SOUL

Erika Lindsen

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

Publisher’s Note:

This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places, and events are the work of the author’s imagination.

Any resemblance to real persons, places, or events is coincidental.

Solstice Publishing - www.solsticepublishing.com

Erika Lindsen ©2012

Dedication:

To the one who taught me to keep going, even when things cannot get any darker, this is for you.

Chapter One: Drebin’s Mission

A soul—something humans held onto it like it had worth. It was my job to take that wealth, and I did so with a smile.

Blood dripped from her wrist in little plunks of crimson drops. Her life was fading away. I pulled a knife from my pocket and gently scored the blade across my forearm. I couldn’t believe I’d taken over four hundred lives. Tonight was just the end of another day at work.

I looked down at the red puddle growing beneath her. Humans always left behind a mess. Just the sight of her disgusting fluids oozing made the fibers of my being thankful I never had a soul.

“Maybe I should go to the hospital,” the girl whispered.

Gently stroking her cheek, I shook my head.

“I…I can’t kill myself.”

I sighed. “Bethany, we’ve talked about this. Look at yourself; I’ve never seen a girl as fat as you. Cottage cheese has less curd.”

“I could lose weight.”

“My dear, you’ve been saying that for months and yet you grow larger every day. And don’t get me started on the waste of oxygen you are at work; the middle cubicle everyone avoids. Last week, while you were sick, they had a party. The alcohol flowed, and the laughter spread throughout the building. Life was better without you.”

Her blood-soaked palms covered her face, muffling the sobs. I picked up her sweater and tossed it at her. Bethany looked at me, confused.

“Wipe your nose. You look disgusting with snot dripping all over.” I peered down at the blood that gushed from her wrist; it was almost time.

“Drebin? Are you sure this is what’s best?” She was searching for an escape. There was no escaping Hell.

“Yes.”

A single tear rolled down her cheek. Her finger pressed against the droplet. As she glanced at the tear, her body started to sway. She was dying.

“Goodnight, my dear Bethany.”

“Thank you, Drebin.”

“Shh. Soon you will be where you belong.”

“In heaven?”

I smiled, “No, not in heaven. Hell.”

Her eyes widened moments before the light dimmed in them.

Four-twenty-one’s soul was mine. Lucifer, my Savior, would be pleased at my progress. Snapping my fingers, my notebook landed in my hands. I wiped the blood from the floor and scratched off Bethany’s name.

Next on the list was four-twenty-two: Alexia Downer. Not even a prayer could save her.

Chapter Two: Alexia’s Beginning

I spooned some mousse, savoring every second it was on my tongue. I was such a chocoholic. Silently moaning to myself, I noticed my roommate, Emma, was coming out of class. I threw away the rest of my dessert, yelling, “Hey, Emma!”