Death in Life
Ari walked down the empty halls, unphased by the horrific screams echoing from the adjoining rooms around her. Her long white lab coat swayed around her as she walked, illuminating in a pristine glow in contrast with the dark and bloodied hallway. She walked to the end of the hall and unlocked the large double doors in front of her.
Mangled corpses littered the room, their body parts scattered haphazardly about the crimson that blanketed the walls and floor. A small girl sat in the corner, motionless, burying her face in her knees.
"Make it stop... make it go away..." she muttered, over and over again.
"It chose... her?" Ari thought, rubbing her chin.
She walked over to the girl, putting her hand on the girl's shoulder. There was no response. The girl just sat there murmuring to herself.
"The poor thing, I really wish she didn't have to get mixed up in all this. Maybe I should move her somewhere else so she can calm down a little." Ari thought.
The girl looked up, her eyes glowing purple. She gave Ari an agitated stare.
"Why is it the only suitable body you could acquire is that of a twelve-year old girl? As much as I love corrupting the innocent, I prefer a body that isn't completely inept." She groaned.
"I apologize lord Thanatos, but we had no idea that..." Ari began.
"Silence! I'll simply make due with...this..." Thanatos said, looking disappointedly at his new body, and cringing at his shrill effeminate voice.
"What will you do now?" Ari asked.
"I will simply observe. It will take a while for my powers to return to me, so I will simply let this girl live her life, interjecting when I deem it necessary."
"And what will become of your plans?"
"They will come about in due time. I've already waited one thousand years for this, what's another few months in the mortal realm."
"Should I make any preparations for your departure?"
"Get this body back home, and make sure she thinks all of this has been no more than a horrible nightmare." Thanatos said, now getting used to the annoying pitch of his own voice.
"Fine, it will be done." Ari replied.
She took out a small syringe and gently slid it under the girl's skin. Thanatos winced in pain, cursing the low tolerance of his new body, as he receded back into the depths of the girls mind, allowing her to slip out of consciousness.
She woke up in her own bed, curled up under her pink and purple striped sheets. She wiped the cool sweat from her brow as she rolled out of bed. The door opened as he mother walked in.
"Oh, Allie, I didn't know you were already up. It's time to get ready for school so come on down for breakfast." her mother said.
Allie followed her mother downstairs and took a seat at the table. She stared at her Cheerios floating in a milky sea of white.
"Are you alright? You look pale." Allie's mom said, putting her hand to Allie's forehead to see if she was warm.
"I'm fine, just a nightmare, mom." Allie replied sleepily.
"Wanna talk about it?"
"I'm okay, really. I don't even remember it anyway." Allie lied as she scooped up a spoonful of cereal.
"You know you can tell me anything, right Allie?"
"Yes mom, I know."
Allie got up from the table and went back to her room. She put on her navy school uniform and ran out to the bus stop. She started climbing the tree by the corner of the block to pass the time. As she saw the bus rounding the corner two blocks away, she started climbing back down. Allie got on the bus and took a seat towards the back. As the bus started moving again, a tall shadow fell over her. She looked up towards the aisle to see a tall boy, around fourteen years old at most, hovering over her with a malicious grin on his face.
"What are you doin' back here? This is my side o' the bus, now get out!" he said as he reached in and grabbed her by the collar.
Allie struggled to break free as he pulled her out of the seat. The boy shoved her and she fell, scraping her knee on the floor. Allie's eyes began to glow purple again as she soon found herself riding shotgun in her own brain. She stood up, her back still facing the boy who pushed her.
"Do harm to this vessel again, and you will surely regret it." Thanatos said, a chillingly sinister tone in his voice.
The boy just stared in confusion, wondering why Allie was acting so strange. He walked over to her and pushed her again, knocking her to the ground. She rose to her feet once more.
"Damn, forgot I don't have my barrier in this form, not yet at least. I'm no more than a twelve year old girl right now! Think, what would a twelve year old girl do in a situation like this..." Thanatos thought, desperately trying to figure a way out of the situation.
He could hear Allie panicking, scared and confused. She was screaming but no words would come out, wanting this stranger in her mind to go away.
"Maybe it would be best if I just let her take over from here..." Thanatos thought as he once again receded into the depths of Allie's mind.
All of a sudden, Allie let out a loud scream, tears starting to roll down her cheeks. Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at her, the boy who pushed her backing away in hopes that no one would notice him. The bus driver pulled over and got out the first aid kit. She applied some disinfectant to the scrapes and covered them with a gauze bandage. Allie got up and took an empty seat towards the middle of the bus. Everyone went back to what they were doing as the bus started moving again.
After a few minutes, the bus pulled up to the school building and let everyone off. Allie just sat there, not moving. She was absorbed in thought, trying to figure out what exactly happened to her, and why she couldn't control her body, but most importantly, who was doing it for her. The bus driver walked over and told her to get off the bus. Allie snapped out of her trance and shuffled off of the bus, head hung low. She walked in the front doors of the school, still a bit dazed from what had happened to her on the bus.
"I think now would be an opportune time to introduce myself." Thanatos' voice echoed through Allie's head.
She suddenly stopped walking, petrified and confused.
"He's talking to me? This voice... it's real?" Allie thought.
"Yes, I am real. You may call me Thanatos if you're so inclined."
"What are you, why me, why is this happening to me!?" Allie thought.
"How to explain this in words you might understand..." Thanatos began.
"Just go away! Leave me alone!" Allie yelled, not realizing she was screaming out loud.
"I'm afraid I can not do that, even if I wanted to, and believe me, I wish I could. Your body is useless to me without my powers. I just need you to let me stay for a little while longer. Once my powers return, I can protect you. That child on the bus for instance; he would have paid dearly for what he did." Thanatos continued.
"But I don't even know what you are! Get out get out get out GET OUT!" Allie screamed, covering her ears, trying to block out Thanatos' voice.
"I am a god of death, and I already told you I can't leave."
"Then just stop talking and leave me alone!" Allie yelled.
"Fine, but I will interject if the need arises. Your survival is my top priority." Thanatos replied.
Everything suddenly grew quiet. Thanatos' voice had vanished. Allie walked to her classroom.
"Is this another nightmare? It has to be! That voice can't be real." Allie thought as she took her seat.
Just then, Allie looked over to her left and noticed Dave walk through the door. His short black hair fell over the rim of his glasses, occasionally falling so far down that he couldn't see. He was the quiet type, the one who always kept to himself. Allie followed him with her eyes, basking in his presence. She started to blush as Dave took a seat next to her. She was in total bliss.
"You hold this boy dear to you, correct?" Thanatos' voice echoed through Allies head, breaking her intense fixation on Dave.
"I thought I told you to go away." Allie thought.
"I can help you win his affections, making sure he is yours and yours alone." Thanatos replied.
Allie's eyes lit up at the thought of this, desperately wanting to know more.
"How? I need to know!" she inquired hastily.
"Once my power returns, I can simply eliminate the competition." Thanatos replied with a sinister laugh.
"Can't you think of something with a little less killing? I want Dave to love me, not fear me!" Allie protested.
"I am a god of death. As such, ending life is what I am most proficient in."
"Just... don't do anything then. Let me do this on my own."
"So be it. I'll leave you be." Thanatos said.
Thanatos once again fell silent, allowing Allie to continue her fixation on Dave. She tried with all her might to muster up the courage to say something to him, anything, just so that he would acknowledge her existence.
"I can do this. I'll just turn to him and say hi, nothing hard about that right?" Allie thought.
Just as she was about to open her mouth, she felt something hard bounce off the back of her head. She turned her head and saw the bully from the bus sitting a few rows behind her, readying his makeshift slingshot with another volley of pebbles. Allie cringed as the pebbles suddenly shot forward. Her eyes tightly shut, she expected the worst. Wondering if he missed, she slowly opened her eyes. She was amazed to see the pebbles floating inches away from her face.
"I told you I would protect you." Thanatos' voice echoed as the rocks fell to the floor.
"What....just...happened?" Allie stammered.
"I am beginning to regain my powers, and therefore better suited to protecting you. Allow me to deal with this irksome whelp."
Allies eyes began to glow as Thanatos took control.
"What are you going to do?" Allie asked hesitantly.
"I am simply going to scare him a little. Mass slaughter would be a lot more fun, but you seem to detest that sort of thing." Thanatos replied as the pebbles rose into the air again and quickly surrounded the boy.
He looked around, a look of sheer frozen on his petrified face. He cringed as the pebbles suddenly let loose with a unified assault, pelting him from all directions. The rest of the class, Dave included, slowly backed away, making sure to leave at least a seat or two between themselves and Allie. As Thanatos let Allie back in control of her body, her eyes began welling up with tears. She stood up and stormed out of the room, running across the hall to the bathroom. She slammed the door and locked it, tears running down her cheeks.
"Why did you have to do that!" she screamed.
"I was simply protecting you. Your well being is my top priority at this time." Thanatos replied.
"Everyone thinks I'm a freak! Dave isn't even going to want to get near me thanks to you! My life is RUINED!" Allie screamed as she slammed her fist on the counter top.
"You're over reacting. All this is only a minor setback."
"No, it's not! Shut up!"
"There is still hope. You don't know what Dave is thinking right now."
"Yes I do, he hates me! He'll never want to speak to me again, and all hope of ever being loved by anyone is gone! I hate you!"
"You're wearing on my last nerve you detestable little wretch. I can only put up with your inane ramblings for so long, now stop this nonsense before I am forced to do it for you!" Thanatos' voice boomed.
Allie froze for a moment, her hands trembling from a mix of rage and fear. She dried her eyes with her sleeve and sat down in the corner of the small room.
"Finally calming down, good." Thanatos thought.
Allie's eyes welled up with tears again, and she suddenly started crying hysterically.
"I just can't win with this girl. It's impossible."
Allie clutched her knees, burying her face into her arms as she wept.
"I'm sure there is something I can do to remedy the situation." Thanatos whispered softly.
"No, there isn't. You've done enough already so just leave me alone." Allie pleaded.
Thanatos waited for a moment while Allie continued sobbing, trembling with each heavy breath. She slowly calmed down, and rose to her feet.
"Now that you've stopped crying, don't you have to be across the hall right now?" Thanatos asked.
"You mean my class which started five minutes ago? I'm not going. Everyone is already scared of me so what's the point." Allie sighed.
"The point is that you are supposed to be there, and you are not. You are going, even if I have to make you go." Thanatos replied.
"I'm not moving, so forget about making me go to class." Allie protested.
Thanatos quickly took over Allie and made her walk towards the door.
"Hey, thats not fair! Let me go!" Allie screamed, but no words came out.
She walked into class and took a seat. Everyone just stared at her, murmuring amongst themselves and wondering what she was going to do next. The room fell deathly quiet as the teacher walked in the room. She was an older woman, presumably in her late sixties. Her frizzy gray hair flew off in all directions, reaching for anything it could grab hold of to feed its insatiable appetite. Her cane made a consistent "clomp...clomp...clomp" which echoed through the room every few steps she took. The old crone turned her head and scanned the class spitefully with her one good eye. She hobbled over to Allie's desk, looking down at her.
"Why were you late?" she scowled, tapping her fingers on Allie's desk.
Thanatos quickly retracted back into Allie's mind, letting her take over.
"I was in the bathroom. I'm sorry Ms. Krovak." Allie said in almost a whimper.
"I'll excuse you this time... but it better not happen again." Ms. Krovak cawed as she turned back towards the chalkboard.
"That woman... it isn't often I meet someone who strikes such intense fear into the souls of the innocent. Remind me to employ her talents when the time comes." Thanatos thought.
"No way, that's just evil!" Allie thought in protest.
Allie and Thanatos cringed in pain as the chalk let out an earsplitting shriek, scraping across the board. She looked at the class, a bitter frown forever glued to her face.
"Now, open your books to page sixty-five and we will start today's lesson." she said, her raspy voice making everyone cringe.
The class groaned as they all opened their textbooks, all looking at the clock on the wall in unison. Ms. Krovak began to ramble on about the intricate workings of the human body, keeping a keen eye on her students as she patrolled the room. Most of the class started to doze off, but Allie didn't have that luxury.
"How much more of this must I endure! Is this woman trying to drive us all mad?" Thanatos complained.
"It's only another forty-five minutes. It'll go by fast." Allie thought.
"Good thing I only have to endure this once!"
"I come here five days a week. You'll get used to it."
"Now, if you'll all turn to page sixty-nine in your books..." Ms. Krovak began.
The boy sitting behind Allie started to giggle, trying his best to hide it. Ms. Krovak suddenly stopped speaking and stared directly at him. She slowly hobbled towards him, the thumping of the cane seemingly getting louder and angrier, booming like thunder as she walked. The boy was frozen stiff, pools of sweat dripping from his brow.
"Is something funny? Did I say something to amuse you?" Ms. Krovak growled.
"N-no Ms. Krovak!" the boy stammered.
"Oh really..." she replied.
With lightning speed, she whipped out a long ruler and slammed it down on the boy's knuckles. He yelped in pain as his hands throbbed. Satisfied, Ms. Krovak walked back to the front of the classroom to continue her lesson. Time seemed to stand still, trapping everyone in this intolerable hell. . Thanatos' mind was racing with ideas of how to escape, willing to do anything to get out of this place.
"Could you stop thinking for just a minute! It's really distracting!" Allie thought in frustration.
"I can't help it. I simply must escape this horrid place!"
Allie began to giggle at Thanatos' despair.
"I have to get out of here. I need more time to plan this out." Thanatos thought.
"It's only another half hour. You can hold out until then." Allie replied.
"That's not what I mean... Allow me to show you." Thanatos said as he took over Allie again.
A thick black haze started rising from the floor around Allie, firing in a constant stream, spiraling around her. Ms. Krovak started having a fit.
"What's going on in here! Who started this fire? Quick, fetch me something to put it out! Come on now, move!" Ms. Krovak cawed as she paced in circles.
The haze only grew thicker and thicker, until no one could see through it. A strong wind suddenly rushed out from the center of the haze, dispersing it. To everyone's amazement, Allie had vanished.
When she opened her eyes, Allie found herself in the old, bloody room from her nightmare. Ari opened the only door to the room, a smile on her face as she saw Allie standing before her.
"Welcome back. Have your powers grown to their fullest yet?" she asked, her eyes brimming with excitement.
"No. I need you to send me back, without harming the girl. Life in the mortal realm has proven too much for me, and I need more time to prepare." Thanatos replied.
"I can't let you do this, not now. We are so close to conquering this world, and you give up now?" Ari replied.
"It is out of your hands Ari, now separate me from this body." Thanatos said sternly.
"No. I don't want to wait any longer. A thousand years is a long time Thanatos, and even though we will both be here when the time comes to try this again, my patience has run out."
"I only granted you immortality to preserve your bloodline indefinitely. I will not stand for this blatant rebellion against my commands!" Thanatos yelled.
Ari burst into laughter, despite her desperate attempt to keep her composure.
"It's really hard to take you seriously when everything you say is coming from that little girl's mouth!" Ari replied, wiping the tears of laughter from her eyes.
"Fine then. If I can't convince you, I will force you to send me back to the Netherworld!"
"Force me? How would you do that exactly? You're a god of death. Your main form of coercion is KILLING THINGS! If you kill me then I can't send you back."
"Damn... she makes a good point. How am I going to get her to send me back?" Thanatos wondered.
"You might as well just go back to living life in the mortal realm. It shouldn't be too long before you can break free of your earthly prison and take your true form." Ari continued.
"Break free?" Thanatos asked.
"Yes, don't you remember? You need this girl in order to manifest your powers, eventually breaking free of your mortal prison."
"So if I let this process complete itself..." Thantos began.
"She will die." Ari concluded for him.
Thanatos suddenly felt very strange, unlike he had ever felt before. For some reason, Ari's words struck deep, opening a terrible wound in his heart.
"What is this intense anger... Where is this coming from?" Thanatos thought.
A thick, black aura engulfed Allie, only her purple glowing eyes visible through the darkness. The aura slowly started to grow, taking a form of its own. The aura towered over Ari, casting its terrible shadow over the room. It formed into the visage of a bony torso, four long skeletal arms protruding from its shoulders. It's face was thin and featureless, all except for two burning red eyes shining through. The massive figure leaned in towards Ari.
"I will protect this girl for as long as I deem necessary. No harm shall befall her while I still inhabit her, even if that means going against my own plans!" Thanatos' voice echoed through the tiny room, shaking its foundations to the core.
Allie's mind was racing. She was terrified, but at the same time somewhat relieved Thanatos had such power.
Ari stumbled backwards as Thanatos loomed closer and closer. Thanatos' long, monstrous hand reached out towards Ari, his fiery gaze fixed on her.
"Perhaps I should use you as a host instead." Thanatos boomed.
"How would you remove yourself from your current host without my help?" Ari asked with a smirk.
Thanatos stopped, the massive dark entity beginning to dissipate.
"I didn't think this one through well enough." Thanatos mumbled.
"You're batting a thousand today, aren't you Thanatos? Just keep trying and hope the next result is even more entertaining!" Ari mocked.
"This isn't looking good. Maybe it was a mistake to do this, Thanatos." Allie thought.
"I am beginning to agree... I am in no position to face anyone, let alone the one who summoned me here. We should fall back for now." Thanatos replied.
The black haze quickly enveloped Allie, whisking them away to her room. Thanatos let Allie take control again as the haze cleared. Allie sat down on her bed, just trying to take in everything that happened to her over the course of the day, especially what Ari said about her plans.
"Thanatos, can I ask you something?" Allie asked.
"But of course. What would you like to know."
"If you stay in my head, doesn't that mean I'm going to die when your powers are at full strength?" Allie continued, playing nervously with her hair.
"No, as long as I don't willingly take a form of my own you will be safe." Thanatos replied.
"So you'll always be here to protect me?"
"Yes, I will. It is my oath to you."
"Thanks. I appreciate it." Allie whispered as she lied down, resting her head on the pillow.
"Shouldn't you be at school?" Thanatos asked.
"Yea, but it's been a long and crazy day. I don't think mom will mind if I just took the rest of the day off."