The sound of the violin was like that of the devil. Every note that was played was painful to his ears. The sound hurt so much his body could feel the sound waves on his skin that shook him right to the bone. Why was it so painful? But why was it also so soothing too? The music was like nails on a chalkboard yet it brought peace why was that?

Alan tried covering his ears but it was like his hands wouldn’t do as he said. Like they had a mind of their own, going against his will, doing the opposite of what he wanted him to. The sound was a sweet torture. This was the Thorn’s power.

Alan flinched when the bow screeched against the violin strings. Then it all went silent. The violin, the sounds, he could hear nothing but the sound of his heart beating at an inhuman rate. What was going on? Alan had no idea. The last thing he could remember was Eric leaving him at the hospital and asked if he could rest a little more. But everything after that until now he had no knowledge of. He tried to think harder, to remember. But after a while he heard a giggle that echoed around him. The voice was familiar somehow, ‘Could it be…?’ He thought. After the giggling ceased and he heard a beautiful voice singing. It was soft at first and Alan could barely pick up what lyrics were sung, until the volume increased. The song was beautiful and graceful. Each note hit was exactly on pitch yet was steady and slow. Alan could now make out most of the lyrics of the beautiful melody.

Sweet honey of the "thorns of death",

put to sleep the Shinigami's soul

that never decays.

Pure poison of the "thorns of death",

bury the eternal soul

that knows no peace.

Time blurs away,

carving countless wounds.

If living is a torture,

then what do you disclose?

Sweet honey of the "thorns of death",

put to sleep the Shinigami's soul

that never decays.

Such awful lyrics yet it did sound like sweet honey. This small song kept being sung over and over. What did it mean though? Alan could feel his knees go weak, his body going numb. He couldn’t stand anymore, then he dropped to the floor on his hands and knees. He started to cry. ‘Is this my fate? To die suffering. Not knowing when my life will expire?’

Then a familiar voice. The voice singing the song answered with a tone that almost sounded pure and angelic, but Alan knew it wasn’t an angel that was going to answer, “Why of course this is your fate Mr. Shinigami. It’s anyone’s who is lucky enough to be chosen by me.” Gathering up his strength to speak Alan whispered in a low, soft voice that even a ghost would be ashamed of, “Lucky? To suffer before you die is counted as being lucky? I don’t know your definition of that word but it must be pretty twisted to think seeing someone languish from death is what you would define as being fortunate.” Alan gave a chuckle at it. What was this thing trying to anticipate? That death is a beautiful thing? Alan may be a grim reaper that takes away a person’s soul and guides it to another life, but he does have pity for the souls he reaps. Young or old, every soul he gives his prayers to hoping that their afterlife will be better than when they lived. And everytime he had met his victim, before they died, he apologized for what he was about to do.

The woman just giggled again, “Shouldn’t you know by now Mr. Shinigami? I am but a sweet thorn. What you see and feel as suffering I see as a blessing. You should be thankful that I am not like other diseases that just pick a random victim and see them as a suffering soul. No no no, when I pick my victims they are blessed with having such a sweet thorn to be killed. I don’t know why you reject your fate. Fate has brought me to pick you.” The woman had not shown herself once after the last time she visited. But Alan could still see that woman clear as day in his memories. Her eyes cloaked with a black veil with a black flowing dress to match. “I am still surprised that you haven’t given into me yet. Some have found me to be very persuasive. But you keep rejecting me… Why?”

Alan answered strong and confident, “You ask me why? But I do assume you know my answer… Because I want to keep fighting and living for the people who care for me.” The reaper stood up from his hands and knees from regaining strength in his legs.

“Oh?” Even though Alan couldn’t see her, he could sense that she was smirking under that inky veil that she wore to cover her face. “But you seem alone right now. Look around there is nobody to help you. You are all alone. You were born alone and alone you will stay until. The day you die.”

Her words had struck Alan in the back of his mind like a bullet. The words that dripped poison from her mouth and came out as words had gotten the better of the reaper. ‘She’s right. I am alone. I was born alone and alone I will die.’ A smile of pain came across Alan’s lips, “Ha, I guess you are right. Although there are people who do care for me, I am alone. And when I die no one will be there for me. Not even Eric.” Alan laughed at his own words. What the hell was he thinking? You’re right he wasn’t thinking at all. The woman’s words were like bullets made out of titanium. They couldn’t be stopped from getting into Alan’s head and persuading him slowly, word by word. And he believed them he believed that no one would grieve his death, not even Eric.

“I guess you’re right. I was born alone and alone I will die. But you know… I’m not going to stop fighting. Even if nobody does grieve for me I have to try to stay alive. I know I have people who care for me, and I know it doesn’t make sense when I say nobody will feel sorry for me, but I don’t blame them. I don’t want them to feel sorrow when I die. In fact I want them to be as happy as they can. But I still have the strength to fight back, so until that day comes when my body and mind cannot keep it up, then I will take your hand and you can lead me away from here.” He looked into the darkness smiling. Then, like before, everything faded and the woman’s voice did not speak, not one word.

He woke up smiling in his hospital bed with the sound of a monitor beeping at a constant rate and an oxygen mask strapped over his nose and mouth. “What happened to me?”

A/N: Ooh~! This is so exciting! Alan had another encounter with the Thorns! Although sad and depressing I had feels writing this so I hope me crying my eyes out was worth it. DON'T FORGET TO VOTE AND COMMENT/REVIEW for me my lovely Reaped Souls! I would love to hear what you all have to say about this chapter! Good, bad, okay? Or other comments are appericiated. But please if you have something critical to say about this chapter please keep the language at a PG-13 level as well as nicely harsh criticisms... That's it for now! Hasta La Pasta!

~Emma