2 Chapter One

"I have never been in this situation before! She has been here for three weeks and nothing's changed! There's still no heartbeat, her body is still ice cold, yet she's over there laying in bed as if she isn't dead!" I heard the doctor whisper to my parents.

"She's not coming home with us!" I heard my mom say.

"I've had it up to here with you, Charlotte!" My father began, "Dead or alive, the person lying in that bed is my daughter! I understand that this is a lot to take in right now. She's dead but she is still mine and I will love and protect her for as long as she walks this damn Earth!"

I smiled softly as I listened to their conversation from the room. My mom had been extremely hostile since discovering that I actually didn't have a heartbeat. She had been extremely distant barely speaking to me at all. She would just stand in the corner of the room with her arms crossed and watch me.

"Listen, I wish I could help but there's nothing more I can do." Doctor Hawkins said with a sigh, "She will be discharged tomorrow morning at 10." The door opened and my father came walking inside. He gave me a soft smile and grabbed my hand.

"You're coming home!" He said.

"I heard!"

"What do you mean? You heard what?" He asked with a chuckle.

"I could hear your entire conversation outside of the door."

He stared at me for a second before looking back at my mom, "How could you have possibly heard that? We were way down the hall!"

Before I could respond to him, the door opened once again and in walked a man wearing a suit. I stared at him for a few seconds as he gave my parents soft warm smiles. I stared at the man as he slowly made his way towards me.

"Excuse me but who are you?" My father asked. The man smiled and sat the briefcase he carried in on the floor. I watched as he held his hand out towards my dad. Confused, my dad slowly shook hands with the odd man.

"I am Mr Davison but call me Peter." He announced, "I work with the Masonry Science Lab. I flew out here immediately after the news of you making it out of the Bermuda Triangle hit the papers!"

"What do you need?" I asked.

"I need you to tell me what you saw!"

"This isn't a good time." My father started.

"We are on to something. I know you all have answers and you're wanting them answered! We cannot figure out anything unless she tells us something." He explained, "We won't hurt her. We just need answers!"

I sat up in the bed slowly as he turned to face me. I sighed heavily, "It looked like an island. When we first crashed there wasn't a horizon in sight. I woke up on a beach with nothing but the ocean surrounding me. I just remember seeing something or someone in all black walking towards me and then I passed out again and woke up here."

"Your mother said that you told her you were there for a day!"

"I was."

"It was a year!"

"Apparently so."

He nodded his head and stood up to pace the room, "My theory is the Bermuda is a completely different dimension which explains why everything disappears there and never comes back out. It's is where time and space meets."

"She said there was a person there as well." My mom said as she walked closer. "Who could be there?"

The man shook his head, "I wouldn't know. It still doesn't explain how she still looks alive without a heartbeat."

"There's a lot to this that I'm confused on but I'm sadly not feeling too well so we are going to have to cut this discussion short. Thank you for coming!" I said as I dismissed the man. I slowly laid back on the bed and turned on my side. The room was beginning to spin, my back felt as it was on fire, and the hundreds of voices in my head weren't making it any better.

"Are you okay, Rayne?" My dad asked as he walked closer to the bed. I gave him a sad smile.

"I'll be fine."

"Are you feeling anything? Do you feel pain? I don't know what or how to help you." He started.

"I'm dead." I replied with a laugh as he rubbed my hand. Peter decided to use this moment to step forward and speak.

"She's dead but alive, she made it out of the Bermuda Triangle, and she saw someone in there with her? I don't even know where to start on this!" He exclaimed. "Nothing is adding up!"

"Excuse me sir? I'm going to have to ask you to leave and come back when she's feeling a bit better." My dad said. He stood up and began pushing the man towards the door. He kept shouting something about needing to asking more questions while my dad argued with him about boundaries. It didn't take long before security came rushing through the door and attempted to take him out.

"Let the man do his job, Richard!" My mom exclaimed as she pushed her husband back, "Our child has managed to do the impossible! She is dead yet sitting in that bed over there! Don't you want to figure out what the fuck is going on?"

"No! I do not want people in her face constantly! She needs a break! This could be extremely overwhelming for her!"

"She's the damn devil. She's dead! She's already having a break!"

Peter took this as his moment to come closer to me. I watched as he carefully stood next to the bed and stared at me with eyes filled with fascination yet I could tell he was filling much more than what his eyes showed.

"You do not have to be afraid of me, Peter. I won't hurt you."

"What?"

"I will not hurt you but your time is slowly but surely coming to an end. I suggest you stop trying to dig deep into something that isn't your business and spend more time with your loved ones."

He stared at me in disbelief and shook his head, "Who are you?"

•••

I never thought I'd be so happy to be back in America yet I was. As soon as I was discharged from the hospital in the Bahamas, my parents and I took the earliest flight back home. It was weird to say the least. As soon as we arrived, I was faced with cameras from the news. The good thing is none of them knew I was a walking corpse leading me to believe that the hospital told no one about my odd discovery which I was extremely grateful for. I just smiled and kept it moving mainly because I was in too much pain from the burning sensation in my back.

I was even more relieved to see my lovely home that I had grown to love all of a sudden. It just didn't feel right to know that Candace wasn't a phone call away anymore. My mother slammed the door open and stomped up the stairs before slamming the bedroom door closed. My dad rolled his eyes and scoffed as he sat the bags on the floor and walked towards the kitchen.

"You're basically asking for a divorce, Charlotte!" He yelled. He opened the fridge and started pulling out all types of food. "You're hungry?"

"Dad, I'm dead so should I be feeling pain?" I asked.

He closed the fridge, "Babygirl, I wouldn't know."

"You're not even supposed to be here so I don't think you're supposed to be feeling pain." My mother said as she oddly made her appearance known.

"Mom, I'm not in the mood for the arguing."

"I'm agreeing with you on that, Rayne!" My dad shouted as he pulled out a few pots and pans.

"I'm not trying to argue with you. I'm just speaking the facts. How are you two acting completely normal over this?"

"You should be happy that your only daughter is home and she's safe!"

"I was until I found out that she has no heartbeat, Richard! She's like a zombie!" She cried.

"I look as alive as I did when I left!"

"But you're not!" She yelled, "I'm putting my foot down. I do not feel comfortable with you being in my house either. I think you should leave."

Dad tossed a dish down, "You cannot be serious right now, Charlotte!"

"I'm very serious!"

"When did you become such a bitch?" I asked with a chuckle as I leaned against the kitchen counter.

She gasped, "Excuse me?"

"Like you've always been bitchy but I never thought you'd be worst. You've most definitely proven my wrong!"

"Rayne." My dad started, "She's still your mother!"

"Yes Dad, I know!" I exclaimed, "A mother who has been nothing but a pain in my ass for years! You've the worst person ever during this entire situation. You're making a huge deal out of this as if you're the one with no heartbeat! I'm taking this one step at a time so cut me slack!"

"I will never!" She hissed, "I did everything in my power to protect you and give you the best life that most kids would pray for! I never asked for a damn corpse!"

"Charlotte!" My father yelled.

I shook my head in disbelief, "Congratulations Mom! You've managed to break a heart that no longer beats!"

She stared at me with tears in her eyes but they refused to fall, "Rayne."

"You reap what you sow, Mother! I promise that we will meet again and when we do you'll be begging me for forgiveness." I threatened. I watched as the tear finally made its way down her cheek. I gave her one last look before turning away and walking out of the kitchen.

"Where will you go?" My dad asked as he ran towards me.

"Anywhere but here." I growled.

He stood there for a few seconds before asking me to wait. I stood there impatiently as he disappeared up the stairs. I could hear my mom sniffing in the kitchen which made me roll my eyes and want to get out of there even more. Finally, he was making his way back downstairs with a black bag in his hands. It landed on the floor with a thud as he tossed it on the ground in front of me.

"Inside of that bag is money that I had been saving up since you were a kid. I had it saved up for your college savings but certain circumstances has prevented you from going now. For 18 years, I put $500 back. There's $9000 in this bag. I want you to go to and buy yourself a new phone and then get yourself a hotel room and call me when you're settled in." He explained.

"$9000?" I whispered as I looked down at the bag.

"As for your mother and I, I am filing for divorce. Once I get myself an apartment, I want you to move in with me."

"Alright." I whispered.

"Go." He urged. I quickly picked up the heavy bag of cash and made my way out of the door. "Rayne?" He called out. I turned around only for him to throw me the keys to his car.

"Thank you, Daddy." I said.

"Anything for you."

I turned around and unlocked the car door before throwing the bag of money on the passenger seat. I slammed the door shut and quickly backed out of the driveway of my former home. It didn't take long for me to find a decent hotel to crash at. I entered the huge doors of the Sheraton Atlanta Hotel and avoided eye contact with everyone who looked my way. I cleared my throat as I arrived at the front desk.

"How much for two weeks?" I asked.

"It is $84 a night, ma'am." The front desk clerk replied.

"How much for two weeks?"

She stared at me for a bit before typing something onto the computer, "$1,428"

I scoffed, "How much for a month?"

"Excuse me?"

"How much for a damn month?"

"$2,352 ma'am." She answered.

"Which means that will leave me with $6648 to my name. I'll need to go shopping for clothing and I still have to purchase a phone. There will also be expenses for food." I said to myself out loud.

"You're holding up the line, ma'am,"

"I'm sorry but I'll have to turn this down. It seems to be a little too much for me but thank you." I said. I quickly put my head down and marched right back out of the door as quick as I came in. It took a while for me to find a cheaper hotel but I ended up staying at the Wingate hotel which wasn't cheap but it was cheaper than the last.

I had just finished shopping around for clothing and a new phone when I had decided to take a break and get a bite to eat. I sat outside at a McDonald's as I played around with the new phone of mine since my old one was ruined in the place crash. I did my best blending in but the black sunglasses and huge hat didn't help. I hissed in pain at the feeling of the burning sensation on my back.

"What in the actual hell?" I mumbled to myself.

"Are you okay?" Someone asked. I looked up to see a woman standing in front of me. She looked to be in her late 40s. She wore a long black skirt with a nice dress shirt.

"I'm fine." I answered. She stared at me for a few seconds and then walked closer to me. She squinted her eyes before gasping and backing away. I watched as she quickly jogged down the sidewalk and away from me.

"A Grim." I heard another voice say. I looked over to see a girl that looked to be a few years older than me. She sat down at the table.

"What?"

"You're a Grim!" She called out, "As in Grim Reaper?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

She rolled her eyes, "You do not have to pretend in front of me, okay? I'm one as well! I know a Grim when I see one."

I cleared my throat, "I seriously have no idea what the fuck you're talking about."

She stared at me for a minute with an "I don't believe you" expression on her face. Suddenly, her face slightly dropped and she raised an eyebrow.

"You really don't know."

"I don't."

She smirked, "You my friend... is what I'd like to call a Grim Reaper."

I chuckled, "Yeah... I'm dead."

"You're death itself but you're not dead." She answered, "We are practically immortal. We walk this earth for one purpose and that is to collect souls."

"I'm dead." I replied.

She smiled, "I bet you are."

I shook my head in disbelief and stood up. I grabbed my bags and prepared to walk away only for her to grab some of my bags and walk beside me.

"Where are we going?"

"I'm going home."

"Great! Let's go!"

I sighed and stopped walking, "What's your name?"

"Natalie!"

I stared at the gorgeous Latina for a second before tapping her shoulder, "Get a life, Natalie. Happy Trails!" I grabbed the bags from her and began walking towards the car. I opened the doors and tossed the bags in the backseat before climbing into the front seat. I cranked the car up only for the passenger door to open.

"I should've locked it." I mumbled.

Natalie smiles softly, "Let's go!"

I rolled my eyes but still drove out of the parking lot, "You just cannot take a hint. Where do you live? I'm dropping you off at your home."

"You need to do your job. We are here to collect souls. I'm well aware that you're new to the whole Grim Reaper thing so I'm here to teach you all of the ropes."

"My back is on fire and I just want to get home and stay trapped there for the rest of time so can you please tell me where you live so I can drop you off!"

"What's wrong with your back?" She asked.

"I don't know." I answered, "I don't know anything."

She laughed, "That's how a bunch of us feel. Since Satan has stepped down, we don't have anyone to answer to. Normally, we collect the bad souls. However, why take them to hell when there's no ruler?"

"Huh? How could Satan step down? He was cast away there."

"Yeah well... he's a fallen Angel whose made up with his father and he now be with his family again in Heaven." She answered.

"Yeah right." I said before hissing in pain again. Natalie looked over at me.

"Didn't you say you were dead?" She asked, "How?"

"I died in a crash in the Bermuda and woke up to no heartbeat."

"Hey! We heard about that!" She exclaimed.

"Everyone did."

She nodded her head before looking out the window, "I was wondering why I was so drawn to you!" We sat in silence for a while before I looked over at her again to see her staring out the window with confusion on her face. She hummed to herself for a while before she turned her head towards me slowly.

"What?" I asked.

"If you're dead yet I still felt drawn to you then you're a Grim but a Grim Reaper technically isn't dead or alive which could mean..." She trailed off.

"What?"

She jumped back quickly before pointing and staring at me with wise eyes, "Holy Shit!"

"Natalie, what are you going on about!"

"Your back is killing you because you're getting your wings!"

"Huh?"

"You're not only dead." She whispered in shock, "You're Satan!"