Existence 03 - Ceaseless

you need help already?” She asked. I force myself to look at her, e ven though the disdain in her eyes was painful to witness. She wasn’t buying into my excuse. This wasn’t something I’d planned for.
    “Um, yeah, I know, but I, well, that is Mr. Yorkley and I know I’m going to struggle,” I explained. Did I tell her about my “dyslexia ” now or later? Leif Montgomery—quarterback, wouldn’t be that open. He’d want to keep his cool persona. I had to remember to play the part. If this was going to work I couldn’t let her see me too clearly this soon.
    “Why do you both think you’ll struggle? Surely, you’re not afraid to speak out loud in class.”
    I wanted to tell her everything. I couldn’t keep looking at her and reply properly. I turned my gaze away to stare straight ahead before answering. “No, that’s not it.” Was the only response I could come up with. Real smooth.
    “I don’t really know why you need my help. It’s really simple. You write speeches about the topics assigned and then give them orally. Simple, basic, no fancy strings or hard equations.” Her dislike for me was so obvious in her tone. What had I ever done to her to make her hate me so much? I thought I was a nice guy. Everyone else liked me. Why not her?
    “It isn’t so easy for me.” I started to say more and stopped. This wasn’t going like I’d hoped. I needed to think this through. “Never mind, forget I asked.” Without another glance back at her , I stood up and walked away. I’d completely screwed that up. For over ten years I’d been waiting for the moment when I would speak to her and know that she would remember me it tomorrow.
    “I don’t understand why you want her so badly. She’ s a complete bitch.” Kendra caught up to me as I stalked down the hallway as far away from my debacle in the cafeteria as I could.
    “Shut up , Kendra. I’m not in the mood,” I growled picking up speed.
    “Testy, testy. Not attractive, my prince,” she replied with an amused tone.
    “You’re pushing it,” I threatened , as I reached my locker.
    “She’s uptight, Leif. Breaking through her wall of ice is going to be impossible.”
    Jerking my locker door opened, I reached for my gym bag. “Leave me alone,” my words left me as the eery presence of Death crept through the halls. Kendra felt it too. She stiffened and took a step closer to me. Who was he after? No one’s soul had left their body.
    “Do you feel him?” Kendra whisper ed . The awe in her voice was obvious.
    “Yeah,” I replied searching the halls for a sign of him. But I saw nothing. Slowly the feeling left and I took a deep breath. He was gone.
    “That was Dankm ar wasn’t it?” Kendra asked sta ring up at me.
    Nodding my head, I slammed my locker.
    “Why was he here?”
    “I have no idea, Kendra. He’s Death. He can go wherever he wants to go. Just back off me, okay.”
    I stepped around her and headed for the locker room. Maybe I could get some peace and quiet in there.
    ~*~
    Death was stalking her. Anger, fear, and helplessness battled inside me. Should I go ask my father what to do? Would he know the answer to this? We’d saved her from Death once already. Why was he back? How many times would Death come for her? She was only seventeen. I had to find a way to stop this.
    I couldn’t get close enough to her house without alerting Death that I was near. He would feel me and come find me. Although Death had no power over me, crossing him wasn’t something I wanted to do. Did he know it was me that kept her alive all those years ago when he’d come to take her soul? Had he figured it out? Was he coming to right a wrong?
    “ Ghede !” I called out into the darkness knowing my father would come at the sound of my voice. I didn’t come to him often for help. I preferred to keep my distance from his life in Vilokan . The Voodo o afterlife would be my final dwelling once Pagan was mine. But right now , I wanted to be close to her. Vilokan felt so dark and lonely without her with me.
    “ Whut do I need da fix now, huh?” Father asked as he stepped out of the darkness. The two small orange tips of his cigarettes were the only light around us.
    “ Dankmar is stalking Pagan. Again.” I explained forcing myself not to begin pacing. Father hated it when I paced.
    “Is dat so? Whut dat gurl done to send de Death afta her again?” Father pulled the cigarette s from his mouth with two of his long slender fingers and blew