After Effects

Chapter 9 • After Effects

Death.

What is death?

Death is cold. Death is dark. Death is the opposite of life. When you're dead, your body cannot function. You cannot move. You can't feel. You cannot breathe. You cannot see. You cannot smell. You cannot hear anything. You know nothing. You are absolutely gone. You are no longer apart of the world. Your body is a lifeless corpse. Your soul...where does that go? The organs in your body serve no purpose, and why?

Because you are dead.

Some say it's scary to think about death. Some embrace it. Some do not fear it. Well, I couldn't even think about how I was feeling at that moment with my death being so near. Could my body function? Nope. All that seemed to have a little life was my brain and what was it doing? Telling my mouth to open and clothes like a fish out of water, so let's just say that I wasn't approaching the situation properly.

I gulped as fear consumed my body. For a second, it was as if my breath was knocked out of me. I couldn't function. My mouth went dry and I just froze under his cold, dark, soul consuming glare. I wanted nothing more than to be swallowed up into the earth if that was what I had to do in order to endure his piercing glare. He stared at me with his penetrating blue eyes. His jaws were clenched tightly and his hair fell into his face as he had to look down at me because of his 6ft. plus  height. His towering body frame didn't exactly help my situation.

Here it was, the day I found out what exactly death is. And just so we're clear, I wasn't too ecstatic about the whole thing.

He cocked his head to the side as he scrutinized me making me even more uncomfortable. I shifted on my feet, his stare becoming a little too much of a burden to carry. What was he doing? Trying to figure out the best way to kill me? Oh God. My knees wobbled and I was just about to faint when Whitney, I had never appreciated her so much before, decided to intervene.

"Riddian!" she squealed, throwing herself at him. I stepped away, just in time to not be knocked over by her, and he outstretched his hand, just in time to not be touched by her at all. She ended up hugging herself and the air.

"Whitney." he said flatly as a sort of greeting making her scowl. She took a huge step back.

"And you had the guts to ask how I could be happy that you had been shot." she mumbled, rolling her eyes and crossing her arms. He glared at her, not as coldly as he had glared at me though, and leaned unto a beautifully made cane that seemed to worth a fortune. How had I missed that? The thing practically screamed WORTH A FORTUNE, but oh, wait, I was too busy worrying about my death sentence so I couldn't beat myself up for not noticing . Anyways, I guessed that he'd have to use the cane from then on...well, until his foot had completely healed. I didn't even think he was supposed to be out of bed yet since he had just gotten shot, but I didn't even need to know the man inside out to know that he was downright stubborn...plus Whitney proved to be a very convincing person as well. 

What are you still doing here? Move! Move! Get outta here you idiot! Move while you still have the chance, my subconscious screamed at me in my mind. Right.

Slowly, I started to take steps backwards and away from the two. I found it almost unbelievable that they didn't notice me moving even though they were just glowering at each other. Just one more step... Good. Now turn around and walk away... Yes! I cheered as I slipped away with ease and made a run for my dad's table. I was like a foot away from freedom when it happened.

"Katherine! Where are you going? Get back over here!" Whitney hissed. My shoulders dropped in defeat and I hung my head in shame. I could never pass as a ninja...