Chapter 2
Natasha's consciousness flickered like a candle in a storm before snapping fully awake, distant car horns and sirens echoed, and a metallic scent hung heavily.
Her head throbbed, her body tingling with the aftermath of an unseen force. Her eyes fluttered open as she tried to make sense of her surroundings. She felt strong arms around her, her head resting on a perfectly muscled chest. It took her a second to realize she was being carried.
Panic surged. Looking up, her breath hitched—it was him. The man from the garage. His looked down to find she was awake, his gaze unreadable and unyielding.
"Let me go, you psycho!" she screamed, struggling to free herself from his hold.
Without hesitation, he dropped her, and Natasha hit the ground with a loud thud. Pain shot through her side. "Are you serious? You didn't have to throw me you know " she groaned as she rubbed her sore butt.
"You said let go, and I did." he replied coolly, his voice devoid of remorse.
Natasha scrambled to her feet, brushing herself off, she looked around, she was by the road side.
"How did I even get here?" Her memory was a haze, but flashes of twisted metal and shattered glass began piecing themselves together. "Wait… the bus accident. I should be dead." She frantically touched her body, searching for wounds and broken bones, but she seemed completely unharmed.
"You were," he said flatly.
Her heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean, were?"
"You died," he repeated, as if discussing the weather. "I brought you back."
Natasha froze, her stomach twisting. "Brought me back? That's insane! You're not God." She took a step back, her voice rising.
"I can do more than just take souls, I'm the embodiment of both life and death"
She laughed nervously, shaking her head. "So, you want me to believe you can take life and also revive the dead? ."
"I can show you proof"
Without giving her a chance to protest, he raised his hand, his fingers ghosting over her chest. Before she could react, he plunged his hand inside. A cold, paralyzing sensation spread through her body as he pulled out her heart.
Natasha's eyes widened in shock. What the hell. The world around slowed, Her breath hitched as she stared at the pulsating organ in his hand, blood dripping onto the ground. Panic surged, but her body refused to respond. She managed to stretch her hand, as if to retrieve her heart, but crumbled to the floor, her vision dimming.
Then everything went black.
*****
Natasha's eyes snapped open as she gasped, sucking in air. She sat up in a panic, clutching her chest. Her heart pounded, its rhythm frantic yet… intact. "What the hell? That felt so real" she muttered, her hands trembling as she touched her heart to confirm it was still there.
"You're awake," came the cold voice.
Natasha looked up to see him standing a few feet away, casually wiping the blood from his fingers onto a handkerchief.
"What did you—what the hell did you do to me?" she yelled, her voice trembling with anger and fear. This man wanted to drive her insane.
"I showed you the truth," he said. "Believe me now?"
She stared at him, her mind racing. "So, you're really death?" She asked, still finding hard to process all that was happening. She just died twice in a row, each experience even more traumatizing than the last.
"Not 'death' exactly. I'm what you humans call a grim reaper," he clarified. "And you… well, you're a strange human. You can see me even with this ring on." He held up his hand, revealing the black band with its shimmering blue gem.
Natasha shook her head. "Look, I'm sure it was a mistake or something, can't you just let me go in peace ." She pleaded desperately. If this man wasn't so scary, she would have kicked him in the groin and sprinted out of here. But that was impossible because he'll just reappear in front of her within seconds.
The man held out his palm and a black dagger materialized in his hand. He held it out to her, hilt first. "Kill me."
She blinked. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me," he said. "Drive this dagger into my heart, and you're free to go."
Natasha stared at the blade, her hands instinctively balling into fists. "You're insane."
"Insane or not, it's your only way out," he replied. "Or would you rather I let you die properly this time?"
The weight of his words settled on her like a heavy blanket. Slowly, she reached for the dagger, her hand trembling as she took it. The blade was unnaturally cold, almost as if it were alive. She raised it, her arm shaking as she pointed it at his chest.
"Go on," he urged, his voice low and steady. "End this."
Her grip tightened, but no matter how hard she tried, her hand refused to move. "I can't," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
"Why not?" he asked, his tone sharp.
"I don't know," she admitted, lowering the blade. "But somehow… I feel like I know you. Like I've met you before. And the thought of killing you—" Her voice broke. "I just can't"
His expression shifted, just for a moment, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his face. "Ridiculous," he muttered, more to himself than her. "You don't know me."
Natasha's anger faded, replaced by a strange sympathy. "Why do you want to die so badly?"
"I'm cursed with immortality," he said, his voice devoid of emotion. "The only way to break the curse is by loving someone, but the underworld judges stripped me of all feelings. A sick joke, don't you think?"
"Have you… have you ever tried to fall in love?" she asked, curiosity getting the better of her.
"For centuries. I've met thousands of women, dated, even… been with many. But not one of them made me feel anything. Not even the smallest spark."
He took the dagger from her hand, his smirk returning. "You're more stubborn than I thought, but that's no problem. We'll try again later." With a flick of his wrist, the blade vanished into thin air.
Natasha stared at him, her anger which was slowly fading came rushing back . "Try again? No way am I staying here for another minute. If you want to die so badly, find someone else to do it."
"It has to be you and only you. Or are you ready to die for real this time. I granted you life and I can take it back."
"Fine, go ahead," she snapped, mustering a bit of defiance, she was so done with this man, if he thinks he could manipulate her to do his biddings, he was wrong. "I've died twice, and I'm not afraid of dying again." She turned on her heel, striding away, leaving him standing there, watching her with a mixture of curiosity and amusement, wondering just where her new found boldness came from.
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