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Damon

The best part about knowing someone's death, is that you get to prepare yourself emotionally.

Something Catherine didn't get the chance to do when she saw Ellie.

Benjie already told me this would happen. And maybe in my own little way, I wanted to spare her the pain, keep her mind off Ellie even for just a couple of hours. It was the wrong move to make, I knew  from the look she gave me when she found out that I knew. During that one brief moment, I thought she hated me.

Words failed me while she sat there, holding Ellie's hand. I found it difficult to breathe and I didn't know why it scared me.

It scared me more than the first time I saw nasties near the playground I used to go to when I was a kid. It was like loosing a woman that was close to me all over again.

And I didn't understand why. I still don't.

I don't want her to hate me. Right now, she's all that I have. And that realization scared the hell out of me.

But then I was made by someone with a piece of hell with him. I couldn't help who I am.

Ellie's funeral service only lasted for two days, not because she had no living relative that we knew of, but because Catherine and I saw no point on mourning over her when we both knew she was happy with Benjie.

The last poker night was his farewell party and he spent it sneaking out and visiting Ellie.

I know Catherine's still trying to figure things out and she would  look at me, as if she was thinking of something else entirely. Like she was trying to figure me out.

She was trying. And I get these short panic attacks whenever I think about it too much. But she would hold my hand, and it would make me slow down. She helps me get myself together. It's been awhile since I lost someone, so everything felt like the first time. The feelings and the worry about what I'm going to do now.

I think that's how she feels .

It's when she could talk to people,  but there would be that part of her that she keeps all to herself. Not because she's closing in on them, but because she's too afraid to hand that fragile piece of her to someone.

Whoever he is, he's one lucky bastard.

She went back to the apartment to sort Ellie's things and decided that we should bring them to a church for charity. That's what Ellie would've  wanted us to do. A lawyer would be coming over at our apartment to discuss about her other properties.

The doctor told us that she had heart complications and nobody really saw it coming. That was why Benjie was always nearby.

We  were given a certain time period on a person's passing, but never the exact date. That way, there's no chance of someone cheating death.

You see, humans have this mind-set that makes 'em think they can, when all they're doing is delaying it. Nobody could escape death. Unless you're the big Guy.

Or Bruce Almighty.That would be ridiculous.

I don't consider seeing dead people a good thing. I think any person in their right mind would think so, too.

It made me feel like a freak. Like no matter how hard I try to blend in, deep down, I knew I wouldn't. And I hated it.

I met Ellie when I was thirteen. I decided that nobody would really want a weird kid and the only people who would take me in would be people just like me.

Freaks.

I happened to climb the same oak tree at her apartment's backyard. And it was that moment that she opened her window, like she always would, just to see the tree she had planted when she was still with Benjie.

Being the lanky boy that I was,and an awful sense of balance,I fell off, hitting branches on my way down.

Maybe it was my time and I guess I thought that I was okay with it. But I got up, and it felt like I just fell off my bed. Aside from the fuzzy feeling, I was completely fine.

Ellie practically dragged me inside just to make sure that I was okay. It was awkward for me that I was being taken care of. Aside from my mother, nobody ever fussed over me. The guys at the garage weren't exactly affectionate but they were civil. A new kid hanging out with a bunch of reapers.

Ellie made sure I ate the dinner she served and I guess it was puberty but I cried. I didn't cry when my mother left, or when I was always alone at school. But I cried then, and she held me in her arms the way my mother held me when I was scared.

And that was how I felt.

Scared.

When it was over,I had my head down and a glass of water in my hands.

She asked me if I would like to come over every once in a while and I said yes.

I made my way back to where the Benjie and the others stayed and they all turned to me when I made my way inside. Benjie was the first one to grab onto me. I was so afraid that he'd be mad that I ran off, but he pulled me into a quick hug and messed my hair.

Turned out they were all going nuts when I went missing.

I knew then that I was not alone anymore.

Now I can tell you that it wasn't just divine intervention that happened when Ellie showed up on the apartment door when Catherine was losing her shiz. She knew I was coming. And she trusted me with this woman I saw crying at the side of the road the night before.

-
After everyone left,mostly the residents of the building, I headed towards my bike. Catherine refused to see Ellie's body being buried.

"Your old friend just retired, huh."

I closed my eyes, hearing that same deep voice that talked to me the night my mother found out I was a spawn of something she considered evil.

"I'm surprised you didn't bring Sabina to come and get me."

The man chuckled. "You know she was just being nice."

"I don't know if hell has it's own dictionary, but kidnapping someone isn't nice."

Ignoring the man completely, I got to my bike. I'm not going to talk to him. I survived without him up to now.

"Are you still mad about what I did to your mother?"

That stopped me. Gripping onto my bike's handles, I turned my head to him.

"I'm not a child to hold grudges, father.  And what you did was best for her. Keeps her away from the likes of you."

He was wearing a black suit. Heck, he always wore a black suit.

"No need to be so brazen,child. I haven't seen you since you were twelve. How have you been?" He had a heavy Italian accent. It always depends on where he stays.

"I've been doing great," giving him a sarcastic smile. "fixing and costumising cars. Catching souls just like you wanted me to."

He sighed, looking like he was ashamed or was just too tired of having the same argument again. Of course I haven't seen him since I was a kid. But he would be that voice inside my head, the way nasties talked to each other and I didn't like it one bit. Sometimes, I get annoyed and answer back. When I told him about what I  inherited from him, and how I hated it, he wouldn't talk back anymore.

"You should accept it kid,you're going to live with that for the rest of your life. Then maybe after you're done here, you could help me-"

I laughed. He looked so confident standing beside my motorbike. Like he just happened to pass by an associate and was asking about his trip to Hawaii.

I would have considered myself his spitting image, but Death didn't suffer afterschool brawls and got his nose broken, or measles, or teenage acne. Death wasn't human.

"You think I wasn't aware of what you've  been doing to lost souls? Or the souls already condemned in hell? What you're doing is the main reason why reapers get extra work. You're letting the motherfcking nasties escape." I glared at him but he just let out a soft sigh and smoothened his coat. Thunder boomed and I had to look up to see the sky still a nice shade of blue.

"I work for those who I benefit from."

"I don't have time for this." I put on my helmet before kickstarting my bike.

"I see you've  been working with the other side. You've got quiet the privileges."  

"What the hell are you talking about."

He smirked, "Ever wondered why your lady friend's soul doesn't leave her body when you stare at her, anymore? The folks above are making things easier for you to be close to her. Too close if you ask me."

with that, he disappeared.

***
"Well! I got her clothes put away. There was a box for me though. Lots of long dresses." she wiped the sweat on her brow before handing me another box. Ellie had boxes with our names on it already. The lawyer told us they were ours.

I got kitchenware.

While I was at the burial, she started cleaning Ellie's things up.

Mr. Fluffy sat on the chair by the window and acted as supervisor while we sorted her owner's belongings. Well during most of the process of packing he was asleep so I think he needs a new job.

"What?" she gave me a vase  frowning when she found out I wasn't really paying attention.

"Huh?"

She tilted her head and placed her hands on her hips. "Spit it out Damon."

I frowned and started wrapping bubble wrap on the vase. "Spit what out?"

She slumped down on the couch. "What's eating you?"

"I'm just hungry." I placed the vase inside a box and busied myself taping them.

"Legit but that doesn't answer the question. I mean it's okay to be sad." she sighed. "I miss them already."

She traced the flower patterns on the couch, her other hand, hugging her knees. I went to her and sat in front of her.

"I want you to look at me."

she raised her head, perplexed with my sudden request.

And she did look at me. I felt the same cold feeling whenever my eyes changed color, demanding for one's soul.

She didn't look away. Her eyes were wide in amazement as my eyes turned into the color of sky blue.

"I am looking." she whispered before holding my cheeks.

It bothered me more than it should. How didn't I notice this before?

"You can see me?" I whispered back.

She smiled before bringing her face closer to mine.

"I've always seen you."

I gasped. Well... I always thought I was the cheesy one. It was odd and satisfying at the same time.

And I think she took it the wrong way.

"Oh glob I'm so sorry. Was it too creepy? I mean you're six foot something so it's impossible not to see you. And you're easy on the eyes. And oh glob. I'm just-you have beautiful eyes." sighing in defeat, she ended up covering her face.

"Maybe it's because you're hungry."

She parted her fingers, enough to expose one eye. "Probably." Her voice was muffled by her hands

"Take-out then?"

She nodded and got up quickly. I took out my phone and ordered us some take-out.

Maybe we really were just hungry.