All was cold and dark in the forest clearing. It was darker than it had ever been in several years, even though the moon was in full harvest that night.
The leaves had stopped their rustling. Not a sound was heard. No creatures had dared to stir. Not at the very moment, no. They could feel the silent tension that stretched the very air taut.
And then Death stepped into the clearing.
The last time Death had come here personally... It had been ages ago. But the circumstances that found tonight’s soul were too precious to leave to his little Reapers. This was something that Death had to see to himself.
He smiled wearily when he saw them. The lovers were lying down on the cold grass, their arms and bodies so entangled in each other that it was hard to tell where one person ended and the other began. They were staring softly into each other’s eyes.
Love in its youth, sighed Death. Innocent and beautiful. Such a shame.
The boy and the girl had not noticed the sudden darkness that pervaded the clearing. Nor had they noted the way the temperature had fallen on their skin. Indeed, so intense was their gaze upon each other that nothing existed beyond each other’s loving stare.
The girl’s eyes were the first to feel heavy. She blinked once, twice. She smiled at her love and gave him a final lingering glance before slowly falling into a deep slumber.
The boy felt no similar inclination to close his eyes. Not just yet. He looked at the young beautiful person who lay in front of him, not wishing to miss a thing.
He studied the angles and curves upon her face, trying to imagine the way the light would have cast hollow shadows when her head tilted somewhat.
He traced a gentle finger along her cheek, appreciating the subtle skin. He gazed at her for as long as he could, memorizing every facet of her beauty, remembering every tender moment he shared with her, every time she was in his arms.
He knew that this was the last time he would hold her. He had felt the cold and the dark that had closed in on them the moment she closed her eyes and he just knew.
Death watched all of this with the sound of silence in his thoughts. He soaked in the tenderness of the moment. It gave him no pleasure to have to do this to the young couple. Not tonight of all nights, when the light of their love had shone brightest of all.
But such was the nature of Death. He could not go against it even if he so desired.
The boy closed his eyes for the last time.
Slowly, tenderly, gently. Death moved towards the boy, his feet making no sound.
A soft breeze blew about him. But none could feel it.
It was the breath of a thousand souls. And none could feel it. None, save Death himself.
Death hovered over the young couple. Before him were two souls, both beautiful in their own right. But only one was to stay.
He stared deep into the depths of the young boy’s heart and saw in there the tumour, making its way and spreading like a cancer.
Death had no love for the cancer. But neither was there hate. The cancer just was.
He knelt down beside the child – for to him, all men were mere children – and reached out with both hands.
His ethereal hands went under the boy’s body and slowly rose, passing through flesh and bone and gently feeling for the heart. As soon as he found it, the beating stopped and just like that, the child would never again be able to return.
Then he gently pulled.
And inch by inch, the soul tore away from its home. So it went until Death cradled it in its entirety. Then Death gazed upon it.
The boy’s soul was crimson and purple, sprinkled with flecks of yellow. It was a clean soul, a kind soul, a soul that Death took pity upon easily. He held it lightly in his arms.
Tentatively, the soul opened its eyes and stared at the only manifestation of death it would ever know.
The soul was not surprised to see Death and did not stare as long as previous souls had. Instead, he turned his gaze back to the girl, his expression mournful.
A minute passed. Another.
Death stood unmoving, the soul in his arms. This was a moment that would last forever if need be. Time was no matter.
Eventually, the soul turned back to look at Death. His expression was one of acceptance. The soul nodded and Death blew his breath upon the soul.
It was time to go.
The leaves had stopped their rustling. Not a sound was heard. No creatures had dared to stir. Not at the very moment, no. They could feel the silent tension that stretched the very air taut.
And then Death stepped into the clearing.
The last time Death had come here personally... It had been ages ago. But the circumstances that found tonight’s soul were too precious to leave to his little Reapers. This was something that Death had to see to himself.
He smiled wearily when he saw them. The lovers were lying down on the cold grass, their arms and bodies so entangled in each other that it was hard to tell where one person ended and the other began. They were staring softly into each other’s eyes.
Love in its youth, sighed Death. Innocent and beautiful. Such a shame.
The boy and the girl had not noticed the sudden darkness that pervaded the clearing. Nor had they noted the way the temperature had fallen on their skin. Indeed, so intense was their gaze upon each other that nothing existed beyond each other’s loving stare.
The girl’s eyes were the first to feel heavy. She blinked once, twice. She smiled at her love and gave him a final lingering glance before slowly falling into a deep slumber.
The boy felt no similar inclination to close his eyes. Not just yet. He looked at the young beautiful person who lay in front of him, not wishing to miss a thing.
He studied the angles and curves upon her face, trying to imagine the way the light would have cast hollow shadows when her head tilted somewhat.
He traced a gentle finger along her cheek, appreciating the subtle skin. He gazed at her for as long as he could, memorizing every facet of her beauty, remembering every tender moment he shared with her, every time she was in his arms.
He knew that this was the last time he would hold her. He had felt the cold and the dark that had closed in on them the moment she closed her eyes and he just knew.
Death watched all of this with the sound of silence in his thoughts. He soaked in the tenderness of the moment. It gave him no pleasure to have to do this to the young couple. Not tonight of all nights, when the light of their love had shone brightest of all.
But such was the nature of Death. He could not go against it even if he so desired.
The boy closed his eyes for the last time.
Slowly, tenderly, gently. Death moved towards the boy, his feet making no sound.
A soft breeze blew about him. But none could feel it.
It was the breath of a thousand souls. And none could feel it. None, save Death himself.
Death hovered over the young couple. Before him were two souls, both beautiful in their own right. But only one was to stay.
He stared deep into the depths of the young boy’s heart and saw in there the tumour, making its way and spreading like a cancer.
Death had no love for the cancer. But neither was there hate. The cancer just was.
He knelt down beside the child – for to him, all men were mere children – and reached out with both hands.
His ethereal hands went under the boy’s body and slowly rose, passing through flesh and bone and gently feeling for the heart. As soon as he found it, the beating stopped and just like that, the child would never again be able to return.
Then he gently pulled.
And inch by inch, the soul tore away from its home. So it went until Death cradled it in its entirety. Then Death gazed upon it.
The boy’s soul was crimson and purple, sprinkled with flecks of yellow. It was a clean soul, a kind soul, a soul that Death took pity upon easily. He held it lightly in his arms.
Tentatively, the soul opened its eyes and stared at the only manifestation of death it would ever know.
The soul was not surprised to see Death and did not stare as long as previous souls had. Instead, he turned his gaze back to the girl, his expression mournful.
A minute passed. Another.
Death stood unmoving, the soul in his arms. This was a moment that would last forever if need be. Time was no matter.
Eventually, the soul turned back to look at Death. His expression was one of acceptance. The soul nodded and Death blew his breath upon the soul.
It was time to go.
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