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Down in the Dirt (v138)
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Gregory Death

Eliah Medina

    “Julia, you are so ugly,” Anna said.
    Julia turned her attention from the dishes to her bratty, little 10-year-old sister. Normally she would just ignore her little sister’s insults, but today for some odd reason, she was just unbearable. Julia and Anna were both exceptionally bright girls. Their mother, Rachael, was their primary caregiver. She worked as a vendor in the town center selling fruits and vegetables while the children are in school. Julia was tall, 13 years old girl with brown hair, green eyes, and was very pretty. Anna had blue eyes, blond hair and had dimples. Anna looked like a little angel, but to Julia, she was a demon child.
    “Did you hear me, ugly face?” Anna asked. “I. CALLED. YOU. DISGUSTING.”
    Julia wanted to grab a soapy knife and throw it in her sister’s direction, but she resisted.
    Gregory Death will take care of her. She thought. She has no table manners, and she is downright lazy.
    Gregory Death was a supernatural being that visited the small village of Camber once every 10 years. He would take the form of a regular human, visit every household that has two or more children, and take one child to the afterlife with him, or he can decide not to take anybody with him. The latter has never happened. These were the terms agreed upon by Gregory Death and the town mayor. It was either that or let Gregory Death slaughter the entire village. This would be the first time he would visit their household.
    Julia felt calm after reassuring herself. Julia was never a problem to her mother. She was always obedient, helpful around the house, and often wrote short stories and poems in her own free time. Anna, however, was a spoiled brat, who hated reading, house chores, and listening to her mom’s instructions. The only thing she loved was annoying the hell out of Julia. She always wanted everything to go her way.
    “Anna, shut up. Julia, did you finish the dishes?” Rachael, the girls’ mother, came into the kitchen.
    “Yes, Mom,” Julia answered.
    “Who’s coming over again?” Anna asked in an annoying voice.
    “An important guest,” Rachael said. “So be on your best behavior, Anna.”
    “Yes, Mommy,” Anna answered sweetly.
    Julia hated it when Anna used her fake sweet voice.

    Once Julia finished the dishes, the girls went to change their clothes. Julia came into the dining room wearing a simple white dress, church shoes, and her hair was all combed and loose. Anna wore a little black dress, with matching shoes and her hair in pigtails using black thread. Rachael also wore a black dress, with matching shoes and her hair in a bun. Next, they placed the food on the table. It was an impressive display of chicken, pasta, sweet potato, bread rolls, and macaroni and cheese. Suddenly, Anna complained that she had to go to the bathroom and ran off.
    Rachael began setting the utensils on the table. Julia started to set the napkins on each seat and asked. “What happens if he chooses one of us?”
    Julia looked at her mother to see her reaction. Rachael stopped for a second, and then resumed placing the utensils.
    “It won’t come to that,” She answered. “I won’t let anything happen to either of you.”
    Julia finished setting the napkins and sat at her seat. Rachael sat at her own seat and placed her hands in front of her like she was praying.
    The doorbell rang.
    “I’ll get it!” Anna answered, coming out of the bathroom.
    They could hear Anna’s shoes against the wooden floors as they went from the bathroom to the front door. They heard Anna unlock the door and open it.
    “Hi, Important guest!”
    Just take her now and leave us, just do it!! Julia thought.
    Anna came into the dining room holding hands with a tall, clean-shaven man, with gray eyes, black hair, and a calm demeanor.
    “Hello,” said the man with a blank expression.
    “Welcome to our home.” Rachael got up and shook Gregory’s hand.
    “It’s lovely to see you again Rachael,” Gregory said in a calm, but impartial voice.
    His gray eyes were mesmerizing. There were no blemishes or imperfections on his face. His towering figure, broad shoulders, and large hands made him very attractive. He was the product of angels.
    Julia said nothing. Anna’s attention was on the food laid out in front of her.
    “Please sit down,” Rachael said.
    Gregory sat next to Rachael, and Anna sat next to Julia on the other side of the table.
    “Everybody dig in,” Rachael said.
    “Everything looks great.” Gregory blankly replied to Rachael.
    The girls started gathering food to their plates and began eating. Gregory doesn’t lift a utensil. He watched Julia eating her chicken first, Rachael eating her pasta, and Anna devouring bread rolls. Gregory noticed that every other second, Rachael looked at him as if he’s going to strike someone, like a beaten housewife expecting a blow from the abusive husband. He kept his eyes on her, watching her fidget and squirm in her seat. Julia saw her mom and picked up the plate of sweet potatoes and cleared her throat. Gregory doesn’t move and kept looking at Rachael. He didn’t hear Julia clearing her throat. Rachael tried to drink out of her shaking wine glass.
    “Mr... Dea-Gregory?”
    He slowly turned his head towards Julia. She felt something tighten around her neck like a noose. Heart beating fast, she opened her mouth.
    “May I serve you?”
    “I don’t eat,” Gregory replied.
    Julia’s mind went reeling. Then why would we prepare all this food for somebody who doesn’t even eat? Gregory concentrated on Anna and Julia felt the noose vanish. Anna’s mouth was grinding and softening her food noisily, her eyes glued to her plate. Julia kept her gaze at their strange guest. He suddenly turned to meet Julia’s gaze. The tightness feeling around her neck returned but with more constriction. She began coughing. She still kept her green eyes locked to the gray eyes across the table. His eyes bulged suddenly and Julia’s head involuntary jerked back to the chair. She coughed more violently and clawed at her neck trying to breathe.
    “Julia?”
    Rachael looked at her daughter, standing up, running to the other side of the table. Julia felt like her neck was about to burst. She slammed her right hand on the dining, table making everything jump. Anna gave a gasp of surprise as her plate jumped while Rachael tried to help Julia. She closed her eyes. Stop!! Please!!! Stop!! Stop!!
    She felt her airways expand again and took in a lungful of fresh air, coughing. She looked at Gregory. His eyes stared blankly at his napkin. His mouth slowly formed a small hint of a smile. Rachael asked,
    “You ok Sweetheart?”
    “Sorry, it was a (cough) piece of bread stuck in my mouth.”
    “Chew your food, Julia... Jeez Louise.”
    Anna chuckled at her retort to Julia as Rachael returned to her seat. Julia resumed eating glancing at Gregory every so often, massaging her neck.
    “Max says “hi” and sends his love,” He said, his eyes fixated on his napkin.
    Julia gasped and stopped eating. Rachael dropped her fork, and it clattered to the ground loudly. She grabbed the table trying to stabilize herself, trying not to lose control of her tears.
    “What’s wrong, Mommy?” Anna asked noticing her.
    “You spoke to our dad?” Julia asked, looking at Gregory.
    Gregory rested his gray eyes to Julia’s green and nodded. Julia looked over to her mother. She seemed to be gaining control of herself. Anna looked at everybody, feeling like she missed something. Julia noticed Anna’s confusion and tells her that their dead father spoke to him.
    “So then that means you’re Gregory Death?” Anna asked.
    Julia and Rachael look at Anna, shocked that she knows. Gregory noticed their perplexed faces.
    “How did Dad die?” Anna asked.
    “He died in the war.” Rachael answered.
    “He was a brave man,” Gregory stated. “He was trying to save his friends. There was an ambush; he looked like a god avoiding all the bullets while shooting with his rifle.”
    This was the first time Gregory spoke with conviction in his voice. He sounded like a preacher professing faith.
    In her mind’s eye, Julia saw her dad on the battlefield. In the epicenter of chaos and mayhem, her father stood at 6”2, old movie star handsome, broad chin, gray eyes, the best eyes for a rifleman. She imagined her father running, carrying a fallen comrade over his shoulder, narrowly escaping bullets. She remembered how even more handsome and dignified he looked in his uniform.
    “The enemy’s army had his platoon outgunned and outnumbered. They retreated to their base, but even more came.”
    Rachael’s tears were freely flowing. Julia wore a stern face, trying to show no emotion. They were never told how he died. The only piece of him that came back home was his dog tags. Anna’s eyes stayed at Gregory, hypnotized.
    “His unit eventually surrendered. They were under torture for two weeks.”
    Rachael wanted to stop Gregory for the girls’ sake, but at the same time she wanted to know what happened to her husband. She looked over at Julia, who was still strong and calm. Anna was crying small tears, nose running. Gregory continued.
    “They lined all the soldiers up one by one at dawn, most of them nearing the end anyway. Max, however, stayed sane and resilient. They had a firing squad waiting for them.”

    At least it was quick, Julia thought.
    “The majority of them begged for mercy, but your father stayed silent and looked at his enemy’s eyes as they shot him,” Gregory said finally.
    “His last thoughts were of you three, his beautiful wife, and his two lovely daughters back home.” he said.
    “Prove it,” Rachael suddenly said, eyes red, tears flowing, lips quivering.
    He stared expressionlessly at Rachael and took something out of his jacket pocket. He placed it in front of Rachael. She immediately lost control and broke down. Lo and behold, it was the very same photograph Rachael gave her late husband before he went to war. The photo was of the entire family. Rachael and Max looked like movie stars, Rachael was carrying Anna who was very small back then, and Julia was holding Max’s hand.
    Rachael left the table, not wanting her girls to see her that way. Gregory resumed staring at his napkin, Anna was removing her tears, and Julia stared at the monstrosity that made her mom cry.
    “Thank you,” Julia said.
    Gregory looked up at her and replied inanely, “You’re welcome, I am glad to have met someone as courageous as your father.”
    An awkward silence filled the dining room. Gregory turned his attention to the doorway leading to the kitchen. Anna stopped eating, and Julia began eating her macaroni and cheese. Gregory was now fixated on the crucifix above their doorway. His face turned into an angry and displeased look. As if the crucifix was taunting him.
    “Do you like poetry?” Julia asked.
    It took a few seconds for Gregory to register the question. His body and face loosened, and he took a small breath. The poker-faced look returned to Gregory’s face.
    “Nobody wants to hear your sucky poetry Julia,” Anna retorted.
    Good now her true nature shows. Julia thought to herself and ignored her nasty remark.
    “Do you have any favorite poets... Gregory?” Julia asked. It felt really awkward without saying his last name.
    “I have too many to name,” Gregory simply answered. “Do you have any favorites?”
    “Emily Dickinson, I LOVE her work and she was so beautiful,” Julia said.
    “I’m definitely of a big fan of hers, and she was... a big fan of me,” Gregory said.

    Julia felt a shiver going down her spine at catching his attempt at a joke. She tried to make a genuine laugh. Anna couldn’t believe that somebody was enjoying Julia’s company. And they’re talking about poetry? Poetry is boring.
    “Do you have a favorite poem by Dickinson?” Gregory asked vacuously.
    “Because I could not stop for Death,” Julia replied with pride.
    Gregory slowly nodded his head, familiar with the poem. “I probably shouldn’t tell you this.”
    Gregory turned his head to the doorway that lead to the kitchen. Malice flashed across his face again and chided.
    “He’ll probably get mad.”
    Julia looked to where Gregory indicated, confused at first. She then remembered the crucifix they have above the doorway. Feeling more chills going down here spine, and feeling she will regret asking this, Julia said, “Tell me anyway,” looking at Gregory.
    Gregory glanced at Anna, who was examining the doorway from her seat, looking perplexed.
    “When it was her time to...” Gregory made a short pause.
    Julia nodded, understanding the meaning of his pause. Anna was still examining the doorway as if the answer were to jump in front of her saying: “Hey! Over here you idiot!!”
    “I took her to the afterlife like it said in her poem,” said Gregory, simply.
    Julia moaned, placing her hands on her heart like she heard the most romantic thing on Earth.
    “That’s how I want to die!” Julia said.
    “You are so weird,” Anna stated, looking at Julia.
    Anna grabbed another bread roll and took a bite of it.
    “See...” Anna says with her mouth full of bread. “I never want to die.”
    Gregory looked towards Anna with a blank expression on his clean-shaven face. Julia’s hand automatically gripped the knife at her side on the table. Gregory stared at the knife she was holding.
    Just take her and leave my mom and me here. Her, I could care less...
    “I want to live forever, be rich, famous, and be loved by everyone,” Anna continued, smiling with her mouth full of wet bread.
    Gregory returned looking at Anna for a split second and turned his attention to Julia again. Gregory said in a toneless voice.
    “I would love to hear some of your poetry, Julia.”
    Taken back, Julia slowly released her hand around the knife. She walked out of the dining room and into her room, her mind buzzing on which of her many poems to recite. She reached under her bed and took out a folder containing all her poems. There were dozens of poems inside. She flipped through the pages, deciding which to choose.
    Which one... Which one... Which?
    She grabs one entitled “Birdman,” the poem she recently finished. It wasn’t her best work, but she felt this one was one of her really good ones. She returned to the living room finding Gregory twirling his wine in his glass with a bored look on his face while Anna babbled on and on about nothing. Gregory saw Julia reentering the room.
    “Finally,” Gregory said vacantly at Julia.
    Anna saw the unimpressed look on Gregory’s face and pouted in her seat. .
    Julia cleared her throat.

    Every afternoon I see something so rare
    A man in a dirty tuxedo smelly and torn
    Walks into the park without a care
    Silent as the winter snow falls every morn

    He sits on his favorite bench and lets out a tired, weary sigh
    Small birds, medium birds, and large birds flock to his side

    Suddenly, something wet and cold smacked half of Julia’s face. She wiped it off her face and finds that it was macaroni and cheese. She looked at the kitchen table, seeing Anna holding a spoon with flecks of macaroni and cheese on it. Anna did it. Something inside Julia’s head and chest broke. Julia’s brain and heart yelling for Anna slaughtered. She wanted Anna dead. Julia lunged at Anna, grabbing her throat. Anna tried to free her neck from Julia’s clutches, but Julia is too strong. The sisters fell to the floor, Julia on top of Anna, choking the life out of her. Julia’s eyes got wider and wider. She’s actually going to do it. She was actually going to kill Anna; her face was slowly turning blue. Tears start running down Anna’s eyes and small whispers Mommy... Mommy. Julia felt like she was floating. She was rising up, losing her grip around Anna’s neck... Wait...

    Julia was floating in midair. How is this possible? She turned her head and saw Gregory standing behind her with a calm expression on his face.
    “I decide who lives and dies, not you,” Gregory said.
    Anna started to breathe freely and started coughing on the ground. Gregory walked over to Anna and softly touched her face. Anna fell into a deep sleep.
    “Although...” Gregory said, “I do admire your ambition.”
    Julia gently floated back to her seat and Gregory placed Anna back on hers, still sleeping.
    “She won’t remember you trying to kill her. Don’t worry,” said Gregory mutedly.
    “Thank you,” Julia said gratefully, her whole body was shivering.
    Gregory resumed his seat and looked at Julia in shock.
    “Drink some wine,” He said.
    “But I’m not drinking-” Julia stopped talking. She sat there fixated on her glass. The water was swirling really fast then turned blood-red. Her water turned to red wine.
    Julia looked over to Gregory, remembering who their guest of honor was.
    “You thought nobody else could perform miracles?” Gregory asked.
    Julia took her glass and drank from it. Her nerves immediately vanished. Rachael returned to the living room, her face now plain and her ruined makeup washed away. She saw Gregory looking at her, and Julia finished what she thought was her water. Anna was still sleeping.
    “Did you enjoy your meal, Gregory?” Rachael asked.
    “Everything was to die for,” Gregory answered.
    Rachael gave him a warm smile and headed to the kitchen.
    “Rachael, I’m ready,” Gregory said.
    Rachael stumbled and placed her hand on her wall. Julia ran to her mother, asking if she was all right.
    “Ladies please sit down,” Gregory said.
    Julia and Rachael sat next to the slumbering Anna. Each of their faces etched with anxiety and fear. Julia was holding hands with her mother as they faced Gregory.
    “Now I’m going to be honest you with both now...”
    Julia squeezed Rachael’s hand. Her heart was beating furiously.

    “This is what makes my existence worthwhile,” Gregory stated.
    Rachael was on the verge of tears again. Her lips were quivering uncontrollably, and her head was shaking violently. Julia looked into Gregory’s gray eyes, unfaltering and unafraid.
    “Rachael, I’m going to let you choose who I can take with me.”
    Something inside Rachael collapsed and her heart skipped a beat. She could not do it. She couldn’t; she loved them both. They are a part of her. They are her.
    “Please...no,” Rachael begged, tears streaming down her face.
    Julia looked at her mom in shock. She had never seen her mom beg to anybody before. She rarely even cried. When given the news that their father died, she stayed strong for her only two daughters. Seeing her mom in an almost pathetic state was really scaring her. Gregory sighed.
    “Choose or I take them both. Don’t think some piece of paper signed by a corrupted official can control me. I can do whatever I want,” Gregory stated with a stern, intent face.
    Take Anna! Take Anna! Take her! You have seen what we have to live with!! Julia screamed in her head.
    Gregory looked at Julia for a short second and turned his attention to Rachael again.
    “I’m waiting Rachael,” Gregory said with a hint of anger in his voice.
    “Please don’t make me choose...” Rachael said, choking on her sobs.
    “And why not?” Gregory asked. “Your parents did, remember? They spared you and handed over your sickly brother. What did he have again? Ah, yes, Down Syndrome. They made the wise choice. He didn’t even know who or where he was 99% of the time, so decide or I will leave you with nothing!” Gregory suddenly screamed.
    The whole house shook at the end of his sentence. Frightening Julia and Rachael, the crucifix from the doorway fell and shattered on the ground. The chairs shook, and the table was coming alive. The utensils were singing an eerie song, and the walls groaned in pain.
    “Take Anna! Take Anna!” Julia screamed over the chaos that was happening around them.
    Parts of the ceiling were starting to crumble and fall. Their glasses and plates fell and smashed into pieces on the floor. The chairs started breaking themselves apart and crumbled in front of them. Julia had finally begun to fear the man who entered her parents’ house. Julia grabbed the snoozing Anna and carried her to Gregory, begging him to take her now while she’s unconscious. Rachael ran to the corner and sobbed, trying to wake up from this awful nightmare.
    “Idiot woman!” Gregory yelled, and the house turned silent.
    Julia felt herself rise into the air again and floated slowly toward Gregory. He walked towards the door. The floating girls involuntarily followed him.
    “Mom!! Mom!! Don’t let him take us Mom!! Get up!!!”
    Rachael stayed in the corner, not moving at all. Heavy tears leaked from Julia’s eyes. She kept yelling at her to do something. They entered the living room, now reaching a few feet from the door. Anna was still in a deep sleep being carried by a bawling Julia crying for her mom.
    “Say goodbye to your mom Julia. You won’t see her for another 1000 years.” Gregory said. “I’ll make sure of that.”
    Gregory grabbed the door handle.
    “Wait!!” a voice from behind screamed.
    Gregory turned around and saw Rachael standing, tears still falling, but standing upright. Julia’s mind buzzed with hope and relief.
    I’m not going to die. I’m not going to die...
    Rachael steeled herself again, wiping away her tears.
    “I choose to sacrifice my eldest daughter, Julia,” Rachael declared.
    Julia’s body suddenly went numb. She heard a ringing in her ears, and her mind went blank.
    She said the wrong name... She meant Anna not me
    The snoozing Anna tore away from Julia’s clutches and catapulted towards the couch in the living room. Gregory stared up at the floating Julia.
    “NO!!” Julia screamed.
    She yelled at her mother as more tears started flowing down her face. Her heart was beating furiously as if wanting to pump a few more precious seconds of life. It knew what would happen when Julia got outside.
    “I was the perfect daughter! I did everything you asked!!” Julia screamed.
    Gregory stayed silent, watching. Julia continued sobbing while calling her mom every foul word she could think of. The tears made soft noises as they hit the living room floor. Rachael just stood there and took in every name her daughter called her, fully aware that she deserved it.
    After what seemed like hours, Julia covered her face, still sobbing. She felt herself lowered to the ground feeling powerful arms hugging her. Her dad used to do that when she had nightmares. She even remembered what her dad used to smell like. He smelled like grass after a big rain storm. Only, her dad wasn’t hugging her.
    “Come on Julia,” Gregory said.
    Julia opened her eyes to see Gregory’s arms around her, her eyes still producing tears, her heart still beating nonstop, denying its imminent doom. Julia gave her mom a hateful glare.
    “Why?” She asked, lips quivering.
    Rachael walked over to Anna and stroked her blond hair. Anna was still sleeping peacefully.
    “Because I hear you cry every night,” Rachael said.
    Julia’s face turned from hate to sadness. Gregory’s stern face reverted back to his blank face. Rachael continued.
    “I miss him too Julia. Every day is a struggle for me too. I see your father so much in both of you and your sister.”
    Julia kept her eyes on her mother who was looking over Anna. Gregory slightly bows his head a little, as if he was showing reverence.
    “Can you do me this one last thing? Keep your father company while I try to make Anna more tolerable?”
    A laugh almost escaped from Julia while she sobbed. Rachael looked at Julia in Gregory’s arms. All dressed in white, she already looked like an angel.
    “I do love you, Julia. Believe me, please.”
    Julia realized how much she’ll miss her mom. She’ll even miss Anna, in a way.
    Gregory placed her on her feet and looked down at her. Julia gave back a hateful glare. She just noticed that he has gray eyes too. Gregory said blankly.
    “Come on, your dad is waiting,”
    Gregory grasped Julia’s right hand as she looked back at her mom and her sister. They got closer to the door.
    “I’ll see to it that the mayor will publish your writings. I know all your poems and stories by heart,” Gregory said. “You will be immortal, and be loved by future generations,”
    Julia looked at Gregory in shock, not believing the words he just uttered.
    “And now... We are going on a carriage ride.”



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