Addicted to Redemption

Abyss

Kate

"This is nice... I don't feel anything, it's like when I'm floating in the pool. It's so peaceful and nice. Did I overdo it? Probably, but no one will care about it." The floating stopped and I was standing in complete, endless darkness. The silence hurt my ears a bit and all I could hear was my own breathing and heartbeats. In the distance I saw a tall figure walking towards me. It had a long, dark grey and black, shabby, cloak with a hood covering its face. In its right hand, there was a scythe taller than it.

- Holy shit... - I mumbled and the creature stopped for a moment. Then, it approached me in a hurry and grabbed my shoulders. It turned me from side to side and asked in a surprised voice.

- Do you see me? - his voice wasn't too deep, actually I liked it. The words got stuck on my throat at my own fascination that I liked something after such a long time. He waved his hand in front of my eyes and I grabbed it earning a squeak and a jump from him.

- f*****g hell! You do see me! - he exclaimed and held his head.

- How could this happen? Hey did you have an accident? - he asked.

- Define accident. - I couldn't see his eyes in the darkness, nor his face but I could tell his eyes widened when I've spoke.

- An event that happens by chance or that is without apparent or deliberate cause. - I shrugged and released his hand.

- I suppose we can say so, I've overdosed myself but it wasn't intentional, although, I don't really mind it. My life sucked. So, what comes now? Purgatory? Or am I directly going to Hell? - he sat on the ground and looked confused. He snapped his fingers and a book appeared in them. He passed the pages frantically and searched for something. The whole scene reminded me of my classmates when we had an exam and they tried to read the most of their textbooks in the least time. I walked behind him and he didn't even notice me. The book contained several scenarios where people died and ended up here. I couldn't hold a chuckle back and caught my hands in front of my mouth. I haven't laughed in years. He jumped up and hold the book to his chest.

- No peeking, no touchy touchy! - I blinked a few times but couldn't resist the laughter.

- I'm sorry but am I dreaming? I mean you look like the grim reaper and we are in an endless darkness, yet you are reading a book titled "101 ways to die" full of instructions about people's soul who passed away.

- This is private stuff! Why did you read it?

- I got bored!

- Bored? Listen here Gingersnap.

- My name is Kate.

- Kate Gingersnap, you are supposed to be dead, but I have no idea what you are doing in the abyss.

- What do you mean by you have no idea?

- Are you fading away or did you originally had issues with your hearing? As I said, I don't know why you are here. You should be either dead or alive. People who end up here don't spend such a long time here because they pass away or getting CPR.

- Okay... I suppose I'll just have to wait then.

- Probably. But I can't leave you here unattended. - he created a bench of mist and sat on it, patting the other side of the bench telling me to take a seat. I sat down and after a slight pause he asked.

- Why did you use drugs? You are so young and beautiful. - I felt my cheeks blushing and confirmed mentally that I'm probably dying slowly.

- That's a long story.

- I guess we have some time. - he shrugged and his voice sounded lively.

- First answer me a question.

- I'm all ears!

- How is it possible that you don't know everything from that book? Aren't you like timeless? - he pulled the hood back revealing his appearance. It was a young man, maybe a few years older than I. Pitch black, short, slightly curly hair, golden eyes and fair skin. He was extremely handsome. A smile spread on my face. He pulled the hood back.

- Don't laugh at me! - I pulled the hood down and said in my defense.

- I'm not laughing! I just thought that you are deadly handsome! - he blinked at me and sighed.

- You should end up in Hell with such a horrible sense of humor! - I punched him in the shoulder and said.

- Add abuse to the list too! - he chuckled and shook his head.

- Gingersnap was too cute nickname for you! Well, Spitfire, if you really want to know, I'm the next grim reaper in line, I'm just practicing right now. My father went on a vacation leaving me at charge and there you are... Ruining my so far flawless resume!

- I'm sorry, believe me it is not intentional! - he smiled.

- Yeah, I supposed! So, what happened? - I sighed and played with a curl of my deep red hair.

- Let's say that everything went down the drain in the last three years. I was adopted by a kind couple when I was ten, they noticed my innate talent for swimming and immediately signed me up in a team. I loved deep diving and competitive swimming, it meant liberty and before, I could've realized it, swimming became my entire life. I've won several championships and competitions, my parents were proud of me and I felt like I finally was worthy of their affection. When several universities offered scholarships after high school I was in cloud nine! I even met a really sweet boy, who supported and cherished me.

- Sorry, but this sounds like a fairytale, I don't understand how you ended up here, talking with me. - I looked into his eyes and there was something calming in his presence. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes for a moment as I recalled how my life fell into pieces.

- Desperation is a real b***h you know? When you have no power to stop or avoid something, all you can do is sit and watch, how everything you worked for slips through your fingers, no matter how hard you are trying to hold onto. - he patted my back and smiled kindly.

- Take your time.