Death Catchers-Chapter Two

note: This is unedited, once again.

I awoke the next morning to Shannon knocking at my door.
“Karolin, I brought you breakfast, are you awake?” I pulled myself from the warmth and walked across the dark room to my door. Flinging it open, I caught Shannon’s look of surprise on seeing me. She smiled and walked in, setting my breakfast tray on my table. “Are you trying a new look Karolin?”
I sat grumpily down at the table and offered her a piece of toast.
“I didn’t sleep well.” She raised an eyebrow but said nothing. “What time is it?”
“Quarter past four.” She munched on her toast happily and it was then I realized she had traded in her skirt for an outfit fitting a Death Catcher.
“Do you start training today?”
“Yes, at 5. I’m looking forward to it.” She smiled and brushed toast crumbs off her chest.
“Well, I’m not. This means I am not going to get any decent food anymore.” I swallowed another bite of egg as I said this. She laughed at me and smiled yet again. Honestly, too much cheeriness in the morning for my taste.
“Well, I need to get going. Someone will come back for the tray later.” I nodded as my mouth was full of half-eaten food and I didn’t want to make myself look like more of a dirty slob. She left as quickly as she had come and I ate the rest of my breakfast in blissful silence, mulling over the previous night’s events. Liam had returned to this place. It didn’t make sense. The odds of both us being taken back and recreated were near improbable and the chance of him being sent here was…I don’t even know the word for it.
It had been a long time since I have seen Liam, over 500 years and he looked as I remembered him. I would have to look into the details of his death later when he wasn’t around. I remember when I first came here. This was not the nearest Clan to where I had died, but they had taken me in and treated me fairly in those first few years where I wasn’t a full Death Catcher. The other Clan, the one I should have belonged to had been in trouble when I died. Too many Death Catchers were making mistakes and bringing back humans, that was the real reason Josiah and me were sent here. Perhaps Liam had been sent elsewhere too, away from that troubled Clan. A few questions to Nathaniel should clear that up.
But Liam. Those first few years and months were hard. I still loved him then, still felt that connection, but knew I would never see him again. Love is possible among the Death Catchers, but it is hard to manage in our line of work. It is better to stay without feeling and emotion when you deal with the dead. But Liam, he knew me, better than Shannon and Josiah. I wonder if it had been hard for him too, realizing I was gone. Perhaps, or perhaps not. Maybe he had fallen for another girl after I died.
Shaking that thought from my head and I stood and decided to shower. Standing under the hot spray, my shoulders relaxed and I forced myself to think of other things besides Liam. I had five collections to make today. Three were standard elder people dying. One was a young girl in a car accident. That would be the tricky one. The last was a teenage boy late tonight, an overdose on ecstasy at a party. That would be the heartbreaker. Since being a Death Catcher. I have seen many kinds of death, but it was always the teenage deaths that got to me. It was mostly stupidity that caused them to die, just like my own death. I hated them and tried to avoid getting the responsibility of retrieving their souls, but I think the Leadership likes torturing me. Stupid old bastards.
Stepping out of the shower, my hair dried instantly after brushing it, a nifty little trick I learned after becoming half-immortal. Dressing in basic black pants and another black corset, I stepped back into my main room. Someone had come for the tray while I was in the shower and had made my bed for me, saving me the trouble. I groaned, noticing I had five minutes to get downstairs to meet Liam. I still had to grab the vials and information sheets on today’s unfortunate souls. Pulling on my high-heeled boots, I glanced in the mirror, giving myself a once over. For being dead for as long as I have, I looked damn good. My hair was long and black, trailing down the small of my back. I had clear green eyes that changed with my moods and pale skin. Damn, I was still the same as I was when I was a human, beautiful.
Brushing that arrogant thought from my head, I traveled through a maze of hallways until I came to the entranceway. Liam was standing against the wall, his wavy black hair hanging over his eyes. That look always got me and even now, it sent shivers down my spine. I beckoned to him and he walked over.
“I woke up late, so I still have to get the vials and such. Would you like to wait here or come with me?” He was just a tad taller than I was in my heels, but damn intimidating.
“I’ll go with you. I haven’t seen much of your castle yet.” I nodded and turned leading the way and trying to calm the nervousness in my stomach. I was never like this, ever. It was like seeing…a ghost. Even though there are no ghosts, contrary to human belief. What they think are ghosts are just us, lurking around doing our jobs. I hated being mistaken for a ghost, it was degrading.
Turning another corner, I led the way down a black hallway, Liam at my heels. I entered the only door and went to the desk. With my luck, of course it was Carol working the desk. She shot me a sly smirk, before turning her charm on Liam.
“You must be Liam, I’m Carol. We didn’t get a chance to talk last night.” Standing to the side I rolled my eyes as she came over to him and pressed her self against him, batting her eyelashes.
“Carol, I just need my vials and information so we can go.” She glared at me and went back behind the desk. She handed me a small black pouch with the five vials in it, clinking through the heavy fabric. I tied it to my waist and grabbed the slips of paper with the victims’ names, ages, and room numbers on them. Slamming them into my back pocket, I grabbed Liam and pulled him from Carol’s clutches. He grinned when we got into the hall.
“I take it you’re not found of her.”
“No, I’m not. She’s worthless.” He kept his grin on his face, but it turned tender as he touched my cheek softly with a gloved fingertip.
“I think you were jealous.” I felt my face burning. Trying to compose myself, I shook my head, dislodging his fingertip from my cheek.
“No, I wasn’t.” I started walking again and he followed.
Reaching the entranceway, I grabbed my cloak off its designated hook and flung it around my shoulders, shaking my hair down my back. I turned to him to see him doing the same.
“Are you ready?”
“Yes.” His eyes glared down into my own. Suppressing a nervous shudder, I stepped into the sunrise and lifted off, him in close tail. Who knew what this day would bring.


It was very near to one when Liam and I arrived at the alley next to the diner. We had collected three of the five I had for today. After grabbing a quick lunch, we were heading down the street to collect the little girl, and then to a party later tonight for the boy. The diner was on the outskirts of town and I came here often to grab some food. However, there was always the little issue of making myself visible.
Most of the time, we are invisible to the human eye. We have the ability to become visible if we wish it. It’s not that complicated of a process, except, you can’t do it in the middle of human activity. Popping out of nowhere leads to questions and that is not a good thing. So, I always came to this alley to appear and then slid out into the streets. I’m sure I attracted some attention with my outfit, it was a little different from the norm, but I didn’t care.
Liam looked confused at me dragging him into a dark alley.
“What are we doing?” I rolled my eyes before closing them and saying the little incantation to become visible. I opened them and saw Liam looking at me surprised. “Oh, hold on.” He repeated what I did as I started down the alley back to the street. I knew the conversation was coming, the one I had avoided all day. Liam simply tagged along as I went to the two hospitals and the nursing home. We talked little and he did as I told him, which was to stand and watch. He was a good listener, as he always was…I needed to stop that, all the reminiscing of what was so long ago. Liam was simply a man…a very attractive man who I had loved very much.
I stepped into the diner, Liam close on my heels. We sank into a booth in the darkest corner and the waitress brought us coffee. I shifted until I was comfortably situated on the sticky orange vinyl. Liam slid across from me and shifted nervously.
“I’m not used to being visible.”
“Why not? I do it all the time.” I leaned forward so the booth across from us wouldn’t hear. They were already giving us the weird looks I was accustomed too.
“I never make myself visible unless I am the one going shopping. But I guess this okay. It’s almost as if we’re human again.” I smiled wistfully as he looked around and took in the local color. I did too, taking advantage of the break in conversation. I knew where this conversation was going, but I would try my hardest to make sure it didn’t go there. I had put the past behind me and here he was again, about to bring it up.
“So…where do we start?” Damn those blue eyes. They were just as clear and mysterious as I remembered. I really needed to stop this remembering of Liam. He was different now…hell, I was different now. Five hundred years will do that to a person.
“I don’t know, why don’t you go first?” Luckily, the waitress returned and took our order before he could start. She took our orders and I shot a nasty glare to the woman across the aisle before returning my attention to Liam.
“You’ve changed Karolin. You’re…harder. I’m not sure if I like it.” He reached across the table for my hand and I let him take it.
“Is that such a bad thing?” he rubbed his thumbs across my hand as he thought about it for a minute.
“No, I don’t think it is. You still look exactly as you did before.” I smiled, well aware of that fact. I was a little vain and worked hard to keep my looks and body in order. A fat Death Catcher had a harder job.
“You do too, Liam. But…you look so young. Can I ask you about…?” I trailed off, not sure how to phrase my question in a way that wouldn’t make him feel awkward.
“You want to know how I died don’t you?” I nodded, not sure how to answer as he sighed deeply. “I might as well start at the beginning. You died on a Wednesday…you remember the details of your death on your own. I won’t bring them up. Anyways, the police found your body Thursday morning and I found out that afternoon. There was a riot and we planned your funeral. It was the day after your funeral that I died.” He paused as the waitress set down our food.
“I died by killing myself. I couldn’t imagine a life without you by my side, so I hung myself in my barn.” He sunk his head and my heart pulled towards him. “My parents found me, and the letter I had written, telling them why. Patrick, my Catcher told me all of this afterwards. They cried, but as he was leaving with my soul, he overheard my mother saying that at least I would be with you. Who would have known that five hundred years later I would be?” He shook his head and dove into his salad and soup.
I took up my own greasy grilled cheese and ate slowly, mulling over what he had told me.
“There’s something Nathaniel didn’t tell you last night. Ever since I was made a Death Catcher, I have been looking for you. I asked to be moved from Clan to Clan, hoping that you had become one also. After five hundred years of looking I found you, but now I don’t know what I am supposed to do.”
“If it makes you feel better, I don’t know either. I never expected to see you again. Especially after they transferred me to this Clan.” I continued on with my grilled cheese, waiting for him to continue between bites.
“I missed you so damn much Karolin. I almost gave up hope. This was my last move and I found you. While I was looking, I never thought I would see you again.” He ate another bite, eyes heavy and downcast. My heart again went to him, crumbling in all the right places.
“I missed you too Liam. When I first came here, all I did was cry. No one understands me here, not the way you did. I’m sure you have heard stories, I am not well liked.” He nodded and swallowed.
“Yes, I know. Nathaniel told me there was a woman Death Catcher almost my age who was as stubborn as an ox. He said she had fire and spunk and I would love her, even though most of the Clan does not. He said you were intimidating.” I smiled at that.
“I think I may do that on purpose.” He smiled back at me.
“You know what else he told me?” I shook my head no. “He said that there was something special in her because unlike other Death Catchers, she has a heart.”
“What? He said that?”
“Yes. He said it might take awhile to see it, but it would come out.” I mulled this over as we finished eating and paid our bill. Standing, I shot another nasty glare at the ugly fat woman and followed Liam out of the diner. We went back to our alley and changed back, invisible once more.
“Where are we headed?” There was camaraderie with us now, we clicked. Our talk had helped, but there was still much more left to discuss. That time would come eventually. For now, we were off to find a Jennifer Robbins, age eight on a pink bicycle. We turned the corner, pulling ourselves against the building and watching. We saw her across the street, peddling in our direction. She stopped at the light and hit the walk button. It cleared and she slowly started to peddle into the intersection. As known, a red Miata barreled down the street and the screeching of tires was heard over the small thump and shattering of glass. A woman screamed and Liam and I pushed forward.
Upon reaching her, I saw she wasn’t dead yet and pulled out of her vision until she was. A crowd of people gathered round and a man was on his cell phone, calling for an ambulance. Little Jennifer gasped and her eyes rolled backwards. Pushing myself into a small space, I grabbed her hand and slid her finger onto the vial. A clear purplish soul leaked in and I clamped it in. Stepping back, I found myself with Liam. We watched as people screamed, realizing she was dead. I clamped her soul in my hand, feeling its warmth radiating through me.
I stood like that for a long time, watching the paramedics trying to revive her and her mother appearing. My heart was torn. I though I could handle this death, but being with Liam made it harder somehow. We watched, standing in the street until it was only us and a street sweeper left, my eyes left on the cold cement where her lifeless body had been only an hour before. Liam approached me quietly and slid an arm around my shoulders.
“You ready to go Karolin?” I nodded, unable to answer as he led me away, Jennifer’s soul still tingling in the grasp of my hand.