Chapter 3: Sign of Proof

"Shorty, are you going to waste your fourth day staying copped at home?" 

Silence filled the air, Tori ignored Erebus because he didn't call her by her name like their deal. He then grabbed her by the chin before he started talking again.

"Is your mouth only for display?" 

"Oh? You're talking to me? I thought you were talking to invincible being."

"Who else is here besides you?"

"Then call me by name. my name is not "You" or "Shorty"!"

After staring at Tori for a while, Erebus was first to break eye contacts. He then went to sit on nearby chair and asked her the same question again. This time he addressed her by her name and not "You", "Shorty" or "Monkey" anymore.

"I got nothing to do. That aside, I have ton of questions for you."

She had mountain of questions that required answers and she decided to ask him now because she didn't know when he would disappear and appear again. It was better to make things clear one and for all. She was ready to hear any possible outrageous answer.

"Let's hear your question one by one."

"Firstly, you said that you were reaper. Are you actually one? What exactly did you do to me? Aren't you supposed to take my soul to underworld like in novel and story? Why were you able to touch me and I wasn't able to touch you just now? What exact-"

"Stop," Erebus cut Tori before she could finish her questions. "I said one at a time."

"Then you can answer the questions I have mentioned," she said fast as she fixed her gaze on him. 

They stared at each other in the eyes. Erebus could tell how stubborn Tori was from her eyes, just like 'her'. She wouldn't back down. The type of people that would keep on going forward no matter what obstacles they have ahead, unshakeable person. The type he hated for being too optimistic. He then closed his eyes for a moment and began to open his mouth.

"I am a Reaper. As I told you on that day. I gave you second life for 90 days."

"You must be kidding me! I died peacefully and you gave me extra days before I die again? Are you kidding me?!"

"You can see the proof of how many days you have left on the left side of your neck," Erebus answered pointing at Tori's neck.

Hearing that Tori immediately stood up and headed towards her room. She had a standing mirror in her room. She then pulled her shoulder length hair up, turned her head lightly to right and looked at her neck in the mirror. There was a faint hourglass with rose on top wrapped with thorns circling the number 86 which meant the number of days she had left. The proof was engraved on her neck just as he said. 

"Do you believe me now?" Erebus who was in the dining table on first floor was suddenly at Tori's room on second floor standing at the door looking at Tori with folded arms as he leaned against the wall. 

"why should the crest be at my neck?! How am I supposed to hide it from my parents? They will murder me for having tattoo!" Tori complained in panic.

"It's invisible to naked eyes"

Tori breathed out a sign of relief upon hearing that. It wasn't like her parents would murder her for real but they would nag at her endlessly for days because her parents didn't like the idea of tattoo, especially her mom. She had experienced the endless nagging back when she pierced 2 sets of piercing on her ears without telling her. That was hell in different way.

"So, what exactly do reapers do? You haven't answered it."

"We, reapers, bring the dead souls to underworld like you said," He said in monotone voice, uninterested then walked down to the living room along with Tori who walked after him as she listened.

"Fine. What about you being able to touch me while I couldn't?"

Erebus stopped his track suddenly at stairs which made Tori bumped against his back.

"Ow! Don't stop suddenly! huh? I bumped against you?" Tori said as she stared dumbfoundedly at Erebus and touched her forehead which just bumped against his back. 

Erebus then turned around to face Tori before he started talking again, "I can manifest myself to let human see or touch me like just now but you can see me even if I didn't manifest myself because you're a singularity."

Tori frowned at the word "singularity", it sounded strange. "what do you mean by singularity?"

"it means you're a special existence till you died. You're abnormal."

"Abnormal? I'm an ordinary human though." 

"Are you dumb or are you pretending to be dumb? Do you think someone who is brought back to life is normal? You're not exactly a human since you've died nor a ghost."

That remarks struck Tori with reality. The fact that she was no longer alive, and her current life is only temporary. 

Erebus continued to walk down the stairs ignoring Tori who was still standing there staring at blank space and sat at the sofa with crossed legs like a noble, thinking her reaction was so normal which was boring. 

He bought the wrong toy, she is not her, he thought when Tori suddenly stomped down the way and stood in front of him then suddenly lifted her arm and swung it with all her might to his face but it never landed in his face. It passed through him. Erebus smiled in amusement. Tori muttered something softly which made Erebus couldn't heard her clearly.

"What?"

"I said I hate your face! I wanna rip that smug look on your face and punch you real hard that you lost a tooth or two. Your all high and mighty attitude really piss me off. I want to beat you to dead! Bringing me back to life for "90 days"? What the hell is your problem? I've died so let me die, you damned cursed reaper and your nasty taste! I want to murder you right here and now! At this moment and not another minute nor another second! Does someone's life hold no value for you to toy with!" 

Tori panted after lashing out at Erebus. She said those emotionally in one breath. She clenched her fist so hard and felt pain because her nails were digging into her flesh yet this reaper in front of her grinned then burst into laughter which made Tori more vexed. His laughter was not one of amusement but Tori was too worked up to notice.

He surely got some loose screws. Tori said internally.

"What's so funny?!" Tori said with rude tone but he ignored her and continued laughing.

"Finally," he laughed, "You're interesting indeed. I never thought you'd try to hit me even though you know you couldn't," He laughed mockingly.

Tori wanted to shove a bottle of pesticide into his mouth to shut him up but she knew that would be impossible. She decided not to let her temper got better of her. she gulped down a glass of water and took deep breath several times to cool her head and sighed.

"Tori Eithern," he mumbled as he stood up, walked towards Tori and cornered her by placing his arms on both side of the table, "Do you want me to drag you to the deepest part of Hell? You no longer need to remain here that way."

His tone was deep and heavy which made it very threatening. Despite being gazed with such cold eyes, Tori returned his gaze with fearless eyes, "Do it, I have nothing to lose."

Her answer stunned him, his pupils shook for an instant before he finally narrowed his eyes and smiled in amusement which was charming. He was wrong to think that Tori would avert his gaze and hesitated.

Erebus pulled her hair to the back of her ear with his long fingers which made the crest looked clear in his view then caressed it and caused Tori to shudder.

"Use your time wisely or you'll die in regrets of not doing anything even though you got second chance. The countdown of the crest will continue till it reaches zero. The number shows the day you have left. Remember that well, little bird." He said then he kissed the sign of proof on her neck.

Tori instantly got into self-defense and tried to elbow him but he moved away before she could. Another smirk was drawn across his lips. 

"Use your time wisely, little bird."

Erebus disappeared after he said that. Tori slumped to the floor. The crest on her neck was real. It was true that she had died because she had witnessed her own funeral when she became ghost. She saw her body lying in the coffin and some people cried for her, it was not a mere nightmare. She touched the crest on her neck and fell into deep thoughts. This tattoo would be her companion for the 86 days she had left.