Part 3

Before Ethan could run, the Grim Reaper and the Ghost struck. Their staffs slammed into him with brutal force, dropping him to the ground screaming. Blood poured from his body like water from a burst pipe.

Gasping in pain, Ethan lifted his head. “Who… who are you?”

The Ghost smirked. “Do you really want to know?”

“Yes!” I cried, my voice breaking as tears streamed down my face.

The Grim Reaper turned his icy stare on me. “You shouldn’t even dare speak. You’re already as good as dead.”

Ethan struggled to his feet, bleeding and dazed. “What the hell is going on?” His eyes locked on mine, raw with hurt. “Emily… talk to me. What is this?”

I stood frozen, tears choking my words.

“Emily!” he shouted, voice cracking. “Why are you doing this to me?”

My chest tightened until I could barely breathe. With a trembling voice, I finally whispered:

“The Ghost ordered me to suck your blood dry… or I would die. I was born to die, Ethan.”

He recoiled like I’d slapped him. Tears filled his eyes. “All this time? You didn’t tell me?” His voice dropped, heavy with betrayal. “I loved you, Emily. Even without saying it… you knew. But you kept me in the dark.”

I stepped forward, desperate to reach him, but he jerked back sharply.

“Don’t. Touch. Me.”

He yanked his hand away and turned to leave.

“It’s not what you think!” I dropped to my knees, sobbing. “They knew you’d fall in love with me. My mission was to drain you… but I couldn’t, Ethan. I can’t do it!”

Tears slid down his cheeks too. “What kind of ‘good’ is that? You think I can’t handle your pain? I wanted us to face everything together, but you betrayed that trust.”

“I would never betray you!” I cried. “I love you with everything I have. I just didn’t want you worried. Tell me… what do you want me to do?”

The sky above us darkened, as if sharing our pain.

Ethan paused. Slowly, he walked back and knelt in front of me. We pressed our foreheads together, both crying, clinging tightly like the world wanted to rip us apart.

A loud click of teeth broke the moment. The Grim Reaper hovered nearby, watching us with disgust.

“Oh, how lovely,” he sneered, his laugh cold and wicked. “So sweet… because one of you is definitely going to the underworld tonight. Maybe both.”

His voice turned deadly. In a flash, his staff shot out and yanked me violently into the air. I dangled helplessly, screaming.

“You had one simple mission,” he growled, eyes blazing. “And you failed.” Rage twisted his face. “Why are you just like your mother?”

The mention of my mother ignited something feral in him. He drove the staff deeper. White-hot pain exploded through me. Blood poured from fresh wounds as I gasped and struggled, my vision blurring.

“You must die,” he said coldly.

“Please… if you knew my mother, tell me what it has to do with me,” I begged weakly. “Don’t kill me…”

Ethan lunged forward, pleading desperately. But the Grim Reaper’s eyes flashed green and red with fury. With one savage swing, he hurled Ethan against the wall. Ethan’s head cracked hard against the concrete. Blood gushed from his nose and mouth as he collapsed, groaning in agony.

Right then, our classmates burst into the room.

“Jeez! Ethan! What happened?!” They rushed to him in panic. “We’ve been looking everywhere for you!”

The Grim Reaper and the Ghost floated back, their voices echoing like a dark promise:

“We’ll be back. Don’t get too comfortable.”

They vanished into thin air.

I dragged myself to Ethan despite the pain ripping through my body, but he gave me one cold glance and looked away.

One of the girls stared at me, shocked. “Emily? You too? What happened to you?”

I forced a weak smile. “Don’t worry about me. Just take him to the clinic. I’ll manage.”

Ethan glanced at me one last time before turning his face away.

I left for the hostel alone.

---

The next morning, my body felt hollow. Getting out of bed was a struggle. I couldn’t eat. All I craved was one warm hug from someone who cared.

Sitting in front of the mirror, I whispered to my reflection, “I don’t want to overthink today. I’m tired… I just want to feel happy. Because lately, it feels like the ground is trying to swallow me whole.”

My mind drifted to Ethan. Heart racing with fresh hope, I grabbed my phone and texted him. No reply. I called once, twice, three times — nothing.

I sighed heavily. “There’s nothing more I can do. He’ll come around when he’s ready.”

Days blurred into weeks. I missed lectures. Ignored calls from my lecturer. The silence from Ethan cut deeper than any wound.

But one week later, something shifted. I woke up feeling lighter. Music played as I got ready for the excursion we’d planned last semester. Even with the heaviness in my chest, I decided: today, I wouldn’t let my problems show.

When I stepped onto the school grounds, sunlight caught my dress, my glasses shimmered, and I walked in slowly, gracefully. Heads turned. Compliments flowed. Phones came out for pictures.

Then, cutting through the noise, a soft familiar voice called my name:

“Emily.”

I turned slowly.

Our eyes locked.

“Ethan…”

My heart stopped.

My heart stopped.