Chapter 9

So tell me why you've chosen me?

Don't want your grip

Don't want your greed…

All the ideas and concepts that Kat had about the Reaper were true. He did indeed wear a long black cloak and appear to float several feet off the ground. But there were some other things that she'd never thought of, like the way the room automatically dimmed when it appeared. It was the middle of the morning and yet it was like the sun had been turned off completely and the shades drawn. The ghosts all hung about him, silvery and silent.

Like soldiers, she thought. They wait for every command.

"You have something of mine." It rasped in a whispery voice.

Jack's eyes blazed with his usual "Devil may care" attitude.

"Why don't come and get it, if you can find it." He snapped back smartly.

The swarm turned ugly, yelling and screeching up a storm. For a terrifying second, all of them seemed to inch closer, bearing their sharp teeth in maniacal smirks. Stinkie seemed to be the only human spirit among them.

"Then I must pry it from your cold, dead hands."

The Reaper held up one skeletalpalm and the army issued forward, clawing and howling, coming to rip the trio apart.

"Run." Casper whispered in her ear, with a forceful shove he sent her out of the kitchen door.

"But…?" She stood half torn as the demons descended on him.

"Just get out of - ahh!" Casper cried with surprise as they finally made contact.

Her legs wouldn't work, her breath like water rushing out of her, she couldn't even see Jack in all the confusion. Kat finally made up her mind and ran. The commotion diminishing as she plunged deeper into the manor. Objects blurred into one another as she galloped into shadowy hallways that she never knew existed. Strange twists and turns at every corner. No wonder the locals called it a funhouse. Stopping to rest, Kat checked out her surroundings. Where was she? She thought she explored the manor in it's entirely, but this was unfamiliar. It was a small passageway that seemed to be pressing down on her like a coffin. Shadows flickered at the corner of her eyes. Stumbling forward uneasily, Kat felt for a door, or window. There! Some weak light had seeped through a keyhole off to her right. Feeling for the knob, she gripped it and hurried out. Adjusting her eyes to what little light there was, she found herself in a vast and untended garden.

This must be where Casper got the flowers.

She forgot all about ghosts and demons and began to explore the area. Even though the majority of the plants and shrubs were brown and decayed, there were some that were clinging to life. Kat walked among the rows of bushes. She let herself be pulled into a shady corner of the lot. Sunlight had never infiltrated this lonely spot on the grounds, overhead trees made sure of it. But her feeling of security was interrupted. The silhouette of something massive was slowly coming her way, bringing along a familiar, horrifying smell…

Casper was hurt. He felt his legs cramp and the dull throb of a nasty bruise on his right shoulder, blood from numerous cuts and scrapes littered his clothes. But he didn't even notice. He had fled right after Kat, dodging the malevolent spirits as he went. After he lost sight of her the beings switched course and went straight for her. Casper tried to follow but the immense pain throughout his body forced him to stop. So there he was, slowly crawling along with a hand on the wall for support. The darkness seemed to be consuming him, like he was crawling into the huge mouth of some monster. In the background the poltergeists howled and cursed while they continued their search. Going around a sharp turn, Casper bumped into something. He winced as whatever he collided with broke free and grazed his side. It wasn't heavy, but it was sharp, like the Reaper's scythe! Bending down to examine it, his heart leap as his youthful face was reflected in the ominous razor edge. It was hidden behind a statue, his mother's favorite he realized.

Casper shuddered as he took it into his hands. Ever since the Reaper granted his wish of being alive, certain objects and situations reminded him of his first life. Memories rushed to him and flooded his mind, as they did now. He picked one out and played it as one would choose a video to watch. In it, he was a little over seven years old in his father's study gazing at the man who was seated behind his giant oak desk. It was late, perhaps midnight and his father was still hard at work, scribbling something into his notebook. He looked up to see his son standing there.

"Casper, what's the matter?" He asks warmly, ceasing his writing.

"I had that dream again." His voice was small in such a cavernous room; it seemed to echo all around.

"Again?" J.T. frowned.

"It had a lady that looked like mommy and…" His voice trailed off, tears pooling in his big blue eyes. J.T. listened intently as the boy went on.

"…Then this man in funny robes took her away, and it was so dark! I couldn't see mommy anymore but the man wouldn't go away, make him go away!"

With that statement, Casper flew towards his father and broke into sobs. Hushing the youngster, J.T. cradled him in his arms.

"Don't worry Casper, mommy is with angels, they wouldn't let anyone hurt her."

"But the scary man took her!"

"He takes everybody when the time comes, one day I will go with him as all of us will. It's just a part of life." He brushed aside the child's blonde hair and dapped at his tears.

"I don't want you to go Daddy." Casper buried his head.

"I'm not going anywhere soon, and neither are your uncles. We will always be here with you. The man won't bother you, not for a long time."

"What happens if he does?" The young boy hiccupped and wiped a tear away with the back of his hand. For a moment, J.T. face was a mixture of sadness and fear. His voiced quivered at the beginning of his response but then was firm and unwavering.

"Then you will just have to be strong and stand your ground. He's like a pirate coming to steal your treasure." Casper's young face brightened with the mention of his favorite characters.

"So you have to fight him? Like Peter Pan and Hook?"

"Yes, he has a sword too and the only way to win is to use his sword against him."

"Against him?" Casper asked confused.

"Yes, against him."

The image of his father's face slowly evaporated along with the reverie. He was back in the hallway, clutching the Reaper's "sword." Use the sickle against him? That should be easy enough, I hope. Casper thought. A piercing cry interrupted the sudden stillness, along with a cackle of devilish laughter. It sounded very much like Kat…