The 13th: Destiny Awaits by Ela Lond Read Free Book Online Page B

that they are gone, you are able to see them clearly.”
    “Oh.” Kate shifted closer to the nearest one, a young girl dressed like a hippie. She touched her and a weak current ran through her fingertips while images of the girl's last moments flashed before Kate's eyes. It hurt seeing the girl curl into herself and hearing her regrets as the car crashed into hers.
    “My parents,” the girl said. “They don't want to let me go, even after so many years.”
    And now she waited for Kate to help her cross, right? “It hurt,” she told Ethan.
    “That’s because you looked into her memories. You need to distance yourself when you do that,” Ethan said. “But don’t worry, reaping doesn’t hurt as long as you keep your mind empty.”
    “Yeah, right?”
    “Try it. Just reap.”
    “Reap?” Kate pursed her lips. “In case you don't know, this is my first time holding a scythe and just saying 'reap' doesn’t tell me a lot. Could you be more detailed, please?”
    “Just swing the thing.”
    “You mean like... cut her?” Wrinkles marred Kate's forehead.
    “Yes.”
    “Wouldn't that hurt her?” Kate glanced at the girl who waited before her with a pleasant smile.
    “No.”
    Could she do it? Kate asked herself. She lifted the scythe and took a deep breath before she brandished it at the girl, ready for the pain. The blade cut into the girl's body and the minty green and lavender light that embraced the girl like a corona burst out from the cut. The light blinded Kate. She heard a soft “thank you,” and then the light vanished, together with the girl, leaving Kate with a strange emptiness.
    “So, this is the reaping?” This explosion of colour?
    “I have never seen it myself, but I think so.” Ethan nodded.
    An old man floated forward. “Is it my turn now?”
    “Yes, it your turn,” Ethan confirmed.
    “Are they all tied to this world by their relatives?” Kate swung her scythe and the man disappeared in azure blue light.
    “Probably not all by their relatives, but yes, they are still here because their loved ones' love and regrets are holding them in this world.  They are not strong enough to break that hold and move on by themselves,” Ethan said. “Nanael says that for the living, death represents the end, as it should, and when they weep, they weep for themselves, for their loss, for the memories that will never be. And if the weeping doesn't stop, if they remain frozen in their sorrow with their lives on hold, the dead can't move on.”
    “Nanael?”
    “The Keeper,” Ethan explained. Gloves appeared on his hands, and with one, he touched a boy who then faded away.
    Part of her wanted to find out more about this Keeper, but... it was none of her business. “You said that you can't get rid of them.” She brandished her scythe at the little girl with the yellow halo.
    “I can't, only the Soul Reaper can reap souls,” he said. “I can only awaken dormant or suppressed powers, like I did with you, and establish a connection between spirits and their loved ones.”
    “What do you mean?” Another spirit disappeared under her scythe.
    “Well, usually ghosts say goodbye to their loved ones with the help of dreams. When they can’t, the Stones of Awakening open a connection between the deceased and the living that enables spirits to appear in their loved ones' dreams and resolve whatever is holding them in this world.”
    “Ah, I see.”
    The next spirit floated closer to Kate, this time a woman. She vanished into navy blue. More ghosts stepped closer and dispersed in the light of their aura, until Kate's arms became weary and she had trouble lifting her scythe, despite its lightness.
    “You will need some time to get used to it,” Ethan said before he turned to the ghosts still waiting for their turn. “I'm sorry, but this is all for today.”
    Kate watched their shoulders slump as they turned around and dispersed into nothingness.
    “Something smaller than this would be better.” Kate