Whether you choose to accept it or not, we're in a world where hierarchy exists and we're all ensnared by it.

There was only one way he could escape me; vanish to God knows where, but I held his gaze fiercely. We stared at each other for nearly a minute before I approached him again. This time, I was careful.

"I may just be one of the souls you collect, but we made a deal and shook on it. That is a pact. You promised to help me and in my books, I am indebted to you," I said, looking up at him. He looked scared.

If he was scared, then my poor self was beyond terrified...whatever scares him was beyond me.

"There is nothing you can do to help me," he whispered.

"You keep saying that yet I feel like you need my help. Badly."

I could tell that I was pushing it. I could see myself in him, in more ways than one. I never accepted help from anyone, I learned to handle my own shit! However, there are times when even the strong and brave need help. He stepped back and took a seat, inviting me to do the same.

"You need to understand that there are forces higher than me. Even though I agreed to help you if the higher-ups know, we are done, I more than you. I will be annihilated," Liam said.

"Tell me, who are the higher-ups?" I started, finally taking a seat. "All I know is that we are in the in-between and you're my reaper and spirit aid. You randomly leave once in a while and I am left guessing, wondering."

"There are a few people you should know about," he said. "First and foremost, Jason is our leader. He's been a reaper from the beginning of time. He is the one we all answer to. He knows what we do when we do it and the why, is for us to report. There are times when he calls us and we have no choice but to leave, this happened the day we were at your funeral." I felt the air around me thicken.

"Does this have anything to do with the bruises on your neck?" I asked, shifting in my seat.

"There are five other reapers you should know about," Liam continued, completely ignoring my question. "Gus, Rodrick, and Hanta, Samantha and Yvonne. Gus and I are like brothers, we've seen each other through so many trials and we'd basically die for each other if we had the chance."

"Does he know about me?" 

"Rodrick and Hanta are the most handsome, evil infused reapers you'll ever meet," he continued his narration, brushing my words away. I was basically meant to listen. "They are like fire and ice. Very competitive and downright corrupt. They get whatever they want when they want and in whatever means possible. If they ever find out about you..."

What? What happens when they do? I was tired of asking the questions out loud. All he did was ignore them.

"Samantha and Yvonne are your typical barbie doll girls. Pretty as fuck and they use that to their advantage. They don't even have to try. They are sophisticated, brave, and like snakes. They twist everything to their favor. Never let them know how much they intimidate you."

They sounded like the kind of girls I never approached; popular and proud. With his descriptions, Liam had presented my worst fears. How in God's name was I to live through all of that?

"To answer your questions, Gus knows nothing about you. Not yet at least. I intend to tell him the truth because I know he will understand. As for the bruises around my neck," he said, loosening his tie and unbuttoning his shirt. "They are courtesy of Jason. He realized that the last soul I collected, you, was not sent to the required zone so he had his minions hang me"

"I'm sorry, did you say you were hung?" I asked, in shock.

"I told him why and he eventually let me go," He replied.

"What exactly did you tell him?"

"That's for me to know."

"How am I supposed to fully trust you when you keep so much from me?" I shot back.

"There are some things worth not knowing Lola," Liam replied, rubbing his neck.

"You know all about me Liam," I replied. "I have zero knowledge of you. What's the fun in that?"

"You're wrong," he said. " I do not know all about you."

"Go ahead then, ask away. What do you want to know?"

"You have to answer," he said, leaning in.

"Promise."

"Why didn't you tell Ben that you knew why your parents weren't even around? You pretended to be oblivious and hid behind the fact that you were young when it happened."

How did he know about that? It was six years ago when I'd found out. I never told anyone, let alone Ben. I never talked about my parents. Anything else but that.