The Reaper

"Jake.... Jake! Come on! Wake up!" I groaned and tried to wave away whoever was trying to wake me. The air was still cold which told me it was still the middle of the night.

"Jake! I'm serious! Please! Something big is coming!" It was Carolyn, and she sounded distraught. I felt her tugging me up, and I slowly sat up, still half asleep. I groaned and rubbed my eyes, then looked at her. My eyes adjusted and I noticed her standing above me, shivering as she was out of the warm blankets.

I realized what she had said and my eyes widened as I bolted out of bed, grabbing my clothing and scythe.

"What do you mean something's coming? Is everyone awake? Are we prepared? Are defenses still in place?" I asked Carolyn as I ran about the tent getting ready.

"Jake... Jake stop and look at me!" She huffed. I stopped and looked at her, standing in the same place as when she woke me up, hugging herself and shivering. I frowned and walked towards her, wrapping my arms around her.

"Okay, I'm calm. What?" I muttered, feeling her shudder in my arms as she felt my heat- the desert was really cold at night.

"We aren't in danger- at least I don't think. It's confusing. The other Wild Ones are awake and we have soldiers ready. I don't sense any danger. I'm... I'm confused." She whispered. I nodded and reached over to my cloak. I wrapped her in it.

"Well then, let's go meet our guests shall we?" I noted and stepped out of the tent. Carolyn followed me, still wrapped in my cloak to keep her warm.

"Andy, what's coming?" I asked The Prophet as we joined the rest of the Wild Ones. We were at the outskirts of our camp, and I wasn't sure what I saw- but there was definitely something coming, something big moving at the horizon line.

"I don't know. I was woken up by our patrol team. All I know is that we're too far away from F.E.A.R. for Wretched's to survive out here. I'm confused as to what this is." He noted.

"Do you think-" I muttered, and was cut off by Carolyn.

"It could be Eve! She could be returning!" She gasped and squeezed my hand. It was possible- Chaz did say she had something she had to do- something she couldn't tell us about.

The massive crowd that was once in the distance grew closer and closer. We were on guard, our weapons ready just in case the Wretched's did find a way to survive this far away from F.E.A.R. and we waited.

"Yes- I think it is... but it's puzzling... something is off. Something is wrong." The Prophet muttered as he stared out into the growing crowd.

I was starting to be able to make out faces. Most looked like teenagers or humans in their 20's. I noticed some were injured, helping each other as they traveled. There was one human leading, looked to be male. There was something in his arms, something dangling life-less.

I started running when I realized. I ignored The Prophet's calls to me- I could only think of one thing. Chaz.

I heard screams behind me, yelling at me to return, but I ignored and kept running, desperate to prove myself wrong. There were footsteps behind me on both sides- but I kept running, my eyes locked on the male human carrying Chaz.

"Oof!" I grunted as all the air was knocked out of my lungs. The Prophet had caught up to me and knocked me down.

"Jake! Stop! I know, I know it's Chaz! I know. Stop!" The Prophet yelled as I struggled to be free of his grasp. I felt a gentle hand on my face, then I couldn't see.

"What have you done! Give me back my sight! Let me go to Chaz!" I screamed, still struggling in The Prophet's firm grasp.

"Sshhhh... Jakey, it's okay. Jinxx cast a spell to blind you for your own safety. It's okay, calm down, please." It was Carolyn speaking.

"Why won't you let me see her! Why won't you let me go to her! I'm her protector!" I screamed.

"Jakey, please, breathe. It's okay, please!" Carolyn tried to calm me, but it failed. I needed to see Chaz. She was injured- or worse... was she dead? She looked like a dead body in the male's arms!

"Jake, I know. You need to stop. You have to stop." The Prophet spoke. I couldn't help myself, I resumed struggling, growing more and more frantic and desperate to escape.

"Jinxx- do it. Yeah." I heard The Prophet order between my struggles.

"Oh Jakey... I'm so sorry..." Carolyn whispered. I tried to speak, tried to scream, anything to reply- but before I could make any response, I was knocked out. It was dark, and I couldn't hear anything anymore.

I regained feeling of my body, and I wasn't blinded anymore. I opened my eyes, wincing at the light.

"Hey, Jakey." It was Carolyn, she was holding my hand. I looked around and realized I was in my bed in our tent. She was on her knees next to me.

"Wha-" I was cut off my Carolyn's finger against my lips as she shushed me.

"Sshhh, quiet now Jake. I know you're confused, but you need to rest for a bit longer." She whispered. I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion as I looked back up at her. She sighed and moved hair from my face, then gently stroked my cheek.

"Jinxx had to knock you out with a spell. When you saw Chaz- you lost it... We didn't want to- but we had to. He thought just blinding you would calm you down a little- but it wasn't enough." She explained.

"W-wait... how lo-" Again I was cut off by Carolyn.

"I said quiet." She sighed and looked into my eyes.

"You've been out for a few hours." She whispered, still stroking my cheek.

"Chaz came- well, kind of." She sighed and took a deep breath.

"She gathered more than 2,000 soldiers for us. It's amazing." She whispered. I tried to speak again, but she put her fingers to my lips before I could even say anything.

"Jake, you really need to be quiet and rest- Jinxx's spell was very primitive... he doesn't know how long it lasts, or any of the side affects." She explained. I huffed and she sighed again.

"Eve- well, Chaz I mean... she gathered soldiers for us. While she was gone those months, she was traveling around with this tour thing... it's called Warped Tour- it's the place where all these soldiers gather to enjoy music together. It's the perfect home for outcasts." Carolyn explained, and started to gently play with my hair.

"On their way back to camp, they ran in with the largest group of Wretcheds anyone has seen- outside of the F.E.A.R. headquarters that is..." She bit her lip and pulled her hand away.

"They fought, and of course many were injured- I'm not sure if any died other than... well.... we couldn't save Chaz.... she died about an hour ago." Carolyn whispered. My heart dropped, and my eyes widened.

"No." I said, in disbelief.

"No! She can't be dead! No! I'm the Grim Reaper! I'm in charge and I say no!" I screamed, tears staining my cheeks.

"Jakey please, please... stop... I know, I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" Carolyn placed her hands on my shoulders, trying to get me to look at her.

"The spell Jinxx made- the one that allowed you to focus on this while a copy of you fulfilled your reaper duties... that copy came. She's gone." Carolyn explained.

"She can't be. She can't be gone! I'm her protector! She can't be!" I sobbed, unable to process the news.

"I'm sorry Jakey, I'm so sorry." Carolyn whispered, trying to wipe my tears. She kissed my forehead and crawled into bed next to me. She held me as I sobbed.

Chaz was dead, and I didn't protect her. It was all my fault.

Notes

I told you I didn't forget about this story!

Sorry I'm a terrible author- I SUCK at keeping everything up to date...

I'm a full time music major, and I also have the same amount of homework as a full time art major, plus a part time job- so as dumb as my excuses are, they're still excuses.

Not gunna lie, I definitely started crying while writing this. I'm sorry for your feels. -hugs-

-Ra