Just when I said I was writing non-stop I don't post a chapter for 18 days.
This was originally supposed to be shorter, but I just couldn't stop writing. Enjoy!
When we got to the meeting room, about 20 Reapers were already there. They all took out their scythe's when they saw me. Nick stood in front of me. "Stand down," he told them. "Alex is here to help us. We're on the same side now."
I could tell the Reapers weren't thrilled about this. Some just looked confused. "Um, why," the youngest Reaper asked. Nick silently told me to tell them. I stepped up.
"There is a man, Lee Parker, who has cheated death. If he can do so, who's to say others can't either. We need to stop him before he escapes again," I said. The Reapers all whispered to each other as if they didn't believe me. I couldn't blame them. I wouldn't believe me either.
Nick stepped up. "It's true. The council has demanded we must bring Lee to justice. But we can't do it without Alex and his friend's help."
I turned to Nick. "What do you mean, "my friend's help?" Nick smirked. He cut through the air with his scythe like the Reaper who had captured me had done. On the other side was Jordan's living room. Then he went inside, and I had no choice but to follow.
The others were sitting on the couch, but the moment they saw Nick they all stood up. "Hey living people, Lena," Nick said. Lena grabbed a vase that was on the table. "No, no, no," I exclaimed, waving my hands and jumping in front of Nick. Lena let her arm fall to her side.
"Alex?"
I nodded. Lena ran over to me and hugged me tightly. I hugged back as if on instinct. When she let go, she shocked me with electricity, not enough to fatally injure but enough to hurt. "Ow!"
"If you ever do that again, I will kill you again, understand," Lena said, pointing at me. I nodded vigorously. "Promise," I said, my voice sounding more like a squeak. Yes, I was scared of Lena. She had a glass vase in her hands and the ability to electrocute me. She was scary okay?
Zack was the next person to come over to me, a big smile on his face. "You're not dead," he said, as if impressed. I shrugged. "Can't get rid of me that easily, can you 'bro'," I said, offering my hand for what he had told me was a high five. He laughed and high fived me.
"Okay, anyone want to explain who this guy cosplaying Severus Snape is, why he's here, and how he cut through the air with that death stick thing," Cory asked. Nick scoffed. "This is the Grim Reaper outfit, living girl who I don't know. And it's a scythe!"
Cory crossed her arms. "I'm calling it a death stick, but okay." Nick looked so insulted I was surprised he hadn't tried cutting her arms off. "Okay," I said, trying to ease the tension. "Nick, this is Cory, best friend of Jordan. Cory, this is Nick, leader of the Grim Reapers." Will and Henry looked over to Nick. They smiled to each other. "Cool."
Cory grabbed her trusty hard covered book she had used to attack a poor Reaper a few days ago. "Like the guy who kidnapped you?" I shook my head. "Well, yes. But he's on our side now."
Lena scoffed. "You expect us to believe that," she asked, glaring daggers at Nick. He sighed. "Lena, the guy who kidnapped Jordan is dangerous. You're lucky to have the Reapers on your side," Nick said.
"Someone's prideful of their occupation," Cory muttered. Nick turned to her. "And what is your job? A clerk in a gas station?" Cory smirked. "Actress, actually. And at least my job isn't killing people."
Nick shook his head. "People need to die eventually. Plus, your job is pretending. Or maybe it's not just a job, but a lifestyle. Who really are you, Cory? Does anyone know?"
Cory crossed her arms, looking uncomfortable. She scowled. "You know nothing about me, Death Kid."
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me, Death Kid."
"Okay, stop it you two," I said. Clearly I wasn't very good at easing the tension. "We are on the same side, so let's act like it. Nick, can you do that portal thing again to bring us to the base?"
"It's not a portal," he said, picking up his scythe. He did it anyway.
"That guy is so cool," Will whispered.
"Do you see that weapon? I want something like that," Henry said.
Nick smiled to himself as we walked through the portal to the meeting room. Will and Henry marveled at the place. "It's official. I want to be a Reaper when I'm dead," Will said. Henry nodded.
Zack shook his head. "You don't get to choose," he said. Neither Will or Henry seemed to care enough to listen though.
Once we got everyone situated, I explained everything. The only one who was skeptical was Cory, but she then went over her own memories and realized I was telling the truth, her director was a psychopath. Nick stood up. "We need a plan," he said, his voice carrying around the entire room. He must've been taking classes from the Council.
"We need to know where he is," Cory said. Everyone whispered amongst each other. The fact that we had no idea where he was never crossed any of our minds.
I stepped forward. "I can find him," I said. Lena laughed before realizing I was serious. "Alex, the last time you tried to do something like that, you almost didn't come back."
I nodded. "I know, Lena. But I need to try." Lena shook her head and grabbed my arm. "No, you're not."
"If I may, I don't think we have much of a choice," Nick said. Lena looked at Nick, annoyed at first, but she soon realized he was right. She sighed and let go of me. "I just don't want to lose you," she whispered.
I smiled and gave her a hug, which she returned. When we let go, I spoke. "You don't have to worry about me, Lena. I can take care of myself." She rolled her eyes. "When we first met in the Afterlife, you almost got run over by a car," she pointed out with a smirk.
"Okay, that is true, but I've grown since then," I exclaimed, my face turning red. Lena chuckled. "Just try not to die, okay?" I nodded. "I'll try my best."
Nick made everyone clear up an area in the middle of the room. I laid down on the ground and closed my eyes. Everything and everyone was silent as mice. Soon, I drifted off into the dreamscape.
When I opened my eyes, I was in a field. The grass was the color of wheat and everything just seemed boring, like it could make you fall asleep in an instant. This was where every dream started, the dreamscape itself. I took a deep breath and thought of nothing but Jordan and Lee Parker.
Suddenly the area changed and I was in a completely different place, a terrible place. The walls were made of metal. It was cold, not enough to make your lips blue but cold enough to be noticeable. There was no windows and only one door. The only thing in the room was a chair and on this chair was...Jordan.
She looked different. Broken. I had seen her gone through quite a lot over the past couple of weeks, but she always bounced back. Now I wasn't so sure.
Her lip was bleeding and she had a bruise on her head, as if someone had knocked her out. Her face was stained with tears, sweat, and blood. She breathed slowly and heavily, as if each breath took a lot of energy. Her legs and arms were chained to the chair. The chains were so tight I was surprised she still had circulation in her wrists and ankles. Not that I really could tell however, since she was so pale you never would've thought she had ever seen the sun. It really was a horrible sight.
I knelt down in front of her so we were at the same height. I didn't think she saw or heard me, for she didn't look at me. I held her hand gently. "I am so sorry Jordan," I said. "I should've been able to protect you."
Suddenly I heard the door open and I hid behind Jordan (even though the intruder probably couldn't see me).
"So, how is my little actress," the man taunted. I could tell instantly it was Lee Parker. I wanted to come out from my hiding place and slap him, or worse, stab him, but I was too scared to move and didn't have a weapon on me.
"You are a monster," Jordan managed to say. Parker laughed. "You still believe in good and bad, Jordan? Well, I must say I'm unimpressed."
Jordan took a deep breath, which seemed to cause her a sharp pain, and said one word.
"Why?"
Parker shook his head. "Because it is so easy. All you have to do is act sad and no one even thinks for a moment you could do something so horrid. And, to be honest, it's quite fun. Watching the life fade from a person's eyes. I never want to be that person, of course, but it truly is fascinating to watch it happen to someone else."
"You're a monster," I whispered, barely hearing myself over the sound of my heart pounding against my chest. He was crazy, there was no going around it. Killing children, well that must be a clear sign of insanity, wouldn't you think?
I slowly got up. Parker didn't notice me. I walked quickly and through the open door. I needed to know where I was.
I ran down the halls of this place. I made a few sharp turns, ran up a few flights of stairs, hoping to at least find a window. Finally, after what felt like hours, I found a small window. The sunlight gleamed through the glass, lighting up only a small patch of the dark ground.
But of course I had another problem. There was no way I was fitting through that tiny hole. Look, I may be skinny, but I'm not that skinny. In fact, I don't think anyone could fit through that window except for maybe a baby or a small animal.
That's when I actually proved I wasn't an idiot.
I didn't exactly know how to call her, it's not like I had a snake whistle or anything, so I just yelled her name. "SAKARI!"
For a moment, nothing happened and I thought it hadn't worked. Then something spoke to me.
I was wondering when you would need my help again.
I saw Sakari on the ground and smiled brightly. I had to admit, I had missed her. "Sakari, I need you to-"
Go through the window and see where we are. I know. Just lift me up.
I nodded and gently lifted her up to the window, which I opened. She slithered out. At first I was worried I had just dropped her off a 3 story building or something, but I didn't hear a splat or any dying sounds, so we were good. Plus, as far as I'm aware spirit animals can't die.
I waited for a few minutes before suddenly she appeared again, slithering back into the room. "So," I asked. "Where are we?"
We're in a underground base. Used to be military. It's underneath a grocery store called Grab and Go. About 3 blocks away from Jordan's home.
I smiled. "Thank you, thank you, thank you," I said to Sakari. She just smiled back at me. It's my job. Now go, save Jordan.
I nodded and closed my eyes. The next thing I knew, I was back in the meeting room. Everyone was staring at me. "I know where she is," I said.
"But we're gonna need a plan."
Everything's coming together! I hope you're ready, because the next few chapters are going to be big and probably crazy. But for now, have a great day (well night now for me when I'm writing this, but whatever)!
