Dreaming Dead

~Chapter two~

**Grimm's POV**

I was awaken by a gentle breeze that blew my long bangs from my face. I opened my eyes and found myself in an unfamiliar place. It was dark and cool and
trees circled around me. I sat up and rubbed my temples. A small groaned slipped out from between my lips as I looked around again.

And then it occurred to me. Dad must've sent me out into the mortal world to collect souls. I reached in the pocket of my black hoodie and pulled out a small
black cylinder-shaped piece of metal. I pushed the bottom of it and pulled both ends of it, extending it into a scythe. I loved my scythe. It was such a neat
contraption. My father had given it to me back when I was still somewhat young and I had loved it ever since.

I stood up, smoothing down the fabric of my T-shirt and hoodie, cradling my scythe in the process. I dug around in my pockets to see if I had a 'to die list' or
anything.

In case you can't tell, this is my first reaping. I was given little instructions on how to go about the process and was forced to just guess my way through this.
And my instincts told me to go looking around for souls to gather. I began walking down the path of trees which led me to a pretty big park. I looked around,
taking in the new sights around me.

Suddenly, something pulsed heavily in my head. Shocked from the sudden pressure, I gripped my head in my hands, groaning. I squeezed my eyes shut as a red
aura lit my body. I sensed something. Someone was going to die.

I concentrated harder, trying to get more details on who or what was dying. As my thoughts grew deeper, I realized that it wasn't that the soon-to-be victim was
about to die. It was that they <i>wanted</i> to die.

I slowly followed the path that my aura was leading me to. It led me deeper into the park where playground equipment could now be seen. The smell of wet
gravel and rusty metal filled my nostrils. Not the most welcoming smell for your first time in the human world.

I continued to follow the path, pushing my way past equipment. Once I had reached an old merry-go-round, my senses went out like a candle flame.

The victim must be here.

And just like that, a human sat before me. Their head was hung down. Longish black hair obscuring their face like a veil or a curtain. I wasn't quite sure what
was the best way to get the mortal's attention, so I gently tapped their shoulder.

The human looked up. His face was in full view now. His face was pale and smooth looking. As if I were to reach out and touch it, my finger would get lost
in silky milk. His eyes were full of misery and pleading. A melancholy shade of blue that screamed for salvation. Two piercings stuck out from his bottom lip.
His smooth ebony hair waved down like a crescent moon down his face, obscuring his right side. He appeared young. Possibly no younger than me physically, but
only in earth years.

He was a beautiful human, I'd give him that.

He must've sensed my other-worldliness because he appeared quite scared right about now. His breath trembling and sending anxious puffs of smoke into the cold
air. His eyebrows curving upward in an expression of worry.

"Who... Are you?" He asked in a croaky, silent voice. It sounded as if he hadn't spoken in days. As if the sound of his own voice had caught himself by surprise.

I extended my hand, smiling gently at him. Trying to appear as harmless as possible, although my attentions weren't all that wholesome.

"They call me Grimm." I said through my crackling smile. It felt weird to smile. Unnatural, if you will.

The human furrowed his eyebrows and weakly shook my hand "Ricky."

"Pleasure." I say.

The human called Ricky smiled ever so slightly before looking down for a brief moment and letting out a sigh. "What are you doing here?"

I paused, trying to find the right words to describe what was currently on my agenda.

"I've come... For your soul ..."

A shaky laugh escaped from the human called Ricky's mouth. "Right. Seriously though, what are you doing here?"

"I should ask you the same." I responded, not quite amused with the sudden smart mouth of his. "Shouldn't you be at home with your mommy and daddy about now?"

Ricky looked at me and his bottom lip quivered ever so slightly. "That's.... That's not really an option for me anymore." He quietly replied.

I nodded slowly and inhaled sharply. "If you must know. I am a reaper from the underworld. The son of death, sent to succeed his rightful role upon society... To
collect souls and send them to the underworld."

"So... Basically you're the Grim reaper."

"I suppose."

"Hm." Ricky hummed lightly, fiddling with his sleeve. "And you've come to take me away, right?"

"I'm afraid so."

There was a silent pause and then Ricky spoke again, raising his voice slightly. "Alright. Let's go.".

I furrowed my eyebrows, caught off guard by the sudden lack of resistance. "Wait, what? You're not scared?"

Ricky looked into my eyes, his bottom lip quivering again. "Why not? I've got nothing to live for anymore. My mother sent me out on my own for something that
wasn't my fault. I'm lonely and empty in this world. Death would be a nice change of pace."

I sat down beside him, utterly confused. This wasn't how I expected it at all. Where was the sobbing pleads for more time? The kicking and screaming as I dragged
their damned soul down into the pits of the underworld.

This guy was just taking it like he was being informed his ride was coming to get him.

"Alright, Ricky, is it? I don't think you understand. Death is permanent. There is nothing after death. Any issues that can easily be resolved in time may never be
resolved again. You'll be dead and gone and there will be no turning back. Death is the ultimate end." I felt my voice grow louder and firmer with every sentence.

But Ricky only stared, then spoke again. "I'm willing to make that sacrifice."

All I could do at this point is sit, dumbfounded. What now?

"Well... Aren't you going to take me now?" Ricky asked, looking at me.

I cleared my throat and smoothed down my shirt. "Soon, but.... Come with me."

I stood up and grabbed Ricky's hand, leading him beside me as we began to walk.

I was going to get to the bottom of this. Any good reaper would.