The Untold Story of a Grim Reaper: Chapter 15: Senoi Gelof

I spent the rest of the night lying on the roof of Ethel and Julius’s home. 

How terrible of me, I don’t even know their last name. 

As guilt and regret took turns in my heart and thoughts, I stared at the moon. Pondering if I was capable of going to it. 

Trying to help occupy my mind, I watched as my crow simply circled around and around for hours. 

I needed to escape. 

I leapt from my position and sprinted to the edge of the house. I jumped but didn’t open my wings. I wanted to feel fear. But it was hopeless, before my body could smack to the ground, I sprung my sails and flew low enough to allow the grass to graze my skin. I headed toward the pond, swooping up to gain enough speed to dive deep into the water.

I kept kicking and pushing to swim deeper, I estimated it was about ten feet deep. When I found the bottom, I sat. I dug my feet into the moist dirt and I did the only thing I had left to do… I prayed. 

“Creator, please hear my plead, give me a sign that I’m doing something right.”

A rock traveled in my sight. I looked up and saw a couple more pebbles tossed into the pond. I stood and swam to the top overwhelmed with curiosity. While still staying immersed in the water I peered my eyes right above the surface, searching for the source.

A pebble bounced off my head, I looked up to find a cardinal intertwining with my crow in the night sky. I swam to the edge of the water and dragged myself out. My wings were drenched but the water slipped off like butter and I folded them neatly back into my ribcage.

Something caught my attention, I turned around but there was nothing there. I looked back up at the cardinal and whispered loudly, “Who do you belong to?” 

Feeling crazy for talking to a bird, I was just about to give up and go inside.

“It’s mine,” I spun back around to uncover that it was Senoi hiding in the shadows. 

I gave a sigh of relief but didn’t let my guard down, “So what happened after we left?”

“We called the campus police so they wouldn’t wander.”

Senoi’s voice was young but deep, I admired it but didn’t dwell too long on those thoughts.    

I said, sounding more defensive than I meant, “Why have you been following me?”

“Because that’s our job.”

“As a daemon? You and your brothers?”

“Yes, we’re keepers of the rules. Official name are Cardinals. We make sure all souls walking the earth do what they were sent to do.”

“So you’re like a police officer?”

“In a sense.” 

“Why have you been warning me to keep away from Lilli?”

“She has a way of twisting things, we didn’t want you to get caught up in anything.”

I shrugged, “Which is opposite of what my mentor wants.”

“We know, there is much talk about you in the middle world.”

Passive aggressively, “Apparently… and no one will tell me why or what.”

“You’ll find, in this life, there are many secrets.”

He was standing and talking so formal. I wished he’d just relax and talk to me. I found myself wanting to be his friend but he was acting like my business partner.

I ask, embarrassed, “Is that boy going to be alright?”

“He will live, if thats what you’re wondering. Just a scratch and some bruising.”

We stood for a moment in silent, but in no way did I think it was awkward. It was serine and I think we both appreciated the stillness. Our spirits had landed in the birdbath and were playfully splashing. 

“My cardinal seems to get along with your raven.”

“Raven? It’s a crow.”

He informed me, “It’s too big to be a crow. Crow’s are the size of pigeons. That’s about the size of a hawk.”

“Shows what little I know.”

The sun was rising and I yearned for the dreams I would have awaken from if I was alive. I wondered if Senoi desired the same things as me. 

I thought, He’s probably been dead for a long time or… maybe he’s never even been human.

Senoi spoke, “No one is upset with you, we understand what happened.” I kept staring at the sun, “Noa, I’ve met many reapers in your position, I know you have a lot to burden. I know you feel hurt and betrayed, and I know you blame it on yourself. But it’s never too late to become what you hope to be. Be brave, Noa.”

I valued his words and let them ring in the shadows of my heart. Trusting every word he uttered and cherishing the olive branch he had reached out to me. I nodded.

He snapped his fingers, “I’ll see you at school.”

“Sure thing.”

Senoi faded into the shadows and I was alone once again. The backdoor slid open, and Julius poked his head out, “What are you doing out here? You’re soaking wet.”

I smiled, “I’m sorry! I fell in!”

“Fell in and then bathed in it. You’re filthy. Oh, damn it, and your new clothes.”

I actually enjoyed him scolding me, it meant he cared… even though I brainwashed him to. I shook the negative thoughts off my bones and charged for the porch. He handed me a dishrag to dry off any water that might drip into the house. I took off my shoes and let them sundry on the porch. 

“Go take a shower and get ready for school.”

I pretended to pout, “Yes, sir.”

Running upstairs I ran into Ethel, she laughed and patted me on the back, “There are clean towels in the dryer.”

Walking towards the dryer I replied, “Okay, thank you.”

I took two towels from the machine and skipped to my room. Something in me was brighter and my spirit felt the same. It bounced around my bed and poked at my pillows. I shed the dirty clothes and hung them in my open window.

My shower was much faster than my first one and I did a much sloppier job drying off than I did before. Wrapped in my blue towel I tiptoed to my bedroom and picked out a pair of jeans and a purple V-neck to wear. My hopes were high but in my last glance before leaving my room, I saw my shirt. The light shined though the white clothe, highlighting the bloodstain. Either belonging to the boy I attacked or Jonah.

Worry swarmed my thoughts as I hoped Jonah would come to school today. I needed to keep hope alive, so I sprinted down the stairs anxious about Jonah. “I’m going to be late! Bye!”

Ethel laughed, “What about breakfast?”

I waved goodbye as I shut the door, “I’ll pick something up at school.”

Slamming the door shut I decided I would run to school instead of flying or shifting through the shadows. I ran about seven blocks when I heard the crowing of a distressed bird. I stopped immediately. 

Was that my spirit?     

As if flying out of the sun my raven was diving in my direction. It slowed its speed and stalled in front of me, waiting for me to give it my arm. I held it out and it gently landed. It looked me in the eye and cawed once more. I scratched the back of its neck with my pointer finger, it’s silky feathers ruffled. I asked it what was wrong but it did nothing in response. I asked it once more as I cupped it in my hand. It cawed and collapsed into a puddle in my hands.

I yelped and dropped the puddle of water. The water hit the ground and from the splash my raven reappeared. Eliakim wasn’t coming this time. It was time for another reaping but this time, and forever more, I would be on my own.