ALEX
'So cold, just where in the world...'
I slowly opened my eyes to see only darkness around me. It was cold and suffocating.
I looked around to see only nothing. I want to reach out onto something but, I can't feel my legs or my hands. It's like I'm just floating in mid-air.
In a normal situation, a person would be in a panic because of their surroundings but, not someone like me.
"Is this the child that killed our Chosen One?"
Suddenly, a gravelly voice echoed in the darkness. Then, I heard a lot of disembodied voices echoing around me. They seem to like talking to one another.
"I see... so, she's the one responsible."
Then again, I heard the same voice. It seems like this is the only voice I could understand among the rest.
"You have killed the One we have chosen. You probably know what will happen after you killed him, you poor soul. We have seen everything you have done. We know that it was his decision to be killed by your hands, but it is still unforgivable. We cannot overlook the consequence of your action from the day you killed him. You will be punished accordingly."
Again, they were discussing. While they are taking their time, I already have a clear idea of what this unknown being talking about.
'They must be talking about Elliot. I guess this is where I will be judged by my action. I'm already prepared for what it will be. If I'm going to be sent to hell and be tortured, I will accept it. If they going to send my soul into a world of emptiness, I will accept it. From the books that I have read before, they were a lot of heaven punishments but these two are the ones that are more extreme for me.'
"We have decided on what will be your punishment."
'This is it...'
"Your punishment would be..."
A LOUD THUNDER woke me up. I got up from my bed panting and sweating.
'That nightmare...*huff* again...'
Another thunder and lightning strike outside my window.
The sky was dark and gloomy. The trees sway aggressively like any second now they would break apart. The window of my room is shaking due to the strong wind. I can't even see the lawn of my mansion because of this ugly storm.
I slowly got down from my bed and search for a candlestick.
There was no sign of light in my room. I always sleep without lights in my room to help me fall asleep. But, sometimes when the storm comes, it became an inconvenience to me.
As I was searching for it, a flash of lightning struck again. I suddenly knelt on the floor not because I was scared but because of the intense pain, I felt in myself.
I panted heavily and shakily grab the floor sheet. I couched myself as I tried to control the throbbing pain inside me. I grasped tightly to my chest and breath heavily.
"Not again, please... I don't want to lose control... I have to..." I muttered as I slowly crawled toward the door. I can feel sweat forming on my forehead.
As the lightning and thunder struck over and over, I tried my best not to lose control of the beast inside of me. The beast that the heavens gave me as my punishment.
When I was at the door, I knocked on it as hard as I could hoping that somebody could hear it.
'Anybody... please...'
As I wait for someone to respond to my call, every breath I take was getting harder. My grip tightened on the floor sheet and could hear every beat of my heart.
I can feel myself losing consciousness but, I have to stay awake. The moment I pass out, I will lose control and wreak havoc and that is the last thing that I don't want to happen.
I heard the door open and there I saw Anna, one of the young maids here in the mansion. She's eighteen years old and has been working here for two years.
"Miss Ash? What..." she looked around the room for a second searching for me. When her gaze dropped, I could clearly see the surprise on her face.
"Miss Ash, what happened?" she asked in a concerned way as she knelt beside me. She stares down at my body as if she was looking for any injuries.
When I saw her thoughtfulness for me, I slowly smiled.
"Why are you smiling? Are you in pain? I will call Dr. Johannes immediately! Please endure it for as long as you can."
"Thank –" I haven't finished my word yet when she suddenly stood up and ran out of the room, "– you."
'Anna is truly a kind child.'
I tried to get up but, the throbbing pain makes it harder for me to even stand up.
"Ugh..." I manage to sit up and lean on the wall. I looked outside of my window and still see the storm rampaging as if it was experiencing what I'm feeling right now.
"Dr. Johannes, hurry!" I hear Anna's voice in the distance and every thump of her feet.
She entered the room together with someone else. A man with long black silky hair tied in a ponytail, pale skin, wearing round eyeglasses that add beauty to his jet black eyes, and in his pajamas.
His name is Johannes, or known as Dr. Johannes. He is the only private doctor that I have, my butler, and the only one who knows of my condition.
He looked at me and heaved a sigh.
If Anna was the type to worry about me, Johannes was the opposite. He doesn't even care in the slightest about what is happening to me. Well, I can't blame him. He is used to this kind of scenario for centuries now.
He approached me and placed his hand on my wrist and carefully checked for my pulse. When he was done, he turned to Anna and smiled at her.
"Miss Anna, can you please leave us alone for a moment. I will call you if I need some help," he said.
"Yes, Dr. Johannes. I'll be just right outside the door," she replied. Anna took a glance at me before she left the room.
When she was gone, Johannes turned to me and looked at me coldly.
"Well, well, well, look what we have here. Someone finally decided again to disturb my sleep. I am really tired today and you added your burden to my list."
Instead of getting irritated with him, I just chuckled at his remarks. I'm already used to his attitude for centuries now. He might be cold and insensitive on the outside but, I know there is kindness in him. He just doesn't show it obviously.
"I'm sorry for this, Johannes. You're the only one I can turn to whenever I had my attacks. And besides," I leaned my head against the wall and sighed, "I don't want to hurt anyone. I am dangerous whenever I am in this stage. If I lost my control, I will become a monster."
"And if that happens," Johannes removed his eyeglasses and his hair tie. His long black hair softly sways behind him. A black mist surrounds him and when it disappears, the pajamas he was wearing a while ago transformed into his uniform, his 'Grim Reaper' uniform. "I will be the one to end you."
"I know," I said while panting.
Johannes hung his eyeglasses in his chest pocket. He brought himself close to me and carried me in his arms. He snaps his fingers and sudden blue flames lightened the room. The blue flames scattered around each corner of the room and brightened the room even more.
He put me back on my bed and covered me with my blanket. He chanted some words that I am familiar with but unable to understand the meaning behind those words. A black mist surrounds his hands and a few seconds later, there 'it' was a temporary solution to my dilemma.
A red flaming soul – that reeks of pure evil – on his hands that can calm the beast inside of me.
He brought it closer to my mouth and I gladly swallowed it.
I suddenly felt an intense amount of pain and immediately clutch my chest. I rolled around my bed for a few minutes before I finally calm down.
I slowly took a deep breath and relaxed on my bed. I was drenched in sweat from what happened.
"Do you feel better now?" he asked me. I nodded in response to his question.
He snaps his fingers again, and everything went back to normal. He was wearing his pajamas again, and there were no blue flames in my room.
"Thank you, Johannes," I said.
"It was nothing. That was just one of my responsibilities as your doctor and your butler," he said as he put on his round eyeglasses again and tied his hair up.
Then, we heard a knock on the bedroom door.
"Is everything okay, Dr. Johannes? Miss Ash?" we heard at the other end of the room Anna's voice full of concern.
I let her in and there she was looking at me. When she saw that I was in a good condition, she sighed with relief and sweetly smiled at me.
"I'm glad you're alright, Miss Ash," she said.
"Well, it was all thanks to you, Anna. If you didn't hear me banging on the door, I might not be able to survive the pain."
She shyly waves her hand in front of her. "It was nothing, Miss Ash. I just so happen roaming the area when I heard something banging. I never thought that it was you. I was thinking of running away fearing it might be a ghost or something. But, I face my fear and look at the source of the sound, and then it leads me to you."
"Still you save me, isn't that right, Johannes?" I said and looked in Johannes' direction. He made a cough before answering.
"She's right. Your concern for your master is so obvious. You banged my door so loudly while shouting my name in the middle of the night."
"Oh, how sweet of you, Anna," I humorously told her. "I'm glad that there are not a lot of people in my mansion."
"Why?" Anna asked as she tilts her head slightly.
"Well, imagine if people heard your banging as you shout Johanne's name in the middle of the night. It might sound..." I pause for a bit and wink at her. "Something spicy is happening."
I saw her face redden like a tomato and she panicky waved her hand.
"Miss Ash! W-wha-what are you s-saying?! T-that is i-inappropriate!" she exclaimed. I let out a giggle and can't stop myself from wanting to tease her more. But, I suddenly felt a murder intention beside me. I slowly turned my head and saw Johannes killing me with his glares.
I let out a cough and compose myself. I don't want to show Johannes that I am scared of his deathly stares at me.
"Back to the topic, since you save my life, Anna, I decided to raise your salary."
"N-no need, Miss, I am happy enough to save you," she said as she waves her hand in front of me. I hold her hand and looked at her.
"Really? But, I really want to help you, Anna."
"It's okay, Miss Ash," she said as she gave me a beautiful smile.
"How about this?" we looked at Johannes who was holding a thick book. It must come from the books lying around my room, "if you want to repay her kindness, maybe something like sponsoring her for her college, such as a scholarship?"
"That's a great idea, Johannes," I complimented him in whom I saw him smirk for a moment and then return to his emotionless face.
"Huh? But that's – " Anna was about to refuse again but, I cannot let her say no.
"Now it's concluded, I will sponsor Anna for her college degree. Now you have nothing to worry about," I said as I clasp my hands together happily. "Johannes, please work on this."
"If you say so, Ash," Johannes replied.
I could see in Anna's look on her face that she couldn't believe what was happening.
"Johannes, I think Anna should take a rest. It's still in the middle of the night and there will be a lot of work tomorrow due to the storm," I said.
"We will take our leave then, let's go, Anna," Johannes helped Anna to leave the room since she was still dumbfounded by what I said.
I wave them goodbye as they leave the room, but before Anna takes a step outside, she snaps out of her inner conflict and quickly looks at me.
"Miss Ash?"
"Yes, Anna?"
"Forgive me if I am crossing the line but, what is your illness? I just want to know if maybe I can help you the next time you are in trouble again. If Dr. Johannes isn't here the moment you have your attacks, I might become of help. Am..." she wriggles her fingers and nervously closes her eyes. "I right?"
'This child is sincere. I sense that she's worried about me and wanted to help. But, she's a human. She has no ability that can help me.'
I softly smiled at her and answered, "Thank you for your concern, Anna. But," I looked out at the window and gaze at the gloomy sky. "Just like a storm, my attacks do not come too often. It might be unpredictable but, I know that Johannes will be there for me. He's been working for me and not even once he wasn't there at my side when I had my attacks. So, no need to worry yourself about me," I said as I give her a smile. A smile that tells her everything is fine.
She stares at me and nodded. "If you say so, Miss Ash, I wish you a wonderful evening," she said as she quietly leaves the room. As Johannes slowly closes the door, he bids me goodnight.
Now that I am alone in my room, I lie down and spread my arms.
'I might not be able to sleep tonight.'
While I stare at the ceiling, I recall the moment when heaven gave me my punishment.
"Your punishment would be... living your life as a human-ghoul for eternity."
'What? What does that mean?'
"You will live again in the human world but, it would be different. You will be a walking dead or, should we say a ghoul in disguise as a human."
'What? Ghoul? Walking dead?'
"To put it simply, your punishment is to live among the humans as a ghoul. In human terms, a ghoul is also known as a demon. There are two kinds of demons: a demon that has consciousness and a demon that hasn't. And you are the former. However, demons eat souls to survive in the human world. Of course, that is a rare case for demons to be in the human world but, since you killed the only person who can stop the calamity, I guess it's not rare anymore."
'Wait... It can hear my thoughts?'
"Yes."
'Then, the only person who can stop the calamity was Elliot?
"Yes. The reason we have this Chosen One is to stop calamity from happening. And that calamity is demons rampaging in your world. And now that he's dead, the calamity has started."
'But, can you not stop it? Your God's for goodness sake!'
"You're right but, taking care of the demons and hell is not my responsibility. Each one of us here has our own responsibility. But, I will not talk about that since this discussion will take long enough. Just ask the Grim Reaper that will be assigned to you."
'Wait... Grim Reaper? Why do I have one?'
"Since you're a demon, you will also yearn for human souls. Hence, we will have a grim reaper by your side in case you lost control of your demon and wreak havoc."
'What will happen if I lost control?'
"Then, the grim reaper will eliminate you."
'That's no different from erasing me from this world! No need to let me live again! Just send me to hell!'
"Watch your tone, human"
The moment the being uttered those words, a loud thunder echoed around the darkness.
"This punishment is worthy of the sin you have committed. You said to yourself that you are prepared for any kind of punishment. Am I wrong?"
'.....No'
"Besides living in the human world again, for you to not lose control easily, you have to hunt down some ghouls and the reward is their corrupted souls. Once you eat it, it will keep you sane. This job is supposed to be to the Chosen One but, since he's dead, you will be the substitute for him."
'I understand. I will do this for Elliot. I won't complain anymore.'
"Good, then farewell, Ashlyn Brielle Everleigh"
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