Annaise braces herself for the incoming impact of having heavy weights slugged at her fragile frame. This time around had been much worse than the other times the two had traveled through . . . whatever it is they were traveling through. Annaise really doesn't have a clue.

"Sorry," the figure mutters, "Just a bit angry that time. You okay?"

"Fine," Annaise says sharply, the remnants of their previous conversation still fresh in her head. She's still mad at the hooded figure for disrespecting her parents' deaths. She might've not especially liked them - and they weren't exactly the most ideal parental figures - but she would never be satisfied with the deaths of others.

Annaise thinks of that as barbaric.

The figure brushes imaginary dirt off of their cloak, then looks up at the sky. "We're back to the present by the way, if you had been wondering." She doesn't answer. "Annaise, darling. Don't be upset."

"Don't be upset?" Annaise asks without a trace of hostility. Her face merely showed the expression of curiosity and confusion. "For what matter do you think I'm upset about?"

"Since I don't grieve for your dead parents. Darling, that's ridi-"

"Think about your answer, please. Thoroughly. After you're finished with that, then you may tell me to not be upset."

Annaise bites her tongue, worrying if she'd gone too far.

"Alright," the figure agrees. Annaise refrains from showing a smile on her face. "Why don't we just sit here for a while, hm? We haven't got anything to do anyway."

"Aren't there the souls of dead around for you to collect and such?"

"Hush, child. I'm thinking."

Annaise bites her tongue again.

It hasn't even been five seconds when the Reaper gives out an 'ah' of comprehension. "You want me to treat your parents like I've treated you. But why is that? Don't you hate them for all the horrible things they've done to you?"

"Hate is a strong word."

"Dislike."

Annaise shivers from the tone of the figure's voice. Her teeth close on her tongue again out of nervous habit.

"No matter how terrible a person is, they are also good. It's impossible for someone to be completely and wholly awful. I heard a quote once, and it went something like this, 'Even in darkness, there is light'. I'm sure you've heard of that before, or at least something similar. Even in the darkest of souls, there is at least a sliver of rectitude hidden. My mother and father may have been dreadful to me - I'll admit that - but they only meant well. They simply didn't see where my boundaries ended, so they continued to push me beyond them."

"They'd called you a monster for so many times that even I've lost count."

Annaise closes her eyes and takes a small breath in, and when she exhales, the tsunami of tears is gone.

"That is true. But as I said before, even the most deplorable of people have some virtue in themselves somewhere."

The figure pauses in thought. "You are very different from the other ones."

"Thank you."

"I meant that in a good way," they reassure hastily.

"I would've been thankful either way, but I thank you again."

"I don't understand, all the others like you have all been so bitter about life and the people living it. They'd wanted everyone who hurt them to be killed off for what they'd did to them. Yet you are the complete opposite. I'm still trying to figure out why."

"After I'd . . . died, I realized something. I realized that I could've handled life as it was; it could've only gotten better anyway. I realized that not everyone had been an absolute asshole - excuse my language - to me, and some were actually much better than I'd thought. I was just too late to learn all this, and I missed my chance." Annaise's voice cracked at the end, and she chuckles to cover it up. "I'm sorry for the speech."

"It's perfectly fine; I quite enjoyed it, really. I've gotten so much insight on the world." The figure laughs. "To think, I'd be learning from a small, young girl that had committed suicide . . . I must be growing a bit too old."

The two laugh softly.

"Well Annaise, I suppose I'll go and get your parents then."

"Are you really?"

They smile at the girl's shocked yet happy grin. "Really. Will you do alright on your own?"

"I'm sure I'll figure something out."

The Reaper sighs happily. "I'll miss you Annaise. Perhaps I'll visit sometime."

"Please do; I'd enjoy that."

They take hold of Annaise's hand, which was much smaller than their own.  The pair smile at each other. "One last time."

And this is where the story ends.

the end.

[as if the last words weren't clear enough]

[did anyone realize that the ending and beginning were similar?]

[the beginning sentence being at the end of 0]

[yeah? yeah?]

[ok xD]

[and each chapter other than 0 and 1 started with a simile?]

[agh I'm a loser]

ANYWAY, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS STORY, OR AT LEAST FELT STUFF ON A DEEPER LEVEL.

[oml perverted minds]

I HAD A REALLY GOOD TIME WRITING THIS AND I HOPE I CAN TEACH PEOPLE HERE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE AND CONSEQUENCES OF SUICIDE AND TO JUST BE A NICE PERSON. YOU DON'T HAVE TO GIVE SOMEONE FLOWERS OR SHOUT COMPLIMENTS EVERY DAY - JUST BE . . . NICE!

[woop woop making no sense like always alright]

I have no idea what else to say. BUT I LOVE YOU ALL FOR READING MY STORY, COMMENTING, VOTING, AND ALL THAT SHIZ BC THAT IS AMAZING AND IT MAKES ME FEEL REALLY HAPPY THAT PEOPLE LIKE MY MEDIOCRE WRITING.

SO THANK YOU ;*

HAVE A NICE REST OF YOUR LIFE <3