I stopped dead in my tracks, scared stiff. I looked at Grell, and he was looking right back at me. From the look on his face, I was sure he'd heard it as well.

I checked my notebook copy of the "to-die" list and saw no one listed to die today or for the next few days, or at least that I would have to worry about.

I looked to Grell and shrugged, then jumped from the roof and landed on the ground. Then I ran after the source of the scream.

Grell quickly caught up with me. "What do you think you're doing?" he yelled at me, grabbing my arm and forcing me to stop running.

I looked at him. "I'm going to see what's happening. Either there's an unscheduled murder taking place, or someone was scared of a spider. I just want to know what happened."

"I'll go then. You go home and I'll tell you what had happened."

"But I want to see for myself. Plus, I'm not supposed to be alone."

Grell crossed his arms. "Fine, we'll go, but you have to stay within sight of me. Got it?"

I nod and start sprinting toward the scream, Grell close behind me.

*

When we reach the scene, Grell tried to tell me that he should go first, but I didn't listen and turned the corner.

What I saw made me nearly throw up. There was a woman on the ground, dead, blood all over her body, her stomach cut open. The killer was still there, wearing a red coat. Her back was to me, so I ducked around the corner of a building before she could see me.

Grell looked at me and frowned, then looked back at the body and understood.

He came over next to me. I was breathing hard, the picture of the dead body still in my head. He pushed my red hair from my face, and told me to start walking back to home, and he would take care of it.

I nodded, and started on my way. I jumped onto a building, and then I couldn't see him anymore. I walked forward, and then stopped.

A fog had risen. I started running, hoping I could get somewhere before the screaming started. I saw a high building, and jumped to the top of it. The fog rose higher. I heard a scream, and then more of them, as if they were right in my ears.

I ran by the rooftops, hoping that I could keep going, at least get to the reaper library before anything horrible started.

The screams got worse, and I had to stop running at sit down. My head pounded and I felt dizzy. The wind got cold fast and started stinging my eyes, which were wet with tears.

Then I remembered. I held back the tears and sobs, opened, my eyes, and didn't cover my ears. The screams continued, but gradually got quieter until I could no longer hear them.

I was relieved that I got rid of them myself. I looked around and the fog was still there, thicker than ever. I heard a shriek in my head that made me almost pass out. I crawled over to the edge of the building, wondering if it would be best just to jump. I'm seriously considering it when I feel a hand on my back. I jump and punch the person in the face, then realize it was Grell.

I fall to the rooftop again, and this time, I wish I had jumped. The screams are so loud and disorienting that I can't even find the strength to stand. When my brain threatens to pass out, I let it, hoping that everything will be okay in my dreams

*

In my dreams, I see images of my past. A proud mother, a brother always looking around at guys, and guys trying to take from me what they had no right to. No one ever succeeded, thanks to Grell always being there when I needed him most. So where was he now?

I dreamed that I was all alone at a crossroads. I was trying to decide which way to go, when I man appeared. He told me what was at the end of the two roads, and there was nothing I wanted. I started to turn back, but he caught me, then the dream changed.

I was in a bedroom. I was sitting on the bed and the same man walked in. I was horrified. The man immediately got on top of me and pinned me down. He crashed down on top of me and kissed me hard. I struggled to fight back, and I heard someone saying my name the entire time.

"Scarlet! Scarlet!" The voice yelled, sounding distant.

The man started ripping the blanket off the bed, keeping our lips locked, and my arms pinned to the bed. I could only imagine where this was going to end up.

The man removed his lips from mine long enough to pull off my shirt, then crashed back onto me.

"SCARLET!!" The voice screamed, suddenly clear.

I jerked awake, breathing hard, tears falling from my eyes like a waterfall.

I looked over to see a blurry Grell, more worried than before.

I sniffed. "Did you take care of it?" I asked between sobs.

He nodded.

I hugged him. I loved the times when he would act like my older brother and let me cry in front of him. It made me feel like I had a normal family, if only for a moment.

Grell picked me up and started carrying me. "Let's get you home. I have a reaping to do tonight."

"You do?" I asked. looking up at him.

He nodded and showed me his schedule. There was a picture of a man and he was scheduled to die tonight. It was enough proof for me.

I drifted in and out of sleep while Grell was carrying me around. All I could picture when I closed my eyes was that nightmare I'd had moments ago. When I saw them, I would jerk awake fast, which almost made Grell drop me a few times.

It wasn't until we had reached our little Grim Reaper dimension that I felt safe enough to leave my eyes closed, watch the memory unfold, and smile in the end of it, when I saw Grell burst in and almost kill the reaper trying to violate me.

I smiled to myself as I watched the end of that scene play in my head. Grell may not like to admit it, but he's an awesome older brother.

*

I awoke in my room, in my bed, and I was so happy to be home. I'd never been more happy in my life to see the red walls of my bedroom and the black curtains.

I left my room to find my mother and Grell in the living room, clearly talking about something that had nothing to do with me (but by the tears in Mom's eyes, I think I had a pretty good guess).

Mom saw me and smiled. Her long red hair was tangled, her mascara was running, and she looked like she hadn't had a bath in a week.

Her smile quickly led to her hugging me, smoothing my hair, telling me everything would be alright. I was comforted be feeling her hugging me again, but I couldn't help giving Grell a questioning look.

He shrugged, and my mother said I'd be safe if I stayed with her.

Then she told me to quit my training to be a reaper.