We were coming from behind the towering bookcases into the spacious layout of the library. We walked on the long and wide path split down the middle, dividing bookshelves and the desks with the small green lamp. All the lights were off but moonlight pierced through the four arched windows you saw as you exited the library. Dust particles floated between the rays, it probably came from older books.

It could've been the silent serene bliss I've always wanted but there was the echo of our steps bouncing off the walls and the needling headache forming behind my right ear. I shouldn't be even thinking about myself, I was here to help another soul.

Elijah Williams, the boy who mysteriously disappeared five years ago, or at least that is what everyone was led to believe. The librarian we came for is one of the persons who turned Elijah into a missing person but she knows Elijah isn't missing. She knows where he truly is.

Quickly enough, we hear another pair of steps near the doors. Grimm turns his gaze to me, giving me an all-knowing look that it was time to feign a performance. I brought myself closer to him leaving an inch for our hands to brush, but instead, a coolness swept through our gap.

Our eyes met, Grimm slightly lifted his chin showing his jaw clenching and I sucked in an unknown feeling. I needed to be careful with Grimm, I'm starting to get confused by him and I don't like it.

A bright light shone on our faces forcing us to look away from each other, my hand went up to cover my eyes but Grimm's tall figure blocked the light.

The librarian lowered her flashlight as she said, "What are you guys still doing here? The library closed twenty minutes ago."

Then I felt the whole library becoming cold, no, the temperature in my body was plummeting and that meant Elijah was near me. Although we hadn't spoken, Grimm told me everything I needed to know specifically what he wanted, and the librarian, Layla King, has what he wanted.

Grimm straightened his posture as he placed his hands inside the pockets of his coat.

"Sorry, we got lost between the pages, but we're on our way out now." He said nonchalantly.

Now with the flashlight out the way, I could see more of the librarian. She has her brownish-reddish hair pulled into a tight ponytail and her shoulders are almost reaching her ears. I couldn't focus on her face because she was hiding behind thick-rimmed glasses. I think she might've been frowning.

Nevertheless, she nods. "I'll walk you out."

She turns her back and I dig into the pockets of my coat searching for warmth yet I feel a bead of cold sweat running down the back of my neck. I dismiss the prickling on my skin as I wipe the sweat with the back of my hand and move forward. I pick up my pace to match Grimm as we walk behind her while the library's blue light is overclouded by somber.

It was time to bring up bad memories.

"Grimm," I look up to see the corner of his lips curl, "I think you should tell her what you found." I start.

"Oh yes, how could I forget." He plays along, "Miss King, I found something that is quite concerning."

Layla King turns to face us, our steps come to a halt.

"How do you know my name?" She asked.

Grimm digs into the pocket of his coat while I watch Layla adjust the flashlight in her hand turning it back and forth. He pulls out the folded piece of paper and Layla nervously bites her lower lip. Grimm unfolds the paper and exposes her darkest secret.

Her face blanched in horror as Grimm shows Elijah Williams' missing person flyer.

"She remembers me." Elijah's voice pulls me away from the scene, I tilt my head and lower my chin slightly to my right. I wait for him to say anything else but he is quiet again.

I want to tell him that you don't forget people who you've killed or hidden, no matter how many years have passed their faces will always linger in the back of your head. People, good or bad, tend to be unforgettable.

Grimm lied. "It was hidden between the pages of a book I was reading, I don't think it was meant to be found." He took a step forward.

I would have believed he wanted to mess with her first but knowing now that the God of Death is a punisher to those who have wronged others, I saw him more clearly. The unforgivable instinct to make those around him feel pain or fear, like Layla being shown the face of a boy she helped disappear.

Her eyes are glued to the picture of Elijah as she tries to form any coherent words but she fails miserably. Meanwhile, Grimm takes advantage of Layla's tongue-tied expression and begins to prod.

"I couldn't help but notice the information displayed before me." He turned the paper halfway to him as he read aloud, "Missing, Elijah Williams, eighteen years old, last seen November 20th, 2017. He has been missing for five years."

Grimm lowers the flyer.

"One thousand..." He takes a step.

"Eight hundred..."

Another step.

"And twenty-five..."

Another step.

"Days." He lets the words ring in the silent library.

Another coldness passes us but I am stuck between whether it was Elijah or a draft of air or just me. I roll my hands into a fist inside my pockets and I can feel the prickling sensations around my fingers, it's getting worse.

Layla's head shakes in disbelief, "I didn't know that-"

"Of course, you know." Grimm cut her off. "How could you not count the passing days of your never-ending nightmare? It's been one thousand eight hundred and twenty-five days since Elijah has been missing but we both know, Miss King, he is not truly missing because he is, in fact, dead."

The flashlight slips from her hand rolling down the aisle of one of the bookshelves. The air becomes thick, Grimm holds a steady gaze on Layla as her chin begins to tremble, and before I can ask her what we want the front door swings open.

All our heads turn to the young guy with dirty blonde hair walking up behind Cleo, my brows pinch together but that causes my head to split. I press my fingers against the temple of my forehead as I try to soothe myself.

"Hey babe, I was wondering what was taking you so long." The guy said.

I was about to ask who this guy was but Grimm gracefully introduced him.

"Ah, you must be Jacob Stoll, the person who killed Elijah Williams." I detected a bit of amusement however, Jacob was not amused.

He was stunned and Layla placed a hand over her mouth. Grimm raised the flyer stepping toward them as he dangled the paper mockingly until Jacob snatched the paper crumbling it between his fingers. I walked up to them to stand next to Grimm but he extended his arm out halting my steps.

"Are you not proud of what you've done? Because I saw you. I saw you smiling after you finished burying Elijah." Grimm said icily.

Jacob's gaze burned with his fury but he somehow managed to form a smirk."Look man, I don't know what you are talking about. Let's go, Layla," He reaches for her arm. "These lunatics can see their way out." They both turn to leave.

This wasn't going our way. My nails are digging into my palms creating half-moons, Jacob believed he could get away with this so easily.

I turned to Grimm, he was devoid of all emotion.

I heard Elijah's voice again, he pleaded. "I don't care about them anymore! Please, don't let them leave. My mom, still thinks I'm coming home and I need you to find my body. Please. You promised."

Grimm was already walking as he rolled his shoulder while my eyes traveled down to his hand becoming aware of the blackened veins pulsing up and down his fingers. A cloud of sphere-like dust shaped into the palm of his hand, he spread his arms out sending them against the walls. I turned to see the walls taking on distinctive curves, the shadows swallowed the bookshelves, the windows, and all else that was solid.

I spun back to Grimm not missing the moment he pulled his hands back into a fist toward his chest and just as he did, Jacob's body slammed against the wooden floor lying face down.

Layla shrieked. "Oh my-"

Jacob was wrestling with the black vines wrapped around his ankles, kicking and pounding the hard floor. Grimm rotated his fist slightly, earning himself for Jacob to be dragged across the floor back to him.

"It's rude to walk away from an unfinished conversation. I'll tell you when we are done." Viciousness slithered in his voice. "But until I say otherwise, you and I are going to have some fun. I have set the room to be in complete darkness, just the way you like it." Jacob's struggling body lay beneath Grimm. "As I said I've seen everything you've done in the dark, you ignorantly believe that whatever is done in the dark will stay in the dark unless the light comes to shine the truth. Except, you're wrong. The darkness lets you do your bidding but it was never on your side." 

Death's lips twisted sinisterly. "You're never alone in the dark, you should've known better."

Layla was stumbling back and forth, her eyes searching for an escape route. She was surrounded by the shadows; there was nothing she could see. I moved away from Death trying to hold myself steadily as I attempted to get Layla's attention.

Her eyes found mine, she held her hands up in defense. "Please, let me leave. Please. I didn't kill him. I would never hurt anyone. I didn't want-

Elijah's voice overlapped hers. "She knows where my body is, ask her. Don't let her leave. Please, my mom-"

"We just want to know where Elijah's body is buried. He wants to rest, Layla. His mom still believes he is coming home." I say calmly even though I'm feeling a burning numbing pain.

Layla shakes her head wholly in denial.

"No-I don't know where it is. I don't know-Please help me." She begs.

"She is lying!" Elijah's voice strains.

Behind me, I can hear Jacob begging for his life to the God of Death but he has already been marked by him. The intensity I felt all over my body was becoming potent, I don't how much longer-

"I swear, I don't know where his body is. Please. I can't remember where he buried him-"

"Keep asking her! My mother can't keep thinking I'm coming home one day."

"Please! Don't kill me, I'll do anything!"

All their voices were overlapping one another, each one growing louder so similar to the voices inside my head then, then there was this pressure all over my body and the more I resisted this feeling the more it hurt. Why was I in so much pain? Why? Why? Why?

Please, don't kill me, where is my body, help me.

I'm going to explode, I'm going to-

"ENOUGH!"

The high wave of agony unleashed itself, dissipating the darkness and letting the blue hue pierce through the arch windows, cascading a glow upon us. It became-

Thud.

Thud.

My head turned to the noise.

Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.

I looked to my right seeing the library's bookshelves were being knocked down against each like dominos, left and right. The sound of thousands of books and shelves hitting the ground resounded against the walls that the hanging lights from above shook, art portraits were now tilting and more blue light poured through.

My hands were vibrating, I turned my gaze down to my slightly open arms and sprawled hands positioned almost clawlike. Did I do this? I spun my direction to Grimm but his eyes were already pinned on me, he stared and stared. I wanted to explain myself but I don't even know where to start.

I understood I had done something wrong but I could not lie to myself without the welcoming feeling of how liberating it was to push the pain out. Even if it meant that the library was now in ruins.

A slamming door blinked my thoughts away.

Our heads turned to the ajar door, Layla had left. I glanced over to where Jacob lay but he was gone as well. Shit.

Grimm marched over to me, "Are you okay?" I put my hands down and quickly-

He took both of my hands, gently pushing them up to his chest.

My mouth parted slowly but I didn't know what to say. This was all horrible and I couldn't stay occupied with whatever I'd done. I don't want to talk about my...power. Even the thought of power sounded foreign to me.

As if Grimm read my mind, he lowered my hands and intertwined them with his pulling me through the doors before Layla and Jacob could escape. I highly doubted anyone could escape the God of Death, especially someone like Jacob.

We came outside to see Layla and Jacob at the end of the steps arguing. Jacob is screaming at the top of his lungs and Layla is hysterically crying, she keeps shaking her head while trying to move her body away from him. I take a step forward but Grimm pulls me back with the hand he is holding me with.

I frowned.

Elijah's desperate voice appears, "You can't let them get away. You promised me you would get my body back." He was right.

Grimm's jaw tightened. "And we will but first we must witness the death of Jacob Stoll." As he finished his words, Layla jerked her hand away from Jacob causing her to fall to the ground. Jacob turned his back and walked into the dead-open street, unaware of the car speeding down.

The car hit him. I looked away and remembered the feeling of getting hit by a car. Grimm squeezed my hand.

Then, Layla screamed. We raced down the steps before Layla could get near Jacob. I gently released my hand from Grimm's comfort as I went to Layla and he went toward Jacob's body.

I touched her shoulder, her body flinched as she stared at me wide-eyed with stained cheeks.

"Layla, listen to me. You've to tell me where Jacob buried Elijah's body. His mother wakes up every day and places two cups of coffee for breakfast, she makes two sandwiches for lunch, and she sets the dinner table for two people." I let the last words seep into her head.

She looked between me and Jacob, "Did you do this?" She croaks out.

"Tell me where the body is," I repeat.

She is scared and panicking. I grab her shoulder forcing her to look at me, "None of this is your fault. It's simple. You came out at the wrong time just like five years ago with Elijah. I'm sorry you had to witness two people die in front of you but one of them was good and the other one was not. One of them needs your help, Layla, he wants to rest but you're not letting him." Her eyes glitter. "If you don't tell me where the body is, you're no better than him." Her face crumples in distraught.

But she tells me. She tells where Elijah's body is buried. I breathe easier and Layla continues to cry. I look over Layla's shoulder, watching Grimm standing over Jacob's bleeding body until he turns his gaze toward the car, I follow his direction to see a mop of blonde hair.

Grimm smirks. "Hans, you're becoming too soft."

We're no better than Jacob or any murderer. And yet, he never claimed to be. I never claimed to be better either.