Subzero temperatures, unlike anything Arianne had ever felt, rushed over her skin, blanketing her like fog on a graveyard. She watched all the souls gravitate toward the figure. She knew his face, knew his name. But she couldn’t believe what she witnessed, like an accident no one could look away from. He didn’t see her standing there, too intent on gathering souls. Her eyes seemed to betray her, for when she blinked, they vanished, including the light of her life.
Arianne dropped to her knees, hugged herself, and screamed her anguish.
Chapter 20
NIKO STOOD OUTSIDE ARIANNE’S DRIVEWAY the next morning, eager to take her to school, but the house held emptiness only ghost towns exhibited. Ringing the bell only magnified the hollowness of the home’s insides. He’d called her the night she saved him from Darla’s clutches, but her phone went straight to voicemail. He had thought nothing of it. Calls went to voicemail all the time. Normal. But distress and dread stood beside him now as he stared at the lifeless facade once calling itself a home.
He got into his car and hurried to school, the tires leaving rubber on the pavement. He made it to the parking lot but not into a slot. His need to find Ben had him leaving the Mustang unlocked. He swam the sea of students slamming into him. They might as well have been mosquitoes dying on a windshield. He didn’t feel them, didn’t hear their muffled curses, until someone slapped him on the shoulder.
“Is it true that Arianne
Niko kept walking, scanning the crowd for someone tall in a baseball cap. “You’re my friend again?”
Desmond matched him step for step. “Ouch! Sorry, man. I didn’t mean to abandon you like that. But Darla’s reign of terror is over. No one has to run scared anymore. It explains a lot though. Her obsession with Arianne and why she dogged Patty all the time. I called that one so wrong. I owe Patty twenty greens. Hey, are you even listening to me?” Desmond grabbed Niko’s shoulder.
Niko flicked his gaze at him. “Have you seen Ben?”
“Nah.” Desmond shrugged. “Come to think of it, I haven’t seen Darla or Arianne either.”
“Thanks, Des.” Niko moved away. “Catch you later?”
“Don’t be a stranger now!” Then Desmond began to sing, “Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead” at the top of his lungs.
The other students with them joined in the chorus of the song. Their glee reverberated through the halls of Blackwood.
Ignoring the impromptu celebration, Niko passed by the office and found out the reason why Arianne and Ben weren’t in school. Mrs. Whistle, polishing her horn rimmed glasses, gossiped with Mr. Todd.
What Niko heard rooted him in place. Only the bell managed to snap him out of his shock. Instead of heading for class, he ran for the parking lot. He drove home gripping the steering wheel so hard he thought it would come off.
Not bothering to park his car in the garage, Niko rushed into his domain straight for his study.
At his desk, he rummaged through the enforced Death Certificates and found the one that changed everything. On it, printed in bold letters, was a name that robbed him of life sustaining breath. It shredded his insides then twisted the mangled ribbons into tight knots.
In a brief moment of clarity beyond the emotional pain, Niko trashed his study with unmitigated abandon.
The sun wore a gray shawl of clouds around it that day, muted in its brilliance despite the early afternoon. Niko sought solace in the company of a stately oak, about fifty yards from the gathering. Its branches stretched out in all directions, providing shade to anyone who sheltered under her loving embrace. He rested his hand on its bark, feeling its life force like every beat of his heart. Five days had passed since his world shattered, and every hour away from Arianne had been like a red hot poker into his spirit.
Stoic outside yet troubled inside, he watched mourners drop daisies into an open grave. The casket had been lowered not five minutes before. The ceremony had concluded and those gathered were invited to pay their final respects. The family huddled together, a pack united against those who approached to give their sympathy. Arianne hid her face under a wide-brimmed hat and large sunglasses. Despite the distance, Niko noticed that she’d lost weight, the black dress she wore hanging loosely over her shoulders. His fingers dug deep gouges into the rough bark. He wanted to gather her close and never let go. Ben stood behind her, expressionless. Only the redness of his nose betrayed his real emotions.
In minutes, only a few mourners remained with the family. Niko contemplated the prudence of paying his respects. But before he could finish making a decision, he came face to face with a charging Arianne, Ben hot on her trail. The purpose in her steps spoke volumes.
“You took her from me!” she hissed as she lunged toward him, claws out. Ben grabbed her arms from behind and held her back. “And right after I told you that I loved you. I can’t believe I’ve liked you all these years! I can’t believe I wasted my time on you when I could have spent it with Carrie!” The rest of her words came out as keening shrills, agony crumpling her already gaunt face.
“Ari…” Niko took a step forward, which sent Arianne into a cussing frenzy. The viciousness of the words she hurled at him had Niko retreating slightly. It felt like staring at an aggressive dog which was barking incessantly while lunging on its hind legs, only held back by a tight leash, ready and willing to take a chunk of flesh if permitted.
Ben whirled Arianne around and gathered her in the cove of his arms, where his suit jacket soaked up all her torment and sorrow. Niko shoved away the jealousy that threatened to consume him, knowing that to lose his cool meant hurting Arianne even more.
“I didn’t take her from you,” he said in as calm a voice as he could muster.
“How can you say that when she saw you taking Carrie’s…?” Ben choked. Then he rasped out, “You’re Death.”
Each sob that shook Arianne shoulders hollowed out Niko’s insides. “I’m not. But my master is.”
“Then what are you?” Arianne asked Ben’s chest between labored breaths.
“A Reaper.” Without really thinking about it, Niko’s arm reached out, his hand about to make contact with Arianne’s shoulder. Only Ben’s head shake of “no” had Niko dropping his arm. “I didn’t kill Carrie, Ari. You have to believe me.”
“Take me home, Ben.” She looked up at her best friend. “I don’t have anything else to say to someone who no longer exists to me.”
Ben dried her tears with his thumbs before turning around and tucking Arianne under his arm. They walked away in slow yet determined steps. It took all of Niko’s will power not to teleport Arianne and himself to the In Between and make her listen to reason. His fingers curled into tight fists until his hands hurt. He let them go. He had to.
From his seat at the table, Niko gave the proceedings less than ten percent of his attention. Earlier, when the summons had arrived, he’d considered skipping the RUSA meeting all together, but Sickleton wouldn’t let him. Not that the Caretaker had any real control over his decision making. Niko just couldn’t stand how fussy the specter had been lately.
