The Wailing Woman

4. Message Received

I've not heard a single murmur since Death fulfilled my wish. He gave me what I always wanted. I can't hear them anymore. My thoughts—I can hear them without interruptions. I can hear myself think. But he did not remove the voices. They remained in my head with a soundless bark. Restless and agitated. Still, I could manage their presences. I could easily ignore them this way more proficiently and the effects of it were miraculously.

My skin looked less pale, and I slept more. Although the dark circles under my eyes said otherwise, I was not tired. But it was strange adjusting my eyes towards others or to take pleasure in curiosity. I felt nervous during the first few days without the voices. It felt like I was dipping my toes in a pool for the first time, and yet somehow, I finally jumped in. Even though I was no longer tormented by ill omens, nobody ever approached me. No one spoke to me, and no one offered a friendly smile as they passed by.

I couldn't help but think if my wish had made me lonelier.

Still, there was another thing that occupied my mind—Death. Since he granted my wish, I haven't seen him. I expected him to come back after my hospital stay, but he never did. Having read my file, I thought he would have appeared at my house or college. I don't know if he was delaying the entire ordeal on purpose, but after the seventh day, I crossed my fingers and hoped he had forgotten about me.

Today was my fourteenth day without voices and death. I had finished my classes for the day and was walking home under the night. The lampposts reflected their yellow glow on every passing car and pedestrian. A few chilly breezes blew in, forcing to pull my coat tighter. I stopped my steps as I took in the night sky view. There was a full silver moon tonight. It's been sometime since I've lasted looked at the moon. Suddenly, the memory of my grandmother telling me stories about the moon came to my mind.

"Hay un conejo en la luna," she whispered, eagerly. "Do you see it?" I would never answer her because the moon belonged to my father, and I didn't want anything to do with a dead man.

But as I looked at the moon now, I could see the rabbit in the moon. I had always seen it. A pinch on my cheekbone followed. I lowered head, soothing my cheek. I started walking again when I heard. "Hello, Miss De Luna." I halted my steps as a chill ran down my spine. It couldn't be him. Maybe it's my imagination. I moved forward.

Death warned. "Take another step and I will become unpleasant."

I spun around and crossed my arms. "Oh, I didn't see you there." I said, dryly. "You should've said something."

A glint of amusement glittered in his dark eyes. "I did say something." Death looked the same in the two weeks he was gone. He stood arrogantly tall and still wore his black clothes with a long wool coat, as if he was going to a funeral. Only this time, he was alone. That blond bodyguard of his was nowhere near him.

I approached him slowly.

"You know, I thought you had forgotten about me." I mockingly said.

The corner of his lips lifted ever so slightly. "As if I could forget the raven beauty who stole a soul from me," he teased. "Did you miss me?"

I scoffed. "Please, I hoped you got hit by a car." He raised his brows. "So, you've been thinking about me?" He liked to twist my words at every chance he could get.

I narrowed my gaze. "Yes, violently." I gritted through my teeth.

His malicious lips curved. "Tell me about it. Don't leave me in the dark." I rolled my eyes. I suppressed the urge to converse with him more. After all, he come to fulfill the rest of my 'wish' and then I would never have to see him again.

I cleared my throat. "Let's just get this thing over with." I muttered.

I moved past his shoulder. "Actually, raven, we're going this way," he said, with a hint of amusement. My neck felt warm. I quickly turned and gripped the strapped of my bag as I passed him again, mumbling a couple of curses in Spanish. His smile never fell and shortly followed me like a second shadow.