Well, I guess this is why I don't listen to sad songs while I write, because then this happens... On the upside it made me inspired enough to write this so quickly. Yeah you're probably going to hate me anyways...

Edit 04-15-14: Made some small changes throughout the story, but most notably at the end, where I added a bit for better effect.

Edit 07-13-14: Made some changes to the end in order to make Eliza's emotional state more apparent.

Edit 07-21-14: Realized that I posted a version of Chapter 6 with incomplete edits, especially at the end. I apologize for any confusion. :)

Edit 10-23-14: Trying out something new. In certain chapters from now on, I will be adding quotes, or short snippets of songs that inspired the chapter or heavily relate to it in theme. Tell me what you think. :)

Chapter 6

Dead End

"The loneliest thing in the shape of a fist

that I wish I could bring in this bitter abyss,

is my petrified heart

still pounding."

-Portal, by LIGHTS

"This is wrong and you know it, Eric." Alan said. The courtroom doors slammed behind her, as the two officers dragged the girl towards her doom.

"Board's orders Al." Eric replied, another cigarette between his teeth. Alan snatched it out of his mouth and stamped it out.

"How could you smoke at a time like this?" Alan snapped. "She's going to die because of you!"

"Just sit down, and be glad I didn't report ya."

"No, Eric, you've been up to something, and I'm willing to bet my scythe it involves her!" Eric chuckled.

"And what makes you think that?"

"She followed you, on the night of the murder. I heard her leave. You were the only one who saw her. You knew exactly what would happen if you reported her!" Alan shouted.

"You're bein' ridiculous Al. What would I have against her? Really now."

"I don't know, but right now, I wouldn't trust you to tell me the truth anyways." Alan turned his back, and slammed the door behind him.

"I'm sorry Al, but this is the way it gotta be." Eric said to the empty room, which became dark and forbidding in his absence.

When I entered, the room broke out into a tense murmur, reapers on all sides speaking to one another in hushed voices. In their eyes, a monster had just entered the room, shackled but still dangerous. I scanned the crowd for a familiar face, hoping to see Ronald or at least Alan, but all I found was William's cold stare. I glared back at him until a rough jab from behind caused me to stumble forward. Looking even, was apparently not something I was supposed to do.

The courtroom was vast, and just as overpoweringly impressive as the rest of the buildings. I was starting to think they had done this on purpose. Suddenly I knew why the streets were so empty. Half the realm must've been there. Reapers from management filled up all the seats, and officers were forced to jam onto the balcony along with some of the girls from administration.

The gavel struck three times, and a hush settled over the room. "Elizabeth Bates," the judge spoke with a booming voice, "you are accused of the murder of a junior collections officer. What say you?"

"I'm not guilty." I said firmly, knowing I couldn't show them how utterly terrified I was.

"Call in the witness."

"Eric?" I whispered under my breath. Eric sauntered into the room, shoulders relaxed, hands in his pockets. Somehow I knew he wasn't exactly here to defend me.

"Eric Slingby, tell us what you saw that night."

"Couldn't sleep, so I went for a smoke. Just mindin' my own business when she attacked from behind. Mangled up my scythe, before I managed fight 'er off." I didn't know what I expected, but it was definitely not such a blatant lie.

"Where you see her go after that?"

"Dunno. She buggered off real quick. The li'l witch can blend in well."

"Thank you Slingby. You are dismissed."

"No problem, sir." And he walked out of the room. All eyes were on me now.

"Do you have anything to say for yourself Miss Bates?"

"Yeah. First off, I was wearing a white night dress. Even with a reaper without glasses would have been able to notice me in that kind of dark. Secondly, your officer attacked me-"

"An appropriate course of action upon encountering a strange individual at night. You were specifically forbidden from travelling anywhere without the supervision of Mr. Humphries, were you not? "

"Yes, but-"

"Then it was perfectly within his bounds to apprehend you by force."

"I don't know how you're missing this, but he lied!" I clenched my fists, the chains connected to my wrist jingling quietly as the shook in anger. How could Eric lie like that, what on earth could he possibly stand to gain by getting rid of me?

"I am fully aware of the situation." The judge boomed, striking the gavel. "If you have anything more to say in your defense, say it now."

"I think I will…" My voice carried into the far reaches of the courtroom although I hadn't spoken loudly. This was my last chance. Someone, somewhere in this room was bound to believe me, and that's all I needed. "Those creatures that are taking memories, the ones you claim don't exist, they're still out there. One of your strongest officers are in the infirmary after facing just one of them. Most of your officers won't even stand a chance. If you think killing me will stop them you're kidding yourselves." Panic spread throughout the room. None of them had known about those monsters, I could hear it in their whispers. I took a deep breath, and continued to speak with a raised voice. "I believe I can he-" The sound of the gavel being struck echoed off the walls. The voices died down.

"If these 'things' existed, the Board as well as the Council would be well aware of their presence by now." The judge proclaimed. "There is no significant proof otherwise, that you did not commit the murder or previous assaults. I proclaim you guilty of all charges, and sentenced to death." An ice-cold hand wrapped around my heart. There was a pounding in my ears that drowned out all other noise.

"Listen to me!" I shouted, clinging to the threads that remained of my hope, my fingers slowly slipping. "Get Alan and Ronald, they know what I'm saying is true!"

"There is nothing, and I mean nothing, anyone can say to change my decision. Case dismissed." The threads snapped. I could feel myself falling, yet I was going nowhere. This was not the dream come true I once imagined. This was a living nightmare.

"You're making a mistake." I managed to say before my voice stopped working, though it couldn't have been much more than a whisper by now. They led me into the atrium, where I saw Eric standing. I didn't speak. I only looked, hoping my face would tell him what my voice failed to say. The guards shoved me through the door from which we came in, sending me stumbling into the sunlight. I blinked and, couldn't help but wonder how much longer I had to see it.

It was dark in the cell, and I was alone just as fate intended. I hugged my knees close to my chest, and shut my eyes, as if that alone could shut out the world. I didn't cry, as I saw no point in doing so anymore. Crying wasn't going to change their mind, and it sure as hell wasn't getting me out of here. I could only wait.

I heard footsteps approaching my cell. Was it time already? I waited for the tell tale rattle of keys, but it didn't come. I lifted my head from my knees, and opened my eyes to see the very last person I expected to come. It was William, looking the same as ever, with his indifferent expression, and the book tucked under his right arm that never seemed to leave. "I suppose you're here to mock me?" My voice was ice cold, as if it came from another person entirely.

"I would have no reason to do so." William slipped a bundle of cloth between the bars.

"What is this?" I said, taking the cloth into my hands and unwrapping it.

"Your old clothes." I draped my old sweatshirt over my shoulders, and rubbed my cheek against the soft fabric. The smell of home still lingered on it, a small comfort in the dark cell.

"Why did you do this? I thought you hated me." I looked at him, and for a fleeting moment, his expression resembled something close to sympathy.

"I have come to realize that I reacted… poorly to your situation. A proper reaper apologizes when he has wronged someone, no matter who or what they are." William sighed, and adjusted his glasses. "This was my mistake, from the very beginning, and I am sorry." I blinked. Of all the things I was expecting him to say, that was not one of them.

"I'm confused. Why the sudden change?" His glasses flashed, which was an impressive feat in such dim light.

"Let's just say the way your trial was handled, was very… enlightening." He turned to leave.

"Wait." I called after him, and he stopped. "There's something I've… been meaning to ask."

"And what is that?" I took a deep breath.

"What is it like to die?" There was a pause. William turned to face me again, and I began to fear what his answer might be.

"I do not know true death, Eliza. None of us reapers do, because we were all too stubborn to let go." And on that cryptic note, he disappeared into the darkness. I unfolded my t-shirt, and a note fluttered to the floor. In neat and orderly cursive, it read: Keep this close to your heart. Remember when there is a will there is a way. This is not the end for you. –William T. Spears,

"William, wait!" I scrambled towards the bars, but he was already long gone. "When there is a will, there is a way…" I pondered out loud, gazing at the note in my hand. I folded it up and placed it carefully in the breast pocket of my t-shirt, the one I was going to wear tomorrow. Close my heart, just as he said.

The sound of waves washing over the rocks below, the sweet smelling breeze of spring, the sun in my eyes. I was going to miss all of them. What a beautiful day to die, I thought as they led me up on the cliff where a small group of reapers were assembled. Alan was amongst them, head bowed, arms wrapped around his chest, closed off to the world. Ronald stood next to him, apparently recovered from his injuries in the graveyard. There was no cocky grin on his face, instead, only a flat expression, like a shut door.

We stopped under the shade of an ancient looking willow tree. I saw William approach me from the corner of my eye, pruning pole in hand. I turned to face him, and he gave me a subtle nod. "Last words?" He asked.

I turned to face the reapers all arranged in straight rows before me, took a deep breath, and began to speak. "I was going to say something spiteful, but in the past few hours I realized that you all taught me something important, and that was the consequence of living life without emotions. That was something I once tried myself, something I regret deeply." I paused, in an attempt to keep my voice steady, and swallowed the lump forming in my throat. Breath Eliza, breath… I told myself, You're not dead yet... "You can all go ahead and keep thinking that humans are weak, that you're above them. But the truth is every single one of you were once one, just like me, just like the people whose souls you collect. And then you died. But that changes nothing. You're still you, the same you that once cried, and laughed, and yelled when you were alive, that felt all the most terrible and wonderful feelings. And you can still feel them, though you pretend not to. That doesn't make you any weaker, just… a little bit more human. " I looked at William again. He was wearing a strange kind of expression, as though he was trying to look sad but his face had forgotten how, and just like that, my resolve vanished. I had no more will left to fight away the tears, which fell faster than I could wipe them away. "This isn't fair." I whispered in a shaky voice, my vision blurred by tears. "Why didn't they believe me, huh?" What a sight I must have been to them, with my hair sticking to the wetness on my cheeks, and my outlandish clothing. William brushed the hair away from my face, an act of sympathy he would surely be punished for. For a moment it reminded me of something my dad would have done.

"It will be painless, I promise." William muttered, so that only I could hear. He took a few steps back, and looked me in the eye, pruning pole aimed at the heart beating away in my chest. "I'm sorry." I saw him mouth. He pulled the trigger, and the tip of his scythe raced towards me. I closed my eyes, and in a single heartbeat, everything I was, everything that ever happened to me reeled before me. Memories of my father, the day he died, the people that shunned me, the fall that brought me here, the graveyard, the trial, and then the look on William's face as he pulled the trigger, and the world went black.