rthest corner of the carriage, putting as much space between him and me as possible. I closed my eyes and pulled m

this time, laboring under the delusion that I existed, when i

posed to be silent. Death do

u have nothing to fear. I'm not here to collect your soul. Not yet, anyways." His voic

at around me. He opened the carriage door and offered me a hand. I

s? Really?" I said sarcastically, ex

ink this is me?" He motioned to his grim visag

ew a blank

ou're quite sl

how I've been forced to star in." I glared at my kidnapper. "

eaper. Follow me, little lamb? Or

his bony cheeks. "Eww! Let go of me! What the heck are you doing?" I protested, recoiling at the feel of the skull beneath my f

't you?" he l

necrophiliacs find this attractive-" He pressed my index fingers under the hollows of his eyes, shutting me up as I

ick me into thinking that hideous thing was real, that any of this crap existed!" I screamed, glancing at the heavy disguise in my hands, so life-like it could've been on t

e. I roiled: "Do you get your kicks out of s

hearse. "I wouldn't do that if I were you, little gi

a run for their money? Beca

he millisecond, Callie. At this

of a seri

e, Callie. I'm not pleasa

ant to begin with.

out your tongue," he sa

It appeared out of nowhere, towering over me with a wickedly curved blade. He bore it as if it were lig

" I said

oringly, twirling his scythe

so... ch

my flesh ever so lightly. "And you know what's even more charming? A dead girl. Especially if that girl w

prefer freesia.

you preferred?" h

"No," I whispered. "I was just tr

his hand and tilting my neck backwards. My face drained of color. I se

I begged, tears

done nothing all night but w

to do it without mocking me!" I said , closing my eye

our life? No pleading or grov

roat open or take your instr

down to my chest until the wicked point was arched over my heart. Tremors shook my bod

" I choked t

opriate

ill me," I breathe

e a nuisance. But now that you suggest it.... dissecting y

ep this up, and if I do, I w

carnage and all things rotting. A bit of vomit is no

ah right. Unless y

n't bel

hey wouldn't abduct innocent girls and murde

glance at his scythe, he snapped it up and swung the blade in a viciou

ter its prey. I crashed to my knees, shielding my face from the oncoming blow

its touch disappeared. Reeling, I opened my eyes and gazed up at him in terror. Th

y at all," I sobbed. Tears burned my eyes. I wiped

ow that you squeak when you're terrified?" he said, amused, th

!" I demanded. "

ve you stranded

we stood in a large glade, ringed by a circle of deciduous trees choked by vines that grew so close they twined t

cenely red fruit. And the air- the air was warm, like an Indian summer. A breeze stirred the gol

owards me. It landed at my feet, pecking my shoes expectantly. "This is ridicu

oy stroked its head. It perked up and hopped closer to its apparent master, then took the brim of his h

ively fell to my knees. "Who are you?" I whispered,

said, grinning wryly. I flinched at that smile, so te

es sharp as knives. Razor blade lips, cheekbones that sliced across his face, casting dark shadows. And those eyes- shadowed by muscle

y were heavy as death. I cringed, shielding them from me. His u