Forced Into The Warlords

//Chapter 2\\

~Avery~

The paramedics rush the stroller with Vanessa's body into the ambulance. Mother watches with me by my side, clutching herself in her silk robe, obviously cold. I pull my zipper up as I follow them into the ambulance. The paramedics glance at me and each other, debating on whether I'm able to go with them or not.

"I'm going," I say in a stern voice, taking Vanessa's hand in mine. They just sigh, closing the doors. I hear the muffled siren above before the vehicle jolts foward, moving at a rapid speed. I look down at my sister, brushing a few curls out away from her closed eyes. "I could've stopped her...." I wipe away a few tears with my sleeve. ".....I'm such a horrible brother."

~•~

~Vanessa~

"I could've stopped her. I'm such a horrible brother."

"Avery!" I scream, but my voice is only an echo. I fall for a long time, so long that I can't tell whether its day or night. Eventually I sleep, its hard to tell the difference between me being asleep or awake, other than the dreams. Most of them are me and Avery with my father, or me and Luke and Kate, just having the time of our lives.

Just as I consider choking myself to death, I feel my body begin to slow down and a dim light surrounds me. I groan as I land hard on a worn out tile floor. Coughing, I sit up.

This place smells. Like...rotten bodies, like dirty socks...

I look around and notice a window. Slowly and cautiously standing up, I walk up to it and look out. All buildings as far as my eyes see slant in any random direction, I look down at the ground. Corpses lay around, all looking beaten. The ones that do walk have colars around their necks, held by monstrous things that hold their chains with sharp teeth.

I can't stay here. I think, backing away from the window. I turn around and walk down the hallway, my footsteps echoing. Am I alone?

The voice in my head!

I clear my throat as I walk, hugging myself. Hello?

Silence.

Hello? Are you--

I'm here, Vanessa.

Where am I?

There's a chuckle and I feel myself freeze a bit before walking again. Welcome to the Abyss.

"The Abyss?!" I cover my mouth with both hands, realising I just yelled. I stay quiet, listening to the silence. I gasp when I hear footsteps. "No..." I look around furiously and rush through the first door I see, trying to stay stealthy. But its a dead end. I find myself standing on a balcony, looking over Hell. I notice that most of the slanted buildings are anchored down, floating in the red air. I look down and notice I'm in one myself.

"Ah. There you are."

I gasp as I whirl on my heel, looking ahead at the man in a cloak. He grins at me, and I squint my eyes. Where have I seen that grin before?

.....the skeleton in my room.

But this isn't a skeleton. Its a man with skin...a surprisingly handsome man with skin. He still wears that long black robe from the room, carrying his scythe. That scythe was the last thing I saw before I came here.

Should I be worried?

.....maybe.

He takes a step closer and I press myself against the baluster. I look down. That's a long drop. When I look back up he's closer, only a few inches away from my face. His dark, coal eyes burn into my hazels.

"There's no where to run now." He says. I feel a sweet taste on my tongue, I try to swallow, but its still there. Where did this come from?

"Who...who are you?" My voice is a hoarse whisper, but he hears it.

A corner of his lip turns up. He pulls the hood of his cloak off, revealing his dark hair and letting the light show his handsome features. "I'm Death."

~•~

~Avery~

"What happened to her?" I ask one of the nurses. I'm still in the hospital in my pajamas, waiting to see Vanessa. Mother called and said she'd be here in a few minutes. That was an hour ago.

"We think she attempted suicide--"

"Obviously." I interrupt. "I'm the one that found her. Is she..." I swallow, refusing to say the dreaded word.

The nurse sighs. "She's very much alive, Mr Johnson. But she's in critical condition...that slash on her throat nearly bled her dry." Wow. Nice choice of words. "Do you have any idea what she used?"

I sigh, clenching my fists. I hate talking about this, not to mention thinking about it. "I didn't see any knife...she was just...laying there, bleeding." My eyes shut tight, remembering the horrible image.

"I'm sorry, Mr Johnson..." He wouldn't be calling me that if I wasn't from one of the richest families in the state.

"Just...just get her the help she needs. Please."

He nods. "Will do." The nurse turns around and struts down the hallway, back to the room. I sit down on the nearest waiting chairs, burying my head in my hands. The clacking of heels makes me look up. "Where have you been?"

Mother looks down at me, with no sign of sorrow. "I told you I'd be here. I'm here now, aren't I?"

I shoot up from my seat. "Your daughter was rushed here about an hour ago because she slashed her throat, and you took your time because you needed to dress up?!"

She glares at me. "Avery Johnson, if you dare raise your voice at me again--"

"You'll what?! What could you possibly do to me mother?! You've hurt us enough, don't you think?!" I snap again. I feel eyes on me, but I don't care. Someone needs to talk some sense into this woman.

She just takes in a sharp breath before sitting down on one of the chairs, staring at her heels. I shake my head before slowly sitting down next to her. I look down the hallway past the rushing doctors at the door where they hauled my sister in.

She's not dead. I know she isn't. It's that twin bond we have.

That rope isn't cut. At least not yet...

~•~

~Vanessa~

"D-Death? Death as in...the grim reaper?"

He stares at me and shrugs. "If that's what you humans know me as, but yes. I am Death." So I'm talking to Death himself? But that means I'm...I'm....

"I'm dead! Oh my gosh!" I panic. "I came to hell!" Death stares cooly at me as I babble, I can't tell what he's thinking, but I stop when that sweet taste on my tongue is replaced by a bitter taste.

"How did I die though?! I--"

"You are not dead, Vanessa." Death frowns, crossing his arms. He stares at me thoughtfully before tapping his chin. "Are you...? Maybe I cut you too deep..."

"Wait what? You killed me?"

"No. I slashed your throat."

What should I do?

Run.

Right.

"You're not going anywhere." From inside his cloak, he pulls out his scythe and expertly twirls it in his hand before pressing the sharp blade against my neck. His smirk makes my skin shiver. "Down the hall we go. Follow me. Don't try anything funny. Unless you want Malady to strike you."

Malady...? Isn't that a disease or something?

Believe me. You don't wanna know.

~•~