Reaper By Night

Chapter One

She never knew what to expect when night fell. Some evenings brought a simple letter written in blood-red ink on parchment—well, she hoped it was ink. Other times, he would materialize on her doorstep like a ghostly apparition, his silent presence daunting. Today, he appeared out of thin air in her kitchen while she was unpacking groceries. Startled, she let out a squeak, dropping the carton of eggs, which shattered on the tiled floor. "Really? Breaking and entering now? Can't I have any privacy?" Frustrated, she ran her fingers through her hair, pulling out loose brown strands tangled in her fingers. "I still have an hour until nightfall!"

He seemed unperturbed, as he always was. Standing in the center of the room, hands in his pockets, he scanned the surroundings. His dark hair was impeccably groomed, his suit perfectly tailored (probably worth more than her entire apartment), and his expression void of emotion. Yet, his mere presence made her uneasy, her anxiety mounting. Grym, the Grim Reaper himself—her new boss.

Of course, she wasn't too keen on admitting this to anyone. To the rest of the world, she was the same Geni she had always been. Genevieve Cole, a twenty-six-year-old struggling to make ends meet as a server and hostess at the local diner. She didn't need much; she cherished her quiet life, her small group of friends, and her evening classes at the nearby college. Yes, she was stuck in a routine, but she was gradually figuring things out, finding her path. But, working for the Grim Reaper? That had never been on her list of aspirations.

"Well, I need you to start early today. We have a case," he gruffly declared, as he always did. His voice carried a ruggedness, as if he weren't accustomed to speaking and had to struggle to remember the right sounds. Deep, gruff, and accompanied by an exotic accent that seemed to predate the modern world. Emotionless, almost robotic. "Finish up quickly so we can leave."

No pleasantries, no inquiry about her availability. He simply popped into her home and demanded that she start her night duties an hour early. "We need to establish boundaries, Grym. Don't you have any other unsuspecting minions working for you?" She turned her back on him, stepping over the mess of eggs to grab a few paper towels from the counter. "I can't just hurry around here. I haven't even had dinner yet. You promised my duties wouldn't begin before nightfall." Tearing off a few sheets, she reached for the cord of the window blinds above the sink, yanking it to raise them. "Look, it's still daylight outside!" Turning back toward him, she noticed his gaze briefly shifting to the sky, which was starting to display hues of the setting sun.

She waited for his response, knowing he must have one—he always did. But she needed to clean up the broken eggs first, setting the carton upright and tossing the cracked ones into the trash, salvaging the few remaining eggs. Less than half a carton left, and her next payday was still a week away... which meant cereal and milk for most mornings until then. Just perfect. "Yes, but I need you to start early today. And it was understood that your hours were subject to change based on the demands of the job. I don't control when restless spirits act up." Her head snapped up, surprised by the slightly annoyed tone. She had grown accustomed to his gruff, monotone way of speaking over the past month.

"Well, you'll have to wait until I'm done here," Geni retorted, sighing and motioning towards the small table and chairs against the far wall of the kitchen. "You might as well take a seat. I need to finish cleaning up this mess." And she had to figure out what she could grab to eat along the way; she didn't think he would be forgiving enough to allow her a proper meal.

Grym slowly sat down, eyeing the table cautiously as if it might bite him. He crossed one leg over the other and folded his arms, appearing uncomfortable and rigid, sitting bolt upright in the chair. His attention returned to her, and Geni couldn't help but tighten her jaw slightly as she turned away from him once again, placing the egg carton in the fridge before returning to wipe away the splattered eggs from the floor. It was a quick cleanup, but she still felt as though she were being timed by the insufferable man. She had heard stories from her friends about overbearing bosses, but she was certain that none of them could hold a candle to Grym.