InsaneJournal

Terrence was waiting.

He had been waiting for three days in his daughter’s room, watching the rise and fall of her frail little chest. Because he knew that He was coming.

Slowly he rose to stretch his aching legs, knees cracking as he walked over to the window. As he leaned on it, behind him there was a gasp from his daughter’s throat and he bowed his head, hands gripping tightly to the windowsill.

Then there was the gentle rasp of cloth against the wooden floor and the dull thump of a staff. Slowly Terrence turned and stared blankly at Death, who stared right back. The blind appearing eyes regarded him with some sadness and the young appearing being said, “Hello again, Terrence.”

The man was silent for a moment then turned his gaze towards his daughter.

“There’s…there’s no chance that this was a mistake, is there?”

Death sighed and replied, “No. This is a death that must be.”

“Is she still here?”

“She can hear you but you can’t see her.”

Terrence frowned at that. “Why can I see you?” he asked.

There was that familiar rattle of bones chuckle at that. “Because you survived a meeting with me once. Though most that do force themselves to forget about it and never see me again. You, on the other hand, have seen me every time.”

“How did you know?”

“I know when I’m seen.”

Terrence nodded then looked at him, breathing, “She’s still here?”

“Yes, Terrence. Julia is still here.” Death reached out and placed his hand on something Terrence couldn’t see but he could only assume by the height and curve of the being’s hand that it was his daughter’s shoulder. “All will be alright, child. Your father and brother have a good long life ahead of them still.”

At those words the man twitched and breathed, “My…my wife?”

Death stared at him for a moment then looked pointedly towards the bed where Julia’s cooling body lay. Terrence collapsed against the windowsill as he realized and gasped, “Gods, her too? This…this thing is going to take her too?”

“It is already taking her from you.”

“Why tell me?!”

“So you may prepare,” replied Death. “And so Julia will know she will not be alone.”

Terrence blinked then closed his eyes tight to stop the sudden surge of tears. After a moment he managed to choke out, “Don’t be afraid, Julesy. E-everything is going to be all right.” Looking up, he stared at the spot where he knew she was because of Death’s pale, spidery hand, and continued, “I love you. You remember that, okay?”

“She says she will,” offered Death. He then turned his head as the door behind him opened and Terrence choked down an exclamation of shock as his wife walked right through him. She stared at him then screamed, falling to her knees where she stood, her gaze affixed by the still form of their baby girl.

Slowly, he rose and moved quickly to her side, cradling her against his chest. He sensed Death hovering over him and then heard that dark, all-knowing voice right next to his ear.

“It begins,” he said softly. “Know that I take no pleasure from knowing this, Terrence. Do treasure what time you will have left with her.”

Terrence nodded, trying vainly to close his eyes against the new rush of tears. As he bowed his head, he felt a feather light touch on his cheek and heard his daughter’s voice as though on the wind.

“I’ll be okay, Daddy.”

Then she was gone and he opened his eyes to see Death bow before he faded away into the shadows of the room. Terrence then turned his wife around and peered into her eyes, seeing the telltale darkness inside her eyes at the edges that were the first markers of the plague that was ravaging their world. She bit her lip and gasped, “Terry…”

“Shhh,” he bid, hugging her tightly to him, wishing that this wasn’t true. That he didn’t have the knowledge now that she would die and he could do nothing to stop it whilst he and their son William lived on. “I’m here, Kallie.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault, love.”

Kallie sniffed and buried her face against his shoulder, her tears staining his shirt. Soon, he knew, they would stain his shirt red as she bled from her eyes. That soon she would become too weak to move or do anything for herself. Her body would fail itself and would break if he weren’t careful. And then…death.

Then he would see Him again.

And he would ask just what sort of being that had made the world and its creatures would allow such a disaster. What was the reasoning behind causing so many hearts to break?

Hopefully Death would know.

Death had to know.

If Death didn’t know…then maybe there wasn’t any benevolent creator as the priests said.

And then…

Then what was there?

Then had he nothing to believe in as his world crumbled into dust?