2 | The Grim Reaper is a Café Manager
1175 Words
I don't believe in anything supernatural. I don't believe in ghosts. I don't believe in the afterlife. I don't believe in the Grim Reaper. But all of it was real. I've seen a man walk through a wall. I've seen the afterlife and most importantly, the Grim Reaper is a café manager. I sat on the sofa in his office as he watched me drink my third glass of water. I looked around his office, looking for the scythe. I mean, Grim Reapers depicted in movies usually have that. And he looked like an ordinary manager. Nobody would ever think of him as someone who fetches souls. But one thing that would really stand out about him was his long black hair. It was longer than mine and his beauty is just...ethereal.
"So, you're the Grim Reaper? Like the actual Grim Reaper?"
"That's right." He gave me a smile.
"So...how did I die?" I asked. But he just shook his head. I don't have any recollection of how I died. And as if that wasn't strange enough, I couldn't even feel...sad. The only thing I could feel was confusion and the desire to know what's going on.
"I'm afraid I can't tell you that." He crossed his arms as he looked at the door when it opened. Raphael then entered and gave me another glass of water.
"Why?"
"Because I don't know how you died. My job is just to fetch souls."
"Then the moment you fetched me, you should have seen where I was or what my situation was before I died."
He just shook his head again before he said, "I don't go to the souls. The souls go to me. Some would just barge inside this café like that man you saw earlier and for some special souls like you who have no sense of direction, the moment you died, your souls will be automatically sent to the Arbor."
I ignored his remark and asked, "Arbor?"
"It's a sacred place where the tree of life is located." He stood up and a piece of red paper appeared on his palms. I almost choked on my water.
"And speaking of Arbor, it seems like I have another soul to pick up." He looked at me before he went on, "Do you want to come?"
He went to where his coat was and wore it. "You were unconscious when you arrived at Arbor that's why I had to fetch you and not all souls know the way to this café." He opened the paper that magically appeared on his hand and read what was written on it.
He then offered his hand at me which I took and before I could even mutter something darkness closed in until I could see nothing. It was just for a short amount of time and the next thing I knew I was in a totally different place. We found ourselves on a huge stone bridge. I roamed my eyes around and I could see some people roaming around.
"Are those newly arrived souls?"
Mr. Grim just looked at the other souls and then looked at me. "Some of them."
"So where is the Ardor?"
"At the end of this bridge," he said and looked far ahead. I followed his gaze and indeed a huge tree was at the end of the bridge. It was probably the biggest tree I have ever seen. Its branches spread as far as they could and it grew as tall as it could. It's orange, yellow, and red leaves blanketed the bridge and also the river below us. And it's the most beautiful tree she has ever seen too.
"Is that Ardor?"
"That's where Ardor is, yes."
"And how many souls are you going to be fetching there?" I asked as we walked down the bridge.
"Only one."
I looked at him questioningly. "How many souls come here every day?"
"I don't count them."
"Are you the only one Grim Reaper?"
"There are quite a several of us."
"Like how many?"
I was pinned on my spot when he gave me a glare before he said, "You ask too many questions, Miss Sheira."
I scoffed. "And isn't that part of your job? To answer every soul's question?"
He stayed silent for a few seconds. "I don't know how many exactly. I am assigned here in this small city and there are about a hundred cities."
I just nodded and continued walking. "Why is it that I don't feel anything other than shock? I mean I just...died. Is it normal?"
"You're still in the stage of denial. Despite everything you've seen, you're still hoping all of this isn't true." He gave me a sideward glance. "And besides, you have no recollection of how you died. That's probably another reason."
I looked at the ground and thought about it. I still have a memory of my family, at least. And I couldn't help but wonder how they are after I died.
Mr. Grim stopped and I did too and I realized we've reached the end of the bridge, where Ardor is. It was even more beautiful up close. I marveled at the sight of the tree that I didn't realize Mr. Grim was gone. I looked around and I found him near the tree trunk where a girl was sleeping. I saw Mr. Grim crouched down beside the sleeping girl before he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. His face was uncharacteristically solemn, sad as he looked at the sleeping girl. He stared at her for a little bit more before he picked her up and carried her in his arms.
Mr. Grim looked at me and his solemn look was gone. I looked at him walking with the girl in his arms. "Did you bring me to the café like that, too?"
"You couldn't walk while sleeping so I had no choice."
I just looked at the girl. She is pretty. Like someone who would be school popular because she's gorgeous and she looked friendly. Like someone who would be anybody's friend.
Before I could even ask who the girl is, Mr. Grim disappeared like how we did earlier and I was left alone in there.
"Mr. Grim?" I called but he wasn't there anymore.
Did he just leave me out of here?
"Mr. Grim?" I called again but nobody answered. I sighed and was about to turn when something hard hit my face. I yelped in pain as I fell on the ground butt first. I touched my face where I was hit and it was when I realized I was hit by a soccer ball.
What the –
When I turned to look, a boy, about my age was running towards me. He was wearing a soccer jersey. And he stopped in front of me. I gave him a glare but he got the nerve to grin and crouch in front of me.
He gave me a boyish grin as he said, "Well, hello there, Newlander."
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- Writer
