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"I’m sorry.”
Danny was confused. He stared at… he didn’t know who this was actually. Was he even actually staring?
“I’m sorry.” What did they have to be sorry for?
He could feel that he was confused. And unsure. But everything else was kind of… away? No. Disjointed? No that’s still not it.
“Disconnected.” Ah yes, that was it. Thank you. What were they sorry for again?
“You’ve died.”
Died? Died. Dead? He’s dead?
“No. You’re Death.”
That… didn’t make sense. He’s dead? He’s… death? Did this being have a stutter? Did they mean deaf? He’s not deaf. He’s hearing them perfectly well.
“I’m tired.”
He was tired too. Couldn’t he close his eyes and sleep? He didn’t sleep well the night before. A mix of trepidation and excitement. His parents had a new invention, see? And—
A hand was grasping his wrist, pulling him closer. There were eyes. Eyes bright— bright—too bright green—it hurts
—
“I’m sorry.” That was himself. The words coming out of his own mouth before he even thought about it. Tucker and Sam stilled at his side. He could feel the confusion coming off of them. He felt a lot of emotions these days, a lot of them not his own.
They couldn’t see her. She had a trans flag pin and a she/her pronouns pin on her bag. She was confused too. Staring at him with wide eyes. Green like his
“I’m sorry.” He said again and held a hand out. “You’re dead.”
He could feel the panic like static coming from his friends, but the girl (she was young, hair barely to her shoulders in its first long growth, he could feel the dysphoria she went through and the struggles to just be accepted—) calmed. Her shoulders lowered from where they’d risen. She felt relieved. He could feel it flowing between the two of them. The relief he craved so much himself, but would never have. He was so tired
Sam and Tucker were barely at the back of his mind as he focused on the girl. Anastasia, she’d chosen. The name now scorched onto her soul. Confusion— quietness— unsure— hope?
“Yes.” He replied. He didn’t move a muscle, eyes looking straight into hers. She stepped forward and took his hand. All it took was a single tug for her to pass through the barrier and she went from shade to entity. In a moment, her humanity bled into green and she took the form she was meant to as a ghost. A lovely young woman looking and feeling the way she wanted. Vines grew from her wrists and sprouted gentle looking flowers.
Happiness!!— hope— thanks— appreciation— rest—- relief— acceptance—!
In a moment, she hugged herself and started to fade. Her Obsession fulfilled just like that.
Danny closed his hand and let it drop to his side. He was glad for her. Abruptly turning, he stuck one hand in his pocket and curled the one she’d taken around the strap of his backpack.
Sam and Tucker stumbled after him. They asked questions he didn’t answer. Questions he couldn’t. They may come to their own conclusions.
How does one tell their friends that one day you will reap their souls? After all, he was Death.