Meeting at the Grave Meeting at the Grave

"Poor girl" whispered Grandpa George. "She's the same age as you, Penelope. So young, pity." I sighed and rolled my eyes. Kate Carter lay on the table before us, her bleached blonde hair, crusted with vomit. The old man looked up at me over his glasses, "Did you know her?" he asked. "Yea" I answered, "She was a real bitch." Old George gave me a stern look. "What? It's the truth." I said, shrugging my shoulders. "It doesn't matter if you liked her or not, you have to take care of her now. Clean her up and get her dressed. Her funeral is in four hours." I nodded in reply, groaning on the inside.

I pulled my red hair up in a spiked bun and went to work. I gave her a bath, scrubbing extra hard to get the putrid vomit smell out of her hair, and dressed her in what was supposed to be her wedding dress. Kate and her boyfriend, Adam Fitz, a jock, were planning on getting married right after graduation. I never liked either of them but it was plain to see that Adam and Kate genuinely loved each other. Though I hated him, and his kind, I couldn't help but feel sorry for Adam. He must be taking this pretty rough.

I kept reading the chart over and over again. It said that the cause of death was over dose but that didn't make sense. Kate was one of the most popular girls in school and she was about to marry her high school sweet heart. She didn't have any reason to kill herself. Something didn't add up.

I finished her makeup and went upstairs to get dressed for the funeral. I put on a long, over sized black dress and some boots. I didn't bother with makeup, I don't wear much of the stuff, besides a little eyeliner and powder.

Grandpa and I loaded Kate up in the Hearse and drove to the burial site. I HATE graveyards. Yep that's right, a Goth who hates graveyards. For good reason, I assure you. You see, when you can see the spirits of the dead, a graveyard is your worst nightmare. Everywhere you look you see spirits. As the preacher droned on, I glanced towards Kate's grieving family. Kate's spirit was tugging frantically at her mother's sleeve, trying desperately to get her attention. Even in death, vomit poured from Kate's mouth, making her words impossible to decipher. I looked away from the sickening scene to an even more disturbing one. Adam was screaming Kate's name at the top of his lungs as relatives pulled him away from her casket. I had to tear my eyes away from the scene before I completely lost it.

I felt a cold chill, unlike any I had felt in almost twelve years. No doubt, it was him. I peered over my shoulder at the black hooded figure that floated slowly towards the crowd. Death slowly made his way towards Adam, who sat with his head bowed between his mother and father. Death came up behind him and whispered something to him that I couldn't make out. He then turned around and left the way he came. I thought it strange that he would appear without reaping any souls so I followed him.

He went into the forest, seeming not to notice me, but then he abruptly whirled around and tore away his hood. He glared at me with his intense ebony eyes. I felt my breath catch in my throat. I wanted to bolt but my legs wouldn't move. Then his eyes softened and a small smile graced his lips. "Hello, Penelope, long time, no see." He said in a deep velvety voice that sent shivers down my spine. "Err…um…hello." I stuttered. He drew closer and angled my chin up with one long finger. I noticed that it was adorned with an awesome skull ring. He smiled at me. The divine perfection of it would have put even the most alluring vampire to shame. "How beautiful you've become." He mused, leaning closer. "W-why were you at the funeral?" I asked, blinking away my stupor and tearing my face away from his frigid grasp.

"I was attending to my usual business, what else." He replied with a shrug, implying that he thought it was a stupid question to ask. "But you didn't reap anyone." I said questioningly. A strange, chilling smirk appeared on his face and flames danced across the glassy darkness of his eyes, "Didn't I?" he whispered darkly. The moment he said this, a shot sounded in the distance.

He disappeared and I ran back to the gravesite. Everyone was huddled around in a circle. Women burst into tears and shrieked in horror while men gasped and muttered among themselves. "What happened?" I asked my grandfather. He put his arm around me and looked at me with sad eyes, "Adam Fitz just killed himself."