The Reaper of Souls had seen a lot of conquers raise and fall throughout his eternal existence, their greatness turned to the dust from whence they came for decades upon decades. To such a degree that, at some point, he lost count. Some were more memorable than others. Like Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar or Napoleon Bonaparte. Others, well, he couldn't quite remember their names for such a comparison.
Life was just an infinite cycle of sameness. Be it the past or present, life had rudiments that were unalterable regardless of evolution. It didn't matter the shape or form it decided to take at the time—some things were unyielding. One is born, one lives, one dies—those were the fundamentals of existing. Well, at least those were for Grim, Pale Horseman that he was, the one who couldn't die. In the traditional sense, that was.
And time…time was something he saw more than felt. Grim had no sense of it. He could only tell some had passed because things changed. They were never the same one thing for too long, not in the way life was. He was always good on reminding people things weren't permanent or stable or everlasting.
It was all undistinguishable for him. Life, death, time, and conquerors.
Yet being stuck with Billy and Mandy, mere children when compared to the millennia he had over them, because he lost—was tricked into losing—a limbo game of all things, he remembered quite well and quite vividly. It reminded him of life, death, time, and conquerors.
He had been too cocky, that's why he lost (was tricked) he reasoned. But he would soon get used to being wrong and humiliated, it wouldn't take that long either. He deserved being wrong and humiliated too, that was what he got for being deceived into an eternal servitude to two dimwitted children.
For example, one of the things he had been wrong about from the start but did not know until years later was him thinking that Mandy would conquer the world. Something she had been very vocal about since being a young girl. After all, she had conquered him, Angel of Death, what was a measly world when compared to him?
Conquering seemed like an easy thing to do for her too. That was, until Billy moved away.
Yes, he had seen conquers raise and fall, much like he was certain others would sprout, wither, and die given time. Yet, he was convinced Mandy's fall could not parallel to any from the past or the future. All things pointed that such a thing was impossible, improbable phenomena that it was. But he was getting used to being wrong.
Little things surprised the Grim Reaper, he had been rid of the small amount of spook in him when he met Billy and Mandy. More so with each misadventure. Yet, unsurprisingly, he found his skeletal jaw hanging open with the news that Billy would be moving in a month—off to Florida of all hellish places to some 'special' school. His only concern at that moment was how their shared custody of all his bony parts would be delt with. He had been in this position before and he wasn't looking forward to repeating the experience.
"Yeah, sure, Billy," Mandy said sarcastically as she kept watching TV, totally unfazed. Grim could tell she didn't believe him. He was hesitant to do the same, but he knew from experience that anything was probable when it involved these two, so he didn't brush it off right away.
"It's true," Billy assured, his interest in the afternoon's programing lost for once. So, Grim reasoned, it seemed to be a serious matter. "The government called my parents last night and told them I was a very rare case and wanted to put me in their school for gifted kids. They said they would pay my parents to have me enrolled and would get them a house and everything—they just needed their permission to run tests on me. I am good with tests."
Mandy sighed, annoyed at being distracted. An unwise decision, but Grim chose to sit and keep his mouth shut, even if he too was missing essential parts of the episode in question. "You aren't special, Billy. Why would they think you are gifted? They are probably trying to scam your family out of everything they possess." She shrugged at the silence she received as answer, the audio from the TV the only thing filling the awkwardness of the situation. "Either way, what would you do in this special school that you aren't doing here?"
Billy tsked, crossing his arms. "Just so you know, they want to cure America of stupidity, Mandy. That's why they are gathering people like me to run tests on—they say they are on a verge of a breakthrough. They said my dad is too old to fix, but I'm the perfect age. I'm going to save America, Mandy!"
Again, Mandy seemed only bored to hear all of this. "You're 14 years old, I would consider you too old. But what do I know? Just don't come to me when they leave your family with nothing."
"It's the truth, Mandy!" Billy whined, frustrated that he wasn't being believed. "I'll be gone forever."
"Of course, you will, Billy."
The Grim Reaper had been scared clean out of spook, that was why when the month came and left along with Billy, he wasn't surprised. Not one bit. Actually, he was more surprised that Billy hadn't tried to sneak him in his luggage or split his body in two during a heated custody battle that would probably drag out for too long.
Thus, began the slow decent of what would have been one of the ruthless conquers the world would have ever seen, and all because she hadn't believed her friend when she should have.
He sure was not expecting to feel utterly bored two weeks after Billy's departure. Grim supposed he would have been overjoyed to have one less nuisance ruining his eternity, and he had been. But as it turned out, Mandy was stale without the ostentatious ginger hooligan spewing nonsense at regular intervals. The Reaper suspected she was in a state of shock. Maybe she felt foolish for thinking Billy hadn't been completely and utterly serious. To her defense, it seemed quite farfetched to assume the pink-nosed buffoon was special. Even more, to believe he could cure stupidity. No, he didn't blame her. It wasn't her fault she was so bland.
Grim was glad when, after a long year, she had gotten over Billy's absence. Frankly, he thought it had taken her too much time, and though Mandy would never care to admit it, he knew it was all because she cared for her friend…perhaps her only friend. He could only conclude that a combination of Billy never staying in touch and her parents divorcing was what finally broke her from her spell. But it had been too late. The damage was already done.
Mandy's reputation was ruined. Her astonishment made her unresponsive and sublime to her surrounding, costing her the sharp lethalness that in a place like Endsville was worth a lot. Grim can't remember or pin point when they stopped taking her seriously, but he was sure it started with Pud'n telling her to shut up and get the pole she had stuck up her ass out, to lighten up.
Mandy had arrived from school fuming, mumbling about losers and revenge. About conquering the world like she always planned and doing it all by herself, alone.
The irony wasn't missed on a woeful creature such as the Reaper. It was a bittersweetness that he rarely got to taste. If it were like that for him, he could only imagine how it must be for Mandy. To decide to take control of her life, to forsake all of those who had forsaken her—her friend, her mother and father—only to find out you are not the force to be reckoned with you used to be. To be mocked and belittled.
It surged him with satisfaction, specially when he considered all those years of humiliation and pain he went through at her hands. But, of course, he couldn't show her that. So Grim pretended he was blind to all of this, just like he pretended he didn't see how awkward Mandy was in all her pubescent glory.
Grim had a vague sense of time, but he was sure a year had passed before stuttering Irwin offered to fill in the blank space Billy had obviously left. Indubitably, he had been rejected right away, but with the invisible pressure Mandy felt with conquering, she accepted after a six-month period. Naturally, this did not deter the downward spiral course this goal of hers was taking. If anything, it made it gain momentum. Which wasn't good. It would only make the crash more fatal.
At some point, Irwin had determined it was a good idea to start hanging with them outside of the high school setting they barely tolerated him in and began frequenting Mandy's house. Since Mandy's reputation wasn't what it used to be, even Irwin, his only sole worshiper, wasn't intimidated by her anymore, so there wasn't much stopping him that day when he knocked and let himself inside. Regardless, Mandy didn't put much of a fight and didn't try to stop him all the other times after. Grim was starting to think she had given up.
It was perhaps May when this half-human nerd announced over some commercials, taken Billy's spot on the couch for 9 months, "A year from now we'll all be gone, yo. All our friends would've move away."
It took Grim a great deal to realize they were seventeen and they were going to be seniors in the hellhole they called high school. The geek was right. He wasn't sure what Mandy was planning to do in a year, but he was sure it didn't involve conquering the world.
"They aren't my friends," Mandy said bluntly, already bored. "I don't have friends."
"Well," Irwin said, sucking in an insulted breath. He couldn't understand why Irwin was always surprised by her crudeness—by now it was second nature to him. "It doesn't matter. They are going to better places, man. My friends would be gone away."
He didn't know why he decided to turn his empty sockets at Mandy at that precise moment—fate, coincidence, he was unsure. Some force greater than he, for only this could explain how he was able to perceive the moment fear crossed Mandy's black onyx eyes. There and gone, almost like it never happened. Yet, Grim, who had lived long enough to know a thing or two, knew fear when he saw it. It was the last thing that flashed in his victim's eyes before he reaped their souls out of their bodies. It was what he saw in Mandy, though he didn't know why.
Perhaps if it came without any prior precedent, Grim would have been moved, but he was already used to seeing her ghastly fall from afar, high that it was. He had already come to terms with it, like one would death.
Grim would have not assumed Mandy cared for Billy so greatly, not until he found himself in a familiar basement four or six months later. No, that was stupid. He did know she cared—maybe somewhat. Enough to come back and save his ass from impending doom on a regular basis. He just thought those feelings died the day the snotnose kid moved and cut all communication with them. But he was used to being wrong, just like he was used to doing minuscule and meaningless tasks, the likes of which his dark primeval power recoiled from in distaste as if it knew how far he had strayed from himself.
One of said task involved using the internet in Viper's basement to find Billy per Mandy's request. The Reaper would have asked questions if it were not for the fact that the Secrete Snake Club members were doing that work for him.
"What do you hope to find, Mandy?" King Cobra asked lightly, though his voiced underlined with thick curiosity.
"Did I tell you you could speak?" Mandy seethed.
It was Wiggly's turn to shrug as he ate a cookie shaped like a snake. "You asked us for help. We just want to know why."
Grim tried not to wince as he worked on the slow overheating dinosaur of a desktop. This was the first time he had seen the effects of her tarnished reputation. They didn't even flinch at her anger.
Mandy chose to ignore them, and because the internet was slow and Grim found reprieve in these losers' boldness, he also asked, "I'm curious too, child. The idiot never bothered keeping in touch, what would you want with him now? It's been almost three years, man."
Mandy pinched the bridge of her nose in irritation and sighed. "I want to conquer the world."
Three pimply sweaty teens blinked at her, unrattled by her words. Old news. Everyone in Endsville knew this. Grim shook his head, his long dark robe swaying as he did. "Yes. I am aware. What does that have to do with the idiot boy?"
Mandy only scowled at him, her dark brows coming together, almost forming one. She would be wrinkled before she reached thirty, he was sure. "Before Billy left, I was well on my way towards world domination, then—then everything changed."
Grim tapped one of his bony fingers on the worn wooden table, one warming with the desktop's poor ventilation. "I see now. You think he's the reason you haven't conquered the world."
King Cobra scoffed. "Billy never reached the appropriate level to achieve such damage." He looked her up and down as if assessing her. "I presume he would have to reach level 100 for such destruction. He was a mere 3 or 5, I reckon. I think you put too much faith in him."
Mandy snapped her glare to the curly hair freak. "What is that supposed to mean?"
Viper waved a hand in dismissal. The first sign of being intimidated Grim had seen from the club's behalf. "King Cobra is just saying that you assume it was Billy's doing, but… maybe it was yours."
The Reaper almost sighed in relief when the computer dinged, announcing it was done loading. He did not want to know what might happen if the conversation continued. "Ha! I found him!"
Mandy focused her attention on the screen instead of answering or punching either of the two members squarely in the face. Grim could almost feel how she was processing their words even as she feigned uninterest. "I thought the government would want to keep it a secret."
"I guess curing stupidity isn't a matter of National Security," Grim concluded. "Well, not anymore, am I right?" When no one in the room laughed, Grim soured up and grumbled. "Right. Well. He's in Florida in a special school. He wasn't lying about that. Look at their slogan, man. 'Making America great again, one less stupid person at a time.'"
"Yeah," Mandy agreed, sweet sarcasm coating her voice. "Amazing. Does this stupid school have directions or a map?"
Grim searched the screen and found one. "Yeah."
"Print it."
Louisiana and Florida weren't that far from each other. To a creature like the Reaper of Souls it was like crossing rivers and roads, much like the line between life and death. The decision to go there took only a matter of days. Grim believed Mandy was just psyching herself up, for getting there would only take mere seconds with his Scythe. He made a point not to comment on it, though.
School for the Gifted was the pretentious name of the establishment Billy attended. It was a large brick building secluded in a secrete base lined with tall trees, as if fencing it from the world. Not far from the school, there was a neighborhood. Wooden white houses lined a web of streets that connected with each, the housing for the family of these 'gifted' children.
Mandy was still wearing her own school uniform as they hunch over some bushes near the building. Grim still couldn't believe she had the gall to make him wait for her until the struck of the bell so they could teleport to Florida and catch Billy as he got out of school himself. Outside from the initial surprise at seeing the amount of stupid (for that was what they had to be to attend SFG) people leaving the gray structure was how easily Grim spotted Billy, his ginger hair hard to miss even under his red hat. His obnoxious laugh the same if not a little subdued.
Billy was taller and his built more of a man than the boy he once knew. With alarm, Grim registered that Billy was being surrounded by the football team without getting pummeled. Just as he puzzled over the scene before him, he noticed that the buffoon was wearing a blue jersey over his uniform.
"Oh, my," Grim gasped in disbelief. "I think he's a jock!"
Mandy just stared, a furrow between her brows. "I don't understand."
"I did not give enough credit to this school, man," Grim mumbled as he watched a slender raven-hair girl wrap her arms around Billy's neck. She whispered something into his ear, and he laughed cheekily, rubbing a hand behind his head.
"Maybe later," Billy told her, "I got plans with Ed and Wallabee."
The girl pouted prettily. "I'll hold you to your word then."
Billy just grinned as one of his teammates patted him on the back, as if congratulating him. He looked like he was about to say something, but the girl caught his mouth in hers before he could. Grim found himself gasping again as he watched the idiot-boy he once knew place his hand on her hips, eyes fluttering shut. "Are you seeing what I am seeing, child?"
"Let's go," Mandy said, stoically.
Grim snapped his neck towards the blond she-devil, shocked. After she nagged him about taking her to Florida, she wanted to leave? It hadn't even been 15 minutes. He was really invested in what was going on and how it was even possible. "But this is what you wanted."
Mandy stood, dusting herself. "I was wrong, Grim. I don't need Billy to take over the world."
Grim stood too, albeit more slowly, knowing it was better not to argue or question her. Although he was interested in seeing Billy's new life, it was wiser for him not to put his skeletal body on the line.
With one quick glance at Billy, who was still eating this mysterious girl face off, they walked through the portal. He might have lost his mind, but Grim swore he heard Mandy mutter, "It's clear Billy doesn't need us."
Some considerable amount of time passed by again like clouds in a blue summer sky, never gathering in one place, never staying put. And amazingly, out of all things, time only served to prove Irwin right. People did leave. To better places, the Grim Reaper supposed. Anything was better than this rundown of a town. He had been to the underworld and he reckoned it was more pleasant than this. The fellows down below knew how to be good neighbors, unlike the treacherous bastards of Endsville. Actually, now that he was putting things into perspective, more were the ones going than those coming in. Exodus style, like if they didn't scramble fast enough, something bad was going to happen.
Mandy was one of the few that stayed. Irwin too, but Grim guessed it was because of Mandy. Perhaps, he theorized, since options were limited in Endsville now that the population dwindled, Mandy would settle for him. He thought it was a silly idea. No, it was ludicrous to even think that. King Cobra or Pud'n had better chances with Mandy, even considering that the latter had cussed at her years prior.
Again, another thing to add to his lists of misjudgments. He would have not believed it to be true—even if his endless power and eternity were on the line—if he hadn't seen it himself. One late night, he saw the dark-skinned dimwit climb down her window, a smug smile on his face—like he finally achieved what he always wanted. Few things repulsed Grim, but in that moment, he felt like vomiting plasma and sticking manure in his eye cavities. Those two things would have been better than seeing that.
When he let himself inside, he had found Mandy in the kitchen, pouring herself some Sassy Cat cereal. He shuddered at the sight of her nightgown and mused blond hair—unwanted images flooded his mind and he felt like decapitating himself with his Scythe just so he could find a semblance of peace. Grim knew Mandy didn't regard her parents as figures to be respected, but he wondered briefly if her mother was still living in the house and not with her new boyfriend in Texas, if she would have had the decency to be discrete. Now that she had the house all to herself, as her father too moved on to some place in Washington, remarried, she was wild and careless. Something very unlike her.
Grim eyed her with disgust. "I hope you were careful. Wouldn't want to be fetching you for a one-way ticket to hell in a couple of years."
Mandy skewered him with her abyss-like eyes.
"Know what, child? Keep acting this way. The sooner I can get rid of you, the better."
"Piss off, Grim. Don't act like you care." She swallowed a spoonful of cereal.
Grim gasped shocked, but only because she was right. "That's true. I don't care. I am just disgusted by it, man. Take in account that I live here too. If you want me to stop nagging you, free me of my servitude and screw whoever you like without worrying I will complain about it."
"Oh, get over yourself." Now she was drinking the milk in her bowl.
Grim exhaled in exasperation and walked away, knowing it was the best thing to do. Yet, he felt like he was bested and though he knew it was unwise, he muttered, "At least I could stomach Billy's tongue twister."
He smirked when Mandy cussed at him.
Mandy was merely twenty-five years old when she became mayor of Endsville. No small feat, yet not that hard to achieve considering the imbeciles the town was composed of and the fact that the population was just shrinking in size each year. Convincing them wasn't difficult when earning their votes was as easy as telling them they could get a free button if they elected Mandy. Free being the keyword.
Grim guessed this was just her trying to manifest that dream she had of conquering the world. Well, doing something as close to it as possible. So much for conquerors. Life and time made nothing of all of us in the end.
The Reapers of Souls was resigned to his fate as Mandy's pet, of being there on her beck and call, to remove anyone who was an obstacle, much like she had resigned herself to this small life of hers. At times, when he couldn't even stand himself, he wondered how different things would have been if Billy had taken him with him when he'd spirited himself away. Would his life be easier in Florida? What if he hadn't moved, if everything had stayed exactly the same, would it be easier to swallow? Would his existence be this miserable still? What if Billy had found a pen and paper and stayed in touch, would Mandy have been able to conquer the world?
But he couldn't see into the future or rewrite the past, he was only Death. A mere end and nothing more. Cold and quiet and sweet. And he was damned tired of this personal hell of his.
Indeed, resigned was Sweet Death when news of someone moving to Endsville reached townhall. Like the nice dictator that Mandy was, she tasked him to check on this mysterious figure. See who and what this person was about. Make sure it wasn't a threat to her power-hungry ego.
Grim should have known it was Billy moving into his old parents' house the moment he saw the address, but it was ill to speak or think of the dead, even to a ghoulish creature like himself, so he didn't ponder at the possibility. And certainly, Billy was considered long dead to them—no, to her and then him as an extension of her. He was quite fond of the boy and missed him when Mandy was especially hellish certain days. Not that he would ever say that out loud, everyone would ridicule him for it.
Grim almost crumbled in relief when he saw the redhead. It was to him like being rescued in the middle of sea after being under the sun and without food for too long. Just when one thought one would faint or perish. He didn't know why he was convinced Billy would be able to fix everything.
Billy let out a loud chuckle, recognizing him right way. If it were anyone else, seeing Death in their doorway would have sent them into a panic or a heart attack. Not him.
"Grim! It's so good to see you." Billy quickly enveloped him into a bone crushing hug, literally. Grim heard a few of his bones crack at the pressure. "It's been eleven years!"
"That's enough, child!" Grim yelped, feeling like he was going to be pulverize under his grip. The teenager he saw a few years ago had grown quite more since. He looked to be 6 feet and a few inches. Though he was not overweight like his father, he looked wide enough to be intimidating. His boyish features were gone. The only thing that remained somewhat the same were his brown eyes and ruddy nose, at odds with the pepper-like stubble shadowing his face. "It's good to see you too."
Billy let go, placing both his hands around his hips, looking over his shoulder. He probably thought Mandy was nearby. He frowned slightly at finding nothing and looked at Grim, sighing in content. "What are you doing here, you old bag of bones?"
Grim's mind went black. For some reason, he didn't want to tell the truth. Despite her indifference, Mandy would be fuming over the news of Billy moving back. He knew she resented him for leaving them behind, for costing her world domination. For making her settle for a mayor position. As petty as it sounded.
"Eh, I heard someone moved into this worn shabby house," Grim lied. "I wanted to see who it was."
Billy scratched the back of his head, smiled sheepishly. "Yeah. I bought the house from my parents. I always meant to return to Endsville—it was always my end goal, you know. I plan on remodeling some things, the house is practically falling apart if you haven't noticed. That's why I got it so cheap too."
Grim's empty sockets beheld the house. It did look like it was a gust of wind away from blowing to dust. He was surprised Mandy hadn't ordered a demolition sooner. "Everyone's leaving Endsville like their lives depend on it, I'm surprised you're here. There's nothing here, man. Just old bones and ghosts."
Billy shrugged, smiled with one corner of his mouth. "This is where all my friends are. That's a lot for me."
That night as Grim got to the mayor's house at the end of the only gated community in Endsville, as he nodded to Irwin while he hurriedly climbed down the window like the shameful escort that he was, he wondered what he was going to tell Mandy. Billy was the only good thing about his day, which in and of itself was a sad thing to admit. But if he told her, she was going to take the only decent thing he had going in his life at moment. Billy had already invited him over for tomorrow, and though he didn't care to acknowledge it, he was curious of how the buffoon's life turned out. He only knew that he moved to the old house after purchasing it from his parents, who retired in Florida, and that he worked in construction. Everything else was a juicy mystery that awaited to be uncovered. One he felt compelled to keep from Mandy.
So, when she questioned him about this new resident, he lied (again). Said it was just a crazy old hag who had her days numbered, who came to town to roll up and die. When she didn't inquire more, he slumped in relief and hoped that would be the end of it.
Regrettably, he should have known that keeping this secrete from her would be stupid and that he should have come clean from the start. Nothing was ever truly hidden from Mandy. Not for long, that was.
At least, as he put things into perspective and sought a silver lining, he did get to find out some things about Billy before Mandy's ire devoured his bones like the ever-burning flames in the pits of hell. One of the things that shocked him the most was that Billy went to college and got a degree in business. He had told Grim that he worked in constructing, failing, however, at mentioning that he owned a business in that line of work and often did fixer-uppers as a hobby. Alas, how he was able to afford his parents' house despite how cheap it was and why he planned on remodeling it. Billy also went into detail about his life in Florida, but Grim did not find it that interesting. It seemed the once-loser butt-of-the joke was popular in SFG, a lady's man if you will. He played on the football team, with which he was offered a scholarship and was able to attend college. He worked jobs here and there until he was able to start a fund for his own business. Though Billy assured he almost went bankrupt, the business had begun to take off three years ago.
"I didn't stay in touch because the government made us sign a contract when they had me enrolled. One of the clauses stated that we needed to cut all outside communication so the subjects, us, could not be tainted by the external influences," Billy explained, looking remorseful on the stained couch where he nursed a can of beer. He had already begun renovations on the living room, Grim had noted. "I—I really wanted to call, but…they would kick us out if I did. What they were doing was good, I saw the difference in my grades, and the money really made my parents happy. I thought…well, that maybe you and Mandy would come break me out one day. That's the whole reason why I left you with her without much of a fight to begin with—I thought she understood that."
Billy had taken a swing from his beer, downing it all in three gulps. The Reaper had felt contrite at the ginger's words. He would have never supposed that was what he wanted. Not that Mandy's pride would allow otherwise. "When you guys didn't, I assumed it was for the better. I moved on. Not quite, I guess. I'm back in Endsville and I still consider you guys my friends."
Scrambling for words, Grim let his lips slip. He cursed his somewhat drunk state—he had already three cans of beer—and emotions—the same weakness that made his servitude possible—the reason behind it. "We did go to Florida. We planned on stealing you away, but Mandy backtracked, man. I think she got jealous. She saw you kissing a girl and made us go back."
At his words, Billy's eyes had sharpened, leaning forward in the couch. He had 6 cans but seemed sober and alert. "What? When? Why didn't you guys approach me?" Realization seemed to hit him then, as he leaned back with a sigh. "Where's Mandy? You're here, so that means she's here, right? Does she even know I moved back?"
Menacing Death was only able to gap at the once-idiot in a stupefied matter. He should have known Billy would be quicker on his feet now that he was 'cured' of his stupidity. He stuttered for words, for an explanation, failing miserably. Telling the truth could very well cost him his life, he couldn't do that.
Billy hadn't missed a beat, his brown coffee eyes narrowing in suspicion. "Be honest with me, Grim. That's the least you could do for an old friend like me."
Dishonest Death had cursed his emotions one more time before he told the boy—no, the man now—everything. How Mandy had dealt with his move, his suspicions of her depression. Her parents' divorce. Her tarnished reputation and how no one took her seriously. He had explained how she planned on kidnapping him and finally conquering the world like she wanted, how she reasoned he was behind her failure. How she gave her back to him and instead became a mayor and lived in a gated community surrounded by snubs and her intentions of running for governor of Louisiana.
"Nothing is as it has been, it seems," Billy muttered, as he downed his 10th beer, the 4th to his six since he took to explaining everything.
"Yes, child," Grim agreed, feeling on edge, like a blond devil might kick down the door any moment. "I advise you to keep your distance with Mandy for now. I will tell her that you are here, just give me time, Billy."
Said pink-nose man just nodded, seeming numb and far away.
Though he had nodded too, in encouragement, he only felt dread for Dishonest Death failed to mention how Irwin filled in the gap he left behind. How he used to go to Mandy's house and take his place in the couch. How Irwin, his best friend, was fiddling around with Mandy, his other best friend.
The Reaper should have known it was a night of slaughter and death, he should have sensed it deep in his bone and marrow. He should have known when he heard Irwin and Mandy arguing from the outside of her white pristine mansion. To be fair, his mind was busy with Billy and lying and making sure nothing bad would happen—to him. He was sure the red-head's intoxicated state was going to get him noticed or in trouble if he didn't do something about it. So, intimidating Pale Horseman stayed in the once-an-idiot-always-an-idiot's house until said once-a-moron-always-a-moron fell asleep in his bed. That was, after helping him into it and tucking him in.
"This takes me back," he had murmured peacefully as Grim turned off the light and hurried to the once-a-cunt-always-a-cunt's house before she noticed he was gone and started asking questions.
Too late for that.
As soon as Grim opened the door, he knew something was wrong. For starters, Irwin was in the living room, almost half undressed, instead of climbing down the window like he usually did. Mandy was only wearing nude-color underwear, a loose pink robe lining her arms and shoulders, doing nothing to cover up the important bits since she hadn't bothered tying it in place.
"Get out of my house, you asshole," Mandy grounded through her teeth. Her eyes looked like those of a killer about to do its namesake.
"I'm not lying, Mandy," Irwin argued his point, hands in the air, pleading. "Mindy told me she saw Billy in his old house this morning."
"Get the hell out. Now." Mandy's voice raised slightly.
At seeing Grim, Irwin's face flooded with relief. "Good. You're here. Can you please tell our mayor that Billy moved back? She doesn't believe me."
Mandy's neck snapped to him too, eyes like vices, searching for the truth. "Is that so, Grim?"
Grim felt cornered, finding himself at a loss for words for the billionth time that day. He was unsure how to approach the subject without ending in his demise. If he didn't admit it and she found out later, he would die. If he waited to tell her, he would die. If he told her right now, she would kill him, and he would die. All of it ironic since he was Death, so who would be able to make the transition to the other side for him if there was no one else? Embarrassing to die at the hands of a child he practically raised.
He had opened his mouth when the doorbell rang. He felt relief, silently grateful at the person interrupting this horrible moment. Probably the old hag from across the street seeing what the loud ruckus was about. Gossipers were these entire lot of the gated community. He already began to hear rumors of Mandy's mucking about with Irwin, he had just not mentioned it to her yet.
"Well?" Mandy demanded, ignoring the ring.
"I—" Grim began, resigned to his fate once more, but the bell kept ringing insistently, like some divine intervention insistent in his salvation.
Mandy cursed, not bothering with her state of nudity as she swung the door open with enough force to rip it from its hinges.
"Who the hell is it?" Mandy practically seethed venom at the person on the other side.
To the Reaper's horror it was Billy balancing himself on the doorway with one hand while the other clutched his temple, massaging what he could only guess was a hangover. "Hello, mayor. Fancy meeting you here…" His voice trailed off as lifted his head and his bloodshot eyes seized Mandy up, a blush slowly creeping into his face. This only made the blond gasp in a jolt, bring the robe around her body at last. He stumbled over his words for a moment until his gaze swept the rest of the room, staying on Grim for a second before moving on to see Irwin…who was putting his pants on promptly.
"What the hell?" Billy seemed to spew before he turned around, giving his back to them, doubling over, and emptying the contents of his stomach. All of them watched in perplexation and disgust as he heaved one last time, both hands on his knees. At odds with everything happening around him, he started laughing. "Oh, man. Irwin and Mandy are screwing each other. This is rich!"
Mandy's brow knitted together in assessment, constructing a plan behind her mind, and though he might attribute that to his adrenaline, Grim swore he saw a shameful tint touch her cheeks.
"Bring him inside, Grim," Mandy ordered detachedly, turning to Irwin. "You clean this mess up."
"Yo, why me?" Irwin complained, nose wrinkling in disgust as he looked at the chunks outside.
"Because I said so," Mandy said sweetly, then bitterly bit out, "Now do it. When you are done, leave."
Grim grabbed Billy by the arm and stirred him inside, laying him on the couch, away from the window and prying eyes. Despite the terrible events that took place, he was just glad he wasn't cleaning up the vomit. Some things got to give, he assumed.
Billy moaned as he plopped on the cushion, both hands cupping his face, like he couldn't stop the room from swaying. He muttered that he was going to bring him a glass of water before darting out of the room and doing just that. When Grim returned, Irwin had stopped whining and gagging, so he supposed he had finished and gone. So much for a reunion.
Speaking off, Mandy was just staring at Billy's miserable form from one corner of the room, arms crossed, not making a sound. Stilling assessing.
"Here, man," Grim tapped Billy's shoulders, offering him the glass of water.
"Thanks," Billy grabbed the glass and rubbed his eyes with his other hand. "I did exactly what you told me not to do. Guess there's still a bit of stupid left in me."
"So, you knew," Mandy concluded, cutting into their conversation. She sounded calculating, but he could tell she felt betrayed.
"Good to see you too," Billy grunted as he took a gulp of water and breath through his nose.
"Wish I could say the same." Grim shuddered at the cold indifference emanating from her.
"I see you keep strange company," Billy commented spitefully, red eyes watching her as if she were seeing the heinous creature behind her human skin for the first time.
Mandy shrugged. "I do whatever I want with whoever I please. Don't try to shame me with your misogyny."
Billy laughed sarcastically, scratching his pepper-like stubble. "I just saw more of you in a split second than I did all those years I was gone, but you're right. If it were the old me, I would have probably said something mean. You know, small minds and whatnot." He waved a hand in dismissal and handed the glass of water to Grim. "But a smart man knows when it is time for him to leave, so I bid you goodbye, madame mayor."
Billy swayed on his feet for a second before shaking his head and heading to the door. "Sorry for vomiting on your front door."
Grim could tell Mandy had devised asking him more questions, the only reason she allowed him inside, but her pride was stopping her from making him stay. Maybe he knew that too and that's why he got up and left. She settled for standing in the doorway and watching him go.
As he walked away, not in a straight line, Billy shouted, making the neighbor's dog bark in alert, "I do hope to see you around town, Mandy. I won't be going any time soon, unfortunately for you."
Mandy didn't smile. That was impossible, even for her, but he could see a devilish gleam in her eyes. Billy had told her all she had wanted to know. She closed her door delicately, turning to him. The gleam was gone. There was only murderer. "Come on, Grim. You have a lot of explaining to do."
A/N: I haven't written Billy and Mandy in years, but here it is! Please tell me your thoughts and opinions. What do you think is going to happen next? Share with friends! Inspired by the song Rivers and Roads by The Head and the Heart
