Chapter Thirteen: Puppet World

"Fake?" Holly repeated. She didn't have the strength to try to free herself any longer. "All fake?"

"Every last one," Krim agreed. "This entire world has been created for you. To study you, to judge you."

"Judge me?" Holly frowned. "I don't understand. Why am I being judged? By who?" how could she even ask questions? Her mind was still trying to comprehend what Krim had revealed. There was no way this entire world was fake, was there? None of it made sense.

Krim picked up his pace as they got farther and farther away from the others. "Death can explain more if he feels like it. I don't know how much I should give away. I don't need to put myself in danger over this."

"You said you'd tell me everything," Holly reminded. Inside, her world was spinning. None of this made sense. "Why would this world be created for me? Why? And who did it?"

"You want all those answers?" Krim twisted his neck to study her. "Then I need something from you. It's the only way I'll agree."

Holly shifted. "What do you want?"

"Even if those guys come to save you before we get there, you're still going with me. You agree to go with me to see Death, and no matter what happens, you will keep that promise. Deal?"

Holly shivered. Something about the way he said it set her teeth on edge. "And if I don't?" she whispered. "If I don't keep that promise?"

A cruel smirk twisted his lips. "If you break a promise with a reaper, you'll regret it with every breath in your body. Pain unlike any other will surge through you until the promise is kept. Which will it be? Answers, or will you try to fight me over this?"

A fool would accept his offer. There's no way she could risk so much just because she was curious.

Still.

Fake life, a world created for her, how could she not desperately need to find out what that was all about? "The promise is just that I agree to meet Death, right? Nothing beyond that?"

Krim chuckled. "I could make it longer, that you have to stay there no matter what, but sure. I'll just make it a trial contract for you. You agree to come with me to meet Death without any escaping or attempting to. If you do anything that would delay us on purpose, the contract kicks in."

Holly winced. This was crazy. She was crazy. Why was she doing this? "Fine," she whispered as her head sunk. She had to know what he meant. If everything was fake, she had to know.

Krim grinned. "Glad to see that you have some sense in any case. Don't worry, no harm will come to you while you're with me."

Holly glanced back over her shoulder. "And the others?"

"I'm going to use a spell so the only ones that can find us are the other reapers, and they'll know better than to cross me on this. They might find you interesting, but when it comes down to it, we all have to watch out for ourselves first and foremost. You understand, right?"

Holly could only nod to his question. "Just tell me everything."

"Everything?" Krim frowned. "I know a lot, but I can't say I know everything. Let's start with what I do know, and I'll let Death fill you in on the rest."

Holly sighed. "Will it hurt?" she whispered.

"Will what hurt?" Krim questioned.

"When I die. I imagine death from Death will be worse than anything else..."

Krim chuckled. "Who said he was killing you? All I've been told is to bring you to him. Considering that he wants to talk to you, you should feel some relief. If he wanted you dead, we'd have done that a long time ago."

Holly shivered. The matter of fact away he talked about it sent chills through her. This was her life he was discussing so casually. Death didn't want her dead? Then why did he even want her? She just wanted off this nightmare of a ride and back to her ordinary life.

A life that never existed according to this guy.

Was he even telling the truth? Maybe this was all a lie in itself so she'd just follow along and not fight him

"If everything is fake, how am I real? Is this a simulation or something? A virtual reality experiment?"

"Nothing so high tech," Krim chuckled. "This is merely a construct of what would have been. To put it as simple as I can, you were caught before you were born."

"If I'm not born how is all this?" Holly looked around her. "How is all of this possible?"

"It'd be easiest to think of it all like a dream. The dream of the future that you would have had if you hadn't been trapped. You're lucky this one doesn't believe in slaughtering innocents."

"I don't get any of this." Holly sighed. "If I've never been born and yet I'm still dreaming, what am I, a fetus?"

"Basically," Krim replied. "But don't think that since it's a dream it doesn't matter. All of this, matters. Everything that happens to you is real, the results of it all, real as well."

"And if Death kills me, that's it?"

"That's it," Krim replied. "But Death wants you alive for some reason."

"Is he the one that created this fake world?"

"No," Krim's movements had increased even more.

The land streaked around them in colorful flashes. They were never still long enough for her to figure out what she was seeing so instead a dizzying array of reds, yellows, and blues flowed by like paint.

Holly wasn't sure how they were moving as they were, but all hopes of the others coming for her were dashed. "Then who?" Resignation was in her voice as she asked.

"Sloth, as for why? I'm not sure of that myself. I just know what Death has told me. Sloth wanted to judge if you were worthy."

Holly wrinkled her nose. Her surroundings were starting to solidify. They were slowing down at least. "Why would a Sin judge me? Aren't they supposed to be trying to kill me? Stuck in this eternal clash or whatever?" She hoped Eros would forgive her. It was stupid to do this, but it was too late now.

"Sloth doesn't normally get involved with anything. They tend to stay to themselves and ignore the rest. But you, you did something to make them curious. Or maybe one of their siblings forced them into it." Krim shrugged. "Death might know, but beyond knowing they're interested in you, I am clueless."

"Why did you betray the others?"

Krim glanced over at her again. "To protect them. I'm not willing to put my team's life on the line over a maybe someone stronger will show up. Death is a jealous master and a brutal one. Reapers can be replaced easily, There are always people dying with regrets."

"What's your regret then?" Holly questioned.

Krim chuckled a cruel humorless bark. "That's the thing. With this job, you don't get to remember your regrets or the life you once had. All of that is gone. There is only the job and the Master, and your team."

"You don't remember your past life? How do you know it's not fake like mine is?" Holly demanded. "That you're not in some sort of experiment?"

"The others have identical histories, and I've seen what happens to reapers that remember." Krim's words were soft as if they weren't exactly meant for her.

He must have known her next question because he gave a bone-weary sigh. "Once they start to remember their life, they get to relive their death and all the regrets that came with it. It's an endless cycle that drives them insane."

Holly put a hand over her mouth. "They can't break free?"

"I've never seen a reaper break free," Krim closed his eyes. "And believe it or not, I've seen many reapers come through. Please, don't ask any more about that. I can't risk remembering, please understand."

His voice was choked with his emotions. Emotions that Holly hadn't thought this one was capable of at all. "Krim-"

"Well, it looks like you finally got here." The man that spoke was leaning against an old battered gray house. His brown eyes studied Holly every bit as much as she studied him. His short black hair was wild and messy and the black leather jacket somehow outlined his every ab.

"Here we are," Krim announced. "I brought her as agreed. Are we safe?"

The man shrugged. "We'll see, but for now, sure." He held a hand out to Holly who couldn't stop staring at him.

"Who are you?" she whispered. She knew the answer, but this was not what she expected. He looked like a motorcyclist with the stubble on his chin and the brooding stare he went her way.

"What? You expected Death to be all feeble and weak?" He laughed. "I'm afraid that what you humans consider the truth, is pretty far off the mark in all cases. Now, follow me. I need to talk to you, and if you deny me, I'm going to rip apart your escort in front of you."

Krim didn't wince away, he didn't even shudder. All he did was bow his head in wait.

But Holly wasn't about to let that happen in front of her. "I'll go." She put her hand in his and followed him into the quiet little house.