After the events that took place in that place,he was instantly located back in his room like nothing happened...his soul reconnected with his once soulless body and then fell asleep..
...
Next day,
Gray walking through the university campus, his hood pulled low over his eyes to shield himself from the late afternoon sun..
Ever since that night in the white void, where he had chosen to devour a soul and become a Reaper, everything had changed. The weight of his decision pressed on him constantly, a silent burden he couldn't share with anyone. Worse still were the numbers.
Above every person's head floated glowing digits like ghostly flames. Lifespans. At first, Gray thought he was hallucinating. He remembered sitting in his philosophy lecture, staring at Professor Langford's countdown: 2,917 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes. The realization that he could see how much time each person had left was both horrifying and overwhelming.
He tried to ignore them as he walked, but the numbers were relentless. Some people had decades, others mere months. A girl laughing with her friends had 10,950 days. An elderly man feeding pigeons by the park had 15 days.
As he headed toward the corner store to buy a pack of cigarettes his only calmness in this new, messed up reality he caught sight of a familiar figure. His heart skipped a beat.
Jenna.
She stood across the street, her auburn hair catching the sunlight, creating a halo around her. She was laughing, her head tilted back in that carefree way he remembered so well. But she wasn't alone. Beside her stood a man with a confident stance, his arm casually draped around her waist. The sight sent a flickrr through Gray a mix of longing, anger, and betrayal.
He hadn't seen Jenna since their breakup two months ago. She'd ended things without much explanation, leaving him in despair. Seeing her now, with someone else, stirred all the unresolved emotions he'd tried so hard to bury.
As if sensing his gaze, Jenna looked across the street and met his eyes. For a moment, time seemed to freeze. The sounds of the campus faded, and all Gray could focus on was the shock registering on her face.
"Gray?" she called out, her voice carrying over the din of the street.
He hesitated, tempted to turn and walk away, but something compelled him to stay. Maybe it was the need for closure, or perhaps the anger that had been building beneath the surface since they parted ways.
Jenna whispered something to her companion, who nodded and released his hold on her. She crossed the street toward Gray, her expression a mix of surprise and something else he couldn't quite place.
"Hey," she said softly when she reached him. "It's been a while."
"Yeah," Gray replied , his hands shoved deep into his pockets. "It has."
An awkward silence stretched between them. Jenna glanced back at the man waiting across the street, then returned her gaze to Gray. "How have you been?"
He shrugged. "Fine. You?"
"Good," she said quickly, then hesitated. "I... I've been meaning to reach out."
"Have you?" Gray's tone was edged with skepticism.
She sighed... "Look, I know things ended badly between us. I didn't handle it well."
"That's an understatement," he muttered, his eyes narrowing.
Jenna bit her lip. "I just... I didn't know how to tell you."
"Tell me what?" Gray demanded, a sharpness creeping into his voice. "That you were seeing someone else while we were still together?"
Her eyes widened in surprise. "How did you...?"
"It wasn't hard to figure out," he interrupted. "You started canceling plans, avoiding my calls. Then you broke up with me out of the blue. And now I see you here, with him."
Jenna glanced back at the man, who was watching them intently. Above his head, the numbers 321 days floated. Gray forced himself to focus on Jenna.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I never meant to hurt you."
"Well, you did," he replied flatly. "You could have at least been honest."
She looked down at her feet, her shoulders slumping. "You're right. I should have told you. But things were complicated."
"Complicated?" Gray scoffed. "What's complicated about cheating?"
Jenna's head snapped up, anger flashing in her eyes. "It's not that simple! You were distant, absorbed in your own world. I felt like I was dating a ghost."
"That's no excuse," he retorted. "If you were unhappy, you should have talked to me. Not gone behind my back."
She opened her mouth to respond but was cut off by the arrival of her new boyfriend.
"Everything okay here?" the man asked, his gaze shifting between them.
"Fine, Luke," Jenna said quickly. "I was just catching up with an old friend."
"Ex-boyfriend," Gray corrected, his eyes locking onto Luke's. "And apparently, not so old."
Luke frowned. "Is there a problem?"
Gray stared at him, noting the confidence in his stance, the protective way he positioned himself between Gray and Jenna.
"No problem," Gray said coldly. "Just clearing the air."
"Well, maybe it's time you moved on," Luke suggested, his tone firm.
"Funny," Gray replied, a bitter smile twisting his lips. "I was just thinking the same thing."
Jenna reached out to touch Luke's arm. "Let's go," she urged softly.
But Luke didn't budge. "Not yet. I think we need to settle this."
"Settle what?" Gray asked, raising an eyebrow.
"You're making Jenna uncomfortable," Luke said, his eyes hardening. "I think you should apologize."
Gray laughed, the sound devoid of humor. "Apologize? For what? For being cheated on?"
"Watch it," Luke warned, stepping closer. "Don't make a scene."
"Or what?" Gray challenged, his own anger rising to meet Luke's.
"Guys, please stop," Jenna pleaded, looking around nervously as passersby began to take notice.
"Listen, man," Luke said, his voice low. "I don't know what your problem is, but you need to back off."
Gray felt a dark surge within him, a cold energy that pulsed from the incomplete mark on his neck. He could sense Luke's soul, the limited time he had left. Part of him wanted to lash out, to make Luke feel the same pain he was feeling.
"You have no idea what's coming," Gray said quietly, his eyes gleaming with an intensity that made Luke hesitate.
"Is that a threat?" Luke asked, his bravado faltering.
"Just an observation," Gray replied.
"Enough!" Jenna cried, stepping between them. "This isn't helping anyone. Gray, please, just go."
He looked at her, the mix of desperation and frustration on her face. The numbers above her head 14,675 days mocked him. She had so much life ahead of her, a life he'd once thought he'd share.
"Fine," he said, stepping back. "But remember, Jenna, choices have consequences."
With that, he turned and walked away, ignoring the whispers and curious stares of those around them. His heart pounded in his chest, a mix of adrenaline and bitterness coursing through his veins.
...
[The Realm of Souls]
In the realm of souls....a grand hall stretched into infinity, its walls adorned with symbols that glowed softly in the darkness. Around a massive obsidian table sat the top second-generation Reapers, their forms covered in shadows that shifted like smoke.
At the head of the table sat Thanis, his presence dominated the entire hall. His eyes, twin orbs of burning crimson, surveyed the others with a cold intensity.
"Brothers and sisters," Thanis began, his voice ringing through the hall. "We convene to discuss a matter of great importance."
A Reaper with silver hair and eyes like molten gold leaned forward. "Is this about the new Reapers?" she asked.
"Indeed," Thanis confirmed. "Three new Reapers have joined our ranks. Two have completed their first Reapings successfully. Their marks are fully formed, their powers stabilizing."
"And the third?" another Reaper inquired, his voice low..
"Gray," Thanis said, the name hanging heavily in the air. "His mark remains incomplete."
A murmur rippled through the assembly. "That's unprecedented," the silver-haired Reaper remarked. "An incomplete mark after a Reaping?"
"Could he have failed to fully consume the soul?" someone suggested.
"Unlikely," Thanis replied. "The soul he devoured was entirely absorbed. Yet, his mark did not solidify."
"What does the One Above say?" the rumbling-voiced Reaper asked.
Thanis hesitated before answering. "The One Above is... silent on this matter."
Silence fell over the hall, the weight of his words settling like a shroud.
"Then perhaps we should take matters into our own hands," the silver-haired Reaper proposed. "If Gray is defective, he could pose a threat to the balance."
"Agreed," another chimed in. "An unstable Reaper could have catastrophic consequences."
Thanis raised a hand to quell the rising voices. "We must proceed with caution. Gray's anomaly may be a sign of something interesting."
"What do you suggest?" the rumbling-voiced Reaper asked.
"We observe," Thanis declared. "For now. Monitor his actions in the mortal realm. If he shows signs of destabilization or threatens the balance, we will intervene."
"And if he becomes a danger?" the silver-haired Reaper pressed.
"Then we will eliminate him," Thanis said coldly.
...
[Back in the World of the Living]
Gray wandered through the city streets, the confrontation with Jenna and Luke replaying in his mind. His emotions were a mess of anger, hurt, and something darker he couldn't quite name.
He found himself in a quieter part of town, the sound of campus life replaced by the distant noise of traffic.The numbers above people's heads were fewer here, but they still haunted him.
Turning down an alleyway, Gray leaned against a brick wall and slid to the ground. He pulled out the pack of cigarettes he'd bought earlier and lit one, inhaling deeply. The smoke filled his lungs, a temporary reprieve from the weight pressing down on him.
"Enjoying yourself?" a voice heard from the shadows.
Gray looked up sharply to see Luke stepping into the faint light, his expression a mix of anger and contempt.
"What do you want?" Gray asked.
Luke approached, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. "You humiliated Jenna back there. Made a scene. I can't let that slide."
Gray sighed. "I think we've both had enough for one day."
"Not even close," Luke snarled.
Before Gray could react, Luke swung a punch that connected squarely with his jaw. Pain exploded in Gray's head as he stumbled back, the cigarette falling from his lips.
"Get up," Luke demanded as Gray collapsed against the wall.
Gray tasted blood, his vision blurring. He struggled to his feet, only for Luke to grab him by the collar and slam him against the brickwork.
"You think you can mess with us?" Luke hissed. "Think you can just say whatever you want?"
"Let... go," Gray managed to choke out.
"Not until you apologize," Luke insisted.
Gray felt a cold surge from the mark on his neck. "You don't know what you're doing," he warned.
"Shut up!" Luke shouted, pulling back his fist for another strike.
But before he could land the blow, Gray's eyes seemed different...darker... Time seemed to slow as the numbers above Luke's head 321 days became visible
"Stop," Gray shouted
Luke froze, his eyes widening in confusion and fear. "What the hell...?"
"Your time is short," Gray said softly. "Don't waste it on anger."
Luke stumbled back, releasing his grip. "What are you?"
"A warning," Gray replied, the pitch black eyes with the glowing white started fading.
Without another word, Luke turned and fled.
Gray slumped against the wall,what just happened drained him completely.
"Impressive display," a voice purred from above.
Gray looked up to see a black cat sitting on a nearby fire escape, its emerald eyes glowing in the darkness.
"Great," he muttered. "Now I'm hallucinating talking cats."
"You're not hallucinating," the cat replied smoothly. "Though given your current state, that's an understandable assumption."
He blinked. "Who... what are you?"
The cat leaped down gracefully, landing softly beside him. "Consider me a messenger."
"Messenger for what?"
"For those who watch over the balance," the cat said cryptically. "You're walking a dangerous path, Gray."
He laughed bitterly. "Tell me something I don't know."
"The incomplete mark on your neck," the cat continued, "it's causing... concern."
Gray instinctively touched the mark. "Why? What's wrong with it?"
"Reapers' marks are a sign of their connection to the
"Anomalous," Gray repeated. "That's one way to put it."
"The higher-ups are debating what to do about you," the cat said, its tone serious. "Some see you as a threat."
"Let me guess," Gray sighed. "They want to eliminate me."
"Perhaps," the cat admitted. "But not all agree. Some believe there's more to your situation."
Gray rested his head against the wall, closing his eyes. "I didn't ask for any of this."
"Rarely do we choose our fate," the cat observed. "But we can choose how we respond to it."
He opened his eyes to stare at the feline. "So what's your role in all this?"
"To guide you," the cat said simply.
"Why bother?"
"Because the balance its a complex system," the cat replied. "And you may play a crucial role in what's to come."
Gray shook his head. "I can't even control what's happening to me. How am I supposed to help maintain some cosmic balance or what the fuck this even is?"
"By embracing what you are," the cat said. "Accept your role as a Reaper."
"And if I refuse?"
The cat's eyes narrowed. "Then others will make the choice for you."
A heavy silence settled between them. Gray knew he was at a crossroads. He could continue to deny what he had become, or he could face it head on.
"Fine," he said at last. "What do I need to do?"
The cat tilted its head. "First, you need rest. Your encounter tonight drained you more than you realize."
"That's not helpful," Gray grumbled.
"Patience," the cat admonished. "When you wake, seek out the old library on Elm Street. In the basement, you'll find answers."
"Why can't you just tell me now?"
"Some things must be discovered, not told," the cat replied. "Trust me."
Before Gray could protest further, the cat vanished,disappearing in the darkness.
"Great," he muttered, pushing himself to his feet. His body ached, but he managed to stagger back toward the street and work towards his apartment.