Dead Like Him

My body was carried outside and set down on the ground, only for him to grab my arm and begin to drag me towards the Southside. I had to admit, Colton scared me and the look of annoyance on his face didn’t do anything to put my fears at ease.

“Stop! Colton, please!” I begged, trying to thrash from his grip but he wasn’t listening and he sure as hell wasn’t letting me go.

“If you calm down and stop fighting me I will release your arm. You’re needed for a job and you need to learn how to reap so you can do these tasks by yourself. Harry can only help you so much and if you’re going to be disrespectful he won’t be able to and you’ll end up finding yourself in trouble. So, here’s the deal. If you get through today without incident – I’ll buy you a slice of pecan pie, how’s that sound?” Colton smirked, holding his hand out for me to shake, his annoyance masked in a seeming truce.

“Fuck the pie, I want to go home and see my family!” I exclaimed, ripping from his grasp and tucking my arms under me so he wouldn’t grab me again. I didn’t bother to run this time, only because Colton didn’t play fair when it came to catching souls. He cheats.

“Fine, I’ll take you home to check up on your family. Although you’re missing out on the pie - believe me, it’s to die for,” Colton cackled, motioning me toward the street. “Come on, sour lemon, we got a soul to kill and reap.”

I stood there a moment, observing. It amazed me how someone so sarcastic would choose to kill humans. I did not get it and to be truthful, I hated him. He was the one responsible for my untimely demise.

“Why me? Do you enjoy killing humans?” I asked, following him across the street and over to a dimly lit duplex.

“I’m a grave maker, Calla, we kill. Not because it’s fun but because that’s what we were chosen to do. Just like Harry and his gang were chosen to be reapers. It’s in their job description.” Colton shrugged, smiling slightly. “Life isn’t fair but to be frank, your death was set up in a way where-no matter the boy’s fate, you would have died. The higher powers saw something that benefited you more so dead than alive. I’m just sorry it had to be you, you were a beautiful person.”

Colton spoke genuinely and held out his hand for me to take.

“Be my date? I promise I won’t bite - well, only if you wanted me to.” He snickered while winking.

I didn’t get him; he was a mystery of the universe and no one even knew he existed.

I took his hand, knowing it wasn’t a request and let him guide me into the rundown duplex. When we passed through the door, the first thing I saw was a broken down hallway. It was stripped bare, concrete lining the ground and holes in the walls. It was an ugly off yellow, some parts covered in a light crimson and others had urine stains.

“When was the last time you were human? What about Harry, how’d he die? How long have you been reapers?” I asked, pinching my nose at the strong smell that came from inside this desolate and depressing building.

“Harry and his group-that’s not my story to tell but let’s just say, most girls would give their afterlife to be reapers and have Harry Styles train them to take souls for a living.” Colton rolled his eyes, guiding me down a smaller hallway and to a door before stopping. “As for me, I’ve never been a reaper. I have always been a grave maker. Been here for about thirty-five years and still don’t look a day over twenty-three. As for my death - that’s something we’ll discuss over pie later, right now focus on your job.”

He guided me into the room we had stopped at and I saw a lone figure in there. They were hunched up against the wall, a needle stuck in their arm.

Judging by their unconscious body I found it was safe to say that the boy was close to overdosing. Which meant Colton took me to a place where I would be reaping a drug addict’s soul…fun.

“You have to wait for them to completely die before you take their soul, otherwise it gets a bit tricky, and luckily you have me to help with that part.” Colton explained, going over to the unconscious figure, examining the needle dangling in his vein before gently taking hold of it and plunging the rest of the drug into his system. “Some kills are easier than others. I don’t feel sorry for these types…normally. This guy’s name is Nick and he’s eighteen. This was his first time doing heroin and as you know, it’ll be his last. The batch that he injected was bad and he had enough in the needle for two highs.” Colton explained, guiding my hand over to his body.

“I want you to take his energy into you. Harry took your soul before you kissed the front end of that train - had he not, you would have felt it coming and your soul would probably still have the after mark to prove it too.”

“I-I don’t understand. You just said they had to be completely dead.” I stuttered, really at a loss on reaping souls in general.

Colton took a deep breath, closing his eyes to center himself.

“Harry took your soul before you died, he essentially broke a rule but he is merciful like that. You wait for them to transpire, you then reach in and ‘help them up’ in a sense, freeing them from their human bonds.”

Colton was talking Danish to me at this point. He could have been telling me I had to perform a blood sacrificing ritual wearing a tutu and singing the national anthem and it would sound all the same. I did not understand and he was not explaining it any clearer.

“Colton, please, I’m sorry-I-I just don’t understand.”

Colton murmured something before taking out a cell phone…wait, a Cell phone?

“Calling Harry because under grave maker law I’m not allowed to do it for you. I’m a grave maker, not a reaper; we follow different sets of rules and if I reap – the powers that be will have my nuts roasted on a spit.”

I watched him dial a few numbers before going to sit beside the guy he had just essentially murdered.

“Harry? I got some good news. She came with me without much problem; the bad news is she’s not getting anything I’ve explained. Could you or one of your little groupies come down here, possibly show her how it’s done? You know I would but – grave makers aren’t allowed to reap, so…” He trailed off, smiling. “Alright, send Zayn down here then, looking forward to it.”

With that he shut the phone off and looked back at me.

“Zayn’s a pro reaper, you should get it within the first few times he shows you. Like I said, I’d help you but I follow a different set of rules.

“Why isn’t Harry going to help?” I asked, swallowing at the mention of Zayn helping with anything. In truth I was just biding my time, I didn’t want to reap - it downright scared me. Unfortunately, I also couldn’t run while Colton was around, he’d just catch me. I really was well and truly trapped.

“He and Louis are having a bit of trouble of their own at the moment. Zayn’s one of the better reapers, you’re in good hands, doll face.” Colton smirked, glancing at me as I paced a little back and forth. I hated the feeling of being trapped – especially in a room with a killer.

“How long will Zayn be? Can I go outside for some air? I need air.” I paced, feeling the anxiety creep up my chest. If I were alive, I’d be having a panic attack but since I’m dead, I know that’s not the case considering my heart isn’t beating.

“Sweetheart, you’re dead, you don’t need to breath. Just relax, come sit down next to me; I’ll make you feel better.” He said soothingly, which didn’t do me any favors at all.

“No thanks, I’m good here.” I told him, still pacing the floor.

Colton sighed and stood up again, walking over to me and taking me in his strong arms.

“Shhh, relax. Everything will be alright.” He soothed, which caused me to panic. If there’s one thing I didn’t want was him touching me.

“Colton, please…I-I don’t want you touching me.” I stuttered, trying to break free from his hold but noticed he didn’t relinquish his touch.

“I know you’re looking for a way to run and I’m telling you, that’s not going to solve your problem. Believe me, many try and none have ever succeeded.” He explained, rocking my body along with his.

“You cheated, you tripped me. Besides, I’m not running.” I defended my actions, hearing him chuckle, his voice sultry and richly deep.

“You were thinking of running.” Colton accused, turning me to face him again. “I really want to help, Calla, but I’m not going to be able to if you don’t learn what’s being taught. If you get so many strikes as a reaper, you use those strikes up and you get terminated. Your soul is put in the deepest part of the furthest depths of a world that does not exist. So do yourself a favor, Call, love, stop running away or you’re going to find your feet taking you to someplace where you don’t want to be.” He let me go and sat back with the now dead body.

“Nice speech, Colton. You picked that up from reader’s digest for the dead?” Zayn smirked, walking through the wooden door and over to us. “So, luv, you ready to reap?”

His very presence intimidated me. I couldn’t explain the danger I sensed around this boy but it was there. I know they say fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me and fool me three times…well, I knew what I was about to do was stupid as it hadn’t worked the last few times but I really just wanted to go home.

Zayn sensed something amiss as I slowly began to back off.

“Don’t be shy, luv, I’m here to help. Colton said you needed-“

I didn’t wait to hear anymore and backed away from them. In fact, I was so desperate to get away I went through the whole entire building through the walls, out the side and down the street. I was in pure panic mode and I had no idea why. If I wasn’t already dead, I most likely would be from a heart attack.

I didn’t know which way was home but I ran from the Southside corner, down the street and I was out of sight before even I could blink. The problem with that was, though, I was now completely lost.

Notes