As much as Eric felt for Alan, he didn't know the half of it. Alan opened his eyes, but all he saw was darkness. He was frightened beyond belief, although Alan had this feeling he had been there before. "Where am I?" Alan asked out loud, "Am I dead?" Not a second passed before a voice mimicked what he had said and then answered, "Why, my dear shinigami, you are simply in a state of mind." The brunette felt as if he were paralyzed when that voice spoke. It was a voice of a woman's, sweet and kind, though it seemed at first. The shinigami stuttered with his words as he tried to speak, "A-A state of m-mind? So this is all in my head?" The voice gave a high giggle before answering, "You can say that." Alan could feel his legs shaking underneath him.

"Why are you shaking Mr. Shinigami? Are you scared if me? Well, you should be..." The voice did not sound as sweet this time. It sounded dark, and full of evil. Gathering up his courage Alan spoke back, "Yes, you are correct... I am afraid of you. But I don't know who you are... Would you mind showing yourself?" For a moment the voice didn't answer, and Alan, in curiousity, looked side to side to see if anyone would show. A few yards in front of him a woman's figure appeared. As well as Alan could see she was fairly tall and skinny, her hair was coal black and seemed to be tied back into a bun, and her skin was about the color of snow. She wore a black dress that had was decorated with black floral lace and on top of her head she wore a fully bloomef black rose and a black vail that covered her eyes. The woman grinned a devilishly and chuckled, "Do you know who I am?" She asked. As soon as he saw her he knew exactly who she was. Looking down with a frown he repied, "Yeah... You're my punishment."

What Alan called punishment moved a few steps closer, but Alan didn't move one pace. Still smiling the woman said evilishly, "You're a quick one, shinigami." Now she was only a foot away from Alan. Even though Alan was scared he managed a smile, "Can you tell me something... Thorns of Death?" The woman smiled at the sound of her name before answering in a raspy voice, "I'm impressed you figured out who I was so quickly. I underestimated you as my victim." In a shaken voice Alan repeated his question. But the Thorns of Death replied with a laugh. The woman now seemed to be dancing around Alan with amusement. Alan stood there uncomfortably as the Thorns of Death laughed and circled him before Alan asked his question for the third time. And the Thorns of Death answered almost mocking Alan, "Why'd I pick you?" She let out a laugh, "Don't make me laugh, shinigami! You know the reason why." Alan knew he should answer but he didn't. He just kept quiet out of fear. This woman was now the one thing he feared the most.