Black Day

“I’m sorry… what?!” Riley asked. Melissa grinned and chuckled.

“You have something that belongs to me,” she said. She rested a finger on her chest.

“Right. Here,” she said. Riley struggled to say something. What was happening here?

“Uh… What are you doing?” Riley asked.

“Shhh!” Melissa whispered. The woman stared intently. Riley’s eyes shifted away from her. She heard nothing. Nothing at all. How was that even possible?

Melissa finally grinned.

“Good!” she said. “Good. It’s still here.”

“What are you talking about? What’s still there?” Riley asked. Melissa chuckled. She patted the girl on the head.

“I put an ancient artifact in your soul,” she said. The girl stared up at her. Melissa held up her hand.

“I doubt that you would understand if I told you,” she said. “Let’s just say that it can control the world, Heaven, and Hell.” Riley stared at her with big eyes.

“W-W-What?!” she shouted. She shook her head.

“No! No, you must be joking!” the girl said.

“Nope,” Melissa said. Riley thought she was going to faint. Her head was spinning.

“Easy there,” the thief said. “If I cram more into that brain of yours, it might explode. Here, take a seat.” Melissa walked her over and sat her down on the bed.

“There you go,” she said.

“W-W-Why?!” Riley asked.

“Hm? Why what?” Melissa asked. Riley put her hand to her chest.

“Why… would you put something like that in my soul?” she asked.

“Needed a place to hide it,” Melissa said.

“Why me though?!” the girl asked. The thief shrugged.

“Don’t know,” she admitted. “You were just a random soul who hadn’t been born yet.” She noticed the look on Riley’s face.

“Can’t you take it out of me?” Riley asked.

“No,” Melissa said. The girl started to look pale. She hated where this was going.

“Why?” Riley asked. Melissa gave her a little smile. She took the girl by the cheeks.

“Because,” she said. “To do that, I would have to rip your little soul apart to get it.” Riley squinted as she struggled to speak. Melissa patted her on the shoulder.

“In other words,” she said. “I break apart your soul, you die. You go bye-bye. That’s it. No more. The end. Goodbye.” Riley stared at her, blinking.

“Why?!” she shouted.

“The artifact is buried in your soul,” Melissa said. “Sorry, kid. That’s how it is.” Riley fell back onto her bed. What just happened? One minute, she was dealing with another drunken butt dial from her mom. The next, she learns that her soul is housing a dangerous artifact. This had to be a joke, right? This had to be a dream. Yeah, that’s it. It had to be. Riley pinched herself on the cheek.

“No, it’s real, kid,” Melissa said. “Sorry about that.” Riley whipped her head around.

“So why are you here?” she asked.

“Good question!” Melissa said. She patted Reily on the shoulder.

“I’m staying with you for the artifact!” she said. Riley thought she would go mad. Could this get any worse? Well…