The 'Rogue' at the End of the Tunnel

17. The Miserable Life of Grim Reapers

"Someone's going to die." I remark, fear growing by each passing second. 

"It's fine, neither of us is. It's the woman next door. He is waiting for her to pass away." Blade comforts me. 

But it was no use. The woman next door was Linda, a woman in her seventies. She was a plump human with a bubbly personality. She was so kind and sweet; she had offered me meals countless times past these two months. She would clean my apartment whenever I was working out late. I had thought of bidding her farewell before I left here. She was like a family I never had, so loving and caring. She always nagged me on how lonely I was at a time when I should be enjoying my youth. Her husband had passed away two years ago, and she had a son who married and moved away with his family. 

Tears start to prick my eyes and I give in right away. How I had enjoyed the days with her. I really loved her. As sadness start to accumulate in my heart Blade speaks up. 

"We should go, bid her farewell." 

"But there is a grim reaper out there." I retort. 

"That won't be a problem. By the looks of it, we have got more than half an hour." He informs.

"Ho- how do you know? Oh, did you read his mind?" I ask quite sincerely attempting to rub off the tears on my face only to welcome more of them.

"No, I don't go around reading peoples mind." His tone seems offended.

"Reapers are too punctual with their job, and the higher ups are very strict. Even a single mishap can cost them their lives. Therefore, Reapers tend to arrive at the destination of their jobs at least half an hour earlier than the designated time of death." He explains to me carefully.

"I see. You are well informed." I blurt out between sniffles. 

He takes my hand and leads me outside. I feel a little better as he is here with me. I hated grim reapers. It were scary, how they would keep their face neutral and cold all the time. I still remember how I had begged that Grim Reaper to let my mom go; to let her live, how heartless could they be. A six-year-old kid bawling her eyes out at her mother's death holding on to the hope that the man would leave her soul behind out of pity and sympathy. But he just stood there giving me an icy and distasteful stare. And that one look; I had stopped crying because I knew no one cared and he left with my mom's soul like no one had died.

This time one of them was here to take another one of my family. No one dares to stop them. I don't have a fucking idea why.

My mate opens the door and as we step out a man in his twenties, about 6 feet tall, clad in black suit and a black hat comes into view, leaning on the railings opposite the apartment door. He is staring at Linda's door so hard that she might have a heart attack if she were to face him. Poor woman. At a closer look I realize this guy was the same guy who took my mom's soul. You can call this coincidence; a nasty game fate likes to play. I internally scoff at how this same guy had come to take away another one of my loved one. That said, he did look a little older than the last time, back then he looked like he was around nineteen.

As we approach him, he turns his head to look at my mate and bows his head ever so lightly acknowledging my mate. 

"Long time no see. Triss" My mate greets him friendly.

"Seems like, you have found your other half." He says giving me a subtle look of acknowledgement.

"You guys know each other?" I intervene as I feel left out. 

"Yeah, I know a ton of reapers. And this guy is Tristan Reaper. And Tris, this is my mate, Esmeray Woodsmith." Blade introduces. 

Tristan raises his hands indicating me to shake his hand. I do it either way still sad at the fact that I had wasted some time I could have spent with Linda. 

As I shake his ice-cold hand I observe his dark eyes, staring at it felt like I was peering at endless depth of abyss. He had a golden brooch on his coat's collar that showed a Griffin and an emblem of Demon Empire. It had some chains hanging here and there. It was an indication that he was the Captain of the Grim Reapers Unit that worked under the Demon Lord. 

Then I see that, next to him was a scary looking suitcase, as every Reaper. It was plain black in color. It had a silver necklace with a skull pendent hanging around the handle. It wasn't the same one as the last time since it was a lot plainer than this one. That said, he did not have the brooch either last time. So, he must have become the Captain later on.   

"I remember you from last time, six years ago. You are the daughter of the previous White Wolf. Seems like you haven't grown from being the same snotty kid, you were back then." He delivers without a speck of emotion on his face.

How could he do that? What are you supposed to do when you realize that you won't be able to see or talk to that one loved and closest person ever again. This guy was rude beyond words. 

"Well, how long for the soul to leave her body?" Blade asks.

"Forty-five minutes at the least." He answers with a straight face.

"Let's go." My mate tells me as he leads me into Linda's apartment by my hand.

As we enter her apartment, I feel the warmth engulf me and the memories of us hanging around in here rushes into my head. Our walk is silent except for my snobs and sniffles. We finally make it to her bedroom where Linda seems to be in deep slumber. I smile at her peaceful figure; however, she looked a little tired than usual. 

"She's had a heart disease. It's taking a toll on her." I spell out loud.

As I make a move in order to get a closer look, she slowly opens her eyes revealing her serene forest-green eyes. She holds my hand and a soft smile forms on her wrinkled face.

"Oh, you are back, safe and sound. I was worried sick-" She stops midway her ranting when she notices Blade standing not far away from me. 

"Now I see, you have found yourself a handsome boy that you have forgotten your old Linda huh!" She mischievously raises her eyebrows. 

And the reality comes crashing to me.

"I am sorry Linda, I- I wasn't there when you needed me the most. I am so sorry." I sob into her hand that she had been caressing my face with as I had knelt down. 

"Shut yer pie hole, little dummy, I have been waiting for this day for almost two years. How I missed my Richi..." She remarks. 

I introduce Blade as my boyfriend, and she presents some of her naughty comment. Even at the death's door she dares to keep her bubbly personality. No wonder, I loved her. I was really happy to see how she had approved of Blade being my boyfriend. They got along so well, how I wished she had more time, and we could have a nice meal once in a while she spread her warmth around us. I cry some more, and she only laughs.

"Don't dare hurt my little Emmy, or I will haunt you even after death." She threatens Blade and I laugh and bluch through my tears. 

"I wouldn't dare to; I wouldn't want to wake up to the ghost of an old lady ready to spank me." Blade responded, shivering at thought of it. I blush even harder.

"Oh, I see it." Linda speaks her eyes a little glossy as she stares off into the space between me and Blade.

I turn around to meet the cold gaze of Triston.

I tear up as soon as I catch sight of him. And then he does something completely unexpected. 

He sighs and looks up; he puts his left hand openly on his face and grunts annoyedly.

"Ugh, I hate this job. It's so pathetic and miserable, courting a woman is literally impossible. " 

I eye him suspiciously. 

"The death got canceled, last moment notice. And I am off the job." He grins waving an envelope, that had a vintage sort of look with a wax seal that had the same griffin as his brooch.

Holy cow! What did I just witness. I know right. 

A miserable life of a Reaper.