A/N: Early post! Yay! I'm starting to think the chapters are just getting progressively longer. So here goes. Chapter 12! :)

Paxloria: Oh no no no no no! Why would I end it there? That ending would suuuuuck! That would be the most disappointing thing since Green Lantern with Ryan Reynolds! (seriously sucky movie. It was Green Lantern! And Ryan Reynolds! But no! They had to make it suck.)


It was nearly three months before a knock came at Ophelia's door. She opened it up gladly.

"Oh, yay! I'm so glad you made it out here. Long ways huh? Thanks for the pizza!" "No prob, Miss. You have a lot of scenery out here," replied the delivery boy. "Ah, you're American," said Phe, taking the pizza, "I just love your accents!"

Ophelia paid him and gave him a couple pounds tip. Ella insisted on this because of the drive out.

Phe brought the pizza into the kitchen where her mother was waiting with plates. Each took their fill. Phe's was much more than her mother's as usual. Ophelia washed the dishes then laid down on the couch.

"Today is such a lazy night for you, Phe," said her mother. Phe nodded. That night Ophelia fell asleep on the couch.

The next day Phe woke up and got ready to enjoy a lazy Saturday. It didn't turn out that way...

The doorbell rang and someone impatiently knocked on the door. Phe shouted, "I'll get it!" and slid down the banister backwards. She hopped off and her hair back in a ponytail.

She opened the door with a close-eyed smile and said, "Hello. Welcome to 'That Creepy Old House in the Middle of Nowhere.' My name is Phe and I'll be your guide."

"Brilliant welcome, but we know our way around here by now." I know that voice! Phe opened her eyes to see two familiar faces.

"Ronald! Grell!" Phe attacked the two with hugs. "This is not soon!" she shouted, backing away from them, "I thought you forgot about little me!"

Grell picked up her hand and held it out so the ring was right next to his matching eyes. "See, we can't forget you," he told her.

Ella came behind Phe. "Oh hi! It's been quite a while," she said happily, "Phe, why don't you three go somewhere today? You should pick Sam and Devon up too. This'll get your butts off the couch."

Ophelia jumped and cheered. "Thanks mum!" "Call me when you get to Sam and Devon and when you get wherever you're headed, okay?" "Got it," replied Phe.

Ronald and Grell thanked Phe's mum as she closed the door. Phe hugged Ron one more time.

"I missed you guys," she told them. Ronald smiled and thought back. "I missed you too..."


Nearly three months earlier...

"Knox, did you get the book?"

William towered over the blonde who was sitting in his desk. "Yep, and we hid it," he replied. William's stoic expression was nearly impossible to read.

"Did you make any contact with the human?" he asked. "Nope," replied Ronald, lying through his teeth.

"Uh huh. Who took those pictures of Sutcliffe? He's been running around showing everyone," said William, "I didn't think you'd be interested in such." "Uh... I... Uh..." Ronald's stuttering confirmed William's suspicion.

"So you did make contact. Tell me. Male? Female? Age?" Ronald sighed and gave up, "Girl. Sixteen or seventeen."

"You're attached, Knox," said William, "This is why we don't get involved with their world. It's twice as easy to get attached to a creature that is so much less powerful than you."

"But, senpai, you'd even get attached if you met her," Ronald defended, "Humans aren't these stupid, obnoxious, and rude creatures! They can be nice and funny and-"

"Knox, I know a great deal about humans. Yes, some may be of a higher quality than others, but they die, Ronald. Whoever this one is will die. You can't prevent it and someone may have to cut their life short. Their world is just as unpredictable as ours," William said coldly. He seemed to be ordering a lack of further communication with Ophelia.

William was not angry at the boy as he walked back into his office. He just knew that Ronald would be hurt. The human world was a violent and underdeveloped one and having it leak into the shinigami realm was unnecessary. No, it was unwanted.

"The day that girl perishes is the day that will break him..."


"Well, let's get in the car!" said Grell. He turned and walked to a stunning red convertible.

"I'm driving and you can take front until we get Sam and Devon. I assume that the boy will need to be up front. He's so tall!" said Grell. "Wait a minute, that means I'm sitting in the back!" complained Ron. "You aren't going to make a lady sit in the backseat alone, now are you Ronnie darling?" Grell smirked.

So Grell and Phe enjoyed their time in the front. The red reaper switched to his prescription sunglasses that looked like "the most fashionable ones that the best actresses wear" because he is "an amazing actress." Phe rolled the roof down.

"It's unusually sunny for England," noted Ron. Phe nodded, "We've been having rain come down non-stop until yesterday. You came on the perfect day!"

Grell agreed. "Anything interesting happen ever since we left?" he asked. "Uh, not really. Other than that dog of Jess's. The thing bloody hates me! It only proves that wiener dogs are evil! I swear there's not one that hasn't tried to kill me! Oh, speaking of pets, Sam got a cat. Sweetest little thing. She named it something strange. Uh, what was it... I dunno. They're always naming things with strange names. So other than that, no."

"What about your new teacher? Is he as good as I was?" asked Grell. Phe laughed, "He's not the guy we thought they were going to put in. They brought in a new guy. He's young and nice, but not as good of a teacher as you were. You were probably the best teacher I've had this year." "You're just being a little kiss ass, aren't you?" "You catch on quickly," said Phe. The two laughed.

"What about you guys?" asked Phe. "Not much has happened on our side of the portal either," said Ron.

The three reached Sam and Devon's house in a matter of minutes. It wasn't terribly out of the way like Phe's house, but it wasn't in much of a highly populated area either. Two equally large houses stood on either side of it in the small roundabout.

Phe told her mum they got there safely then hopped out of the car and ran straight to the middle house's front door. The reapers followed her and stood on either side of the girl as she rang the doorbell.

And unpleasant but familiar smell wafted up to Ron's nose. Before saying anything he looked to Grell. The red reaper had been looking right back. He nodded. A simple gesture that meant a number of things: Yes, you're right, don't panic, it won't do anything with people around.

Ronald and Grell put the thoughts in the back of their minds as a short, black haired woman answered the door.

"Oh, hello Phe! Sam and Devon are out with Allison. Who are these two?" she asked. "This is Ronald and Grell," replied Phe. The black haired woman seemed to remember something. She smiled and said, "Oh, you are Ronald and Grell! I've heard a lot about you two. Come on in! Phe take them with you to see Allison."

Ophelia walked through the house and into the backyard. "That was Sam's mum, May," she explained.

Twin boys were being taught by their father on the patio. "Hey, Phe!" shouted the man. The twins turned and waved. Ophelia returned the wave and continued through the backyard then down a path surrounded by trees.

The light brightened as they came upon the clearing where a delicate woman sat on a grounded porch swing painted white. She was flanked by a quiet boy and a caring girl.

"She's quite sensitive. I'm afraid that one of these days she'll break, so please be quiet and calm," Phe told the reapers. Both Grell and Ronald were stunned.

The woman looked up and invited Phe and her friends over with a graceful smile. Sam and Devon noticed the three. Devon smiled while Sam ran to the pair of shinigami.

"Grell! Ronald! It's been a while hasn't it?" said Sam, "Notice anything different?" "Your hair grew longer," guessed Ronald. "No, I mean, yes, but I got it cut. Guess again!" she said.

Phe, who had taken Sam's seat next to Allison, put her hand out and lifted it up and down a few times. At first Grell was just as confused as Ronald, but when he put Phe's clue together with Sam's happiness it was obvious.

"You're taller!" he said triumphantly. Sam cheered, "You got it! I grew a whole third inch since you guys left!" "Sam, you're in Britain," reminded Devon. "Oh, I grew a centimetre or so then," she said. It wasn't a truly noticeable amount, but it was enough to make Sam happy.

She and the reapers joined Devon and Phe. The woman smiled, "Hello, I'm Allison. I'm Devon's mother." Grell and Ronald gently shook her hand for even they thought she might break. Another confirming glance went between Ronald and Grell, but this time Grell shook his head. It's not her. She's close with it.

"Aunt Allison, keep reading," said Sam. The woman smiled and continued to read "The Bells." Ronald and Grell were now more than a little unnerved. First the smell, then the creepy poetry. Something was not right there.

After the reading, Phe asked Sam and Devon if they wanted to join the three and go do something. They were more than happy to come.

A short drive later they were out on the town. A cheap restaurant was their first stop. Lunch was needed.

Food inside the small shop smelled amazing. "Welcome to our favourite restaurant! It sells all different kinds of food cheaply and deliciously. They have Chinese, Mexican, British, and American, but they only have Greek in May," said Phe.

A young waitress seated the strange group in a large booth. The menus were huge. Each chose a different kind of food and afterward a conversation started, but it was quickly interrupted as a familiar face walked in.

Phe gasped, "Oh gosh... Is that..." "What is the Undertaker doing here?" asked Grell. The entire group turned their heads to see the gray-haired man walking toward them.

"Phe, who's that guy?" asked Sam. Before she could answer Undertaker sat next to Grell. "Hello, Miss Ophelia, Miss Grell, Mister Ronald, how are you all today?" he asked with that same madman's smile.

"Lovely," answered Phe in shock, "What are you doing here?" "Miss Ophelia, it's a restaurant. Why else would I be here?"

"Phe..." Sam wanted an explanation and she wanted it before the crazy man could say more. "Sam, Devon, this is Undertaker. He's... my boss and I guess he's a friend, too," said Phe. "That's why you don't want us to visit your work. You're an Undertaker."

"No!" defended Phe, "I'm an assistant! Though it's more like an undertaker's maid and gardener. I can't believe you wanted those flowers to die." "Well, we can plant more when it's warmer if it makes you feel better. Those we'll keep alive," replied the Undertaker.

"Do you ever work with the bodies?" asked Sam. Phe opened her mouth, but Undertaker answered first, "Not yet." Ophelia's eyebrow rose in curiosity, "What do you mean 'not yet?'" "Well, you've been working for me for a while. I was planning to have you help me in the back room by next week," he replied. "I don't want to-" "You'll get a raise." "Deal." The two shook on it.

Sam was still curious. "Do you wear a cool hat like his?" she asked. "Not yet," replied Undertaker, "You'll have to soon enough. I've decided to make it the uniform!" "Wait, does that mean I have to wear a cloak like your too?" asked Phe. "Well, of course. It's a uniform, isn't it? I'll get you a red sash to match your hair though," he told her.

As much as Phe felt the Undertaker to be that crazy uncle she never had, she didn't want to wear something like his cloak one bit, but after a bit of persuasion she agreed.

"It's comfy enough to sleep in," said Undertaker, "And I should know. I frequently do." He took another spoonful of marmite. If the waitress didn't think the group was strange before, she sure did after Undertaker ordered a jar of the stuff.

Undertaker was kind enough to pay for everyone and when they left he retreated back to the shop, chuckling about some inside joke that only he knew of.

"You've got some weird friends in weird places, Phe," said Sam taking a seat in the back of the convertible. "Oh, you don't know the half of it," she replied.

The five went to a movie where Grell could not get over how handsome the lead actor was.

"I like that movie," said Sam as they left the cinema, "It had all kinds of explosions and stuff!" "But it had no plot," said Phe and Ronald simultaneously. Grell was still going on about the actor, "Oh my my! He was gorgeous, but not as handsome as my dear Sebastian darling!" "You're quite dramatic today," said Devon. "She's the queen," whispered Ronald.

The five then passed by an ice cream parlour. Sam made them stop, but it was really everyone's desire even if they didn't show it. While inside, Grell, Rona and Phe couldn't help but pick up chocolate. Grell preferred the dark chocolate filled with raspberry something. Ron and Phe had a similar taste, each taking a liking to the white chocolate with some sort of unnameable nut.

After walking a tad more, Ronald and Grell returned Sam and Devon home. Phe was lucky enough to stay with the two a bit longer before they left.

Standing before the front door, Phe looked pleadingly at Ronald. "Don' you dare leave me for that long again. It's so boring here without you guys," she scolded light-heartedly. "When do you want us to come back?" asked Ronald.

"If I say soon, it'll be another three months and I can't wait a season. I'm particularly impatient. So come back in the next two weeks or I'll get Sam to punch you in the throat." "Why Sam?" "Because I punch like a girl, and Sam has five brothers and fell out of a four metre tree yesterday unscathed. Don't know how, but she did it."

Ronald smiled fondly at the silly human. "If you don't forget us, we won't forget you."

Grell watched from the sidelines. His heart screamed one word. Kiss!

To his disappointment, there was only a hug before Phe went to Grell. "That applies to you too, Miss Sutcliffe," said Phe in an official voice, but she cracked and smiled. "Okay, so I can't order you around, but I can still give you something." She pulled a long box out of her bag of chocolate. "It's a rose made of the chocolate you liked so much."

Grell gladly took the gift and hugged the girl. "I doubt this will survive the trip home," said Grell. "Why? How long does it take to get through the portal?" asked Phe. "Only a few minutes, but it still won't make it," said Grell with a laugh.

Phe went inside. Grell and Ronald turned and started toward the car, but Ella rushed outside and stopped them. "Wait wait wait!" she said. The reapers went back to the front door. Ophelia was already up the stairs.

"I... I just want to thank you," she said, "Ophelia is such a sweet girl, but she doesn't always like for people to get close to her. I think she feels like they'll just go away somehow. You two are the only people who have been allowed in Phe's world since her father died and I've noticed a bit of a change. She's becoming a bit more open and I think it's because of you."

"Well, we want to thank you for giving us a new friend," said Ronald, "Phe's taught us a lot of things and well... She's a great girl." "Do you think she could visit us sometime?" asked Grell, "It gets so boring where we live and Phe would be a bunch of fun to have over." Ella smiled, "I'd love to let you have her. Maybe a week during the summer. Meanwhile, keep visiting."

Ronald and Grell drove to Undertaker's shop. Ronald was strangely quiet.

"I know you're thinking about what William said." Ronald couldn't hide anything from his senpai.

"I... I'm just worried. I love her like a sister and if I lost her... And that smell! We both know what it is. I just feel like it's going to kill her," he confessed. Grell sighed. "Look, you may not think of her as more than a friend or a sister, but I have feeling she's grown attached to you. If you really think it's going to end soon, help her make the best of it."


Sam's eyes fluttered open. Huh? Where am I? She sat up and observed her surroundings. A familiar layout was in front of her.

Why am I in Mr. Redd's room? Even though the teacher was long gone, she still thought of the room that way. A new thought occurred to her.

She reached a hand up and felt her hair. It had become long and wavy as it had been when she was a little girl. A white dress clothed her just barely. The edge of the end of the white garment however... Blood.

A thick red substance leaked from under the door leading out of the room.

Foolishly, Sam slid off the table, her bare feet feeling the cool tile beneath them. She stepped closer and closer to the door with intrigue. Her feet lay in the growing puddle as she opened the door to face a horror.

Phe... Mr. Red... Oh gosh... No... The sights of her slaughtered friends. Each was drenched in that bright red colour. No no no no no. Have to find Devon. Have to get him out.

She searched throughout the bloody hallways, but the boy was nowhere to be found. As she walked through she recognized more faces. One body after another was presented before her. Some from school, but some were from home...

Mom... Dad... Travis... Grayson... Her mother and father were slouched against the lockers. Even in death, they held hands, loving each other until the breath had left them and they were hollow. The twins sat in their parents' free arms. Fear was etched on their blood-spattered faces. Sam cried a tear, but it was short. There could be people she needed to save.

She ran everywhere, finally reaching around the whole school. Teachers and students filled the halls with their remains.

Finally, she reached Mr. Redd's room once more. A laughter came from inside. "It's simple really! They're dead now. No more worries!" She had heard that voice before. Sam opened the door, ready to meet the cause of the massacre. Instead she was met with a river, run red with the blood.

The school faded away as she was entranced by that red ooze. Wood crosses floated through it. Each had become soft, soaking up the blood around it. She bent over and stared into the mess. A pair of eyes stared back. Their colour was unnatural, yet she knew she'd seen them before. The bright green and yellow irises were not a new sight.

In a flash, Sam came back to her senses. She was now in the river, drowning, swimming for her life, but to no avail. Something was dragging her down. The body attached to those bright green eyes began to claim her. She swam with all her might and dragged herself onto the rocky shore. She gasped and coughed the blood out of her system. Her tears began to pour. A door was placed in front of her.

Desperately, she crawled to the door, throwing it open and flinging herself inside. Her heart beat faster and faster. She was now back in Mr. Redd's classroom. Her dress and hair were stained with the river's blood. She stood up weakly. Then Sam broke.

She cried and wept for those who she'd lost, but then... Something was inside her hand. She looked down at the horrid object.

"No. No. No! NO!" A blade was in her grip. Blood dripped from it. Her mind went back to the voice... "It... it can't be..." It had been her own.

In a cold sweat she flashed awake and sat up in her bed. Looking around, there was nothing to be afraid of, only the blue and purple furnishings in her room and the stormy weather outside. A knock was at the door. "C-come in..." Sam stuttered.

Devon walked in, using his phone as a flashlight. "Are you alright? I heard you moaning in your sleep again. You only do that when you have nightmares," he said gently. Sam shook her head. Devon walked in and closed the door behind him.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Sam shook her head again, staring forward into nothing. "Do you want me to stay here until you fall asleep again?" This was received with a nod. Devon took a seat in the fuzzy purple chair across the room as Sam laid back down and covered herself with blankets.

After a few minutes Sam asked, "Devon, do you think I could kill someone?"

Being logical as always, he replied, "Could you? You have the physical capabilities to for sure, but would you? Absolutely not. You value life, whether human, animal, or even plant. Everything deserves a chance in your eyes. Even if you even begin to think about truly doing something like that, I'll be there and I won't let you live with the guilt hanging over your head, thinking about how that person could have benefitted the world or had a happy life. There's no need to worry. I'll be there."

Knowing her big cousin was there to protect her or to stop her from doing anything unmentionable, Samantha was able to sleep peacefully. When he knew she had drifted away, Devon shuffled back to his room quietly.

"I wish I could control her dreams. She would never see whatever she saw ever again."


A/N: Okay guys, I want you to decide something for a later chapter so please answer! If no one answers I'll just take it as a yes. So, should I eventually post the big dramatic story behind why William doesn't want Ronnie to get too attached to Phe? Before you answer, I just want to say I got really bored and started writing it and now I can't really stop. It's too interesting. And don't say I should decide because I'm the author. You're just as important to this thing as I am. Have a lovely week! ~Pyro