Floating in the abyss, the reaper looked down at the countless souls beneath his feet, being chained, getting dragged to somewhere. Somewhere unknow. Somewhere that is not kind. Though his body is skeletal, devoid of any specific emotion, even so, he couldn't help but snarl at the sight of what was considered as "sinners" in his realm.
Ding
A sound chimed in the distance. This signal meant that a new soul to reap has awakened. So without any further hesitation, the reaper adjusted his scythe, slid his ragged, black cloak over his body and stepped into the portal. Over the years, he had seen countless and unimaginable deaths. Some fulfilled, some intentional, some conspirational and some accidental. At first, he was struck with grief for time that cannot even be measured. He felt pity not for only good and honest people, but also for sinners. He thought that the end was a cruel punishment for anyone that has ever lived. Just.. not existing.. wandering in the void until the existence itself was a cruel punishment. But now? After all these years of toment and suffering... After witnessing all shades of human nature.. After learning the true darkness that loomed and shrouded the hearts of these little creatures.. He was finally hollow. Or so he thought..
As the bright light subsided, he entered the place of death. A small, dirty apartment. Windows closed and curtained, as if not permitting a single ray of light inside. The place completely messed up- as if a tornado had entered the room. The place itself didn't had much. Some scattered clothes, a small table and a dirty bed that had the cold body of a little child. The reaper slowly neared the child, examining his condition. Not only the boy was very young, he was also terribly sick and had lots of wounds on his body. Scars, both fresh and new defiled his skin. Wounds open and infected turned the skin pale and bluish. Body pale and skinny.. as if he was not fed for a long time. Seeing such poor condition of such a young soul made even the reaper's non existent heart swell for him. He put his palm on the head of the boy as if waking him up from a terrible nightmare- his presence both chilling and most comforting the boy had ever felt. The boy, in return, looked at him weakly. His body too weak to make any real movement. His eyes barely opened as he managed to glace at the skeletal figure hovering infront of him.
The reaper saw through the boy's memories. He saw a horrible life.. A life that a young child should never have, but that sadly enough was not uncommon in era they lived in. A family abandoned by the father. The mother turning insane and looking out for ways to relieve stress.. Often drinking and hitting the child. And so on.. This much cruelty on such a young soul. The reaper felt disgusted to acknowledge how this situation was anything but rare. He hesitated but he had to do what he had meant to. And so he raised his scythe. The boy in response, looked at him, his eyes devoid of any emotion. As if.. screaming the tales of his tiredness. And with a swift swing. It was done.
The boy hovered and floated in the sky, his eyes clenched closed out of fear.
"Open your eyes little one." Came a chilling, deep voice, but.. oddly soothing?
The boy opened his eyes and saw the figure standing infront of him. A skeletal body with long robes over itself holding a huge scary scythe in his hand.
"W-who are you.. m-mister?" The boy stammered, clearly shivering. Keeping his tone low and polite- as if a habit engraved by something horrible.
The reaper touched the boy's forehead, calming the sea of emotions within him. Seeing the boy calming down, the reaper continued,
"I am the Reaper of Souls. I collect the souls of the dead and pass them onto the afterlife."
"The afterlife?"
"Indeed little one"
"What's an afterlife?"
And so began a string of questions between the reaper and the boy. They walked for an eternity, the reaper felt determined to answer each of the boy's questions but the curiosity of the boy only getting stronger with time. They passed several landscapes, marching all around the world as time continued to pass around them. Still the questions were relentless.. With each question answered, the boy opened up to the reaper more.. smiled more.. giggled more.. expressed himself more and instead of being annoyed, the reaper also found the presence of the boy comforting.
Finally.. the time came.
"Mister Reaper.. you said there are countless timelines and worlds right? Is.." The little boy looked away shyly, as if trying to ask a sensitive question. "Is there any chance that in any of those universes... my mom.. did she.. ever truly love me? Did she.. ever want me?"
The boy's innocent question echoed in the reaper's mind and his pace quickened.
"I apologize little one, I cannot answer that question."
The reaper said, not facing the boy. As if.. afraid of something.. Something shattering.
The boy obviously noticed this sudden shift, his worry growing with each step. "Come on mister.. don't be like that.. i.. I need to know.. please.."
The boy pleaded but the reaper did not stop. Did not speak. As if he couldn't hear him. The reaper continued to move and the boy followed. Tired of such stubbornness, the boy did something that made the reaper flinch.
"If you don't tell me.. my soul may never know peace.." The boy said, in a low tone, almost as loud as a whisper but the reaper could hear it loud and clear. He looked back, bewildered.
"Do you even know what you've said???" The reaper raised his voice, his tone deathly pale, sending shivers in the boy's body. The reaper sighed deeply, his skeletal features hinting sadness.
By this time, they were already infront of the gate of reincarnation.. just why did the boy had to say such a thing...
"It is quite the opposite little one.." The reaper stood there.. like a slump... He wished to lie but his duty won't let him.. He.. was going to tell him the truth...
"In all the universes, you were deeply loved by your mother"
As soon as the words hit, the boy's body fell limp.
"Remember how I told you that the universe is just a combination of what ifs. If something good happens, something bad happens automatically. In your case, your universe became an anchor of all the misfortune.. You were loved in others, hated in yours, rich in others, poor in yours, had a healthy life in others, were terminally Ill in this one and lastly.. lived a long and happy life in others... And lived a short and dreadful life in yours..."
The words left the boy in a limbo. He could not feel anything right now. His mind was blank. He started to see himself.. as something disgusting.. something that brings misfortune.. something.. cursed. The reaper moved forward to console the boy, but the boy stepped into the gate, without sparing a single glance. All the reaper saw was a single tear flowing off the boy's eyes and a soft whisper of "Thank you".
The reaper turned around, a void in his heart, looked beneath his feet, towards the sinners and drifted back again, to do his job.