The Reapers are Coming

-Baby Doll-

Something has been following me lately. Everywhere I look, I keep seeing these shadows out of the corners of my eyes. I wanted to believe that I was seeing things at first. But, the number of shadows kept increasing over time. They keep whispering too. I don’t know why I told Masayuki this, but I had to say something to somebody. He gave me an odd look.

“Are you sure that they are following you?” that idiot asked.

“Yes!” I said. Masayuki put up his hands and shushed me.

“Okay, okay,” he said. “Tell me what happened. When did these shadows start following you around?” I lowered my eyes as I looked away.

“Last week,” I said. “I was in the shower when I felt something cold hit the back of my neck. When I turned around, I was alone.” I shivered and grabbed my arms. When I got out of the shower, I thought I saw something out of the corner of my eye. That same cold feeling touched my shoulder, but I was still alone.” I watched Masayuki as I spoke.

“Did you hear anything strange?” he asked. I thought he was joking with me, but his tone told me that he wasn’t being his annoying self. Part of me wanted to stop talking, but I didn’t have anywhere else to turn.

“No,” I said. “Not at first.”

“When?” he said. I dug my nails into my arm.

“Five days ago,” I said. I froze as a thought crossed my mind. The color drained from my face as I looked away.

“What’s the matter?” he asked.

“I didn’t want to think it would be that possibility,” I said.

“What are you talking about?” Masayuki asked. “What possibility?” I lifted my head as I trembled.

“Reapers,” I said. “They probably know that I haven’t been judged.” I thought I was going to faint.

“I don’t want to be judged yet,” I said. “I still haven’t given my grandma any closure yet. If the reapers come and take me away, it’s all over. I won’t know who killed me and grandma won’t have peace either. I don’t know how to fight off the reapers either.” I grabbed into my head.

“What should I do?” I asked. “What should I do?!” Masayuki grabbed me by the shoulders. I stared at him with big eyes.

“We’ll find your killers before you are taken to be judged,” he said. “We aren’t going to give up just because you see a couple of shadows!”

“But they don’t give up until they have their rogue soul,” I pointed out. “The longer I’m on the loose, the more aggressive they will get. They could end up killing innocent people because of me.”

“Then we won’t give up either!” he said. “You have to trust me.” Something in his words calmed me down. I don’t know if it was his tone or the words themselves, but I pressed my lips together and nodded.

“You’re right,” I said. “We can’t give up yet. We’ll just keep trying until the mystery is solved.”

“Good,” Masayuki said back. I tried to ignore the growling I heard behind me as that cold feeling trickled down from my neck to my back. It hurt to make myself smile.