Dead Girl Walking by Ruth Silver Read Free Book Online

slipped on his boots and walked outside. “I'm not keen on lying to Edon.”
    “It's only a lie if he asks. We won't lie then. Think of it as protecting him,” Wynter said.
    Wynter walked toward Leila and climbed onto the horse. “Looks like we're riding partners. Where to?”
    Leila shook her head. “I don't know. The appointment was for yesterday afternoon.”
    “Let me see your scroll,” Wynter said.
    Leila removed the scroll from her thigh. When she held it, the stinging sensation dissipated. However, it did nothing to alleviate the burn on her leg. “Here you go.”
    Wynter unraveled the scroll, reading it over quietly. “I recognize the last name.”
    “You know who he is?” Leila asked.
    “Follow me!” Wynter told the group as he rode hard. “No, I know the family name. You walk through enough cemeteries and reap enough souls, you'll learn things.”
    “How morbid.” Leila leaned into Wynter, careful not to fall. They rode along the trail for hours. Her cheek rested against his back as she gripped Wynter tight against her. “Are we there yet?” Riding a horse wasn't comfortable, and this was her second long journey today.
    “Almost.” He slowed as they approached a graveyard.
    There was a muffled cry. From the outermost edge of the graveyard, Leila could hear it. “What's that?” she asked, feeling her chest tighten.
    “Probably your reap calling for help.” Wynter climbed down off the horse and offered Leila a hand. He secured the horse to the fence and walked into the graveyard. “You coming?”
    Leila hesitated. “I guess I have to.” She followed Wynter through the graveyard. “Where's everyone else?” Violetta came up the path with her horse, but the others lagged behind.
    “Jasper is bringing you a shovel. He'll probably be riding alongside Emblyn.”
    “A what?” She knew what a shovel was. What she didn't understand is why she'd need one.
    “You're going to have to dig up the body.”
    “No way!” Leila shouted. “Absolutely not.” There were some things she was not willing to do; desecrating a grave was one of those things. Wynter stopped walking, and Leila bumped into him. “We there?”
    “No.” He shook his head. “I don't understand why you became one of us if you have no interest in helping.”
    “It's not that I don't want to help.” She loved looking after her sister, making sure she was tended to properly. She was good with people and helping came naturally to her. It was the other aspect of being a reaper that she didn’t agree with. “I don't want to kill people.”
    Wynter stared at her. “Do you think we have the power to kill, Leila, because we don't. Just like we can't stop people from dying. All we can do is be there to help the person move on.”
    “So, I'm just supposed to be all right with watching people die every day?” It was a lot to expect. She was barely seventeen. She had her whole life ahead of her and in an instant it was stolen. This was a second chance at life, but it wasn't what she expected. She wasn't really sure what she had expected when she agreed to Edon's terms. This however, wasn't it.
    “It gets easier. Listen, I know it's not fun. It's part of the job; we all do things we hate. There are good moments too. You'll see. Just give it time.” Wynter took her arm and led her farther into the graveyard.
    “This place is creepy.” She hated being around dead bodies, and Wynter wanted her to dig one up. Just great!
    “It doesn't get any less creepy.” Wynter stopped walking and tapped on the ground. Both of them could hear a muffled cry for help.
    “How did he get buried if he's still alive?” Leila's heart raced in her chest. Maybe she could still save him.
    “He's dead, Leila.” Wynter rested a hand on her shoulder. Jasper came down the path carrying a shovel and handed it to her. “You're going to have to dig him up. Or else he'll be trapped for all of eternity in that grave,” Wynter said.
    Leila felt sick to her