Chapter 1: "Uncanny"

 I am Cullen, born on June 13,1894.

This is my story!

 People adore me for having blue eyes with strong British accent.  I'm just a typical boy who lives in London with my mother with no shadow of a father. I considered my life pretty fair.

Growing up in London with a single mother was not fun at all, but I am grateful for having a wonderful childhood friend, Amari. She was undeniably perfect before my eyes. Her cherry red face gives sunlight to my cold soul. 

My mother always works all the time. I only have Amari with me almost every day. I secretly adore her. Her warmth soul makes me feel loved. 

I fancy her all the time, especially when we hit adolescence. Everything she loves, I begun to love and everything she hates, I hated. I could not imagine my life without her, but damn I am not just the fish in the pond, she has many suitors. She grew up so well that she became the talk of the town. She seems like a real princess on her own way. She was a living goddess and I sometimes hate it. I hate her for making my knees so weak everytime she's near me.

One cold morning, I saw the woman of my life weeping in great sadness. I came up beside her to console her. As I was about to speak, it seemed like my mouth was glued. She was really out of  my league. I cleared my throat and faced her. Then I begun to ask,

"Is everything alright? You look so pale!".

My heart shrunk when I heard no response.

I kneeled on my feet and cope her face.

"Whatever it is, I am just here for you".

My heart went bananas as I spoke those words. I strongly believe those were the right words to say at that moment because at last, she gazed at me.

"My parents broke up and I hate it", she bursted into tears.

I felt sad at that moment, but what happened next made me static. I saw her pinkish face and blue eyes facing at me. She looked at my face and smiled so brightly. She looks like the sun that comes out after the rain.

"I am so grateful that I have you Cullen. I cannot imagine my life in London without you",

those words melted me at that point in time. Am I hearing it right? My mind was in panic mode and so was my heart. Before my senses recovered, I felt her cold lips dumped on mine.

Am I dreaming? I could not believe it. My logic just flew away. She could really make me stupid and crazy.

"Amari", I uttered.

My lips were shaking and my hands were so cold, but I have to clarify things around.

"Look, I like you", she confessed.

Yet, it seems like it was too good to be true.

"Maybe...  you were just in pain and...", I stuttered.

I was not able to finish my sentences because her lips were on mine for the second time. Who am I to say no? I am not a saint and I do not have any plans to become a priest, so I grabbed her thin waist and held her tightly. Damn, I am dying for that day to happen.

That evening we went to our secret place. No further introductions, we knew everything about us. The moon shone brightly that evening. It was perfect for the two of us. I gently caressed her small face.

"I am getting crazy right now", I confessed.

My heart was beating so fast. I wonder why my throat had run dry.

Amari looked so perfect that night. Her long curly brown hair and deep blue eyes made me lost in reality. She gently sways and dances with me in the moonlight. That night was so magical. I could not stop myself from kissing her forehead, her nose and her rosy lips.

Damn it, she tasted so divine.

Days had turned into months, and we were so happy. I am living the life that I dream of and I cannot wait to be her better half.

So, on the first day of winter, as the snowflakes dances in the sky. I asked for her hand and, thankfully, she said yes. Eight months of preparation was not an easy one. I worked as a military soldier in the Queen's palace, so I barely had enough time. Good thing my fiancee was closest to perfection that she made everything possible. She was a woman of my dream. I cannot wait to call her Mrs. Anderson.

The sun shines brightly that day. The trees and colorful flowers were blooming. It was a perfect day to get married. I was so nervous and my knees were shaking. My good mother came up beside me. Her bright smile made my heart feel at ease.

"Look at you my little boy, time flies so fast. There you are,  wearing your black tuxedo and is waiting for his beautiful bride". her warm voice melts my heart.

"Mom, thank you for everything. I am in awe of my life to you", I saw my mother wiping her crystal tears. Even at her age, my mother looked like a living goddess too. Her face was so delicate.

An hour had passed but my bride was not there yet. I began to feel worried. There was no phone at that time. So, I have to wait.

Another hour had passed. I heard commotions somewhere. The guests were bored. Then, from a distance I saw my future mother-in- law running towards me. My heart got wilder when I noticed a stain of blood on her white silk dress.

"Cullen, Amari, Amari, Amari ", she burst out into tears.

Her body was shaking in fear and sadness and so was I.  I don't have any clue as to what happened yet, so I asked,

"Where's Amari? What happened?"

Her mother sob on the top of her lungs. She's shaking. It seems like she was about to get crazy!

"She..., she's dead", she uttered.

I have no time to weep at that moment. My senses told me to move as fast as I could.

Without delay, I grabbed my horse and headed to Amari's house. My mind failed to comprehend everything. I kept on saying that she was not dead and everything was just a lie. As I rode my horse, my tears kept falling.

"Oh, God! Please no, please", I mumbled in great fear.

My knees were shaking as I entered Amari's room. I fell down on the floor when I saw how brutally she had lost her precious life. I saw stains of blood everywhere. I gathered all the strength that was left of me. My hands were shaking and my mouth was mumbling.

"Oh God!", I screamed at the top of my lungs. Her internal intestines were scattered all over the place. The murderer was heartless. Her blue eyes were missing and her tongue was sliced in half.

The crime scene was so gross, my stomach was growling at that moment. Soon after, I heard the sound of the police patrol. I felt numb and useless. My vision gets blurry, the only thing I could remember at that time was a hit my body so hard on the cold floor.

A day before our wedding, Amari told me that she wanted to see me at our hiding place, but because I had my night shift that evening, I said no.

Regrets flooded into my mind. I am raging in anger. I wanted to kill the murderer but we have no clue who had done that horrible crime.

I hear nothing but the sweet laughter of Amari.

In my head, she was still alive. I did not even came on the day of her funeral. I knew she was still alive. Somewhere out there she was breathing for me.

Days turned into weeks, and my life was nothing but misery. I no longer wanted to breathe. I have nowhere to go. I see nothing but complete darkness.

I hate the fact that I failed to protect the woman that I loved. I failed to punish the murderer.

My mother was so worried about me. She cried day and night seeing me suffer in agony.

Then, one cold night. She came closer to me and coped my face.

"My son, please, please stop this! You are breaking my heart", whispered my mother.

Yet, no words can console me. I felt so empty. No Amari means no life to me. She was my everything. She was my sun in my gloomy days.

As the days went by, I missed her the most. No hope! I see no hope at all.

Then, I decided to end my suffering.

I looked for a rope and tied it to my ceiling. But before I ended my life, I wrote a letter to my mother.

Dear Mom,

Forgive me today and for the days to come. I wanted to end my longing and suffering. I no longer breathe even though I am alive. I love you today and forevermore.

Love,

Cullen

I placed my letter at the top of an old table. I grabbed the rope and placed my head in the center. The more I move, the tighter the rope around my neck. I am choking. I cannot breathe.

Before I closed my eyes, I saw a dark shadow beside me. I could not fully grasp what it was since I could no longer deal with it. It was a painful thing, but I guess forgetting all the pain was all worth it.

I closed my eyes and shed tears. I totally lost my consciousness.

***

I woke up to the sound of an argument somewhere.

"Father, what have you done? Why him?", shouted in a man's voice. His tone sounded like he was really pissed off.

"Why not Keres? It was you who intervened in the human world for your own selfish desires", exclaimed by a man who's voice was so deep.

I began to wonder where I was at that moment. I see nothing but complete darkness. The only light I saw was the light coming from a flame. Wait, am I in hell? I asked myself. Well, that was possible since I killed myself.

I stood up and looked around. Damn I am alone, where are the other souls? The place would not look like hell if I based it from my elders description. It looks different. I decided to walk around and from a distance I saw two men talking or looked like they were arguing. I waited until they finished their conversation.

Who could they be? Why did they look like Devine even if they were living in darkness? If I am in Hades or hell, then why are those men so handsome? They do not look evil after all.

I do not know how much time I spend just looking at them. I noticed that the younger man left with a frowning face. He looked so mad and furious.

Soon after, the other man looked at me eye to eye. My heart skipped a bit. Then, he walked towards my direction. I looked behind me if there were any other souls but there were none.

"Human, how are you?', I looked around for the second time. I feel uneasy.

"I am talking to you", he added.

I swallowed my saliva as if I was running out of oxygen. Wait, am I still alive? Why do I still have my glances and senses? I was about to lose my sanity at that moment.

The man in front of me was tall and handsome. He was wearing a black robe, and he had a pair of enormous black wings.

"Who are you? Where am I?", at last I was able to find my voice.

"Welcome to the underworld, the land of the dead", the man replied.

"Am I in hell?", I asked.

I tried my best not to freak out.

The winged man did not reply for a while.

"Eventually, you are not going anywhere since you killed yourself", the winged man uttered.

The more he talks the more I got confused and curious.

I guess he noticed my facial expression and explained further. He looked at me, his glare seemed like to reap off all of me.

"You are supposed to vanish forever in eternity, but thanks to me, you have another chance. I am giving you another chance and do not waste it." he uttered.

"You will have another chance to live in the human world as a soul reaper. You have ten decades to finish your mission. If you fail, you will not go to hell either. You are forever lost and have no chance to get reincarnated".

The more he talked the more I got confused. I grew up in a Catholic family and his statements don't just coincide. I only know heaven and hell. I have never believe in reincarnation. It sounds crazy to me.

Oh, God! Nothing makes sense to me. My face frowned in confusion. The wing man laughed out loud. He giggles.

"Human, you look funny", he uttered. Even his identity, I found it intriguing.

If he was the devil, he was supposed to be mean and not warmth at  all.

"I get you boy, I get you. Well, this is the truth that humans do not know about. There are many hidden secrets that are untold.", he smiled so creepy.

"Let me start by introducing myself. I am Thanatos, the god of peaceful death", he said proudly.

Holy crap! I never thought that there were so many gods of death. My head was terribly aching.

"Unbelievable, right? Not just that, but soon I will introduce you to other gods. For now, let me tell you everything you need to do", Thanatos uttered.

I looked at him and stared into his eyes.

"What if I declined? I never wish to be a grim reaper. I'd rather vanish forever", I spoke boldly.

"Well, first you are already a grim reaper. I made you like that before you woke up. I know you will decline and, secondly, your mother's soul will vanish forever as well", he said.

Those words struck me and made me scared and mad. "Why does my mother have something to do with this?", I argued.

"Simply because she was part of your life and you alternate your destiny by killing yourself in not your appointed time. You changed everything. Your mother will suffer because of you", He sounded furious that time, as if he wanted to kill me. His persona changed instantly. I wonder why.

He came near to me and touched my forehead. Immediately after, I lost consciousness.

What I heard after that was the loud cry of my mother. She was weeping heavily.

"Cullen, wake up! Please, I can no longer live life without you, my son. You are the only thing I have", said my mother. Her words made my heart so broken.

At that moment, I realized that Thanatos was right. Surely, my poor mother would kill herself if I died. Surely, her poor soul will not go to heaven because of me. I decided to open my eyes and give my mother a warm hug. What a poor woman if she loses her one and only son.

Three days after I fully recovered, Thanatos sent a messenger to me. He was a handsome black winged demon. He handed a black notebook to me.

"Who are you? What is this?", I asked, but the black demon did not say anything.

Also, before he left, he handed me a small box. Inside it was a round black pearl.

"What is it?", I asked. He looked at me eye to eye.

"That is a gift, eat it, it will make you forget her", the demon said.

Upon hearing that, I took the black pearl and ate it. I wanted to end my agony from her bittersweet memories.

I lost my vision immidiately and when I woke up the next day, I could not remember anything about her, not even her scents nor her voice.

Years have passed by, and I am living fine as a soul reaper.

One morning, I saw my mother's name on the death list. My hands were shaking. It felt weird, but at least I had the chance to spend time with my mother before she died.

Two days after her name appeared on the death note. I reaped her soul. I decided to move to Canada after her funeral.

June 13, 2022. I found myself at my working table and decided to write my story on an empty sheets. 

I will tell you everything about the untold secrets of the dark world.