Cheating Death (Grim Reaper Short Stories, #3) / Grim Reaper Short Stories (ePub)

The farther Supria went, the darker it got. Here wasn't like anything she had ever heard back on earth. It just simply didn't exist in her mother's church stories about the afterlife, nor in her grandmother's voodoo stories.

"Supria?" Kayla finally called out after flirting with the idea that Supria wasn't telling the complete truth. Supria ignored and kept walking ahead. Something was completely wrong. She could feel it in her gut. Kayla stopped in her tracks and called out to her again. This time, Supria stopped and without turning back asked what was wrong.

"Where are you taking me?"

"To get the keys."

"That's funny, we are the only ones treading this path. Everyone else here should be looking for their keys too, aren't they? Why are we the only ones going into the dark if this is where the key is?" Kayla asked, narrowing her eyes at Supria who still had her back turned to Kayla. When Supria refused to speak, Kayla sensing danger began to walk backwards, away from Supria.

"Stop moving." Supria called out, still not turning to look at Kayla. Her body had begun to change, undergo a strange kind of metamorphosis but she was calm as she did, even graceful--like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly. No pain, no discomfort.

"Who the hell are you?" Kayla managed to speak before Supria turned on her. Vulture. Supria had turned into a vulture. Kayla took to her heels. Supria screeched and went after her. The ground was like jelly. Kayla couldn't move very fast, even if she could, wings were always an advantage over limbs. Supria flew low at intervals to claw Kayla. Two futile attempts, then at a point, she got hold of her hair and dragged her to the floor. She fell backwards, head hitting stone. Supria transformed, pinned Kayla to the floor and forced the concoction she had made earlier into her mouth. After that, blackout.

Eyes open, shut, confusion, then coherence then eyes open. Comfort had vanished. Supria who was sitting beside a fire had tied her hands behind her back with twigs, as well as her feet and sat her up against the bark of a tree. How far into the forest had they gone? It was pitch black this time, definitely really far. Kayla feared bats might be just above her. Curiosity raised her head up and bats were in fact above her head. She made a mental note not to scream. Kayla resolved to keep moving. She fell against the floor and began to crawl, like a worm.

"It's pointless." Supria said not looking up. Kayla closed her eyes in both anger and disappointment. Silence engulfed them. When it became deafening, Kayla spoke.

"Will you at least tell me the truth before doing whatever it is you have kept me captive for?"

"No." Supria's answer came sharply. As sharp as the thorns on the twig around Kayla's wrists-- as sharp as the glint in her eyes.