The Head Grim Reaper

Living with those creatures, is that what you're gonna do now?"

Silver groaned out loud at the question, hitting his head against the hospital wall.

"I really don't want to." He murmured, not raising his head.

"Then why don't you just say no?"

Silver clicked his tongue in annoyance as he turned to his friend, "I can't!"

"What do you mean you can't?! You're a damned Grim Reaper!"

"You don't understand, J! I can't! That girl, everytime I try to decline her, she makes that face and it's like my body physically cannot utter out that two letter word 'no'!"

J stared at his friend as if he had gone mad, "Do you even hear what you're saying, A?!- wait, should I call you Silver now?" Silver shoved his friend to the side, who just laughed.

Their bubble was burst when the sound of wailing filled the quiet hospital coridoor.

"Ah.. it's time.." J stated, glancing over at the far end of the coridoor where people sat crying hysterically.

"Wait, mine or yours?" Silver asked as he looked at the purple band on his wrist and tapped it with his two fingers.

A purple hologram writing popped up as he touched the band.

81 years old

Janette Lauris

11:06 am

"Mine." Silver replied simply and pulled the hood of his cloak over his head, covering his face. The cloak which makes a Grim Reaper invisible to human eye.

"All the best!" J cheered, even though he didn't needed it.

Silver glanced at the crying family of the deceased once before entering the hospital room, unnoticed by everyone, except the soul of the old lady who no longer belonged to this world.

"Janette Lauris. 81 years old. Time of the death, 11:06 am." The translucent soul which stood beside it's body's bed, looked over to the Grim Reaper who had appeared before her.

She smiled lightly and willingly came to him and took his hand that was offered.

The Reaper took a deep breath, and in a moment, both stood inside what looked like the living room of a small house, decorated with a couch, in front of which was a little coffee table, a vase of green leaves over it.

The Grim Reaper took both of the soul's hands in his, "Look into my eyes," As the soul did it, 206's eyes glowed purple, sucking in every bit of memory inside the soul to judge her doings

"You've spent a worthy time on the Earth," He smiled and let go of the hands.

"You may proceed." The Grim Reaper lead the soul to a white door and opened it.

"These stairs will take you to your destination," In front were the stairs of Heaven, made with cloud. The soul smiled at the Grim Reaper before it went in.

It was his first client of the day, yet he feels worn out.

No. 206

'Ah, here we go again..' He quickly walked to the couch, not really wanting to fall on the ground, as soon as he reached the couch, darkness fell before his eyes while his body fell back.

When he opened his eyes again, he was back in the same dark room he was in yesterday, and has been for all these decades.

"Rise, my son."

In front of him, on a throne made of ashes, sat the most feared of all. Death.

He rose to his feet, but was immediately pushed down on his knees by an invisible force.

"You dare to raise your head after what you've done?" Death was nothing. All 206 had ever seen was a black cloaked figure, holding a scythe while red light glowed from it's eye sockets. He doesn't even know what's inside the cloak— not like he wants to know.

"Forgive me," 206 kept his head low this time, sitting on his one knee.

"Forgive you? I don't think I can." He didn't reply, knowing very well he'll end up digging his own grave.

"How is the progress?" 206 gulped, he has not even started, let alone make any progress.

"None yet." A loud growl shook the bricks of the wall as Death hit the base of his Scythe to the ground.

206 rose in air, red orbs forming around his wrists and ankles, almost pulling him apart.

"It should be done quickly, my son. Or else, you will see the consequences." Death pointed the tip of his Scythe towards his Grim Reaper, who screamed due to the electrifying pain running all over his body.

He could feel his skin being ripped open from several places in his body with the tingling sensation of blood trickling down.

His scream broke as he was thrown to the ground, barely able to hold himself up and coughing while curling into himself. Painting the ground red with his own blood.

"Go back."

He did, he came back with a loud gasp and the first thing he saw was, J.

"Been screaming for around 5 minutes now." Silver gulped in the saliva that formed in his mouth as he sat up on the couch, rather than being slumped.

He glanced down to his body, where he was already covered with even more bandages by J.

"I don't know what to do.." Silver groaned out as he rubbed his face with his hands.

"Hey, we can figure it out together, yeah? I'll help you, don't worry." Knowing his friend's distress, J got up from the stool and sat beside him before wrapping his arm around his shoulder.

Silver immediately buried his face on J's chest. J didn't protest, he let him stay there as a form of comfort.

J felt bad for his friend, a Grim Reaper isn't supposed to show empathy towards anyone, as, if the Grim Reapers started showing empathy, the world will be filled with numerous lost souls wandering on Earth.

They know they can't show empathy. The first time a Grim Reaper let out his empathetic side for a pathetic human being, he fell right into Death's 'Wanted list of Punishable Grim Reapers' and is still bearing the weight of what he did a few years ago.

And that same Grim Reaper is now sobbing on his friend's chest, filled with cuts and bruises of all sorts.

"There there, come on now we have work to do." With a snap of his fingers, J bought his cloak and upper piece of suit to let him wear it again.

Silver sniffled, but detached himself away from J to wear his clothes.

As the night rolled around, Silver layed on the corner of the empty highway road, waiting for that last soul he needs to take away.

He kept glancing at his wrist to check the count down 'til the next Death.

10

A loud whirring engine was heard.

9

Blaring horn of a truck inching forward.

8

Head lights of the truck falling on the road.

7

Sound of an over speeding bike engine making it's way through.

6

The truck and the bike are forwarding towards each other

5

They're a kilometer away, inching closer and closer with every passing second.

4

500 meters left, no one seems to be stopping now.

3

The truck driver cannot pull the brakes, the biker seems drunk, he isn't doing something to avoid the crash.

2

There it is, the loud crash between the large truck and the small bike.

1

Just a second before the heartbeat stops.

0

Instead of the countdown, the hologram showed the details of the dead.

26 years old

Harold Johnson

10:26 pm

Silver sat up with grunt as he looked around the crime scene. He didn't payed any attention to the bloodied body of the biker, rather checked around for the soul.

There it was, standing a few feet away, looking at his own body with horrified eyes.

He didn't wanted to, but he had to.

Silver stood up, pulled over his cloak went to the soul.

"Harold Johnson, 26 years old, Time of Death, 10:26 pm." The soul looked over to the Grim Reaper, then glanced back to the disastorous accident.

"No.. no.. I can't! This can't be- I-.. I can't be dead!- No!" The guy panicked, shaking his head in refusal.

"There is no point in lying to yourself now, just come." 206 offered his hand to the soul, but he refused to take it.

"How- how, how can I be so sure you aren't playing some kind of sick joke." He was already exhausted today, he didn't felt like dealing with another stubborn soul today.

"Are you really that dumb? You can see your own body on the ground. How the hell do you think it's a joke?" But the soul shook his head, staggering away from The Grim Reaper.

In a swift moment, he caught the soul's jacket. "You don't really have a choice." He grabbed the soul's jaw made him look into his eyes, once again sucking the memories out.

"Looks like you weren't very nice." As he let go of the soul for a second to open the portal of Hell, the soul grabbed the opportunity and made a run for it.

"Oh for \*\*\*\*'s sake." He grumbled before sprinting towards the running soul. While running, with a charm of his hand, the portal to hell opened beside him.

"Hey, 206—"

"Catch that fucker!" Without even letting the Demon greet him, 206 pulled him out of the portal, still running.

"Shit." The Demon too ran beside 206 to chase the soul.

"Why is he so fast?!" The demon spoke, trying to catch up.

"He was a runner!"

"Don't you have some sort of power to like grab him?"

"It doesn't work on souls!"

"What kind of Grim Reaper are you?"

"What kind of a Demon are you?"

"Wow. No need to bite back."

"Shut up and catch him!" The two put their focus in catching up with the star track runner, finally being able to grab it's jackets.

Three of them stood around as 206 panted, almost on the ground from all the running.

"Take him.." He wheezed out as the Demon grabbed the soul and made his way back through the portal.

It was the time for him to return home. He took a deep breath and in a split second, stood in front of a tall building which was hidden away in the forest, away from the public view.

It was the home to numerous Grim Reaper that roamed the Earth.

A sudden force clasped down on his shoulders, making him flinch and turn to see who ever it was.

"How's my favourite Grim Reaper 206 doing standing here all alone?" He turned to see another one of his companion standing there, smiling proudly.

"The hell you want, 334?" The Reaper pouted, before wrapping his arms around 206.

"Woah, can't I even check up on my friend who didn't return last night?" Silver rolled his eyes before shrugging the hand away and walking further without replying.

"Oh come on, 206! I'm your friend!-"

"I think we should start calling him Silver now!" J's loud voice caught attemtion of numerous other Grim Reapers along with the one being called out.

Silver clicked his tongue and wielded a dagger before throwing it J's way, who dodged it elegently.

"Wait, am I missing out on something?" 334 furrowed his eyebrows as he looked between Silver and J.

"He'll tell you, eventually." J shrugged, also leaving 334's side to drape a lazy hand around Silver.

"You guys never tell me anything.." He mumbled to himself before walking faster to catch up with the duo.

The three entered the cafeteria designed for the Grim Reapers to eat anytime they wanted.

"Who's that?" Silver asked, gesturing over to a female sitting alone of a table near the window, staring at her food without touching.

"Don't know-"

"She's 665, came last night only, but refuses to talk to anyone in here." Silver and J turned to 334 with surprised faces, how does this man always has the information?

"Why doesn't she talk?" Silver asked again, glancing over to the girl.

"That, I don't know." 334 gave a sheepish smile as Silver nodded in acknowledgement and was about to walk away, but his plans for a quiet night were shattered when J dragged both him and 334 over to the girl.

"Hey there!" J chirped with a bright smile, but the girl didn't return it. She looked over to the trio with a dead look in her eyes before turning her face away to look out of the window.

"So much efforts for smiling." Silver grumbled and tried to make an escape but J's grip on him wouldn't let him.

"Well, I'm 207, you can call me J- wait no, you can't. Sorry." J corrected himself before Silver can do anything to harm him once again for letting someone else call him J.

"So? Who are you?" J sat down in front of the girl, pulling Silver and 334 down with him.

"He told you. Didn't he?" She gestured over to 334 who chuckled nervously.

"Yeah, he did.. but-"

"But what?" J sighed in defeat as he turned to Silver.

"Had your shot?" Silver raised one of his eyebrows. "You see here, not everyone is as friendly as you. And you can't win over everyone, you get that, J?"

"Yeah.."

"Friendly?" The three turned to the girl who spoke out of the blue.

"You don't understand english?" Silver sassed, getting a jab on his ribs by J.

"Hey, it still hurts," Silver's protest was left alone as the other two had their full attention towards the girl.

"Are you guys actually Grim Reapers? Friendly you say." She scoffed, folding her hands over her chest while she was given confused looks from the other two.

"What's.. what's wrong with being friendly?" 334 asked his two seniors who shrugged and wanted the newbie to elaborate her point.

"You are Grim Reapers for God's Sake!" The whole cafeteria went silent and looked horrified towards the girl.

"What..?" He voice was suddenly small for being the bold woman she was pretending to be.

"That's why I hate newbies," Silver sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Did no one gave her the rule book yet!?" Silver spoke loud enough for the Grim Reapers to be shook right through their spines.

"Uh.. A..?" Silver glanced over to J to see what he had to say. He followed J's line of view and saw the girl passed out on her chair, her limbs shaking.

"\*\*\*\*\*\*\* hell.." He cursed, unable to take his eyes off of the trembling girl.

"A, help her! She's new! Death won't leave her for this!" J looked back and forth from the girl to his friend, who's the only one who can save her.

"But what will he even do? It's not like he can talk to Death anytime be wants, Death hasn't called him.." 334 spoke, his eyebows furrowed from concern about the girl.

"He's not the Head Grim Reaper for nothing." J's statement seemed to throw 334 in a state of extreme shock which made him unable to comprehend the information that was thrown over to his way.

"He- he.. he's the head Grim Reaper..?"

"Shut up for a minute, will you?" J scolded before turning back to Silver.

"A, please, you've got to do it."

Silver sighed, he wouldn't admit, but he was afraid to go in front of Death once again. But on the other hand, these Grim Reapers were his responsibility, only if he returned last night, she wouldn't be in this trouble right now.

"Fine.."

Silver sucked in a deep breath, his eyes once again glowing purple as he mumbled something under his breath, and soon enough, his body layed limp, sprawled out over the chair.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***