Addicted to Redemption

Grim

Kate

- Everything got ruined two years ago. During a competition, I fall really badly, and broke several bones as I landed in the water.

- You can't fall that way. - he said.

- Someone helped me fall. I still don't know who, but it didn't matter. I fell out of league for a year due to recuperation and lost many scholarship opportunities. That was when my parents turned their heads away from me. As soon as I was "worthless" as they said, and they haven't received money after my achievements, they started to unleash their anger on me. First only with words, but those words left some scars that are still bleeding. After that, when I recovered, but couldn't move as I did before, the physical abuse started. - I said pulling up my hoodie and showing my side to him. His eyes widened and I saw anger written all over his face. I didn't really know how to react, nobody ever got angry on my account.

- My foster father hit me, and sometimes they extinguished their cigarettes on my skin when I was already asleep. Due to this, I learned to survive with only a few hours of sleep. But, I was still hopeful since I had my sweet boyfriend. I spent more and more time in his house and he reassured me that I was still beautiful and enough. I believed his kind words, I mistook pleasure with affection. A few months ago, we slept together, it wasn't my idea. I didn't feel myself prepared yet, but I was terrified to loose my last lifeline. I didn't want to hurt his feelings, so we ended up having s*x. He even took a video of us and a few spicy pictures. Looking back at it, it was one of my most stupid decisions, but the deed was done. I probably don't even need to say what came next. - I laughed bitterly and didn't dare to look at the reaper. He just listened in silence and I enjoyed letting all out. "Maybe by telling him everything I'll finally be free. Maybe that's what I need to cross the bridge and finally rest in peace."

- He leaked the videos of us and the photos of me. That was when the pain became unbearable. I still had a few painkillers from after my accident and at first I just took one a day, to ease the pain. But as things got worse, I needed more. In the end, I even stole my foster parents medicines and broke into the school nurse's room. When the regular painkillers couldn't help anymore, I found a guy on dark web, who sold me vicodin and morphine. He wasn't cheap, but I sold everything I could steel to cover my drugs. When I was high I felt light and like the world was slowing down for me to finally be able to catch up with it. But the effects wore off and I needed more. This is how I've ended up here. Probably the last dose was a bit more than my heart could handle, but it's nice now. - I didn't notice that my tears were falling the entire time I spoke and my hands were trembling. The grim reaper suddenly hugged me and I clinged onto him like a child on her mother after a terrible nightmare. His touch was calming, his scent even and his hug was so warm like the summer sun. He didn't say a word just held me in his embrace and waited till I calmed down.

- Kate. - he called my name after a while. I was getting sleepy.

- Yeah? - he caressed the top of my head and said.

- Let's fix things up a bit. - I pulled further, but it ached my heart. I wanted to feel his warmth a little longer.

- What do you mean? - I asked and he got up, bowing to me. He held my hand and looked deeply into my eyes. The eyes everyone hated, because it had a rare and weird color. The definition of this was tangerine, it wasn't neither brown, nor golden, nor pink, but something in between.

- I'll send you back and we will fix your life. - he said and I jumped up but he persistently held my hands.

- No! I don't want to! Please don't force me! - he stood up and pulled me into his arms.

- You won't be alone, I'll help you. If you still don't want to stay alive even after we try to fix everything, I won't get in your way again. Deal? - he asked and I looked into his eyes.

- How can I make sure that you'll keep your word? We just met. - he laughed and his laughter lighted up the space where we were standing. The darkness started to fade away and the silhouette of the ally where I took my drug was getting clearer.

- I'll keep my promise. - he said and kissed my forehead.

- See you soon, Kate! - a sudden light blinded me and when I finally saw clearly a medic was crunching in front of me.

-Young lady! Don't fall asleep again! Look at me! - he screamed and someone lifted me up. They took me to an ambulance and the car flew with me to the nearest hospital. I lost consciousness for a while and when I regained it again, a woman was standing next to my bed in a nurse uniform.

- Welcome back Katherine! You gave us a nice scare!

- Where am I? - I asked and she pat my arm.

- You are in the hospital, soon a psychologist will come to examine you and ask you about how you ended up in that ally. - I wanted to get up and flee but she gently pushed me back.

- Please rest until she arrives. - I was left alone and it was time for me to escape, but my arms were tied down to the bed.

- What the f**k?! - I screamed and through the open window, a black cat jumped in. It climbed on my bed and curled up on top of my stomach.

- Great... I became a cat bed. - I said and the cat lifted its ears. His golden eyes shined at me and I had to shake my head.

- Grim? - I asked and his unmistakable voice sounded in my mind.

- I told you I won't leave you alone Gingersnap!

- Get off of me and help me flee! - I said but he only licked his front paw and washed the back of his ear.

- Nope, this is the first step to fix things.

- You don't understand! If the psychologist finds out what happened, she'll send me to a sanatorium. If my classmates find that out, the bullying will only increase. If my foster parents find out about it... - my breathing quickened and my mind raced uncontrollably. My heart wanted to jump out of my chest and all I wanted was to hide somewhere. I fought against the restrictions they put on my ankles and wrists. The reaper turned into his human form and he held my face in his hands.

- Kate, look into my eyes. - I obeyed and immediately started calming down.

- Good girl, I won't let anything bad happen to you. Now rest a bit more.

- I don't even know your name.

- I don't have one. - he said nonchalantly.

- That's not okay, I'll call you Dean and if you look like a cat your name will be Grim. - he smiled and caressed my hair, the room filled with fragrance of flowers and before I noticed it, I fell asleep again.