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Sophie and The Reaper
Above, the moon, an opalescent disc, illuminated the dim path amidst the graves and tombstones. Like a granite maze, the cramped rows of mausoleums and gravestones, aged by moss and mold, dwelled in the most tranquil hill by the edge of a creek, bordered by the dense foliage of the forest.
The wind hummed a lullaby to the new tenant, a too young one to sign a contract, but the cunning lessee has always found his way. Cuddled against the marble on the recently dug pit, the soil and gravel still moistened and loosen, a little girl whimpered. Her tiny feet peeped, swaying back and forth, below the ruffled skirts of a silky white crisp dress.
"Mommy ", she sobbed, removing the honey colored bangles off her tearful face.
Stooped over and dragging his worn out sandals, The Reaper approached, blinking his red eyes in the way he stared down at the lass. Dressed in a dark ragged robe, the entity extended his arm to the girl, holding beneath his bony fingers a plushy bunny.
"Here... don't cry. Told you your mom will not come. Well, not yet." He spoke in a deep tone, trying to smooth it up in a forced fatherly cooing.
Cocking her head asides, the child studied the toy. Her eyes, bottomless pits of night, beamed nothing but sorrow. Pouting her pale rosebud lips, a tear rolled down her icy cold cheek, while accepting the present Death brought her. An unusual act of generosity, considering the dark angel's austere demeanors.
"I want to go home." Her voice cracked when speaking. "It's cold out here."
"You'll get used to, I told you. Try not to bawl like last night. You'll disturb the resting ones, and believe me, there are a few that wake up on the wrong side of their graves", he tried to sound amusing. Preaching the girl didn't work as he expected the night before, causing only a childish tantrum from dusk till dawn, all in all she was too young to understand. The Reaper sighed. Sometimes he didn't comprehend God's ways. Capital sins played unfairly with children's souls, confining them to this world when their wings didn't sprout until the debt was paid.
"I don't want to be alone in here." The girl hugged the bunny, her heart shaped face lifting to plea with innocence not to be left by herself, still not realizing she was not alive anymore.
"Oh, you won't. That's all set up, like I promised you. I asked a friend of mine to play with you... maybe if you behave, she'll stay." The Reaper said and the girl's eyes glistened like onyx stones. Her lips, still postmortem rigid, curved slightly up with hopefulness. Nodding, the Angel of Death stepped asides, extending his arm to a pathway between two tall mausoleums.
Amid the dimness, a slender feminine figured showed up, sashaying in a slow pace. A stunning young woman -as stunning as demise could paint beauty with its porcelain matte brush the skin of a lady passed away in a more graceful way- dressed in a burgundy Victorian dress, approached. A friendly smile drew on her face, beaming at the child with tenderness. "Is this our new friend Sam?"
"Yes, meet Sophie. Sophie, meet Clara." The cloaked replied, to then introduce the woman to the girl.
Clara stepped forwards, leaning closer to Sophie who gazed up with curiosity at the woman's gibbous eyes. "Nice to meet you Sophie. What an adorable girl you are?" She cupped the lass's chin.
"Are you going to play with me?"
"Of course I am. I'd always wanted a little girl, as charming as you to play with... come Sophie, get up. The neighbors in this side are too grumpy." Clara held Sophie's small hand to help her up, smiling all the way.
"Thank you Clara. I owe you one." The Reaper told the woman, who began her way out with Sophie by her side.
"You better say three. The Henderson Twins are waiting for me in the playground... those two are a menace!" Chuckling, Clara replied. "Let's go sweetie", she spoke to the girl motherly, "We'll play all night long."
"Good bye Mr. Reaper... thank you for the plushy." Sophie waved goodbye enthusiastically, and both she and the lady, walked away until they disappeared amongst the tombstones. Their voices humming children's songs, sweetly blending together until fading into the mortuary silence of the cemetery.
*This short Story responds to Nyhterides birthday challenge. Happy Birthday my dearest!
