I would trade a headache over a migraine. Headaches are brief but hurtful. Migraines are excruciating and everlasting, sleeping it off could sometimes be the solution. Maybe that's what I need right now, sleep. It seemed as if all the sleepless nights were finally catching up and I was feeling every side effect. All morning I have been feeling irritated. I can't stand hearing people talk or walk outside without wearing sunglasses.

In every class, I am closing my eyes.

Lack of sleep has always been a problem and it was never going to change. I thought I could make it through the whole day but between the aggressively throbbing and the dizziness I wanted to go home and sleep. So I pushed through the slowest walk home.

Although the sun was covered by the clouds, they did a poor job of hiding the sun rays as they pierced through their fluff. The sunglasses were useless as well.

I hugged my body and kept my head down until I heard someone calling my name. I lifted my head to see where the voice was coming from when I saw the same girl I met at the funeral home and she was waving at me. She quickly walked over to me, her brown wavy hair was tied half up and down. She wore a long brown coat covering her body showing her black boots.

I slid the sunglasses to the bridge of my nose and winced when the light hit my eyes.

"It was Nora, right?" She said smiling.

I nod my head pushing the sunglasses back up. I am surprised to see her, I mean the campus is big and you never see the same person twice unless you are pushing it. Maybe it was just a coincidence.

My brain starts to look for the name she gave me and it's not like I have so many friends but my mind is scattered right now.

She nodded back, "I don't know if you remember but I am Dilara. You call me Lara if you want."

I feel bad for not remembering, I thought she wouldn't remember me. Then again, we did have an unusual encounter. Lights flicker and all.

"Right, Lara." I finally speak up.

Lara moves to stand next to me, "Going home?" She asks.

I nod again, slowly beginning to walk together as if we were friends. I am not sure what Lara wants from me or why she is talking to me, but she seems relaxed and calm.

"I know you probably think I am strange right now but I haven't made any friends since I moved here. Except for Theo, who was my lab partner but we only ever talked in chemistry and now I am oversharing." She rambles.

I smile and shake my head, "It's okay. I am not good at making friends either and I have lived here my whole life."

Lara returns the smile and stops her tracks to face me.

"I think we would make great friends, I have a feeling we have a lot in common." She admits.

Never did I think I could ever make friends because of the voices and I was right. Being free from the voices was a blessing, I could make friends now. Maybe I won't be alone anymore.

I encourage her, "I think so too."

We start walking together again as Lara starts talking about her classes while I listen to her ramble again and the migraine is still there except I can tolerate it right now because for the first time I feel normal. I am a girl walking with her friend.

"Do you plan to go to the carnival? I want to go but I don't want to go alone. Come with me?" She insists.

The carnival comes every year and every year I hear everyone talking about the games, rides, and sweets. I always wanted to go and now I can go, I don't have the voices and I have a friend.

"Yeah, let's go. I think that would be fun." I smile.

We continue to walk and talk, the migraine is slowly going away until I see two tall figures heading towards us. The more I stared and saw their shadows form into men wearing black suits. It was Hans and Death, they coming towards us, towards me.

They took long strides, almost marching. Death's coat lifted as the wind blew and his elegant suit appeared. He captures everyone's attention whether, by his handsome sculpted face or the threatening aura he displayed, he demanded to be seen. And I was looking at him for all the wrong reasons.

I must have stopped walking when Lara's voice interrupted my thoughts, "Nora? Are you okay?" She asked worriedly.

Before I could give her an answer I heard the loathsome God.

"Raven." He cooed.

There is no softness to his voice, it sounded strained and rough.

My eyes darted between Death and Lara who stood closer to me, I didn't want to explain to her who exactly these people were because I would have to tell her what I really am and I was never going to Death or Hans after today. I was going to give him the prediction he wants, it will all be over. I hoped he would wait but I guess Death waits for no one.

I took off the sunglasses letting the sun bring back the migraine although I was pretty sure it was no longer the sun's fault.

I turned to face Lara, "I have to go but I will see you at the carnival." Lara turns still looking confused but she nods her head.

My eyes turn to look at Death's devilish smirk, "Aren't you going to introduce me to your little friend?" He taunts.

I stepped forward blocking Lara's face from Death but it does nothing, he can look over the top of my head.

I lower my voice, "Do you not want your prediction?"

Death's body becomes rigid and his jaw clenches, I look over to Hans who is keeping his head down and I remember his words of having power over Death and to never tell Death we ever spoke.

I walked closer to Death and tilt my head towards him, "Unless you have changed your mind." I taunt him back.

"Never." He answers.

I look over my shoulder to see Lara still looking unsure and I wave my hand, she waves back and turns to leave. Death stands by my side as Hans' shadow becomes embedded within ours, we start walking.

It will be over soon, I tell myself.

Maybe one day I could tell Lara all of this, maybe one day.

*****

We are deep into the forest, surrounded by tall massive lanky trees and their nude branches. An array of red, orange and yellow leaves display themselves on the ground. The sunlight rays bore through the branches making it almost nauseating. I just wanted this to be over.

Death decided that we should come to the forest, he didn't want any distractions and needed this to be done in complete isolation. Who knows what could happen once the voices are inside my head again, maybe I will scream. I hope I don't.

We also have been walking in complete silence, Death and Hans' were ahead of me while I tried to push myself to reach them.

I interrupted our silence, "So what exactly am I supposed to predict for you? What is it that you want?" I ask loudly.

Hans already told me what Death wanted but I wanted to hear what he would tell me, will he tell me the truth? I looked down at my black boots watching them become muddy and wet as I took another step. My head bumped into a solid wall and nearly fell backward but a large hand grabbed my back, his cold touch ran a shiver down my spine.

My eyes locked with his midnight eyes.

Death leaned forward, "I want you to tell me how I can get my wings back." He murmured.

He told me the truth and I wanted to keep asking questions. What happened to your wings? Why don't you have them anymore? How can God lose his wings? But as these thoughts ran through my mind, I knew they needed to stay unanswered. I don't want to know about him. I want nothing to do with him.

Death moved back letting his hand drop from my back, I released a breath.

"Hans take out the knife." Death announced.

My head whipped around quickly to see Hans' pulling out a large knife with a thick blade, was he finally going to kill me? All the alarms started ringing inside my head and noticing how I am in the middle of the forest with no one to see my death, I started to panic.

Death looked over and saw my face, "Relax, raven. I am not going to kill you as much as I wish for it." He smirks.

I swallowed my fear, "Then, why are you taking out a knife?"

"We need it for the prediction." My eyebrows furrowed, "I am special. I am not human, so a simple touch or look won't work on me. We need to forge a bond, a blood bond is best. I hope you don't fear a little blood." Death explained condescendingly.

He reaches for the knife from Hans and quickly walks over to me, I take a step back.

I hold my hand up, "Wait. I didn't agree to give you my blood."

"Yesterday you were willing to hurt yourself but now you are scared of a little blood. You can cut me first if you want, I know you will enjoy it." He teases.

I would like to hurt him.

Death brings his hand to me and opens his palm while handing the knife over, I bite the inside of my cheek as I reach the handle of the knife. My hand touches his, I press the blade against his rough skin and I linger.

I look up to see his eyes waiting, "Promise me that this will be the last time I will ever see you again. Promise me." I almost begged.

He lifts his chin and looks down at me, "I promise."

I don't waste another minute, I dig the knife into his skin and run it across his palm letting the blood ooze out. I met his eyes again, unblinking. Not showing anything. Not letting himself feel anything.

My shaky hand comes up and I hold it out for the God of Death to cut it.

"It will be over soon." He tries to comfort me.

Swiftly I feel the rough blade, I gasp loudly and give Death a glare. He raises a brow, soon the hot liquid spreads across my palm seeping through my fingers.

Death looks at Hans once more, "Whatever happens, do nothing." Hans nods his head stiffly.

He brings his hand over to mine and before our bleeding hands' touch he speaks again, "The moment our hands' touch, the voices will be back inside your head. Stay strong, raven."

Our hands touch and the world starts spinning, the waves are returning with brute force and I am continuously getting knocked down. I gripped Death's hand and I could feel the voices crawling back inside my head, humming, whispering, and screeching. Everything is happening all at once and I can feel their anger and hurt.

My heart is pounded so fast I can barely breathe, I feel as if it might burst. But I could feel Death's grip tighten and my eyes focus on his midnight eyes, trying to look for the stars. Where are the stars?

The voices overlap one another.

You

Must

Pay

The

PRICE

The screeching scrapes the inside of my skull, I could feel as if the voices have formed claws or teeth. My vision starts to blur and I barely see Death anymore but a shadowy figure. The excruciating yelling doesn't end.

"Raven stay-"

I lose control. My body collapses bringing Death down with me, I could still feel his hand against mine. He is gripping it but my eyes have rolled to the back of my head and I am drifting away.

I take the God of Death with me.