Spooky Season Stories

Nightmare

Death was sitting at his desk, papers stacked all around when another one of his new… employees showed up in his office.

"Hello," said the newest of Death's employees,  "It's nice to meet you."

Death glared up to the winged demon in front of him. "Hello," he said, almost growling, before looking back at his papers. 

"My name is Alas Graves. Call me Nightmare. Can you tell me where I am? I don't really know how I got here."

"Welcome to the underworld. All around you is death, destruction and fire. Have a look around. Once you're done your job will begin. Collect the souls of all the cruel humans, angels, and others. Send them down here to my office. The more you collect, the higher your status. Rank grows like the economy in this business, with souls being money. Stay clear of the others, they want the same deal you're after."

"I think I'm starting to understand. I don't belong above with the angels. That's fine with me. Before I get started, I have a question. Do your demons bleed?"

Death looks up, eyes glowing red, like fire burning in the dead of night. "You're a special one aren't you. Any for all. Rise too quickly and you might just fall. Be careful where you step, careful who you kill. Or it might just be you."

"I'm immortal, sir," Nightmare replied a sly grin on their face, "They think they can kill me. They should not even try." 

With a snap, Nightmare disappeared, leaving Death to his paperwork, more angry than usual. 

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Nightmare appeared again and again, different spots in each time. Behind a murderer, a killer, a demon. Growing in the ranks. Up and up and up. 

They appeared above their next target, looking down at the demon in their way. Just one more thing to step on while climbing to the top. They jumped from the platform they were on, into the path in front of the demon, landing with a cat-like grace. 

"Hello there," Nightmare hissed.

"What do you want," the other retorted. 

"Did I know you in the past? A fallen angel like myself? A deadly friend? Meeting for a second time."

"No," the monster said quickly, trying to get past Nightmare.

"Uh, uh, uh. Stay right there. Maybe you did, maybe you didn't but I do know that they did," Nightmare pointed to the ceiling, where five of Death's workers were hung overhead, "I believe they knew you. Don't worry though I could feel everything they felt. Would you care to join them?" 

Screams were heard all over the world. Again and again and again. But no one cared. It was the duty of the fallen. Take care of deadly. No one came to save them. Never.

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Up and up and up. Step upon step, Nightmare grew quickly through the ranks, soon becoming the monster with the highest killing rank. 

"Hello again, my dear pal," Nightmare sweetly hissed at Death.

"My greatest employee, what is it you want?"

"You spot," They said, their sweet voice becoming rough and vigorous. They flew swiftly towards death, spear in one hand, sharp teeth glimmering in the underworld fire light. 

But Death had greater power. With the snap of his fingers, Nightmare fell to the ground. Death ripped the spear out of their hands. Holding the spear above Nightmare's head, Death spoke in a calm voice, "I told you not to want too much." And with that the highest of Death's employees was dead at the hands of Death himself.