Deadly Kisses

Twelve





Bee kept her room in the original part of the farmhouse which had at least one advantage; she could sneak out the old door so her mother couldn’t see the leather skirt. I chuckled to myself over her still having an obsession with motorcycles and dressing the part. Only a select few knew. Looking at her you wouldn’t expect she would wear that kind of outfit. There was a rough interior to Bee.

“Now I know you’re not an old man, but just an idiot disguising your voice. Are you going to explain?” She darted her eyes from me to the house.

“Not particularly.”

“Hmph. I’ll find out sooner than later.”

Bee opened the door to her brother’s truck and pointed to the seat that was pushed forward and down.

“You’re kidding, right? How am I supposed to fit in there?”

She shrugged her shoulders. “You wanted to come and this is the only seat, unless you enjoy sitting in the truck bed. Good thing it’s not black fly season. Do you know how they stick to the grill of the truck?”

“I’m not leaving you, so the backseat it is. Don’t worry about my comfort because I’m dead and all, but hey, whatever. No one respects us Grims and the services we provide. They just flirt to get answers from us and cram us into trucks like sardines.” I placed my scythe in the back of the truck bed.

“Come on, be a good sport.” Her smile was so angelic, bright lights should have come down from the sky. I looked up just to be sure.

“This is creepy. I can’t see it, and you look like a nut talking to thin air.” Jaleb squinted until his eyes were slits, but he looked through me to a tree before getting into the driver’s seat.

I grunted and smashed myself into the small seat. My knees bunched up and they pushed into the passenger seat. Finally, I moved so my feet were on the seat near Jaleb’s side. I sat sideways, my back against the window and shoulders scrunched between my seat and the back of Bee’s seat.

“I wish you could see how he fits back there, Jaleb.” Bee was having a field day with my six foot height crunched up.

“And I wish I could see him, so I could tear his every limb off. Then he couldn’t go near you.”

Bee let out a long breath and I felt her soul shrink and expand—stressed.

“Let’s forget about what I said earlier. It’s my night, so be nice and get along. I give you permission to duke it out tomorrow.”

Jaleb slammed his hand on the steering wheel. “I can’t see him, so it shouldn’t count.”

Bee gave him a pout.

“Fine, but I won’t be nice.” Jaleb drove down the dirt road and I groaned with every pothole he went over. The car swerved and I grunted.

Bee glared at him and he stopped, staring at the road.

Outside, it was pitch black and stars blinked in the sky. I concentrated on them, so I wouldn’t hyperventilate that I was in a vehicle—the first time since I died.

Bee’s excitement about the concert was contagious as it wove into me. I was eager to see my old friends and hear their new music.

Bee took a handful of black jelly beans and popped them into her mouth. I imagined kissing her again and the way her lips felt against mine. I realized the more time we spent together the more we knit into one. Almost as two individuals who were different but the same. Maybe there was no good outcome for us.

Jaleb looked into the rearview mirror. Orbs of black stared straight ahead. “I just have to say one thing, death boy. We need to talk about my sister and why not to kill her. First, she is way smarter than me and will go to college. Second, unless you’re blind, she is pretty and will find a nice guy and have kids of her own.”

Jaleb droned on. “Third, we can’t lose another young person in the family. We’re all of the Flynt’s that’s left.”

This was depressing.

“Jaleb, please stop. I just want to have fun tonight.” Tears leaked out of her eyes, but I remained silent. I brought my arm around the seat and wiped her tears away with my thumb. I left my hand resting on her shoulder. I held it tight, sending a wave of energy to interlink us both. She didn’t push me away.

“We have to convince him. I won’t let him take you!”

Bee reached over and turned on the radio. She turned up the volume.

I was inches from her ear and only the seat held her away from me. “It will be okay, Bee, I promise. I’m expert at making it quick and painless. I just have to figure out a way to get our souls in their right places first. I have a suspicion it’s because of what you do.”

She stiffened. “And what do I do?”

“What did he say?” The crease on Jaleb’s forehead rivaled the Grand Canyon.

“Jaleb, watch the road.” The car swerved back, and she lurched forward. I prevented her from hitting the dashboard and left my arm wrapped around her.

“Sorry.” Jaleb turned down the radio. “What did he say? What do you do?”

“Ad said he is good at making death painless.”

“Oh, that’s reassuring. How about we try it on him again?” Jaleb scowled.

“Boys! This is my night! I’ll do what I want and when I want. Neither of you will interfere. Got it?”

After some mumbling and grumbling we both agreed, but her brother had to get in the final word.

“I just need to know. Why you, Bee?”

I let out a breath. “Even Grim Reapers have a boss. I don’t know how they decide. All I know is that I get a text with a name and information. Then the timer on my phone is remotely set off. I have seven days to track down a person, create their death, collect their soul, and deliver it.”

She repeated it word for word to Jaleb.

“How does one become a Grim Reaper?” Jaleb asked, gripping the steering wheel so hard I could see the white of his knuckles in the dark.

I stayed quiet.

“Don’t you owe me my question? It’s not like we’re killing you for information. Sheesh.” Bee huffed.

I snarled. “You have to be heading to Heaven and then you have to refuse to die and keep your regret.”

She repeated it word for word. “So what were you talking about before? What can I do that is different from everyone else?”

Her brother looked at the confusion on her face. He was quick to watch the road.

“You give off sparks of life and heal things. You brought the lizard back from being almost dead, the bird, and me. I look like I did when I was human. I couldn’t scare anyone if I wanted to now, but I’m not complaining. I like having skin again.”

“That’s insane! I didn’t bring anything back to life. I save the animals by helping them.”

“Insane all right,” I said.

“What’s insane?” Jaleb asked.

“Ad thinks I can bring things back to life. That’s crazy!”

“Come on. No one can bring things back from death,” Jaleb sneered.

“You can, Bee, and you know it. It’s not as strong with Jaleb but his aura is an intense white energy I’ve never seen before. I assume he’s like you.”

“Ad thinks I can, and so can you to a point.”

“Bet that’s why he is following you around. He’s probably already told all his death friends. They’re going to come and draw life from you or some freaky deaky thing like that.”

I froze and my hand slipped from her. My stomach twisted and I breathed deep smelling pine from the green tree that hung from the rear view mirror.

“Ad?”

“Ad, is it true?”