. She gets comfortable with everyone quite easily while Kaden stands reserved, only she can bring out the love-your-life-Kadith version.

"Hellooooo, wanna have some girl-to-girl time with hot chocolate and marshmallows?" Serene being the sweet tooth Serene she is. I chuckled as Kadith groaned.

"Can we please hire someone for this, I can't deal with hot chocolate on daily basis?" Kadith grumbled.

"C'mon baby, I think you can do that much for me?" Serene batted her eyelashes at him, he stared at her for a moment before a grin almost broke out.

Almost.

Serene winked at him. His ears flushed for a moment before he glared at both of us and exited the room.

I sat at Kadith's place and observed the game for a while before pushing the white knight two steps forward leaving the queen unguarded and messing with Kadith's game. He was probably going to give me an earful of it but you might have guessed it by now. I don't really care about any emotions. It's a miracle I feel a bond of friendship with these two. After my mother left me to take over her duties at the young age of 18, I lost all my emotions after witnessing three deaths only, and ever since that my emotions have been on shut-off mode. Only opening on at as-per-need basis.

Serene gave me a weird eye at what I was doing, before pulling me up and away from the room in our backyard. We sat down on the cold ground and I waited for her to ask me anything or something. She just hugged me from my side.

"You know we are with you, no matter what. We have been through worse and we will continue to be with you in even worst situations." She softly said to me. I stared at the sky.

"I don't want to do this," I said out loud. Probably for the first time, I showed my true feelings.

She didn't gasp or pull herself away but gently rocked me. She knew there was no answer to what I said. Even I knew that but I wanted someone to know it. The duty was given to me, I never asked for it or chose it. It felt comfortable to let a part of me slip out.

We kept sitting in comfortable silence as we waited for Kadith to bring us our drinks.

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Hello readers,

Remember, you can be irrational and no one should be able to stop you from being the way you want to be. Some of us are never given the choice to be what we want to be but do not let that stop you, create an opportunity, don't sit and wait.

Love from Pakistan.