The night is silent and a whisper is carried by the cold winter wind, he knows, he is waiting. Waiting for another candle to burn out, soon someone will draw the last breath.
The reaper walks on an endless garden lit with millions of lanterns. He gazed into the starless skies and softly said "it's time". He picked up one lantern and continued walking to a nearby stream, the water however, does not flow downstream but upstream ending on a hill. He knelt down on one knee and placed the lantern on the water, it was carried away and as soon as it reached the top, the lantern's light burned bright extending upwards until it vanished.
"Soon there will be many, i only hope i had shepherd enough." Midnight spoke
The chimes hanging on the trees that grow on that garden clanged when the wind touched them, it's a sign, another soul to reap. Midnight went back inside his mansion and sat to play his piano. Whenever another death is due he needs to play his piano, the song brings comfort to the weary souls, it helps lessen the burden of the life so they could let go easily.
He took the final sip of wine before heading out to take his price. A door appeared out of nowhere, he opened the door and upon entering he arrived in a home for the aged. As soon as he set foot on that place, Tyriel, the angel's eyes widened. His worst fear had happened, the reaper is now in the city where he hid the child years ago. And it wouldn't be long til' he finds out.
The old lady's guardian angel standing on the corner of the ward greeted him as he approached him.
"I've done my part reaper. I'll leave the rest to you." Says the angel
"Worry not keeper, i'll take good care of her." Midnight answered
The guardian angel disappeared after fulfilling his mission. Midnight walks to the old lady lying on the bed, she's frail and thin. He sat on the bed and caressed her, he stroked her hair and talked to her.
"You've fought hard, you can rest now."
The life support beeped long and the screen showed a straight line. The old lady exhaled her last breath, Midnight reached into her chest and pulled out an orb of light. The light blinked then he let go of the orb floating in mid air, it turned into the figure of a woman, it was her soul. It looked at her deceased body and asked.
"Have i done good when i was alive?"
Midnight smiled and replied
"You've done great."
"I did? I'm so glad, i don't have any regrets." She replied
"Are you ready now? It's time to go." Midnight stated
"Yes i'm ready. Thank you for waiting."
He smiled then stomped his scythe on the floor then another door appeared. He reached for the knob to open it but before he could, a vision of another woman appeared in his mind, he can hear her subtle voice. Then it came to his mind that his vision had shown him the child he is overdued to collect.
He smiled again menacingly but ignored his vision for the moment and opened the door as he invited the old lady.
"Let's go."
They entered the door and afterwards it vanished.
Upon realizing that Midnight might've already found Serena, Tyriel flew as fast as he could to where the remnants of the reaper's presence was felt. He arrived at the hospital and found only the doctors trying to ressucitate the old lady. He searched for Midnight but he was no longer there. Tyriel sighed in relief because this is not the hospital where Cody is admitted, that means he hasn't found Serena yet. But he must confirm things so he flew to the other hospital and found Serena sound asleep beside Cody. He covered her with a blanket then stood there watching them both at peace.
Later another angel arrived, it was Cody's guardian angel. It tapped Tyriel on the shoulder, Tyriel answered with a smile then they talked.
"This is all my fault. I never should've left him on his own." Cody's guardian angel said in a soft voice
"Don't blame yourself, you could only watch over him, as much as you want to save him, we hold no power over their destiny." Replies Tyriel
"But you can! You're an Archangel! You're the war saints, you have the authority to intervene over their safety. Can't you heal him or fix him somehow?" the guardian angel stated
"I fight the forces of darkness that might harm humanity. Even with my powers, i cannot disobey our law, i don't have the authority to sheperd a human who already has a keeper." Tyriel answered
"What about Serena? Why did you save her on the first place if she has her own keeper?" the guardian angel asked
"Her keeper disobeyed the law, her keeper defied destiny and tried to stand against the reaper. Her keeper perished during that battle, so in his place i stood as her own." Tyriel stated with lies
"Without the council's orders? Without divine approval?"
"I had to do what's right! Anyone would've done the same!"
"You disobeyed the law yourself Tyriel! You descended and left your post without permission. That is considered as defiance.. that is treason!"
"You are no judge or jury to condemn me for my actions keeper! Know your place!" Tyriel answered enraged.
The guardian angel whimpered after Tyriel had spread his wings displaying such blinding light.
"Forgive me for my intrusions Tyriel." Says the guardian angel.
"Set your emotions aside keeper. We must be strong for them. Pray for Cody's fast recovery, he needs you." Replied Tyriel
Tyriel left both Serena and Cody in the guardian angel's care.
Meanwhile on the other side, Midnight walks to his garden carrying the soul of the old lady he claimed. He stopped by a pond and looked into the still waters.
"Bellowing fire, Oh to where do thee yonder? Taketh thy pain from thy restless soul. Sleep into thy healing tides. Giveth unto them mercy, heed my prayers and maketh thy eyes see redemption."
As he placed the lantern containing the soul of the old lady on the water, the night sky brightened with green light, an Aurora Borealis shined upon the garden of souls.
"There now, you are finally at peace. You are no longer bound to your mortal flesh and the burden of living." Midnight utters
He walks into his mansion to have a glass of wine but suddenly he had another vision. The child he failed to claim appeared to him, she was laughing and running inside a garden of roses. Tall walls covered with vines, a fountain and another man.
He snapped out of his vision and almost fell on his knees. He grabbed hold on the bar counter, he smiled for a moment then poured wine on an empty glass.
"Little lamb, little soul, hide anywhere you like but i will find you."
Midnight drank his wine and decided to head out for a walk, he thought to himself he might randomly meet her somewhere.
He stood in front of a tall mirror and looked at himself intensively. He turned around and his appearance suddenly changed. His long wretched black cloak turned into a black tux with grey accents for details. He turned left and right to see if his new look fits him perfectly. Lastly he straightened his back and brushed his hand on his chest.
"I never thought this would look good on me. I'm really gonna need a ton of these clothes if i wanna blend in with the humans." He said
"Humans have a weird way of living and they wouldn't accept golden Drachmas so these won't do." He added as he toss away the ancient golden coin.
Midnight extended his arm and pulled out a black leathery bag from thin air. He opened the bag and took out bundles of money and jewelries.
"Now then, where should we go and spend this earthly riches?"
A door appeared and Midnight entered, he came to an alley of different clothing stores.
He entered one of the stores and is greeted by a clerk.
"Good day to you sir! How can i help you?" says the clerk
"Good day to you too good sir. I would like to purchase some of your finest products." Midnight replied
"Would you like me to take your measurements?" asks the clerk
"Uhh no, that won't be necessary. I'm in a hurry." he answered
"Uhm well we have finished products that you can try on sir, if you like. Right this way" The clerk offered
The clerk assisted Midnight with his purchases as Midnight tries them on one after the other.
"Okay, that would be £123,600.00 in total sir. Would you like to pay in cash or in card?" the clerk asked
"I'll pay in cash." Midnight answered as he placed a bundle of money on the counter.
The clerk was surprised as he counted the money, Midnight paid more than the price of his purchase. The clerk stopped him when he was about to leave the store.
"Sir! Your change, you paid extra." says the clerk
"Is it? Then it's yours." He replied
"But sir-"
"You're a kind and honest soul. Keep it." Midnight interrupted
As he left the store, the man gladly spoke in a soft voice.
"Thank you.. good sir."
Midnight walked down the long alley and noticed a group of young men standing not far from the store he left. He shifted his attention to other things and stopped by other stores to buy other stuffs. As he was going about, he realized it's almost nightime. He had enjoyed his shopping that he lost track of the time. Still he continued to wander and satisfy his eyes with the beautiful stores lined on every corner.
As he was about to reach the end of the alley, a group of men ran past him carrying bags of goods. One of them looked at Midnight, when their eyes met Midnight saw guilt in them. He stopped walking when he heard people screaming from far behind, then he heard a faint dying heartbeat carried by the wind. He knew that heartbeat, it was the clerk's. Midnight walked fast back to the store, he saw people gathered outside the store murmuring. When the police arrived and the people dispersed, he saw the lifeless body of the clerk lying on the floor. Blood splattered on the counter, chairs and the clothes have been thrown out of place. The police announced it as a robbery-murder. Midnight felt sorrow with the death of the clerk, for him it was untimely and unacceptable. He knew who did this atrocity, it was those young men he saw earlier. His clothes started to wither so he immediately left the scene to prevent chaos. His sorrow now turned into hatred.
This would be the first time that Midnight had let his powers out. His eyes burned green and so did the night sky. He scanned his surroundings for the perpetrators, anywhere he looks he can now see the lifelines of every single humans, the light in their souls, as well as their guardian angels. He kept walking but then stopped when he heard voices arguing from a distance.
"Why did you do that?!! He was not gonna fight!!"
"He was already giving us the money!! You killed him man!"
"He resisted!! I had no other choice!
The young criminals are still arguing inside an old abandoned warehouse when they felt a cold breeze.
"Why is it suddenly so cold in here?" Asks one
Their curiosity were shaken when a door appeared right front of them.
"WTF?!! What is that?!! Why is there a door there all of a sudden?!!" Exclaimed another
A grey mist flowed out of the door as it opened. Midnight came out and answered.
"Criminals at a young age? You have darkened all of your souls." He said
"W-wait..Who are you?!! How did you get here?!!" Asks one while pointing a gun on him
"Does it matter? I am here to collect all of you." Replies Midnight
"Collect what? Don't tell me you're a friend of that old man? Leave now before you get hurt!" Says another one
"Your lambs ever so dearly took for granted the lives they borrowed, as well as the life of others. What say you?" Midnight looks at a corner
"Their souls are tainted. We've done our best to keep them from the path of destruction. They're on their own so do what you have to do reaper." Answered the guardian angels of the five criminals then left.
In confusion, the criminals looked at the corner and berrated him when they saw nothing.
"Who are you talking to freak?!" Asks one
"I think this guy's got a loose thread on his head." Says another
"I'm not gonna say it again, leave now or you'll get hurt!" Utters another criminal
"When you've taken the life of that man, what did you feel? Shame? Horror! Power?" Midnight asks
"You'll end up like him if you don't stop asshole." Says another criminal as he walks to Midnight with a knife in hand
"You should've thought of the consequences of your actions. You have no remorse for the life on an innocent man."
"Just kill him!" Says the leader of the criminals
"He was a family man, a father of three, a good husband, one of the purest souls i seldom meet. Unforgivable! Your greed, your deeds root the deepest evil in this land which needs to be cleansed!" Midnight exclaimed
The man lunged his knife forward into Midnight's stomach. His smile slowly became sour as fear came to him. Midnight didn't budge or feel pain even a little.
"What are you?!!" Says the terrified man
"I am Death." Midnight answered
His eyes turned green as he choked the man. The man struggled with all his might, punching and kicking Midnight but he just didn't budge at all. The man tried to pull the knife from his stomach but it's stuck, the more he does the more his hand is being sucked inside. The man screamed in agony as his hand went inside Midnight's stomach. Bones crushing, flesh tearing apart, and the man screamed even louder as his hand slowly began to decay. The horrific sound of his scream left the other criminals in state of terror.
"L-Let him go!!" Yells one of the criminals
"You son of a bitch!! Aaaaahh!!" Enraged as another criminal fired his gun on Midnight
Midnight opened his mouth and sucked the soul of the man. Both of them are hit by the bullets but they just bounce off of Midnight. The decayed body of the criminal turned to ash and scattered to the wind.
When they saw what had happened to their friend, the criminals pulled out their guns and open fired to Midnight.
"Ah humans and their cute little toys. How hopeless!" He sighed
"Demon!!" yelled one of the criminals
"I am more than that!" Midnight answered as he continued walking towards them.
When their guns ran out of bullets, they began to panic and tried to escape but then all the doors closed. Some of them climbed on a broken window but the shattered glass protruded out and impaled them. Those who remained tried as hard as they could to break the door but it didn't happen. When they turned they saw Midnight caught one of them and pulled out his spinal column from his back. The sheer terror forced them to fend for their lives, they picked whatever they could get and protect themselves from the reaper.
"What are you fighting for? Why would you resist? Your lives are meaningless. Do you think trying to survive would justify the cause of your actions?" Midnight asked
"You stay where you are demon!! Don't come any closer!" Says the criminal with a metal rod in hand
"Let us go!! Forgive us!" Says another one
"Forgive you?! You are all doomed!" Midnight answered
He blinked in front of them and sucked them dry of their souls until only one is left, their leader. The man fell and crawled on his ass while begging for mercy.
"Please spare me! Spare me! I don't wanna die!" He begs
"Spare you?? Did you spare the life of that man when he begged for it?!" Midnight asked
"I will share with you the money..No, i will give you all the money! Just please let me go!!"
"I don't need your material things. I have no need of your compassion. Your soul will suffer for the weight of your crime."
The man levitated in mid air and got pulled into the reaper's waiting hand. While the man is choking, Midnight saw tears in his eyes as he continued begging for mercy.
"You will never know peace nor justice. You will forever burn in the pits of hell."
Midnight pierced his chest and pulled out his heart then he sucked his soul out and threw him into the wall. The criminal's body splattered like wet ash leaving a stain in the concrete. After killing all the criminals, Midnight went back to the store where the body of the clerk is being loaded into the ambulance. On the side of the vehicle there stood the clerk's guardian angel weeping. It approached Midnight.
"He was a kind-hearted man. I've failed him." Says the angel
"Don't be sorry for his death. I know it's unnatural but he's in a better place now. Your role here is finished, return home." Midnight replied
The angel thanked him then flew away. Midnight held the clerk's soul and placed it in a lantern. He went home still feeling saddened by the clerk's death, he sat on his piano and played a melancholic song to sooth the soul of the dead. He took another bottle of wine and poured it into a new glass. Suddenly he heard loud thundering blows from the heavens then an angel arrived on his doorstep. An Archangel clad in armor and weilding a sword and shield. It entered the door and without a formal greeting questioned Midnight.
"Reaper, i am here to question you about the deaths of those five mortals." the angel started
"Who? Those criminals?" Midnight answered
"They are humans too! You slaughtered them like livestock without properly adhering to the council's permission!" the angel exclaimed
"I did what i have to war saint. I evened the balance."
"Killing them tipped the scales reaper! Their deaths should've happened as destined!" the angel stated enraged
"I am death itself! As an Archangel you should've known better than judge me!" Midnight yelled
"Justify your claim reaper!!" the angel roared as he unsheathed his sword
"Careful now war saint. You are in my domain. Don't test me." Midnight warned him
The mansion began to shake as dark shadows began to loom in every corner. The mist also began to appear spreading all over the place and reached the archangel's feet.
"You will be hearing from me soon reaper! I'll let it pass this time." Says the angel then left
The mansion stopped shaking and the dark shadows as well as the mist also decipated.
"Ahh, my head hurts from all of these. Maybe i should finish this bottle."
Midnight filled his glass and continued playing his piano the whole night while staring at a blue luminous flower on a table.