Hello, this is Death Speaking

Prologue: Gone like the Wind

Date: 1/26/2007, 9:28pm

I was waiting for the news to come back from the commercial break, alone with the TV in the living room I was temporarily living in. Strange how quickly things had changed within the last month, it had been only three weeks and I never would have expected things to turn out this way. I was just a simple college student, majoring in law, hoping to snag myself a degree and then pass the bar. It was going so well, I had friends and family supporting and encouraging me the whole way. But then I died.

Or rather, I disappeared. I had too. I had been a normal young adult woman for twenty one years of my life, and then, Death found me. Apparently, I had been a Soul Reaper, (or Shinigami, that's what he says I was) and I had been killed before my time. Meaning I still had my duties to perform. I could've chosen not to go back, forget about that life and continue on with the one I was currently paving myself, but I didn't. I wanted to be part of this supernatural world; I wanted power.

The new station came back, with Paulina Lark as the typical news reporter for this hour.

"The latest update on the mysterious disappearance of Danielle Parkinson. Police have found evidence of her blood, flesh, and hair all over the dorm she was supposedly killed. The police have yet to find a body, and are hopeful that she may possibly be alive........"

She pauses for a moment, looking down at the new pieces of info she has just received.

"This is just in. Police have tracked her cellphone to an old hotel and are currently searching the area for any signs of the girl. Here is a picture of the victim."

There I was, smiling at the camera with my big brown eyes that gleamed with happiness. My creamy brown hair flowed down my neck and just past my shoulders. At the time that picture was taken, I had still been wearing glasses, so my red frames sat neatly upon my little nose. I was twenty at the time that photo was taken, so I was actually a few inches taller than what it showed, as I was now 5'6. The lady on the television continued to talk.

"If you catch any sight of her, please call this number or immediately call the police to inform them where you may have seen her. Her family is desperate, clinging onto the little hope they have of ever seeing their daughter again. "If I can not see her alive, at least show me her body, please." her father cried desperately to a reporter we had asked to interview him. These sort of cases always break my heart; this girl had an entire life set for her, and someone had to go and destroy it. What is your opinion on this whole case, George?"

He clears his throat, "I agree with you Paulina. Though I haven't the faintest idea who her attacker may be, I hope you are caught, tried, and found guilty under the law. From the images I've seen of the dorm, it was like a monster attacked her; no one should ever have to go through that. I hope, Danielle, where ever you are and if you are listening to this, please stay safe for the sake of your family and for your friends who care deeply for you-"

I grabbed the remote and turned off the TV, trying not to think of what I had done. My poor family. I was putting them through hell, making them believe I was still alive. Unfortunately, even if they found me, Danielle Parkinson had died three weeks ago. She no longer existed in this body. I was now Soul Reaper #0946, and my duty was to reap the souls of those ready to die for Death to judge where they went.

"They still haven't given up." murmured a voice from the shadows of the living room. I didn't look up, I knew who it was , and I knew why he had come.

"They'll give up eventually, then I'll be able to walk around freely. Besides, the police found my phone in a hotel a million miles away from where I am now. It's only wishful thinking on their part. The amount of blood I left there could kill a human or two; they're just clinging on to some desperate hope."

"And your parents." he mused quietly. "Will they ever give up looking for you?"

"Who knows?" I smiled sadly.

"Do you regret it? Did I make the wrong choice in telling you?" It's wasn't an optional question, he wanted to know.

"Mmm...... perhaps? Whether you made the right choice or not is not something I care to know. Everything after that was my own choice, I accept responsibility for any casualties."

"Do you miss them?" he asked cautiously, as if fearing my response.

I looked towards the shadows in the corner of the room, looking in the general direction of the voice. Although there was nothing to see, I could faintly see his body's outline.

"Would you?" I replied. He stayed silent, so I turned away, reaching for the remote. I felt a sharp pain deep in my heart, and I winced in pain. The single light bulb that lite the room cracked, and instantly darkness descended into the room. I sighed in annoyance, why were these powers so difficult to control, so....random?

"Did you seriously just kill a lightbulb?" he asked incredulously, holding back a snicker as he said so.

"Requiescat in pace, lightbulb." I muttered sarcastically. "It's not like anyone's helping me here, you just dumped these powers on me and ran. I had a headache for the first week, and I couldn't go near any life form because I would suck the living daylight out of it, literally." I mused over the last part.

"Well, it is better you learn to master them on your own, that way you'll be more independent, and besides, it is a rather difficult concept to explain in words."

I got up, grabbing a replacement lightbulb from the cabinet above the television. I had already broken it numerous times, but this one had lasted the longest, four days straight. As I replaced the lightbulb, a question came to me that I had yet to think of.

"So, how does this even work to begin with? Are you just going to throw me out into the world and tell me to reap whatever soul looks dead enough? Do I even get a scythe of my own?"

"First, you have to last a week with the lightbulb; that's the minimal requirement. Second, no, I will be assigning you certain souls that are easier than others, as you are just a beginner. Third, yes you will get your scythe, but in time, not today. Probably not for another month if you continue to improve at this pace."

I had successfully screwed the light bulb in, and I walked to the wall to flick the switch, off, then on. It immediately turned on, and the darkness in the room was swallowed by the light. He made himself visible, wearing a dark cloak over his entire body, completely covering his face. I looked at him blankly, wondering what more he wanted to say. He drew closer and touched the end strands of my gray hair.

"Do you truly not regret it?" he whispered so softly that I barely caught the words. I paused, thinking about this question a little more than I had before. I would never be able to act normally with humans; I didn't have to worry about food or water; I healed very quickly; and I had plenty of free time. I turned away before I answered, not wanting to look him in the eye.

"No."