Death's Apprentice

10

"I didn't expect to see you here," Life said, voice soft and as beautiful as the flowers blooming around her.

"Sure you didn't. Why are you here?" Death moved his scythe, leveling it out in front of me.

"Can't I say hi to my little brother?" Life ran a hand through her hair. "Honestly, you think so poorly of me." She slipped something into a passerby's bag.

Death didn't respond. He stared down Life. His hand shook. I wanted to ask about it. I wanted to ask him why she upset him like this, why he had his scythe leveled out in front of me, but staying standing took all of my strength.

Life sighed, closing her eyes. "I really wish you would talk to me. It would make everything so much easier." She raised her arm, twirling something shiny around her finger. She flung it through the air. Metal struck metal as Death parried. Life's weapon whizzed an inch in front of my face and stuck into the wall.

"Kid, don't touch that," Death said, rushing forward. His cloak flared behind him as he leapt into the air. "And don't let her hit you!"

I nodded and moved away from the bench, picking my scythe up. Acid burned the back of my throat as every movement shot searing pain through my stomach. I looked at the fight laid out in front of me, head spinning as I tried to keep track of the exchange of blows. Neither side landed an attack, but Life had the upper hand. Her attacks blurred through the air at frightening speeds, leaving Death only able to defend himself. Life hadn't turned her attention to me, something I was grateful for. I could barely walk, dodging would be impossible.

The area filled with the scent of decay and flowers, as plants went through their entire life cycle in a matter of minutes; nobody on the street seemed to notice or care.

"You've gotten faster," Life said, balancing on top of a light pole, a frown marring her ethereal features. "I wonder..." Her eyes locked onto me.

I swallowed. One of her bladed discs sliced towards me. I dropped to the ground, feeling it pass above my head.

"At least my hair's already short," I groaned and picked myself up, only to find myself the focus of Life's attacks. She flung disc after disc at me, leaping from position to position, making it hard for Death to attack her.

Gritting my teeth, I dodged. I leapt from side to side, ducking behind whatever cover could be offered by my surroundings. One of the larger trees offered complete cover, and I found myself hunkered behind it with my hand pressed to my stomach. Wetness seeped through my shirt and my cloak, leaving my palm cold.

"Shouldn't you be somewhere drinking lemonade?" Death yelled.

"Shouldn't you be somewhere killing kids?!"

"Well, shouldn't you be somewhere being Oprah but with kids?!"

Life didn't respond. If it wasn't for the searing pain across my back, I would have thought she left.

"Kid, you okay?"

"What was that?"

"Her weapons can pass through living objects, so don't hide behind trees."

"You couldn't have told me this earlier?!" I yelled, forcing myself to my feet and swaying as everything went dark.

"It slipped my mind. Just be happy it went that way and not the other."

I tightened my grip on my scythe and raised it. I needed to help Death. Life had the advantage when it came to speed and power, but Death had me. I wouldn't be able to do much, my injuries made sure of that. But I could distract her long enough for Death to do something.