Cheating death (nblm) ✔️

(5)

"I- Yes, sir."

"Do I have your word?" Reaper boomed.

"...y-yes sir."

"You have two days to kill him, or I will not hesitate to go through with my threat. Now leave."

Grim left in silence, closing the door and pushing their back against it. They clutched their pounding head with their hands and felt hot tears rising. 

Deep breath. 

Big deep breath. 

Walk away. 

You know the way Grim, no need to concentrate.

Just get back to the stairs.

Now one step, two step.

Keep climbing.

Hold the banister.

Now find your room.

Close the door. 

Calm.

Deep breath. 

Grim kept listening to the simple thoughts in their head, watching them come and go as they stood frozen to the floor. A few more deep breaths and the tears receded. Overwhelming calm. 

But for some reason they could feel a roaring in the back of their mind, a dangerous, devilish, daring voice trying to remind them of what just happened.

What did just happen?

Grim regretted asking. 

Waves of fresh memories poured over the small demon as if a raging sea of hot blood had just been manipulated by the cursing moon, causing tidal waves and tsunamis. Hot, fresh tears spilled overboard, and the salty solution stung the malicious mental cuts created by the sudden storm. Grim wasn't conscious. They couldn't have been. Because no conscious creature could have made the bloodcurdling sound that followed and forced Grim's mouth open, practically tearing their cheeks. Their limp figure fell to its knees, and they clutched their chest, wanting to squeeze their soul out of the aching body and escape this unforgivable reality. When it didn't work, they screamed again and dug their nails into the fragile skin, not even feeling the pain when blood began to trickle out in streams. Their mind could only focus on one thing:

Clay was going to die. And there was nothing they could do about it.

The body fell further to the floor, now lying in a foetal position. Grim's chest heaved, their lungs tired and their heart weakening and yet the sobs didn't stop. Floods of pain soaked into the carpet uncontrollably. Their breath seemed to run away from them, leaving too quickly for their brain to handle and so they panicked and began coughing to break the sobs. Coughing turned to retching though, and Grim vomited over the carpet, feeling the acid pierce their stinging throat. Emotions overwhelmed and half-sobs were accompanied by jagged screams as they tried to move away from the pool of digested breakfast, but their head was too heavy to lift. The wriggling demon frantically collected their thoughts, managing to control the tears down to a gentle trickle.

Then, Gerome rushed in and grimaced at the sight, half scared, and half concerned. He called out something Grim couldn't hear and two more servants ran in. The three of them lifted the numb demon onto the bed and began cleaning. The female ran to get supplies for the carpet while Gerome and the other man wiped the vomit and blood from Grim's body and changed their clothes. Grim could barely concentrate. Their head was spinning, a thousand thoughts dancing together and yet they were completely empty, not feeling anything. 

Gerome spoke directly to them a while later, but they couldn't hear. It was like being stuck in a fishbowl. All they knew was that they were suddenly alone in the room with the curtains drawn and the lights off. Before they could think anything, they were asleep.

Dreams of Clay.

Just Clay and a smile.

Then more.

Dad and Clay.

Dad has Clay.

Clay is crying?

Dad is making him suffer.

Help Clay.

Help Clay!

But Clay can't be helped. 

Save Clay.

Only one way to save Clay.

Kill Clay.

Grim woke with a jolt and saw that it was nearly evening now. Their head was lightly spinning but their thoughts were unapologetically clear.

Kill Clay.

Well, that was depressing. Soz! That's my first time writing a mental breakdown so please let me know what worked and what didn't for future reference.