Scarlet Lilly

1 - The awakening

I shivered, the cold floor had woken me. I opened my eyes to find myself in a dark room.
What day was it? Where was I?
I stood up and browsed the darkness until I spotted a dim red light.
I stood up from the floor, the light was coming from outside.
This must be a way out.
As I started walking, I was yanked back by something tied around my ankle. I guided my hand down to my ankle and found it was a rusty, metal cuff. Frustrated, I lost my common sense and started pulling the cuff on my ankle. Of course... it was no use the only thing I did was hurt myself.

.....I took a deep breath to calm down.
Gathering my thoughts I started to remember. There was a building, it was tall and abandoned.
I had flung myself from the edge of the roof and fell. But was that a dream?

I checked myself but nothing seemed to have been broken, nor was there any bruises.

"Uuggghhhh..", I yelled.

I should have died, I wanted to die.
But... I survive?
My eyes filled with tears, and ran down my cheek.
I wiped them away angrily.

I was about to scream but I stopped when I heard footsteps approaching.

The door flung open blinding me with a bright red light.

A lady stood at the door dressed in all black. Her piercing black eyes stared at me in disgust.
I stared back not breaking eye contact.

" Why am i here?", I questioned her as I pointed to the metal cuff.

She did not answer, but instead punched me. Her fist hit the side of my face sending me to the ground. She stood over me and glared.

"You do not speak unless spoken to sinner"

I rubbed my cheek. She was strong, her punch felt as if i was hit by a car.

She unchained my ankle and cuffed my hands behind my back.

( sinner? )

She pulled me up to my feet and led me out of the dark room.
The hallways were full of rooms like mine, all closed with no light but the one coming from the Crack under the door.

I slowed down to try to listen and see if there was anyone else.

"Keep walking!", she snapped

A sharp pain hit my back sending me toward the floor, but i caught myself and regained my balance.

I glared at her.

She smirked. I was helpless and she knew that I couldn't protect myself.

We kept walking around for a while. Yet we did not encounter anyone else. This place seemed to be deserted.

She yanked on me when we reached a giant decorated door. It had rubies decorated on a shape of a beast with horns.
She pushed the large, heavy door opened and we entered.
It was a huge room with several people around a fancy looking chair in the middle.
I was led in front of the chair. I stood staring at it, it was beautiful.
The people around whispered, i could not make out what they were saying.
Those who were quiet did not dare look at me it was as if I were a disgusting, vile creature.
The lady who led me pushed me down and made me kneel in front of the fancy chair.

The whispering stopped and there was an awkward silence. I looked up and saw that the throne was not empty anymore. There was someone who now sat on the throne. The red eyes and that black hair...

"You..", I murmured as my memories came back to me.

He smirked, " Welcome sinner"

I suddenly felt pain on my back, I was kicked by the same lady. She grabbed my hair and pulled it while forcing me on the floor with her foot.

" Don't speak sinner", she yelled at me

" Stop"

She quickly let go and stepped back frightened.

" My apologies", she bowed to him.

"Now shall we start?",his voice echoed through the large room.

The room was silent, not a single noise was heard

" Sinner , do you know your sin?"

"Sin? I don't believe I have a sin", I looked at him confused

" But of-course! If you didn't why would you be here?"

" Here?"

He raised his eyebrow, " do you mean to tell me you do not know? Sinner this is what people call from your world.... Hell"

This was crazy but I decided to play along with this game of theirs.

"What is my sin?"

" You do not know? You must remember! Unless you hit your head a bit to hard on the way down! Now do you remember how you died?"

"I killed myself"

He clapped, " Congratulations! You do remember and now your punishment! "

" No, I want to be dead. Let me die"
I glared at him

He stood up.

everyone near seemed to back away in fear.

" You prefer death than life?"
His tone was serious and cold

" yes"

" I've decided on your punishment"

I stood up, " my punishment?"

He paced back and forth then walked closer, " Yes, it will suit you quite nicely" ..." You will be the one who will collect the souls of the living"

" collect souls?"

" You will be a reaper from now on"

The people started to whisper again with worried looks on their faces.