Reap My Heart

Chapter 3

Let me give you the short version of what happened and how I'm currently sitting on a park bench at 8:15 at night with Link. If I explained it piece by piece it'd take way too long; I'd found Link and allowed him to see me at roughly 7:30, he hadn't reacted the way I'd expected... I'd never seen someone so calm and...well downright mellow around a Reaper before. Usually the fact Death has come to collect their soul tends to freak most people out. But Link? He merely stared up into the blackness of my hood, as if willing the shadows to leave so he could see my face. Luckily that didn't work.

Link did everything but freak out. He asked questions... alot of questions. I didn't answer any of them. He wouldn't allow me to take his soul, so I decided to stupidly ask how I could prove to him I was a real Reaper and not someone in a damn costume. I should be insulted he thought my Reaper outfit was so cliche and steriotypical it couldn't be real. But I agreed; surely we should be allowed to wear something less... daunting.

We sat in silence on the park bench bleached in the murky yellow light of a streetlight overhead. His striking green eyes wide as he looked up at each person who passed by us, his expression one of awe.

"They really can't see you, can they?"

He murmured to me, eyes still glued to the passers by. One woman tilted her head towards him and cast him a judgmental look, obviously thinking he was talking to himself. I'd brought him here to prove to him he was the only one that could see me. That should be evidence enough.

"I think I'd be getting stared at a lot more if they saw a Reaper sitting on a park bench, don't you?"

I answered evenly, maintaining the neutral tone that I always do when in Reaper mode, turning slightly to look at him from under my hood. I didn't have any intention on taking it off, I intended to keep my face hidden in shadow. Once I'd proven to this stubborn soul it was his time I'd escort him to the Beyond and have the rest of the night to myself. Not that there was much of the night left, the moon was already hun high in the sky above.

"I'm not so sure...people could think you're just a really dramatic goth..."

I snorted a laugh at his unexpected comment. That got his attention. His head snapped towards me, eyebrows raised.

Shit.

I was meant to be a neutral being, a mere emotionless guide to the spirit world. Neutral Grim Reapers aren't meant to laugh.

"You can laugh?"

He asked, dumbfounded. I clench my jaw, weighing up my options.

Nowhere in the Reaper rules does it say you have to conceal your identity, but it is highly advised for many reasons; the soul that needs to be escorted could recognize the Reaper as a deceased friend, relative or neighbour etc, that would obviously cause all sorts of problems, as Reapers were aferall once normal human beings with friends and family. It would also feel more personal if the Reaper showed their human face to the soul they're escorting, and it's better off keeping neutral when dealing with souls as many are emotionally dostressed at being parted from their bodies and leaving this world. It's more calming for the soul to move on and causes less complication.

I haven't taken off my hood infront of a soul yet... do I keep up the neutral façade to this guy or complicate things and show him Reaper's are people too? Well...dead people...but we're still people with our own thoughts feelings and emotions...

"We do have a sense of humour, yes...Reaper's aren't emotionless."

I say slowly, choosing my words very carefully. Surely telling just this one guy wouldn't hurt. He turns his body to face me then, bringing his knees up to his chest and resting his chin ontop of them, wrapping his arms around his legs.