The Reaper's Eternal Bride

EIGHTEEN YEARS AGO

The shrieking sound of tires skidding across the pavement jolted the girl awake, her earphones falling to the car floor as she sat up.

"Aria, are you okay?" Her mother's voice was tinged with concern, as she turned in her seat to check on her daughter.

"I'm fine, Mom," Aria replied, still slightly disoriented from the impact.

Suddenly, the sound of screeching tires filled the air, followed by the violent sound of metal colliding with metal. Aria's mother screamed, and the car began to spin, flipping over multiple times. Everything seemed to happen in slow motion. The world turned upside down, and then all went black.

When Aria opened her eyes, she found herself lying on the side of the road, blood trickling down her forehead. Her ears were ringing, and she felt numb all over. The car was a mangled wreck, and she could see her mother and father lying motionless in the front seats.

Her eyes widened as she took in the hooded figure before her, who seemed to have been formed of the shadows that now blanketed the wreckage of the car. Her heart beat rapidly as she asked in a trembling voice, "Who are you?"

The figure smiled, revealing a set of perfectly straight, white teeth. "I am a grim reaper," he said, his tone formal and even. "I have come to take your parents to the afterlife."

Aria's eyes welled up with tears as she took in the grim reaper's words. "They're... they're... dead?" she managed to ask.

"I'm afraid so," the grim reaper replied, his voice softening slightly. "I am sorry for your loss."

"But I can't... they can't be... We can't be left alone..." Aria cried, her tears spilling down her cheeks.

The grim reaper's face remained impassive, but there was a hint of compassion in his voice as he spoke again. "It is not your time yet. There is still much that you must do before you can join them in the afterlife."

She shook her head, her eyes wide with fear and disbelief. "No... no...,"

The hooded figure extended his hand toward the girl, and a single finger touched the side of her head. "It's not your time yet," he said softly. "You shall forget this encounter, and resume your life as it was before."

As the words left his lips, the girl's eyes grew heavy and she felt herself falling into a deep slumber.

In the darkness, she could feel her body relaxing, her thoughts drifting away from the scene before her. All she could remember was a sense of peace and calm as if she was floating in a sea of nothingness.

PRESENT DAY

The TV in the living room was blaring, the sound piercing the silence. With a toothbrush in her mouth and her dark long hair a tousled mess, Aria rushed out of her room to find the source of the noise. As she stood in front of the TV, a journalist's voice came through the speakers.

"The Helping Hands Foundation, founded by Chairman Gabriel, has now been established and has extended its hands to fund the scholarships of 20 students at X High School Academy", the anchor said. But just as Aria was about to hear the rest of the report, a male voice cut in,

"You're up early, sis,"

She glanced up from the TV to see her younger brother standing in the doorway, holding a tray of food. The delicious smell wafted towards her, making her stomach growl.

"Huh, yes, I am awake, Ian," she said. "That smells delicious."

"Go get ready for work already," Ian said, gently pushing her head away from the tray. "I don't know why you're up so early. You usually sleep in until the last minute."

Aria's brow furrowed as she turned to face Ian. "Don't you remember what today is?" she asked, a frown crossing her face.

"Huh?" Ian shrugged, shaking his head. "Isn't it just my regular boring school day?" He turned his attention back to the TV.

Aria sighed in disappointment. She couldn't believe her younger brother didn't remember the significance of the day. Ian was not only her younger brother, but also her only family besides their grandmother. He was a senior in high school and could be annoyingly oblivious at times.

"Don't worry," Aria said to him with a slight frown. She had been hoping that they both had been kept awake the night before by anxiety over today's big announcement. Her news company was set to announce the recipients of a promotion, and she was on the wait-list.

Ian continued staring at the TV, where they were now discussing his school. "Are you going to wash up first or are we eating now?" he asked, finally turning his attention to her.

"Eat without me," Aria answered. "I'm going to freshen up first." With that, she went to her room, leaving Ian in the living room.

Once she was in her room, her phone started to ring. She picked it up and saw that it was Oprah, her close friend and coworker. She answered the call with a smile.

"Hello!" she said. "Thanks for the wake-up call, but I'm already up." She could hear Oprah's laughter through the phone.

"Wow, you're that nervous? Breaking your usual rules about sleep? It's 6:00 AM, girl!" Oprah said.

Aria chuckled. "Yes, well, it's a nerve-wracking day! I can't help it."

"Guess what!" Oprah said, her voice practically vibrating with excitement.

"Spill the beans, Oprah, you know I hate guessing games," Aria sighed, her nervousness mounting as her heart raced. She really needed that promotion, and she thought she was one of the best candidates for the job.

"Eddy told me that you're on the shortlist for the promotion!" Oprah said. Edward, or Eddy as Oprah called him, worked in HR at JK's News Media Company, while Oprah and Aria were both reporters there.

"What!" Aria nearly jumped out of her skin with excitement, and she heard Ian from the next room mutter, "It's still early in the morning, you know!"

"What!?" Aria exclaimed again.

"Calm down, honey," Oprah said with a chuckle. "It's just that Edward told me this morning, even though it's a secret."

Aria could almost hear the blush in Oprah's voice. She and Edward had been dating for a year, and only Aria knew about their office romance.

"You should get ready, choose your best office outfit and rock it!" Oprah continued.

Aria grinned. "Aye aye, Captain!" she said, feeling the thrill of the news course through her.

"See you at work!" Oprah said, and the call ended.

Aria exhaled, trying to get her excitement under control. She knew she'd have to hurry if she wanted to make it to work on time. Rushing into the bathroom, she hopped into the shower.

By the time she was out and dressed, she was already running late for work despite waking up early. She had spent too much time choosing her outfit. As she stepped outside, she saw Ian standing on the porch with his bag slung over his shoulder.

"Aren't you going to eat?" he asked.

"No, I'm too excited," she answered, hurrying down the street.

Ian looked puzzled as he stared at her, "What's going on today? And why is she all dressed up?" he muttered to himself.

As Aria got to the bus stop, she looked at her phone to check the time. The next bus was not due for a few minutes. She looked at the coffee shop across from the bus station. On a normal day, she couldn't resist a hot cup of latte, but she knew she had to make a compromise today.

She chewed her lip, torn between getting a coffee and waiting for the bus that would arrive in a minute.

As she looked down the road, she saw the bus was already approaching.

Just then, her eyes fell upon a little boy standing in the middle of the road, in the path of the oncoming bus. She gasped and took a step forward, wanting to run into the street and get the boy to safety. But her feet felt rooted to the ground as if they were made of lead. She tried to move, but she couldn't. All she could do was watch in horror as the bus approached the boy.

Aria's heart pounded in her chest as the bus got closer and closer to the boy. She wanted to do something, anything, to save him, but her body wouldn't cooperate. It was as if she were frozen in place.

Then, just as the bus was about to collide with the boy, she heard the sound of brakes screeching. Had the bus driver seen the boy, too? Or was it just a coincidence that he was stopping? She wondered.

Then, she felt someone tap her shoulder. She blinked her eyes open, unsure of what to expect. To her surprise, the bus and the little boy were nowhere to be seen. Everything looked normal - people were going about their business as usual, completely unaware of what Aria had just experienced. She looked down the road, and the bus she'd been waiting for was still approaching the bus stop.

Aria was more than a little freaked out. What had just happened? Had she imagined it all?

"Aria, Aria," a familiar voice called. Aria snapped out of her daze and turned to see Sebastine, the man who had tapped her shoulder earlier.

"Aria!" he said, a worried expression on his face. "Are you alright? You looked a bit spaced out."

"Yes, yes, I'm fine," she said, trying to sound more confident than she felt. "Sorry about that. I must have been daydreaming."

Sebastine looked unconvinced, Aria's face was pale, her eyes wide with terror. She looked as though she had just seen a ghost.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Sebastine asked again, his hands still on her shoulders.

"Yes, yes, I'm fine," Aria said, nodding quickly. She turned to look at the road again, but stopped herself before she asked him if he'd seen the same thing she had. Judging by his calm demeanor, he clearly hadn't.

"What?" Sebastine asked, noticing her hesitation. "Are you shy about something from yesterday?"

"Yesterday?" Aria furrowed her brow, trying to remember what he was talking about. Yesterday had been a regular Sunday for her. Nothing out of the ordinary had happened.

"Oh come on, don't tell me you've forgotten already!" He teased her. "Yesterday, you sent me a late-night text, a question to be precise. So, I'm here, getting you your favorite latte as my answer." He held up the cup, wiggling it back and forth.

"A late-night text?" Aria asked, her eyes wide. She had no idea what he was talking about.

Sebastine's forehead creased in confusion. Had she really forgotten what had happened last night?

"You mean..." he started to say, but she cut him off.

"The bus is here!" she called out, rushing to board the bus. As she sat down, she stared out the window at Sebastine, her face still a mask of confusion.

"What on earth is he talking about?" she wondered, still reeling from the strange experience of seeing things that no one saw. She felt confused and disoriented, as though her mind had been jolted out of its usual routine. She had never experienced anything like this before. Her mind felt hazy and unfocused like it was trying to process something it couldn't quite understand.

As the bus reached an intersection, it jolted to a stop, sending the passengers flying out of their seats. Those standing were thrown off balance, barely managing to stay upright.

"What the hell?" one of them exclaimed.

"Are you trying to kill us?" another demanded.

The bus driver raised his hands apologetically. "I'm sorry, everyone. A cyclist cut me off. I had to slam on the brakes."

The other passengers grumbled and muttered in response, but at least they'd stopped yelling.

While all of this was going on, Aria was lost in her own thoughts. She had been shaken by the sudden stop of the bus, but it wasn't just the jolt that had unsettled her. Something felt off about her memories. She remembered leaving the house, choosing whether to get coffee or board the bus, and talking to Sebastine, but she was missing something. Something important, but she couldn't remember what it was.

"Wait a minute," Aria said, a flash of realization striking her. She rummaged in her pocket for her phone and quickly checked her messages.

"What the..." she exclaimed, her hand flying to her mouth. The message she had sent to Sebastine last night was still there, and it was horrifying. "I've been crushing on you since you started working at the coffee shop. Go out with me, please!" The message was followed by two heart emojis.

"Oh my god," Aria gasped, slapping her hand against her cheek. She couldn't believe she had actually sent that message, though she had been thinking about it for some time.

"What was I thinking?" she asked herself, shaking her head. She wondered if she had sleep-texted him somehow. That would explain the message, but it didn't explain how the message had been sent. Aria was still puzzled over it when she felt her latte slip from her hands.

"No!" she cried, stretching out her hands to catch it. It was too late - the cup shattered on the ground, hot liquid spilling everywhere.

"Oh, no," Aria moaned, her eyes stinging with the smell of coffee. "I just made such a mess."

She looked down at her ruined shoes and wet jeans, feeling frustrated and embarrassed.

Slowly, Aria turned her head, her eyes meeting the gaze of the woman sitting next to her. The woman was staring at her inquisitively, her brows raised in a questioning expression.

"Morning," Aria mumbled, her cheeks flushing as she tried to smile.

"Morning," the woman replied, still staring at Aria with an unreadable expression on her face.

Just then, the bus pulled up to Aria's stop, and she was relieved to have an excuse to get out of her seat. She hurried off the bus, trying to put the awkward encounter out of her mind.

As Aria approached the front of JK's News Media, she saw Oprah standing there, pacing back and forth and glancing at her watch.

"Oprah!" She called out, waving as she approached.

"Aria!" Oprah said, running over to meet her. "Have you checked...?" She began, but Aria cut her off.

"Wait - can I ask you something?" Aria said. "If you ask someone out and they give you a latte, what does that mean?"

Oprah furrowed her brows, clearly confused by the question. "That's not really the point," she said, before noticing the time on Aria's phone. "Wait - it's 8:30 already? Why are you late?"

"Oh my gosh!" Aria exclaimed. "I have to get inside, now!" She grabbed Oprah's arm and pulled her through the front doors.

"Slow down!" Oprah said, stumbling to keep up. "I have something to tell you,"

As they walked out of the elevator, they saw Lisa standing in the hallway. Lisa was a coworker who had joined the company a year ago, and she had been in constant competition with Aria ever since. Aria had always seemed to get the most awards and recognition, and Lisa had been envious of her success.

Oprah quickly took hold of Aria's hand as Lisa approached them.

"What?" Aria asked, looking at Oprah.

"We should go to the office," Oprah said quietly, her voice tense.

Aria raised her eyebrows in confusion. Oprah bit her lip and whispered in her ear, "You didn't get the promotion, Lisa did."

Aria felt her heart sink. She could feel the anger rising in her chest as she looked at Lisa, who was wearing a smug smile on her face

"Can we chat, Aria?" Lisa asked, stepping in front of the two women.

Oprah's grip on Aria's hand tightened. "Come on, let's go," she said firmly.

Aria gently pulled her hand out of Oprah's grasp. "But last I checked, you weren't a candidate for the promotion. So how did you get it?" she asked Lisa.

Lisa's mouth curled into a cunning smile. "That's a question I'd rather answer in private," she replied.

The tension in the air was thick with unspoken words.

"How about we head up to the rooftop?" Lisa suggested.

"That's not a bad idea," Aria said with a nod.

Oprah didn't seem too thrilled about the suggestion, but she didn't voice her objections. Instead, she looked at Aria with concern. "You sure?" she whispered.

"I'll be fine," Aria replied. "I'll meet you in the office."

With that, she stepped into the elevator with Lisa. The two women stood in silence as the elevator ascended.

-––

"So, tell me," Aria said as they reached the rooftop, her hands on her hips. "How did you get the promotion?"

Lisa sauntered over to stand next to Aria, her hips swaying gracefully as she moved. "Well," she began, a touch of pride in her voice, "I worked my way up. I pulled strings, called in favors, and used every tool at my disposal." She flashed a mischievous grin.

Aria fought to keep the tears from welling up in her eyes, not wanting to give Lisa the satisfaction of seeing her cry. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her voice. "Thank you for your honesty," she said, and turned to walk away.

"Wait! I am not done talking...." Lisa called out, but her voice trailed off as Aria hurried down the stairs and out of sight.

As Aria made her way through the hallways, she caught sight of the Editor-in-chief's office. Thankfully, the secretary's desk was empty.

Anger and resentment bubbled up inside her, and she found herself filled with the urge to confront the Editor-in-chief. She marched to the office door and threw it open with a bang, startling the Editor-in-chief, who had been lounging in his chair with his legs crossed.

"What the-" the Editor-in-chief began, but Aria cut him off.

"I'm here to quit," Aria said, her voice firm and resolute. She ripped off her ID badge and flung it on the floor. "That's for wasting my time," she added, then turned and walked out the door.

As Aria walked down the hallway, she could feel the Editor-in-chief's eyes boring into her back. She didn't care - she was done with this place and all the petty politics. It was time to move on.

So, she thought...

The candlelight flickered and danced in the dark and gloomy room, casting long shadows on the walls. A man stood by the window, his back to the room, staring out into the night. He was still and silent, like a statue frozen in time. The only movement came from the candlelight, which reflected in his eyes, making them glisten like two small stars in the darkness. His bedroom was vast and ornate with heavy drapes and dark mahogany furniture.

"Your robe, Lord Dylan," A small voice called, breaking the silence of the room.

He didn't turn around.

"Leave it on the bed." His words were flat and emotionless.

The attendant strode into the room, his confident gait belying his humble role. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with dark hair and piercing blue eyes. A sad smile lit up his face as he greeted him as he placed the black blazer gently on the sumptuous, down-filled mattress.

"Today is your last day as a grim reaper..." The attendant's eyes were downcast, and his voice was heavy with sadness. "And it's my last day as your faithful servant."

"Enzo.." He called soothingly as he stood before him , his perfect features illuminated by the flickering light of the candle. His dark hair fell in waves around his chiseled jawline, framing his eyes like twin pools of obsidian. Those eyes sparkled with a magnetic intensity that drew Enzo in like a moth to a flame. He found himself unable to look away, lost in the allure of his master's gaze.

"Yes, master," Enzo answered, his voice soft and reverent. He stepped forward and knelt before Dylan, his head bowed in submission.

"You have served me well, Enzo," Dylan said, his tone warm and affectionate. "I will not forget your loyalty and devotion."

His words were like honey, dripping with sincerity and gratitude. Enzo felt a surge of pride at his master's praise, his heart swelling with love and adoration.

Enzo had served Dylan for a decade, ever since he was assigned to him by the deity god of the earth. He had always admired and respected his master, but now it was time for him to pass through the after-life gate and be released from his punishment as a grim reaper.

"Master, it pains me to see you go. Of all the masters I've served, you have been my favorite. I wish you a safe and happy journey to the afterlife."

As Enzo stood up, he wiped away a tear that had fallen down his cheek. His eyes were filled with sadness, but also with a glimmer of hope for his master's future.

Dylan turned away from Enzo. A soft "hmm" escaped his lips, but his mind was racing with a storm of thoughts and emotions. He had expected to feel elated and relieved after paying for his past sins, but instead, he felt unsettled and uncertain.

For a century, he had worked tirelessly to atone for a sin he didn't even remember, collecting souls and guiding them to the afterlife. The deity god had taken away his memory of his first life, but now the time had come for him to face his final mission. He was filled with a mixture of relief, trepidation, and curiosity about what awaited him beyond the veil of death.

"Take heart, Lord Dylan," Enzo said, sensing his master's anxiety. "The deity god of the afterlife will see to it that you are rewarded for your service."

"Ding!" A black bell sounded from somewhere in the shadows, and a black book materialized in Enzo's hand. A ghostly presence began writing in the book, listing the details of the mission.

-Name: Zamira Williams.

-Age: 21

-Time of death: 10:00 pm

-Cause of death: Overdose

-Place of death: Ethan's Bar

"It is time," Enzo announced, his eyes downcast as he reached for the black blazer that was draped over the back of the chair.

"What time is it?" Dylan asked, turning his back for Enzo to put the black blazer on.

"It's 9 pm, Lord Dylan"

"She is going to die in an hour, get the car ready,"

Enzo's brows knitted together in confusion.

"The car? But we always teleport to our destinations, Lord Dylan. Why are we using a car this time?"

Dylan gave a wry smile. "Why not add some excitement to my last mission on Earth?"

"As you wish, Lord Dylan" Enzo quickly bowed and left the room to get the car ready.

------

Aria drained the last drops of vodka from her glass. Her mind was a jumble of worries, and she hoped the alcohol would numb the pain. She had lost her job, her hopes of promotion were crushed, and she had no idea how she would provide for her grandmother and Ian. Her head swam with dark thoughts, and she felt as if she might be swallowed up by the gloom that surrounded her.

"Another drink, please!" she slurred, her head resting on the bar.

"I'm afraid that's not a good idea," the handsome bartender said gently.

Aria chuckled. "You think?" she slurred. "You're pretty by the way. All right, fine. I'll take your advice." She threw her head back and laughed, a sloppy, carefree laugh.

The bartender couldn't help but grin at her sassiness. "Can I have your phone?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"You want my number?" Aria sputtered. "Heh heh heh. You're funny, I am too shattered to give my number,"

Aria wobbled on her feet as she tried to stand up, and before the bartender could react, she was flat on the floor.

"You alright?" he asked, his brows knitting together in concern.

"Owie," Aria groaned, her head spinning.

"I'm gonna get you some water," the bartender said, disappearing into the kitchen.

A minute later, he returned with a glass of water, setting it down on the bar.

"Drink this," he said, helping Aria sit up.

"Are you alright now?" He asked after she drank the water.

"I want to go home," She mumbled, burying her face on the bar table.

"I needed your phone, not because I wanted to get your number, I wanted to call someone to come get you here," He clarified.

Wearing a frown, she took his face into her hands and sputtered, "You are pretty but good, I like bad boys, too bad,"

The bartender carefully took her hands off his face shook his head, and said "Damn, You are wasted,"

"Alex, three shots!" A customer shouted,

"Three shots, coming right away," He shouted back then he turned to Aria, "I will be back right now, don't go anywhere,"

"Just stay put, okay?" he said, and then turned to the man who had shouted.

Aria watched him walk away, her head still spinning. She couldn't remember the last time she'd had this much to drink. She couldn't even remember how many drinks she'd had. She just knew that she felt awful and that she wanted to go home, so she stood up and sluggishly left the bar.

As she headed to the side of the bar where a dark alleyway was located, she felt a wave of nausea wash over her. She rushed to the alley and vomited, then looked up, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.

Her heart skipped a beat as she caught sight of a tall figure in the shadows, but when she flashed her phone's light on them, her fear increased.

It was a man, wearing a dark blazer with a spinster look.

"AHHHH!" she screamed, her voice ringing through the alley. Then, the world went black.

Taken aback by the loud voice, Enzo turned to his master, "I think the woman has fainted, what do we do?"

Dylan's jaw tightened. "That's not the point, Enzo! The question is, how did she see us?"