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The house moved and swayed like any normal bird would, sniffing the air, stepping effortlessly over slain trees. Surrounding the beast was a fence made of partially decomposing human remains and, unknown to Magnús, inside the cabin’s viscera lived a Grandmother Jadwiga, also known as the Baba Yaga.
“I’m taking your existence, and you’re taking mine,”
For now, a thousand-year prison sentence holds him until he, too, can replace himself with another.
“Sonny, your mother called. I’m sorry to say, but there has been a horrible…accident.” Sonny sat there, with full cheeks and an even fuller curiosity. “She’s on her way from the hospital to pick you up. I’m so sorry sweetie,” Ian’s mother said with electric grief.
“she knew she was really sad, when she stopped loving the things she loved.” - atticus finch
The loved one in this case, his father. The one parent he actually liked.
Sonny’s father took exactly 48 Tylenol extra-strength pills, along with a mug chaser of bleach and a quart of scotch. No note.
Fuck you for leaving me with her. Fuck.
A chill replaced curiosity as he noticed the change. These were not his father’s eyes. At least he didn’t think so. The whites were yokey and greying—the pupils an inferno red.
Probably because it was her husband and not her son who swallowed the death candy, and now she was stuck with the boy who, in her words, “stole her dreams.”
Sonny let his father’s hand fall limp onto the bed and began to follow his mother out. Leaving his father, or his father leaving him, he couldn’t tell.
“We both know why he committed suicide.” “Don’t you dare,” his mother said, low and sharp. “Because of you…you made him miserable.” “You will forever regret this moment, Sonny Scott Richards.” Sonny looked down at his hands; they weren’t shaking anymore.
For the first time, he witnessed someone in actual worship, whatever that meant. Her eyes were closed, and yet it looked as though she could see God before her. Like she was singing to someone, not just at them. It was weird, but at that moment, he couldn’t tell if he wanted Jess or what she had…a God.
Truthfully, he knew he’d believe anything she told him.
Actually, Sonny, where are my manners? I apologize. I am Death, your Grim Reaper, God of the Grave, Prince of Extinction and Darkness incarnate…and it is an absolute honor to meet you.”
“Evil?” The Reaper called back, a noticeable change in tone. “You’re wrong, Sonny. Would you call the blade in surgery ‘evil’ even though it cuts away the disease? Would you call lightning ‘evil’ even though it brings with it the rain to feed your crops? Sonny, I am not evil. I am the reaction to your world’s evil. I exist, because your sin exists.”
“You miss him?” Reaper asked, softly turning the night in a very different direction. “I think so,” Sonny said, as if he was questioning his own emotions. “I can’t tell if the silent aching within me is mad at him for doing what he did, or just mad that he’s gone. Did he see you before he killed himself? Did he have that peace?” Sonny asked, realizing the Reaper could possibly offer insight unknown to everyone else. The Reaper looked away quickly from Sonny’s pink eyes. “Games starting.”
Yet, it didn’t move, it didn’t lunge, it just whispered with its lips clinking together like they were made out of glass, saying over and over… “Purge Jess.”
“What did you just say?” Sonny’s blood went cold. “Your Father, he too broke the oath, and paid the consequences for it.”
“I’ve never hated anything as much as I hate you,” The Boy Who Would Become Death said, and flipped the Reaper off with a slow and limp finger. “I know,” the Reaper whispered, “I know.”
“Fyrirgefðu!”
As Death I watched her give up every moment of life. I waited, hoping she would seize some new form of happiness, new love, new purpose…but alas it never came.
“That will be my torture for eternity.” “But then, last night when I saw your mother’s embrace, I saw my wife. I saw you as her son. And I couldn’t let that happen to your Mother. To you.”
“Reaper, I can see the sunrise. The sunrise! Why can I see the colors of the sunrise?!”
Sonny wasn’t sure how long they stood there, but he would always know it was never long enough. How does one leave the other who they’ve grown to need?
