A Dream Come True

Chapter - 23

Suddenly she felt a shift in the air.It seemed bleak.She moved a little,casting a glance over her shoulder.There was no one in her clear sight.
She sighed and stared at Xander's grave again.Her body was stiff sitting at the same position for hours.She checked the time.It was 8 in the evening.

With a weary sigh she got up very slowly.Suddenly she realised,she wasn't alone.She turned around and what she saw made her skin crawl with fear.
It was a scene completely out of the horror flick.A man in a Grim Reaper avatar with a sickle like spear in hand and ragged clothes stood in front of her.
His face was hidden with the hood.He was tall, actually very tall.She thought he was some man playing pranks on people.
"Is this suppose to scare me?"Anastasia asked dryly.
"No,are you scared?"The stranger replied.His voice was indeed creepy and strange.
"Who are you?"
"Isn't my attire speaking volumes about me?"
"Nope,not in the least.You see mister whoever you are.This is the grave of my husband whom I have buried just a couple of hours before.
So I'm sorry if I do not find your prank amusing."She glared at him.
"Let's change the scene,shall we?"
And in a blink she was on top of an under construction building.
Now she was downright scared.
"Who are you?Where is this place?How did you..."
"We need to talk."
She looked down again.And there she was, standing on the top of Eiffel Tower.
"Woah.."
She pinched herself thinking she must be dreaming.
"Ouchh.."
"You are not dreaming.And I don't have time Azalea."
"Are you supposedly here to take me?Am I going to die?"
She asked as a matter-of-fact.Since the soul deliverer was standing in his powerful glory in front of her.This was no dream afterall.
"No..it's not your time yet."
"Then? Okay wait.Can we? I mean can you change the scenario again?I have a phobia to heights."
He nodded.
And in a flash they were sitting in a chinese restaurant.The soul deliverer also decided to transform himself into a very handsome man.He atleast looked less intimidating.
"Wow..where are we?"
"China."
"Huh?We transported just like that?"Her eyes were round like saucer.
She navigated her surrounding.The chinese restaurant was dimly lit.Chinese lantern hung everywhere giving the place an ethereal look.The place was sparsely crowded.
"Is this your real face?"
"I prefer we talk about you.And the reason why we are here?"
She stared at his eyes.It was jet black without a pupil.She gulped loudly.All in all it was scary.
"Alright.I see that my face is a little distracting.I'll go easy on you."He looked down and raised his head again.Now his face was transformed more human like.
"Is this alright?"
"Yes."Anastasia smiled.
"So why are we here?"She enquired again.
The soul deliverer whistled and beckoned a waitress.
"A mocha frappuccino for the lady.Thank you."
"You know my favourite beverage.Now this isn't creepy at all."She muttered.
"I know everything about you Azalea Evans."
"I'm Anastasia King."She interposed.
"No,that was your attempt to save face.You cannot hide from me."
"Why are you here?"She asked sternly.
"I am entrusting you with a task.And that concerns you personally."
Anastasia raised her eyebrow.
"Do you want your Xander back?More so,do you want your parents back?"
Anastasia was stunned into silence.
"Is this some kind of a joke to you?"
"Do I look like a person who would joke about something like this?
Yes I cannot bring back people from dead.But I can control time."
"And?"
"Listen."
They were interrupted by the server.She placed the coffee and disappeared in another booth.
"Your life was unfair.Hell,life is unfair.But in your case I mean literally.
Your parents weren't supposed to die.It was just Your fate who entered and killed your parents.And same happened with Xander."
"I don't think I follow."
"There's nothing to comprehend here,all I am asking you is?
Are you willing to redo it?"
"Redo what exactly?"She was bewildered.
"Your fate.Duh.
Don't you want your parents alive?Don't you want to know who killed Xander?Above all don't you want your Xander alive?"
"You know who did this?"
"I cannot get into all that mess."He dismissed the idea with a gesture from his hand.
"So do you?"
"Is this some kind of a test where I fall into temptation and you drag me to Hell?"
The stranger smiled.Even his smile was very sinister.
"I know Azalea all this seems absurd.But I want to help you genuinely.Remember the time when you were talking to Xander in the hospital?
He saw me,yet he continued to talk to you.I always arrive on time.But I came a couple of minutes early before his death.And I eavesdrop."He shrugged.
"I want to help you..no strings attached."He proposed sincerely.
"But I don't have time and there are rules."
"Go on,colour me intrigued."
"I'll send you eight months back before the day your parents were supposed to die.You can not only save them from dying.You can also save Xander and prevent all of the bad things happened to you and Xander in future."
"Can I really?I mean will you really help me?"
"I want to.Don't ask why."
"And the rules?"
"Right.
Rules:Firstly,You cannot share this,he gestured his finger between them.You cannot share our secret with anyone.Because the moment you do.You will return back to the graveyard.And all will be forgotten.
Secondly,they won't remember a damn thing about you.They as in the Kings' family.You have to start from scratch."
Anastasia widened her eyes.
"Not even Xander?Surely he must know about me?How will he recognise me then?How will I enter his life and convince him that his life is in danger?"
"That's completely your problem.I told you I can control time but challenging fate.I'm not entitled to do that.Even I have my boundaries."
"Wow.This is all so unearthly."
"Am I a daily occurence to you?"The stranger spoke arrogantly.
"You speak like you are a phenomena."
"Death is a phenomena Azalea.It cannot be reversed.Not by me,not by anyone except.."
"Except The Almighty."She replied tautly.
He nodded.
"So,what is your decision?"
"I'm sorry,but do you think you can step down from your heavenly abode,throw caution to the wind,and challenge my very existence of belief and disbelief?"
She raised her voice a little.
The stranger remained quiet.

Anastasia took a deep breath.
"I seriously apologise.That was uncalled for.I'm just a little out of my element."
"Understandable."
"So,how are you going to send me back?Just transport me?And when?"
"The moment you get out of that head of yours."He muttered.
"Fine,fine.let's just do it your way alright?"
"Are you in?"
"Do I have a choice?"
"Yes I send you back to the graveyard.You'll forget.."
"Woah woah..I'm all in.I want to redo my fate.
One more question."
"Shoot."
"You said my parents will be alive?And So will Xander?
Which means I can script this story the way I prefer?"
"Pretty much till today November 15.But be warned Fate will intervene in your way time to time.You have to stay ahead of it all the time.I will send you back to 13th of March."
"The day before my parents died."She whispered.
"Exactly."
"Okay,so how will I contact you?"
This time he smiled a little widely.
"You are the first one who is eager to meet me again.Commonly,humans are rather terrified of me."
"What can I say?I've nothing left to lose."
"We will not meet again until it's your time to bid adieu this world."
Again in a flash,they were once again standing inside the graveyard.The stranger became the Grim Reaper again.
"So?Why am I here again?"
"You remember the rules?"
"The Non-Disclosure Agreement?Pretty much.
And secondly I have to play God."
The stranger glared.
"Oops,sorry.Didn't mean to degrade the Divine."She responded sincerely.
"Okay."
"Wait."
"What now?"
"What if all this fail?What if I can't prevent my parent's death and that of Xander's?"
"Then it will come to this day again where you lose everything.No second chances."
She gulped.Letting the weight of his words sink in.
"But I hope you don't fail Azalea.You have a long way ahead.Goodbye and God bless."
He disappeared into thin air.
Anastasia walked outside the graveyard.She checked her wristwatch.It was eight 'o' clock.
"Wow,he seriously meant what he said about controlling time."She wondered.
Throughout the way,she concocted her future plans..
Before that she wanted to meet Roxanna and Xavier.This was going to be a long night....

Hello guys,
I hope you like the turn of events.Do share your views and don't forget to vote and share.