Let Me Reap Your Soul (Survivor00 and Autumn)

[AutumnDreaming]

Helena couldn't remember much of her past, her memories fading into the abyss due to the assignment a cruel figure had given to her. There was a time when she would have been able to tell anyone that she was the daughter of a surgeon and a florist, she had two younger brothers, orchids were her favorite flowers, she had a full academic scholarship to Julliard to study piano and the violin, she was popular, her blond hair was the exact shade of her mother's, and she loved life. All that was before her life was taken away by a dark creature who played a cruel trick of "mercy" on her by changing her into another of his kind: the angel of death; a reaper, as it were.

For more than a decade, Helena appeared at the sites of car crashes, the deathbeds of the sick, the delivery rooms of newborns, and everywhere that death unleashed its ugly shroud. She took the souls of children, husbands, wives, grandparents, teachers, and countless mortals whose lives came to a screeching halt. It was an odd feeling, reaping a soul. Every time she harvested one, she felt like a piece of her went with them. They began to corrode at her own soul, hacking away at the twenty years of life she had lived as a human. They stole her childhood, even robbed her of her last name, and left an empty void that she had to fill. The desire to be whole again had devastating consequences, driving her to only want to continue her existence as a reaper.

The changes not only affected her mentality, but altered her appearance as well. She once had flushed porcelain skin that draped across her 5' 6" frame, exquisite gray eyes that accentuated a full face, scarlet lips, and long blond hair that cascaded down her back. The twinkle in her eyes was the first to go, replaced by dull gray orbs. There was no more flush to her skin, the flesh itself becoming taut and sticking to her frame much like that of an emaciated corpse. Her bone structure had become more fragile and delicate, her fingers extending to a skeletal appearance. Thick hair fell limply against her face and shoulders, framing her jaws. The most drastic change, however, was the set of massive black wings that spanned majestically, like a dark dove in the night. Yet, even through it all, she still retained a grace and beauty about her.

Helena knew there would be a time when she would not remember herself at all. She would become just another monotonous creature, no emotion left within her. She didn't want that type of existence; she longed to feel again. . . to love again. Somehow, etched into her mind was a loophole to her assignment. She wasn't sure how she'd discovered it, nor could she recall where, but she remembered that if she could make a human truly love her, this torturous existence would end. The cruelty of the situation was that humans could not see her or hear her unless. . . unless, they had been touched and spared by death Himself.

Helena searched records of The Secret Book, looking for someone whose life had been spared. When she could find none, she began a long journey onto Earth, seeking high and low for her miracle. She appeared everywhere, in homes, jobs, and public places but no one could see her. For a solid year, she searched. Nearing the mark in which she would completely fade away, the young Reaper was close to admitting defeat. Her days were limited to her conscious time left in this world so she chose a night for herself to reminisce on any memory she could recall.

When the sun had set, she swooped down to the park near a lake in her favorite spot in the world. It was quiet, though she could hear people dying throughout the world. Alone, she sat by the water's edge, eyes watching the ripples spread from the shore throughout the still waters. There had to be one person in the world who could see her, but she couldn't find him. He was the only hope she had, and he had failed her.

 

[Survivor00]

Daniel Whitaker walked quietly down the twilight beach, feeling the cool sand shifting underneath his bare feet. He sighed in needed relief, stuffing his hands in the pockets of his swim trunks, looking up at the stars and sky. Behind the line of trees, the glow of numerous fires illuminated the night sky, and loud, pulsing music thrummed over the stillness of the lake. It was the end of summer, and many of the students were throwing their last great party before college resumed in a few weeks. There had to be dozens of people partying out here at the lakeside campsite, a fact that made Daniel somewhat uncomfortable.

He had never been very much of a crowd person. He liked his peace and solitude, and while he had agreed to come to the party to appease his friends, he had mostly steered clear of the open kegs and blasting music. Looking at the lake and the rolling mountains around itâ?¦this was far more enjoyable than the outdoor club behind him. He felt a strange prickle at the nape of his neck, as if though he were being watched. He looked around quickly, but he was alone along the expanse of beach. He shook it off, he probably needed this alone time more than he realized.

After a few more moments of wandering and appreciating the lakeside view, he found what he thought was a good spot. He knew that swimming out here alone wasnâ??t the smartest of ideas, but he was sure that a quick swim wouldnâ??t be any problem. Pulling off his T-shirt and setting it on a rock, he slowly waded out into the water up to his waist. The water was dark, but comfortably warm against the airâ??s cooling chill. The glow of bonfires were swallowed up by the great light of the moon reflecting off the lakeâ??s surface, the small waves cresting silver.

Daniel swam a few quick laps out to a small marking buoy in the lake and back to shore, stretching out his muscles in the relaxing water. After one final lap, he swam out to a small, wooden diving platform that had been anchored some distance offshore. The water here was deep and free of obstructions, so diving was allowed. Swimming to the side of the platform, he swung his arms up over the side to grip at the soggy wood. He pulled himself close to the platform and swung one leg up out of the water, using it as his platform to pull himself. He was panting slightly, water pooling below him as he stood. Once again, he got the unmistakable feeling of eyes upon him, but he saw nobody as he looked around.

He shuddered slightly, reaching out to grab at the rungs of the short ladder up to the top of the platform. The first few rungs gave him no trouble, but one fated rung was all that it took. His foot came down on the metal rung and slipped out from underneath him, wet from the condensation. Everything seemed incredibly focused as Daniel fell forward before he was able to hold tightly to the ladder. His world exploded in a flashbulb of white pain as his head sharply struck the ladder, the sharp metal edge splitting the skin of his forehead, letting forth a flow of blood that felt strangely hot on his skin. He dropped limply from the ladder, slamming into the platform before he plunged lifelessly into the water.

He sucked in a breath of air on instinct, but he was rewarded only with water surging into his mouth and down his throat, daggers of fire stabbing into his lungs as they were flooded. He convulsed, thrashing about in the water, trying to find his bearings, but his disorientation from the blow, the blood that began to mist the water around him, and the sudden shock that had hit him had thrown him off guard. He couldnâ??t even figure out which way was up as he sank deeper into the murk. Bubbles escaped from his gaping mouth as the lakewater poured down his throat, filling his stomach, his lungs. His vision darkened around the edges, and images from his life began to flutter before his eyesâ?¦

 

[AutumnDreaming]

From a distance, she could see a lone figure patrolling the beach at his leisure. Had she ever been where he stood? Was there ever a time in her life where she could feel the squish of sand between her toes? There must have been, though her faded memories could recall no such event. Dull eyes watched him tip his head to the sky, as if gazing upon something astounding. Her head followed suit, gray irises searching the sky for the same appeal, though she could see nothing but vast darkness. What had been so appealing about that?

Helena brought herself back to the present, setting her sights on him once again. He moved through the water with grace and poise, as if he somehow belonged there. It must have been wonderful to be that free, to feel the water splash upon his face. Leaning over, she dropped her hand into the lake, fingers brushing through it. Nothing. No drop of moisture coated her hand and no feelings of wetness against her skin were ever present. . .just like the occurrence had never taken place. She noted, too, that he chose the most dangerous time to swim. One slip up and his mortal life was over; it was beautiful. For a moment, she felt like an intruder, invading the privacy he was obviously striving to have. Still, she could not stop watching.

He moved to the platform with almost an arrogant stride. He didn't know how reckless he was being, how much closer to death every step brought him. It was the same with all humans, and she was certain at one time it had been the same with her.

As if in a dream-like state, she saw him slip and disappear into the dark depths below. Her eyes closed, a fire beginning to burn within her chest as if his soul was calling out to her. He was dying, and the instinct to reap was overwhelming. She could almost hear the water entering his lungs, slowly drowning him. It was glorious and magnificent, the way it always was when the time came to collect what was hers.

When her eyes opened, she was in the water with his limp form. His hair moved with the waves, bubbles exiting his mouth as he struggled to breathe. His expression looked desperate, though there was a certain glaze to his eyes. Yes, he was going to be hers. Her mighty wings spread, arms open while one hand clutched her great staff. But, for one moment, she couldn't do it. There was a part of her, the little remnants of humanity, that wanted him to live. He was exquisite in so many ways, this ordinary human.

An internal civil war began to take place. The little pieces of Helena battled the reaper, and in the end the more barbaric side won. Her hesitation came with a hefty price, though. Somehow, fate intervened, as if punishing her for her tardiness. There was another body in that water, swimming quickly to heave him out of it. They worked to resuscitate him, robbing her of another soul.

 

[Survivor00]

Danielâ??s flooded lungs flared with white-hot agony that burned hotter than the sun as he sucked in even more water, but he had no strength to control it. His body had suddenly gone completely flaccid, unable to even move his arms, and he slowly started to sink deeper into the blackness below. He felt heavyâ?¦tiredâ?¦ His head pounded sharply, his eardrums straining under the pressure of the water against them. It felt like a thousand knives were stabbing him in his stomach. His bodyâ??s functions were steadily shutting down, his heart slowing, his twitching growing more and more feeble. His eyes slowly opened for what he knew would be the final time, when he saw herâ?¦

Her visage seemed to shock a few more seconds of life into Danielâ??s dying body. For an instant, his senses were clearer than they had ever been before. She emerged like a ghost from the water before him, an ethereal, beautiful figure. The ebon robes she wore were unaffected by the flow of the water, nor did her raven-feather wings as she spread them wide, a veil of pure blackness that felt as if it were smothering him. Only her face stood out against the blackness, ghostly white, with faint, blonde hair. Her grey eyes seemed to see through him, as if she were judging him for the passage he was to undertake. Somewhere in his oxygen starved mind, he knew what she was, what she represented, but he could not look away from her. She was beautifulâ?¦

Even as he began to cross that threshold, he could see the struggle in her eyes, but could not fathom it. The water around him suddenly felt numbingly cold, as if she were drawing in all heat. He, too, felt as if he were being drawn towards her, even as all feeling began to leave his body. But he knew it was alright, she was beckoning him, taking him away. Even as he closed his eyes for the last time, her image seemed engraved in his mind. Darkness swallowed his vision, and all was silentâ?¦

â?¦

Light.

Lightâ?¦and pain.

Danielâ??s mind was torn back violently from the void with an explosion of agonizing pain in his chest. He could feel air being pushed into his already full lungs, as well as sharp bursts of pressure against his chest. He finally heaved, retching the water from his lungs with a burst of foam and spray. He was rolled on his side, where he continued to expel the water from his lungs and stomach onto the sand. He choked and coughed, sucking in great lungfuls of fresh air, trying desperately to get the oxygen back into his starved lungs. The violent actions instantly set his head throbbing with renewed agony, and his chest ached like he had been hit with a sledgehammer.

â??Heâ??s coming around!â? The voice echoed too loudly in his ears. He cracked his eyes open weakly, seeing the lakeside beach and the crowds of college students that had gathered around him. An SUV with flashing lights sat upon the beach, Daniel wincing every time a beam of colored light seared across his eyes. â??Donâ??t worry, son. Weâ??ve got you. Youâ??re going to be alright.â? The EMT spoke to him, sitting up to help load him onto a stretcher. Coarse gauze was wrapped around his head, and the bleeding had stopped for now, but he still groaned pitifully.

He was still horribly disoriented from both the fall and his sudden resurrection from the dead, but he could not mistake the feeling of those eyes on him once again. He turned his head, his eyes wide as they fell upon her again, the Angel of Death that had come to claim him. She seemedâ?¦somber, her wings pulled tightly around her body as she leaned on her scythe, watching him. Nobody in the crowd seemed to notice her, even as she stood amongst them. His throat suddenly felt as dry as sandpaper, his tongue felt swollen in his mouth. He tried to lift his arm to point; they had to see her, right? But he was too weak to even lift his arm a few inches off the stretcher. The paramedics carefully held him still and placed his head in a neck brace, pulling his eyes off of her.

Lifting him into the ambulance, they closed the door behind him and started the engine, driving off towards the hospital.

 

[AutumnDreaming]

Helena watched him slip away from her, being tethered back to the mortal world. Without consciousness, her arm outstretched to him, palm facing his chest. Her reaper mind didn't realize it, but but her fingers were extending toward him in a manner that would appear almost human, more like she was pushing him away than reeling him in. The small act could be credited to one of those rare moments when Helena, the vivacious girl who loved music and her family, dominated over the dooming angel of death. She, the remnants of her own soul, was ecstatic he was going to live while the immortal creature was not.

The men worked with him without apprehension. Hands pumped so gracefully that one could only deem it as miraculous. She lingered in the shadows behind them, keeping her distance as though any of them could see her at any moment. Her face seemed solemn, though her lips were twisted into a slightly triumphant grin, like two personalities dueling to consume her. Her mighty wings were drawn inward, like a coward admitting defeat. She leaned lazily on her scythe as the flashing lights of red and blue blended, creating an odd illumination on his features.

Helena was about to leave to harvest more souls out of retaliation of losing this one when she noticed something. . . strange. He seemed so dazed and disoriented, his body weak and limp, but his eyes were focused intently on. . . her? Her head turned sharply, but there was no one behind her. The paramedics lifted him into the ambulance, tearing him away from her. "Stop!" She called out to the deaf ears. "Can you see me?" She asked him, but it was a question to go unanswered.

"We have rules, Helena." A voice broke through her thoughts, interrupting her hopes about having been seen. "You are no longer a mortal." The booming voice warned her, forcing her to focus her dull eyes on him. Him, the very reaper who had created her. He was both frightening and majestic, his full skeletal appearance signifying his age and lack of humanity.

"I know that." Her voice was calm, maybe like a gentle breeze to anyone that passed by. It was then that she realized her surroundings. No longer was she amidst the chaos with the revived boy and the sirens, but, rather, she was hovering in the darkness. She could make out the twinkle of lights, and perhaps the two of them were in the sky standing on a cloud. Maybe this was the place where they always met, the air between Heaven and Earth, but her memory wouldn't allow her to recall.

"It was you who pleaded to be spared from death. I simply honored that. You are not to spare anyone and your moment of hesitation cost you a soul!" His bony hand lifted to her, forefinger extending to point directly in her face. "This is your only warning!" He leaned his long frame into her, enabling her to see the sockets where eyes had been once. One day, perhaps sooner than later, she would be just like him. That, to her, was more frightening than death that would never come.

~~~

She was curious, no matter how much trouble that led to. Her tattered humanity would not back down, wanting to quench her desire to know if she had been visible to him. Maybe the dying embers in her heart could be reignited; just maybe he could be the one to save her from her turmoil and restore her again.

The hospital was bright with its white lights, white walls, and white linens. . . much too bright. His room, however, was dim and comforting. He was alone, though she had no way of knowing if it was because he had nobody or if they just hadn't come yet. The nurse had called him Daniel, a name that somehow suited him perfectly.

Bending over his slumbering form, she took a moment to really look at him. His black hair was heavily disheveled, not because of the damage of the water but probably because it was naturally that way. It lay in erratic patterns, strands sticking in every odd direction. His cheeks looked so soft to the touch with a tinge of red, just enough to prove he was alive. Lips looked like delicate satin, causing her to lift her long finger to rub at her own lips. There must have been a time when hers were just as smooth, and when her own cheeks appeared to be so rosy. Eyes were closed, but she didn't need to see them to know they were exquisite, just like the rest of him. Light brown, or green. Yes, green would be perfect for him.

Helena bit down on her lip, chewing at it. She raised her left hand, letting it just hover over his body. Inching it downward, she let the pads of her fingertips sweep across his forehead to brush at his hair. "Ow!" Retracting her hand, she stared at it. Electricity. Lots of electricity seemed to flow through her hand just like she had nerves. . . like she was alive. "How could I feel that?" She asked herself aloud, daringly reaching down to stroke his cheek. It was so unimaginably warm, sending waves of heat through her she hadn't felt in years. A single finger caressed his lips before lifting it to rub across hers again. Her eyes of lackluster closed, imagining a world when he could feel her touch him, too. "Daniel. . . " She whispered, feeling a glow burn within her heart that signified hope.

 

[Survivor00]

Daniel didnâ??t remember much of the ambulance ride from the camp to the hospital, just fuzzy, disconnected images of a paramedic leaning over him as he slipped in and out of consciousness, the constant rocking of the vehicle below him, the piercing sounds of wailing sirens. The only moment that stood out with any clarity in his mind was the moment that him andâ?¦herâ?¦ had made eye contact. The Angel of Deathâ?¦watching him from the beach as they carried him away. It was the look on her face, that look of surprise, as if she didnâ??t expect that he could see herâ?¦ He didnâ??t think heâ??d ever forget it. He had thought he had heard a voiceâ?¦butâ?¦he couldnâ??t haveâ?¦ When he had told the doctor that checked him over what he had seen, he was simply told that he was suffering from a mild concussion, and that the strange vision had been nothing more than Post-Trauma and the results of his head injury.

But it had felt far too real to just be a hallucinationâ?¦

Daniel groaned softly, his head pounding like a drum with every beat of his heart. They had stitched up the gash on his forehead, and wrapped that in bandages that felt just a little too tight for his head. He tried over and over to get comfortable, to try and sleep for a few hours, but he couldnâ??t, so he just lay there with his eyes closed. The stillness was almost maddening as time seemed to drag on. Fortunately for him, they said that that his injuries werenâ??t serious, and that he would be able to be released tomorrow; they just wanted to keep him overnight for some observation. He sighed, hearing the steady and incessant bleeping of the heart monitor they had hooked up to him. His parents hadnâ??t shown up yet, but that wasnâ??t surprising, they lived hours away, but he knew they had to be coming as fast as they could.

He was not looking forward to that conversationâ?¦

Gradually, he felt the presence of someone else in the room with him, even though he didnâ??t recall ever hearing the door being opened. Maybe if he just acted like he was asleep, he would have to worry about being bothered with questions or checkups. He kept his eyes closed as he lay there, breathing softly hoping to at least make it look convincing.

Daniel heard a soft voice, a small yelp of pain. It didnâ??t sound like any of the nurses that had been checking in on him today. A few seconds later, that same voice softly called his name, and now it was curiosity the made him open his eyes. The heart monitor suddenly spiked as he found himself staring up at the black-winged girl who he had seen at the lake. His green eyes were wide open, his voice locked in his throat, unable to speak as he stared up at her. Was she here to claim him again? The scythe in her hand, the black, hooded robe, the large, dark wings, it was undeniable as to what she wasâ?¦

 

[AutumnDreaming]

At the exact moment that his stunning green eyes flew open, his heart rate increased drastically enough that it set off the alert on the monitor. Her own gray eyes widened, quickly withdrawing her hand from his face. He was staring at her, there was no doubt about that. Oh, she couldn't imagine how much fear he must be feeling, though she could see it in his eyes. Helena wanted to speak, but she was too startled to find words. He could see her. A human being with a mortal soul could actually visibly see her standing before him.

She knew that she must look like, well, death to him. After all, that's what she was. The image was painted perfectly for him like a Gothic canvas with her black shroud and tall scythe in tow. She wasn't entirely skeletal, but she didn't appear to be a normal person either. He must have thought her an ugly monster with her dull eyes, limp blond hair, and massive wings. And yet, even as he nearly trembled before her, she thought she'd never see someone so magnificent.

"Please." She spoke, her voice soft and warm, completely the opposite of what someone would expect a reaper to sound like. "Please, you must calm down." Carefully and hesitantly, her arm extended back to him. Palm lowered to his chest, flattening against his ribcage. She could hear his heart thumping erratically, pounding against her hand. Such vivaciousness, such life. "You're not dying, Daniel." How sweetly and effortlessly his name rolled off her tongue.

Though she didn't think he could feel her the way she could feel him, she did not remove her hand. "I don't understand how you can see me." Eyes so gentle swept over his face, admiring every contour to the battered flesh. "But you do." She whispered, coiling her fingers and finally withdrawing her hand. "It really was your fault, you know. You shouldn't have been swimming out there like that, but perhaps you were lucky it was me who came for you. Otherwise, you would not be alive." Her second nature was beginning to take over, and she didn't realize how barbaric and insensitive she must have sounded. There was a time in her life when she would never have such harsh words for someone, but then again, her mind and soul was mostly inhabited by a reaper now.

"Please, don't be frightened by me." Her tone was soothing, her hand wishing to hold his in comfort. "I'm not here to claim you. This is your second chance at life. I just simply wanted to prove you knew of my existence." At that moment, the door flew open. A concerned nurse rushed in, going to his monitor to turn it off.

"Are you alright?" She asked him, walking around to the side of the bed where Helena stood. Without knowing it, the woman stepped right through her, half of her body cutting through Helena's. "What's got you so anxious?"

 

[Survivor00]

The frantic cry of the heart monitor was the only sound in the small room as the two stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity. The Angel of Death seemed just as startled as he was, but it was a fact that was lost to him at the moment. Her eyes were a dull gray, wide open with surprise. Her outstretched arm hovered only scant inches away from his chest, her fingers long and slender, looking almost skeletalâ?¦ghostly white, bony. He trembled underneath her gaze, wanting to pull away, but he felt paralyzed to the spot, his breath catching slightly in his throat.

Finally, the words wrenched their way out of his ensnared throat. â??Wh-whatâ?¦what do you want?â? His voice cracked, and he swallowed dryly. His heart was pounding feverishly against his ribcage, and she spoke softly to him, her voice not what he expected. Still, he tried to sink deeper into the mattress as she pressed her outstretched hand against his chest. Even through his hospital gown, her touch felt like a cold wind, just a presence against his skin. This is how they took your soul wasnâ??t it? The â??touch of Deathâ???

Even as she assured him that he was not dying, he still felt his heart pounding. He could not look away from her face, such a gentle expression, even though she seemed tortured beyond what she was admitting. She took him in with her eyes, as he followed hers. Her fingers traced cold lines down his chest as she slowly withdrew her hand from him. Instantly, he felt his heart to make sure it was still really beating. He tried forming words, some question to ask her, something, but nothing could come out.

She seemed to sense his panic and her soothing words tried to calm him. Why would she want to prove he knew of her? Wasnâ??t she upset that she lost a soul? There was a whole series of movies on that concept. What did this mean for him?

The door swung open and the nurse rushed in, shutting off the alarm. The apparition of the Reaper came apart like mist as the nurse and her stood in the same place. Danielâ??s skin felt clammy, drenched in a cold sweat. â??I s-s-sawâ?¦her.â? He pointed at the half-image of Helena, his finger trembling, his hand inadvertently brushing against the Reaper's.

 

[AutumnDreaming]

The experienced nurse knew that hallucinations and hysterics could sometimes be a result of a trauma much like what this young man had just been through. "Saw who, honey?" Her voice was saccharine, less genuine with concern and more trained to speak in that manner. Eyes followed to where his finger indicated an image, but she saw no one. Hand swiftly caught his wrist, gently turning it over so that his palm was facing upwards and placing it back on the bed. Two fingers pressed at the base of his thumb, careful to keep her own held away from his flesh so as to not compromise an accurate reading of his pulse. Dark eyes averted to the swollen bag attached to the drip that supplied the morphine coursing through his body; surely the high dosage of medication only added to his "crazy talk" and elevation in his heart rate.

"Your pulse is a little erratic, Daniel." Her warm hand slid from his wrist up to his shoulder, squeezing in comfortingly. "You've just been through quite an ordeal, but you're safe here. There is no one else in this room except you and me." Lips curled into a reassuring smile, just like the trainers at the hospital had told her to do. "I'll come back and check in on you, but let me bring you something to help you sleep, okay? I'll be right back." With that, the woman exited the room.

At the moment that Daniel pointed at her Helena panicked. Though she knew, technically, no other human being could see her, she still wanted to duck and hide. After all, technically, even he shouldn't be able to see her. However, the nurse unknowingly standing in the middle of Helena's form had trapped her somehow; she felt displaced, like all her molecules were suddenly spread throughout the room. She was frozen, unable to even will her mind to move her somewhere -anywhere- else.

When his hand made contact with hers, that same jolt of electricity flowed throughout her being. She yelped, eyes immediately shifting to see if the nurse had heard her which, of course, she hadn't. The reaper wanted to lift her arm toward her face to further examine her hand, but that same paralysis prevented it. Finally, the invader left the room, freeing Helena's body. Knees buckled, pushing her toward his bed. Before she collapsed on him, she caught herself, but the quick action caused the blinds to shift on the window like a forceful breeze had moved them.

"What does it feel like when you touch me?" She asked, steadying herself back on her feet. "Do I feel solid to you? Human even?" She wanted him to affirm her questions, to somehow tell her that her condition was being reversed. Helena, though, already knew the answer, but in some morbid way she needed to be told of her impending doom. "It hurts to make contact with you, like all the energy in your body is trying to electrocute me either as a warning to leave you alone or as a way of resuscitating life within me. How curious, indeed."

At that moment, the nurse stepped inside the doorway. Daniel didn't seem to have moved, his eyes still fixated on something that wasn't there. Hand lifted to knock on the open door, but an odd occurrence stopped her. Though no air circulated in the room, the blinds were blowing around as if a cool gust of wind were moving them. It was then that she thought she heard someone fall, but the boy hadn't moved. Shaking her head, she turned around and left the room, forgetting why she was there in the first place.

 

[Survivor00]

Daniel quickly realized that the nurse didnâ??t believe him, but really, why should she believe him when he was having a hard time believing himself? He fell silent as the nurse took his hand and began taking his pulse, keeping his eyes focused on the Angel of Death that stood before him, seemingly locked in place by the nurseâ??s intrusion. Her eyes were wide in panic, and he opened his mouth to speak, but he knew how ridiculous he would sound, asking the nurse to move because she was standing inside a person who shouldnâ??t exist. He closed his eyes and sighedâ?¦â?Nothingâ?¦nevermind.â? He said quietly, averting his eyes at last.

He could honestly care less about sleeping right now, especially not with her looking over him. But finally, the nurse left the room and he found himself with the Reaperâ??s body almost on top of him, and the blinds jumped as if though a breeze had swept through the room. The air felt bitterly cold, like he had stepped outside without a coat in December, but as soon as she pulled away, it was warm again. Her voice was sickly sweet as she asked those questions, his eyes widening slightly as she spoke. He didnâ??t exactly know how to respond to her, but finally, the words formed in his throat.

â??Itâ?¦Itâ??s cold. Kind of like winter airâ?¦â? He whispered, looking up into her gray eyes. â??Whyâ?¦why do you want to know this? How come I can see you?â? His voice was still somewhat frightened, but he was no longer frozen to the spot at the sight of her.

 

[AutumnDreaming]

How remarkable that her touch would feel cold, almost like a cruel irony parallel to the metaphor of death being icy. Her lips twisted into a sardonic grin, the reaper proud of her chilly presence. Eyes closed to him, but when reopened she found that she was no longer standing by his side at the window. Instead, she appeared on the opposite side and was perched upon the end of the bed near his feet. Her robes covered the linen, the black overtaking the white. And, though she could feel her weight pressing down on the bed, she doubted her would ever feel the shift nor would anyone see a dip in the mattress.

He still seemed wary of her, almost like he worried this unstable creature would change her mind and claim him right there. Death loved this; it wanted his heart to accelerate and sweat to stain his skin. Still, to reassure him she had no foul intentions, she kept her bony hands visibly in her lap. "I ask you this because you are the first living mortal to ever see me. Would you not find it miraculous if you suddenly became invisible and no one could see you even though you were always there? It's the opposite for me, becoming visible to someone. I'm intrigued by it, and wish to know all I can."

She would pause at that, choosing not to delve further into the story. "I'm not sure you really want to hear the answer to your latter question." Head canted, eyes dropping from his face to a spot on the wall. "Did you choose this, Daniel, or do you think fate chose this for you?" She asked, raising her eyes back to him. "You made the choice to swim at night. You risked your own life and almost lost it. I was waiting for you, could feel your constricted lungs calling for me. Then, you lived, robbed from my grasp. I wonder if your choices led you to me or if fate led you to choose me."

She knew how exhausted he must feel. Perhaps her complex words were jumbled to his ears, making no sense. Maybe he thought her just an illusion or a painful nightmare. "I told you, though, you have nothing to fear. Life was chosen for you and so long as your heart is beating you are safe from me. There is nothing I can do to intervene with that." Just to prove her point, she leaned across him, her robes brushing his chest, and reached for his IV bag. Fingers floated through it, the drip unharmed. "See? I cannot do you any physical harm. I cannot stop your heart." She sat up away from him. "I understand your fear, but I wish you wouldn't be so frightened of me. You are not dying any more than I am living."

 

[Survivor00]

The dark grin that twisted the Reaperâ??s lips made a shiver race up Danielâ??s spine, and he was certain that his stomach his just digested itself a little bit. That grin seemed to be one of pride, pride at her natural ability to scare him almost toâ?¦wellâ?¦death. He unconsciously edged himself a little further away from her cloak-covered form. He glanced over at the door for a second, wondering if it was possible for him to get up and run. Looking back to see what she was doing, he visibly jumped when he found her poised at the foot of the hospital bed, his heart kicking suddenly at his ribs.

â??Donâ??tâ?¦do that!â? He stammered, his eyes wide. Did he just order Death? As her gray eyes poured into his, he couldnâ??t look away. â??Sorryâ?¦â? He choked out. Please donâ??t kill meâ?¦ He listened as she told him why she was so fascinated with him. He didnâ??t have many other options but to listen. That would explain why the nurse had walked right through her, and not noticed, or how he was the only one on the beach to have seen her standing there. â??Yeahâ?¦I could imagine that would be aâ?¦shockâ?¦â? He sighed, closing his eyes for a moment before looking back up at her. He was having a casual conversation with the Grim Reaper.

He wouldnâ??t be lying if he said she wasnâ??t entirely what he expectedâ?¦ All the Grim Reapers he had seen in stories and on Halloween were skeletal figures clad in tattered robes. And while her pallid; almost ashen skin certainly indicated her deathly stateâ?¦he was glad she looked humanâ?¦

He saw how she tried to avoid the issue when he asked how he could see her, but it wasnâ??t hard to figure outâ?¦ â??I died.â? He saidâ?¦the words almost... â??I died and you came for me.â? He looked up at her, watching as she turned to focus on a place on the wall. Still, he found himself unable to stop shuddering. â??But someone else got to me firstâ?¦â? He sighed again, shaking his head. â??I donâ??t knowâ?¦coincidence, maybeâ?¦fate? I donâ??t knowâ?¦â?

Now he was getting existentialâ?¦

He felt the hairs on his arm prickle as she her arm moved closer to the IV, feeling the cool brushing of her raven-hued robes against his chest. A half-stammered â??D-Donâ??tâ?¦â? passed from his lips before he watched as her hand passed through the IV bag as though it wasnâ??t there. After a moment, he exhaled and his tensed shoulders drooped tiredly. â??Iâ??m sorryâ?¦itâ??s a natural reaction, I supposeâ?¦â? Was it? It wasnâ??t like this happened every dayâ?¦

He reached over once again, cautiously, as though he were about to touch a wild animal. His hand rested against her upper arm, feeling icy cold against his palm. It was likeâ?¦touching waterâ?¦sort of. She wasnâ??t solid to his touch by any means, but he could feel that there was something there. He gave a weak smile to her, slowly getting more...used to her presence there.

 

[AutumnDreaming]

Helena knew there was little she could do to ease the tension between them. It certainly was a natural reaction to fear death; she couldn't argue with him over that. While he commanded her, still trying to adjust to her presence, she remained perfectly still. His body was a fragile thing, and the heart certainly was capable of bursting if shocked enough to be sent into erratic patterns. If his fear stopped the thin thread that connected him to the living world, she would have no choice but to claim his soul. She wouldn't be able to deny herself that right; it was as natural to her as fear was to him.

She let him piece together the puzzle, figuring out on his own how it came to be that she was suddenly visible to him. "Yes." She spoke flatly, her expression remaining stoic. "I have told you what happened earlier tonight." Her line of sight redirected to the machine rapidly flashing lines across the screen. "Don't you understand that remaining calm is your best defense against me? You have to fight to live in my presence. I won't harm you so long as you're alive, but once you cross from this realm into mine, your soul will belong to me." Helena hadn't intended to be so harsh, but the reaper had begun to speak to him now. The creature inside of her fed on his fear, hoping that his delicate life would expire soon while the remnants of the woman did not.

As he apologized for his reactions, she let out a hollow laughter that was dull and tuneless. "I'm going to tell you a secret: we all fear what I am." She paused, closing her eyes as the traces of memories came back to her. "Do you think I was born into what I am? No, I was made." There were random flashes of a car, blood, and a powerful being waiting for her.

His hand came to rest on her arm, those painful sparks of electricity jolting her. Eyes flew open, a dazed expression settling on her pale features. Turning her head sharply to her arm, she slowly lifted her bony hand to rest atop his. Dragging in a deep breath, she savored the moment of feeling somewhat. . . alive. . . again. There was no heart beating in her chest or blood flowing through her veins, but the electric currents were a vague resemblance to living.

"I was human once, Daniel." She began, her voice soft and melancholy. "My name was," she paused, unable to recall who she was. Shaking her head, she searched her memory, the hint of the word in the back of her mind. "Helena." She recalled, a small smile gracing her lips in victory. "I died, too, only I was too afraid to accept it. Unlike you, I didn't have a human-born reaper to claim my soul and carry me to a peaceful place. I met Death Himself, and the bargain he struck with me was far worse than what I could ever do to you." She looked away from him, not wanting him to see the hurt in her eyes. "You see, we are born to live and die. It is natural, but I was too much of a coward to face my fate. That's who I was and this is what I have become."