The Crow: Wait and Bleed

The Crow: Wait and Bleed

Death

"To die will be an awfully big adventure."

- James M. Barrie, Peter Pan

Joseph lay there shuddering in the coolness of black nothing. He looked around himself and saw nothing. There was nothing. Around him there was simply blackness and emptiness. He was cold and blood poured down from his shirt. He looked down and saw the pale of blood that grew in the floor. But he couldn't find the wound. He could feel nothing. He couldn't feel any of the shot wounds. He couldn't feel any pain. Oh thank god! It must have been a dream, a nightmare. That's all it was, one big nightmare. He would go upstairs and kiss his loving wife, and he would go tell his kids that he loved them. "Emily." Joseph called out, but there was no answer. Silence was the only response he received. "Emily," he called out again. But there was still no answer. He gathered his strength and stood, "Emily! Where are you?!" and then it happened.

A whisper filled the empty, desolate, vastness. "Emily's not here."

"What?"

"Emily's gone."

"What do you mean she's gone?"

"Sit."

"What?"

"Sit," and out of nowhere something pushed Joseph down, but he saw nothing. There was nothing there, but something pushed him.

"What are you? Who are you?"

"You know who I am."

"No I don't. Who are you?"

"Joseph, you know."

"How did you know my name? Who are you?! FUCKING TELL ME!"

"It's on the tip of your tongue." And the whisper grew into a low, deep, booming voice. "Just say it." And a cloaked figure stepped out of the darkness. His face couldn't be seen, but his hands were a ghastly pale, and his cloak was entirely black.

"Who are you?" Joseph asked sobbing.

"I am…" and the cloaked figure looked up and Joseph could see his pale white face. Joseph could see the emptiness of his eyes, and the crimson of his lips. "I am Death."

TO BE CONTINUED….

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