Two : Chastisement

I kept my head down, not wanting to face the big man in front of me.  According to him, I had no excuse for doing what I did. 

I was in the middle of a scolding.  I wish I could just shut him up.

“Damn it, Greg!”  A loud bang reverberated in the small, almost empty room when his huge fist came in contact with the desk in front of him.  “It wasn’t for you to decide that that guy lives.  If the Keepers don’t get that essence, it will be all of our heads in the line.”

I gulped, mainly out of intimidation.  “I know, I know.”  I could not find a more appropriate thing to say.  It was all my fault.  I had to fix it, somehow.  “I’ll just go back and pick him up.  He’ll be in the hospital, but most probably still critical.  It wouldn’t be a problem.”

“No need.”

“Lian.”  I stared at the blonde beauty who just entered the room.  She was another Death, like me.  “What are you doing here?”

She walked across the room and stopped beside me.  “I took care of everything.  He’s being delivered to the Keepers as we speak.”  She looked at me with her impassive, blue eyes.  “They’d be pretty pissed, still.  They hate accommodating late comers.”

I turned back to Henry, the big guy, and flashed him the most charming smile I could muster.  I didn’t really expect it to work.  I knew I was still in trouble.

“You can’t charm your way out of this one, Gregory.”  He took one, big step towards me.  I couldn’t help but cower from his huge form.  “You’re going to shimmer your a*s down to the Keepers and you’re going to take whatever punishment they’ll think of, no matter how insane it happens to be.”  His eyes glared at me.  “Do you understand?”

I nodded.  “Yes.”

“Lian.”  The beautiful Death tilted her head when Henry called her.  “Make sure he goes.”

I was shocked when she nodded.  I thought she was going to refuse.  Baby sitting me wasn’t really an honorable job.

“Go.”

I shimmered out of there the moment Henry turned his back at us.  I had enough lecture for one day. 

Just before I disappeared completely, I saw Lian do the same.  

 

The Keepers aren’t really a bunch of nice, good-looking creatures.  Nobody knows what they actually look like because they hide their faces under baggy hoods.  They’re famous for being harsh with their punishments.  Essences that did depraved things while they were in their earthly bodies are their usual victims.  Their cries echo from the Keepers’ dwelling.  If anything, it sounds inhumane.

So, you see, I’m not really happy about going to their place.  It’s gloomy and scary.  And now, I am supposed to receive punishment from them.

I almost wished I could die.  Almost.

“You’re scared.”  Lian smirked.  She stood beside me with a lot more dignity.  She seemed unaffected by the eeriness of the room.

Weird symbols carved in dark wood hung from the ceiling.  The cold, stone floor was bare.  And the room smelled of the incenses burning on all of its four corners.  But just like Henry’s office, there was no other furniture except for a table and a chair.  All in all, nothing shouted ‘welcome dear visitors’.  I highly doubted they’d want visitors, anyway.

“I’m not.”  I tried to stand the same way she did.  Of course, I wouldn’t imitate as far as to her angled hips.  “I’m just a little nervous.”

She chuckled.  “What?  You’re first time here?”  It sounded as if it was highly unlikely for anyone to not be familiar with the place.

Well, say hello to ‘anyone’ – me.

The door at the other end of the room slid open and three hooded figures entered.  They were more like gliding than walking.  Their long robes were practically sweeping off the imaginary dirt on the floor.  Aside from the color of their robes, they all seemed the same – same height, same, thin built, and same boney fingers sticking out of their robes.  Their fingers were the only part of their body that could be seen.

“Is he the one?” the one in the clean, white robe asked Lian.  His voice was deep and commanding.  It sounded like it was coming out of an abyss.

I refrained myself from looking directly at him when he stepped, or glided, forward.  I kept my eyes busy by staring at the gold lines adorning the bottom of his robe.

“Yes.”  Lian was doing a better job at hiding her intimidation than I did.  That is, if she had any.

I could feel their eyes on me, although I didn’t see them.  It sent shivers down my spine.  Much like when the mortal girl touched me.

“I’m sorry for the delay Keepers, sirs.”  I bowed my head as low as I can.

“Why didn’t you remove his essence?”  This time, the one wearing the gray robe spoke.  His voice was commanding as well, but it sounded a little more on the soft side.  He asked the question I didn’t want to answer.

I straightened my back before answering.  At least, I tried to.  “Well… His sister was there and she, uh…”  I was more or less blabbering.

The last of the Keepers glided forward.  “She saw you,” he said in a soft voice.  Whatever impression his black robe made was instantly shattered once he spoke.  Of the three, he sounded the most amiable.

I was shocked by his statement.  He wasn’t asking.  He wasn’t guessing.  On the contrary, he sounded so sure of what he knew.

My mind desperately tried to unscramble my thoughts.  As far as I could remember, I hadn’t told anyone about the reason why I went back empty-handed.  He had absolutely no way of knowing.

“H-how did you…?” I stammered, unable to continue.

Lian stared at me with wide eyes.  She seemed as shock as I was, although hers is probably because of what the Keeper said.

“We want you to find out why she can see you.”  He didn’t bother to answer my question.

I wasn’t sure what to make out of what they wanted me to do.  Moreover, I had no idea how I was supposed to do it.  “Why?”

“Yes, why.”  The one in the white robe seemed like he didn’t like questions.  “What makes her so special?”

“This task will serve as your punishment.  For the meantime, you will have no assignments other than this.”

“Yes, sir.”  I bent over in respect.  As farfetched as this all seemed, I was ordered not to refuse whatever punishment they’d come up with.  I had no choice.

“That is all.”

Lian and I headed for the door without any more questions.  It wasn’t because we didn’t have any, only that they were too many we didn’t even know what to ask first.  And it’s not like the Keepers seemed eager to answer them either.

Lian turned the knob and pulled the door open with a slight tug.  We could’ve shimmered out but it would be disrespectful.  She went out first and I followed.

Before I managed to close the door, my full head still visible between the gap, the Keeper in the black robe spoke in a low voice.  “There are far more painful things in this world, Gregory.  Most times, they’re the things you least expect.”

I wasn’t sure if he was talking to me or to himself.

Author's Note

What do you think?

Reviews

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Oooo....good ending! A great chapter. I love how you've created your own "world" with such different ideas than what we normally expect. We expect there to be one "Death," not that they go on shifts like they're working a normal job. Which brings up a question - what do they do on their time off?

I would like to get a better idea of what "Death" looks like. We get a glimpse of Lian and you told us before that they look pretty human-like. Could you get a little more descriptive? What features look like humans, which don't. And what is "shimmering" like?

Other than the occasional switch between past and present tense, I think this was a great next chapter! I'm looking forward to reading more! :)

[Rain (Notebook)]

This is still great. I'm really enjoying your writing and this story. I look forward to more!

[Burr the Story Sorceres..]

I really love this so far!! I can't wait to see what the deal with the girl is and I can't wait to see Greg react.
I just plain can't wait for more!!