Hello there! I hope you all had a great Christmas or whatever holiday you celebrate! So, is this the longest chapter so far? Probably, but I'm too lazy to go back and check. Anyway, I hope you enjoy!
I always thought the Grim Reaper base was creepy, but now it looked like something from a horror movie (and I don't like horror movies). "This is a terrible idea," Death said. I shrugged. "I know, but this is the best idea I could think of that didn't involve me choking you or anyone else out." Death gulped. He muttered an "okay" and then left me on my own.
I took a deep breath. I had never been inside. And now I was their enemy. i walked in through the gates with skeleton heads on their pikes (because the Reapers were all sunshine and rainbows).
It was surprisingly easy to get in. I guess the only thing they needed to stop people from going in was the exterior. Except there was another problem. I had no idea where I was going. The place was absolutely giant.
"Alex?" I turned to see Nick. I waved. "Hi Nick."
He sighed and rubbed his temple. "Do I wanna know?" I thought about it before shaking my head. He sighed. "You shouldn't be here. You were captured. Death should be punishing you."
"Well we did each others nails and he really opened up," I said sarcastically. Suddenly, I heard footsteps. Nick grabbed my arm tightly. I looked at him to ask what he was doing, but he just stood there, firm, stiff, and not looking at me.
Two Grim Reapers were talking and looked like they were having a ball when they saw me. They both paused, mouth's agape and hands on their scythes', which were attached to their hips. I smiled awkwardly and waved. What the hell was Nick doing?
"He's supposed to be in the Place of the Broken," Reaper number 1 said. He looked like a skeleton, all skin and bone. Nick nodded. "He has to be put in front of the council first," Nick said. I couldn't tell if he was lying or not, but if he was I had to admit, he was good enough to fool me and these guys. The buffer one of the two Reapers glared at me and then looked at Nick. "Why is it necessary? We all know he's a scoundrel," he said.
I smirked to myself. He looked at me. "Something funny?" I shook my head. "You called me scoundrel and not scum or something." The man crossed his arms. "So?" I shrugged. "I like it. Scoundrel! Sounds like a vigilante name." Mr. Muscles took a step towards me but Jack Skellington stopped him. Nick got in front of me, whether to protect me from harm or elbow me (which he did), I'm not sure.
"Listen, I am taking him to the council. If you don't want to fight me I would suggest moving out of the way. Unless you want to die again."
They moved out of the way.
Nick dragged me into an empty room and locked the door behind us. "So," he said, turning to me, arms crossed. "What the hell are you doing here?" I sighed. "Jordan, she was captured by the killer." Nick shook his head. I expected him to mock me. Tell me I had been stupid to even try. Instead he just gently grabbed my shoulder and said "I really am sorry."
That's when I broke down. I began to cry. I hugged Nick. He had no idea what to do. He just stood there stiff. I wasn't thinking straight at the moment, but I now wonder if he had ever hugged anyone since he died.
"I failed," I said through my tears, voice cracking. "I'm a failure." Nick hesitantly hugged me back. "No, you didn't. She's not dead yet. You can still save her."
I let go of Nick. "What do you mean I can save her? I'm stuck here." Nick shrugged. Then I thought of an idea. "You're right. I need to speak to the council." Nick laughed. Then he realized I was serious. "Alex, that's a terrible idea, you know that right?"
I nodded. "I know." Nick sighed. "Alright then. I'll help you get yourself killed."
Nick grabbed my arm roughly and led me through the hallways of the base. Some looked our way, confused, but didn't do anything. I guess they were all afraid of Nick. We eventually made it to the door that lead to the council room. "Are you sure about this," Nick said. I shrugged. "Not really." Nick chuckled. "Good." Then he pushed the door open.
Inside was...a bunch of old people. "Come forward, Alex Quek," the main judge boomed, his voice carrying all the way across the room. If I wasn't afraid before, I definitely was now. Nick pushed me forward. I looked back at him, asking a silent question. "Really?" He shrugged. "They're less scary up close," he whispered. I shook my head. He groaned and pushed me forward. "No, no, no," I repeated, trying to back away. Nick rolled his eyes. "Alex, you're embarrassing me in front of the judges," he said. I sighed and slapped his hands away. Then I walked by myself.
"Listen judges-" I began. "Address us as the council," the main judge interrupted. I nodded. "Okay, um, council, I have an offer to make," I said. They all shifted in their seats as if intrigued.
"Well, you see, Jordan's killer is a man who has cheated death. He should've died years, decades ago. His name is Jackson, or Lee Parker." Nick laughed. "That's impossible. No one can escape death." I shook my head. "He was able to. He threatened to use the Destroyer of Souls on Death himself." The council whispered amongst each other. Nick just shifted in his spot as if uncomfortable. I guess he had heard about this device Death had told me about.
"Give us one reason why we should believe you," the main judge asked. I smiled. "I have many witnesses," I said. The council members nodded. "Well then, call one of them here to vouch for you," the main judge said.
I thought about it. I could ask if they could transport Lena or one of the others, but they wouldn't be seen as trustworthy since they were working with me. Maybe I could ask Death, but that seemed to risky. He had barely enough courage to tell me about what had happened. The only other person or creature that would be seen as trustworthy would be...oh no.
I rubbed the back of my neck and let out an awkward chuckle. "Um, alright. My witness is Peck, Jordan Pensie's spirit animal." They all talked again before the main judge banged his gravel, creating a wind that almost knocked me off my feet. "Silence! We will call Peck in."
About a minute later, Peck flew in through the door, doing a loop in midair. I was just starting to think this was a terrible idea when he landed on my hand. "Alex! Long time no see!" I nodded. "Yeah, really has been. Now Peck, I need you to tell them all about what has happened over the past week." Peck looked over at the judges and jumped, as if he didn't realize they were here. He nodded at me and jumped up to the main judge's bench.
"So it all started when I was eating some bird seed from a nice old lady. She always feeds me and some of my bro's," Peck began.
"Peck! I meant about Jordan," I exclaimed, sweat dripping down my neck as I got more and more afraid. "Oh," Peck said. "Okay! So, it all really started when I heard some weirdo talking about my girl Jordy dying..."
After what felt like decades, Peck finished his tale (and then flew off like a coward, but really I couldn't blame him). The judges all sat in silence for a good minute before the main judge lifted up his fist. "Since familiars cannot lie, we believe you, Alex Quek. However, you have committed many crimes, and that has not changed."
I nodded. "I know sir, and I promise to pay for them. I am going to make you a deal. You let me go and send some of your Grim Reapers to help me save Jordan. After we're sure she's safe and Lee Parker is locked away for good, I will go back to the Place of the Broken and serve my sentence. Just please don't punish Lena and Zack. They were just trying to help me, and they are good people."
The council members all thought about my proposition. Then the main judge banged his gravel again. "We accept this offer, Mr. Quek. Now, Nick Deldra, take him to the meeting room. We will alert the other Reapers to go there and you will tell them what is happening. Are we clear?" Nick nodded. "Yes sir." Then he grabbed my arm and brought me out of the room (though he didn't have to drag me this time, because I really wanted to get out of there).
We walked together in absolute silence. It honestly started to freak me out. I don't know what I expected. Maybe for him to scream at me? Freak out? But he didn't do anything but walk and avoid eye contact with me.
Finally, I couldn't deal with it anymore. "Nick, please just talk to me. I know you probably hate me but-"
"Hate you," he asked. "I never hated you Alex. Was I annoyed? Yeah. Did I want to punch you for being such an idiot? Of course. But you and Lena are my friends...or at least you were." I nodded.
"So, you believe me now," I asked. Nick rolled his eyes but nodded. I smiled. "Well, you know I hate to say I told you so-"
"You love to say I told you so," Nick interrupted with a smile. "It's like your favorite sentence." I shrugged. "What can I say, I'm a simple kid." Nick laughed. A real laugh.
"Is that a laugh," I said in disbelief. Nick pushed my shoulder playfully. "You're an absolute idiot, Alex. Now come on, we need to hurry if we want to save your friend."
Okay, but I love writing Alex and Nick scenes, which you probably can tell. I truly don't know why, they're just so much fun (and dramatic depending on the context). Honestly, when I first started writing, I didn't like Nick much, but now that I've gone deeper into who he is he happens to be one of my favorites to write about. So, because I wanna know, what do you think about Nick?