Chapter Two: A Father's Love

"Finally, you're here!"

Dark turned around to the man at the desk. He resembles a panda due to the size of the black circle under his eyes, his hair is messy and he seems very tired.

"I slept first, we had a match this morning," Dark said.

He took a seat in his chair. He had an envelope on the table. He opened it at once and took the card inside.

"What happened to you? How come you're like Azra? " Dark asked

He didn't look at the man he was reading out of the black card.

Black card, this is what they call the Death Cards they receive from on high. It contains simple information on the person destined to die, even the cause and time of death are there.

"The number of troubled souls is on the rise. It's almost tripled in the past week. " Trans complaint

"Even these," Dark said the black cards landed on his desk. "The number of them, too."

"How many are you going to get now?" said the man.

"Just a little. Ten. " Dark said plainly.

"Fine, you can still come here and help me." Trans sighed.

"I'll help you, don't worry," Dark added

Dark turned to his watch. 'It's time.'

Dark stood up, took his gloves and coat from the drawer and put them on.

Death Guardian Invisibility Coat serves as their protection to normal people's eyes. The only people who can see them are people who have died and are called people with strange abilities or a third eye.

************

Dark arrived on time for his final pickup. Claudio Sebastian's car was approaching along the highway. He looks tired and sleepy. There was also a long journey from Subic to their home. In a few moments, the smoke will be noticed on the front of the vehicle.

"How do you do?" said Dark.

The man looked at Dark. Without knowing it, he was bleeding and had a deep chest injury.

"Have you got a car? My car broke down, I have to go home to my daughter, it's his birthday today. " the man asked

"Sir Claudio, I'm sorry, but you can't make it to your daughter's birthday," Dark said.

Claudio furrowed. "Why?

"Cause of death: Car crash, time 6:38 tonight." Dark then said the black card to Claudio.

Claudio was stunned as if what had happened to him had occurred to him. Eventually, he burst into tears.

"You should listen to your wife. As they say, the woman knows it all. " Dark said.

Claudio gazed upon Dark. "Who are you?"

"I am your crossing guide." Said Dark

"You are death?!" Claudio asked

Dark glanced at his wristwatch. He ignored Claudio's questions about him.

"What do you have in mind?" While I have spare time, before my mission end. " Dark asked

Claudio stared at Dark.

***********

At a birthday party for the one he's guarding, Lucian was there. Today is Mheyzie's birthday. The girl was very happy that night. Lucian was standing next to her.

"Are you happy?" Lucian asked

The girl smiled at him. No one but the kids can see Lucian. Because her grandmother says kids are Boss G's favourite because they're innocent.

"I hope Papa will come," she told Lucian.

"He will come. He promised you, didn't he? " Lucian said

The girl smiled. The child's mother's phone rang, so she strayed slightly from the crowd. Lucian glanced away, the girl's father stood there and frowned, he was accompanied by the Keeper of Death. Lucian looked at the girl, she also appeared to see her father and beckoned.

'This means that Mheyzie's father will no longer be at home.' - Lucian thought

**********

Claudio waved his daughter as he saw her. He was even slightly surprised when the girl waved at him. Claudio's face showed astonishment.

"Your child is young, pure and innocent, so she sees you," said Dark.

Dark watched the child, her guardian angel is beside her. Shortly all the guests were surprised, a scream was heard in the distance. Claudio's wife stood there amazed as the telephone was pressed against her ear, which was falling so slowly.

"Your wife already knows." Said Dark

Unfortunately, Claudio wiped away the tears by looking at his wife and daughter.

"Tell me, the guy in white beside my daughter is an angel?" Claudio asked.

"Yes, he is the Guardian Angel of your daughter," said Dark. "Even your wife's got her guard."

"I wasn't expecting my death, what will happen to them? My daughter's too young to lose me? " Claudio asked on the air.

"Don't worry, there are people who love your family who is going to help your wife and daughter," Dark said.

Claudio's been quiet for a while. The adults were disturbed at the party while the children were staring around. Dark turned to his watch again.

"It's time. Let's go," says Dark

Claudio turned to Dark but never budged to leave. Dark grasped Claudio's shoulder and walked several steps. They were already in a blank white room. Dark's outfit is shining. There has been just one door, and the door handle was on fire.

"Where do you think that door is going to lead you when I open it?" Dark suddenly asked. He kept the black card and looked at it.

Claudio shook his head while staring at the door. "I have no idea."

Dark walked closer to the door and Claudio followed him. Dark was about to touch the door when Claudio spoke.

"Just one second," said Claudio.

Dark looked at him. Claudio took a thing out of his pants pocket and showed it to Dark. It's a pinky little box.

"Can you hand it over to Mheyzie? It's a birthday gift. " Claudio said sadly and handed it to Dark

Dark just looked at the man when he took the little box.

"I'm sad, but there's nothing I can do," said Claudio. "Please tell Mheyzie how much her Papa loves her."

Dark nodded and Claudio smiled a little. In the folder Dark read, Claudio was a good dad and a good husband. Growing up poor, but because of his hard work, patience and resourcefulness, he built a small business. After a few years, his small business becomes big, he even builds branches all over the country. But that doesn't change him from being a good person. Claudio has helped many people, especially his workers.

Dark touched the inflamed doorknob and slowly opened it. Dark turned to Claudio a gaze of wonder over his face at the beautiful paradise across the door.

"Great job, Boss G seems proud of you." Said Dark.

Claudio took one look at Dark and looked through the door.

"All right, get in," said Dark.

Claudio looked at Dark one more time. "Thanks a lot."

Dark nodded and Claudio went inside. When Claudio finally came through the door, Dark locked it. Claudio is one of those who brought to heaven today. Three of the ten had gone to the wilderness where you can't see anything.

Dark inhaled deeply, holding the little box. He had to give that to Claudio's daughter.

********

"I can't do anything, Alexa, it's the order from Meta," said Lucian.

Lucian has just arrived. Alexa made him something to eat.

"Thank you!" said Lucian, and he took his seat. Although I didn't want to leave Mheyzie in this situation, I had to do it. Rhane is the child's Guardian now. " Lucian added

Alexa sat at the opposite side of the table. She looked around and whispered to Lucian.

"Brother, I hear Andra is guarding a stubborn human being, I think you can't stand it either." Said, Alexa.

Lucian was stunned for a moment, Alexa rarely whispered and worrying is not her thing. That's how their grandmother raised them, they shouldn't be concerned with things that man has no control over, but only Boss G knows. Lucian laughed about her sister's behaviour.

"You, Alexa, have gotten used to the world." You could be carried away. " Lucian reminds his sister.

Alexa furrowed. "I am concerned for you, brother. Does this look bad? "

"That's not bad because we're here in the world, but as guardians, you shouldn't worry. Is it written in Psalm 55:22, always remember that verse. " Lucian added

Alexa just smiled. "Haist, brother! You are not listening to me. "

*********

Before going back to work, Dark first went to Claudio's daughter. Dark was standing by the window in the child's room. The girl cries while hugging the stuffed bear.

'Where is her Guardian? He should not leave the child in this situation. ' - Dark thought

"Who are you?"

Dark was amazed as he looked at the kid. He scratched his head, 'My suit does not affect the children.'

Dark came near the kid. He was sitting at the side of the bed next to the child.

"I'm your dad's friend," said Dark.

That kid was stunned. "Are you Papa's friend? Where did he go now? "

"Your father went to heaven." Dark introduction to the kid.

That's what he doesn't want to discuss with kids. He has a hard time explaining. And when he hooks up the answer, there's a question that's going to follow them again.

"What's he doing there? Why isn't he going back here? " Mheyzie asked

'Haist, it's happening! I should be going soon. Trans will probably get mad at me. ' - Dark thought

"The truth is Mheyzy..." said Dark.

"You are Papa's friend. You know who I am." The girl went on.

"Yes. Your father left me something before he went to heaven, and I told him I'd give it to you," says Dark

In his pocket, he took the little box and handed it to the kid. Mheyzie took it immediately.

"It's your father's gift, he never had the chance to give it to you personally." Said Dark.

The child opened the box and inside was a necklace with two-letter pendants letter C and letter M.

"Your father loves you very much, Mheyzie. He's a good person, so continue to be a good person like your father. " Says Dark

The child broke into tears. "I love my dad a lot."

Dark raised his hand and wondered if he was going to touch the girls' backs. So he just gently patted her head three times.

"Don't cry, your father will be sad if he sees you from above," said Dark. The girl looked at him. "I'm leaving. Bye!"

Dark stood up and the girl said goodbye.

********

Death is an essential element of life and the reaper must claim the souls of the deceased to preserve the balance of nature. The Reaper doesn't "kill" mortals, but simply guide their spirits to the next realm, and it is not their job to judge souls or determine what they will become.

My name is Dark, and I am a Guardian of Death.