The Reaper

Chapter 2

It's seven o'clock and I have six minutes to come up with an excuse to get out of here. Everyone's dancing and not really paying attention to me, which would've given me the perfect chance to sneak out, except for the fact that Liella keeps trying to get me to dance too. Mum was right. We're joined at the hip. Literally.

"Come on! Dance with me! Or else I'm gonna go find some random dork to make uncomfortable as fuck!" She yells over the pounding music.

"I AM THE THE RANDOM DORK!" I shout back. Seriously, by the time we're out of this party, my eardrums and vocal cords will be permanently and severely ruptured.

"WELL THEN COME ON WHALE DICK!"

Some random drunk passerby yelled, "Dude, your name is Whale Dick?" I roll my eyes but apparently Liella is offended someone else stole her nickname for me.

"SHUT THE FUCK UP DAMNIT! ONLY I CAN CALL ASPEN A WHALE DICK!"

I snicker. I know she's about to get super protective so while she's distracted, I slink away and make a mad dash out to the backyard, which was conveniently forest. This is probably a pack party that we mistakenly got invited to. My evidence, there are clothes in the trees.

Yes. Werewolves exist. And they have a religion too. And yes. I have taken one to their afterlife before. I take a deep breath, thinking of the memory.

I check the time. 7:06. Okay, time to check my surroundings. I don't want to kill an innocent pup now. After shuffling around in surrounding bushes and checking if anyone was up a tree, I can finally relax.

I sit crosslegged on the grass and try to see if I can channel the surge. Ferid has been telling me that I should be able to control the power and this year should be the last year that it only comes every year. Soon I'll be able to use it whenever I want if I so choose.

The surge is supposed to be used only on people or things that are a threat to the souls I'm transporting. Like Hellhounds or other monsters. They don't usually bother me since I'm a reaper and only want the exposed souls I'm guiding. But Ferid said that this year the surge will shape and take form into a personalized scythe. Which sounds pretty cool and all but I just don't want to kill anyone innocent. Even though this is the last uncontrollable surge, I'm still wary.

It's 7:07. The surge begins.

***

Liella's POV

Where the fuck is the dork? Who does he think he is, bailing on me? He wouldn't leave me right? I just wanted to have fun with him for once. Ever since his incident, he's become distant. Especially on the seventh of July. The day of the incident. What is he hiding from me. I know it's no coincidence that he disappears every year on this day.

If he accidentally joined a gang, and they have meetings every year on this day then I want in! It's not fair that he gets to have all the fun.

I push through crowds of sweaty blood bags and curse out loud when someone steps on my toe. "Damn human! Who did that? Ima fuckin mess you up! Come on! Who was it?! Fight me!!" All right. I might be slightly intoxicated. But I can't help it! Bourbon sweets are my weakness and they had a pantry full in the kitchen.

I've had enough of these damn people getting in the way of my search for the dork. I start shoving people over and kicking shins to get them out of my way. Huh. I should've done that a while ago.

Finally, I make it to the back doors. Looking around, I spot a large wooden table and climb onto it. Scanning the crowd, I look for the messy blonde hair that belongs to my best friend. "ASPENNNN!!!" I call.

Some people turn around and give me pained looks. Sheesh. I didn't even yell that loud. They must have some pretty sensitive ears.

Hopping off of the table, I head outside. It'd make sense. He does like quiet more than he likes loud music. Plus there aren't many blood bags out here. But the thing is, there's a really dark forest out here and I don't think I like the weird humming I hear coming from the inside.

Hesitantly, I step inside and look around. Why the fuck are there clothes in these fucking trees? Do people just come out here to fuck or something? I look ahead of me again. Jeez! Why is it so dark? It's only 7:06!

Pushing away the strange things happening tonight, I walk closer to the humming sounds. Damn branches and bushes getting in my way. And what's with all the damn thorns?! I'm getting cuts all up and down my arms! Ugh. These are gonna leave more scars on me and mum is gonna be pissed at me again.

Coming to a strange clearing, I see a certain blonde dork sitting cross legged in the grass. He was faced away from me so he can't see me creeping up behind him. Heh heh heh~ you can't hide from me now Winter.

Suddenly, I feel a strange shift in the air and see Aspen deeply breathe in. What the hell?

Then, a massive surge pumps through me and I suddenly don't feel connected to myself or anything around me. The surge is pumping through me and everything around me so thick that it's almost visible. The slightly visible waves are almost tinted. As if turning black with every blast it makes.

Looking around, I notice Aspen is now standing and has his arms raised. How is this not affecting him? AND WHY THE FUCK DOES HE LOOK TRANSPARENT?!!! I can feel my eyeliner running and that's when I notice I'm crying. Not because of pain, but because it looks like Aspen is leaving me. Just like Angel did.