The deal

The man she buried is back and knocking.

He stood outside the door, his hand poised to knock once again. He was nervous, his heart racing in his chest. But before he could knock, he heard a voice from inside.

"Who is it?"

He cleared his throat, his voice coming out raspy and dry. "It's, uh, it's me. Nate." He paused, waiting for a response.

There was a moment of silence, and then the sound of footsteps approaching the door. The doorknob turned, and the door swung open, revealing Olivia standing there, pale, shocked, and frozen in place.

"Hey," Nate said, his eyes fixed on Olivia's as she stared blankly at him. He couldn't blame her for her reaction, he looked exactly the same as he did when he died, after all. He gave her a small, tentative smile.

"Surprise?”

Olivia stumbled back a step, her hand covering her mouth. She looked like she couldn't believe her eyes.

"You're...dead," she finally managed to say, her voice shaky.

"I buried you."

Nate winced at the reminder. "Yeah, about that..."

He took a step forward, closer to Olivia. "Can I come in?”

Olivia hesitated for a moment, her expression still a mix of shock and disbelief. But then she took a deep breath and stepped aside, allowing him to enter the small apartment.

She led him into the living room, where she sat down on the couch, leaving space for him next to her. Nate took the seat, his mind racing with nervous energy.

Nate fidgeted with his hands, trying to figure out how to even start this conversation. He knew Olivia wouldn't believe him if he told her he made a deal with the devil - who would? He decided to stick to the facts and hoped she would understand.

"Look, Liv," he began, meeting her gaze. "I know this is...unexpected."

Olivia raised an eyebrow at him. "Understatement of the year.”

Nate couldn't help but crack a small smile at that. Despite the situation, it was good to see that Olivia was still the same sarcastic and quick-witted person he remembered.

"Can you just let me explain?" he asked, a hint of pleading in his voice.

Olivia's expression softened slightly, and she nodded. "Alright. I'm listening.”

Nate took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves. "Okay, so...you remember that night, right?"

Olivia looked away, her jaw clenching at the reminder. "Of course I remember.”

Nate's eyes softened at the pain he saw on her face. He knew bringing up that night was going to be hard for both of them.

"I'm sorry," he said quietly. "I never wanted you to have to go through that.”

Olivia looked back at him, her expression a mix of anger and hurt. "You think a simple 'sorry' is going to cut it?”

Nate winced a little at the harshness in her voice, but he knew he deserved it. "I know it's not. But please, just hear me out."

Olivia stayed silent for a moment, seeming to consider his words. Finally, she nodded. "Fine. Go on.”

"I made a deal, with someone. Nothing big. But I'm back"

Olivia's eyebrows furrowed as she absorbed what Nate was saying. "You made a deal...with someone. Someone who can bring back the dead? That's so fucked up but amazing! What was the deal?”

Nate sighed, knowing this was the part of the conversation he had been dreading. "Nothing to worry about.”

Olivia's eyes narrowed at his vague answer. "Nothing to worry about? Nate, you just told me you came back from the dead because you made a deal with some mysterious person. I think I have the right to worry.”

Nate couldn't help but give a small smile at the sight of her yawn. "Tired?"

Olivia let out a small huff of laughter. "Yeah, I guess I am kind of tired."

She rubbed her eyes, the exhaustion finally catching up to her. Nate couldn't help but notice the dark circles under her eyes. It was clear she hadn't been getting much sleep lately.

"Go to sleep. I'll sleep on the couch."

Nate smiled at her, feeling a sense of relief that she wasn't putting up more of a fight. "Good. Go get some rest."

He watched as she stood up from the couch, still looking at him with a mix of exhaustion and uncertainty.

"Goodnight, Nate."

"Goodnight, Liv."

Olivia disappeared down the hallway, her footsteps getting quieter until they stopped altogether. Nate leaned back against the couch, exhaling a deep breath.

He looked around the living room, taking in the familiarity of it all. Everything was just as he remembered it, down to the photos of the two of them that were still hanging on the walls.

Nate's eyes landed on a picture of himself and Olivia, laughing and smiling together. It had been taken at her sister's wedding, just a few months before he died.

Nate made his way into the kitchen, his footsteps silent on the hardwood floor. He was hit suddenly by a sense of déjà vu, how many times had he walked through this very kitchen, either to grab a snack or make a meal for the both of them?

As he rummaged through the kitchen drawers, he came across a knife. He picked it up, testing its sharpness with the tip of his finger. Satisfied, he tucked it into his waistband, out of sight but easily accessible.

He paused for a moment, listening for any sounds from down the hallway. But it was quiet. She was asleep.

With one last look around the kitchen, Nate took a deep breath and headed to her bedroom.

The door to Olivia's bedroom was slightly ajar, and Nate could see a pool of light coming from inside. He pushed the door open, careful not to make any noise.

He took a step inside the room, his eyes adjusting to the dimness. Olivia was lying on her side, facing away from him. She looked so small and vulnerable in her sleep, her face peaceful and innocent.

Nate approached the bed slowly, his heart pounding in his chest. He reached out a hand and brushed a strand of hair away from her face, careful not to wake her.

His hand traced down her cheek, his touch barely a whisper against her skin. She stirred slightly, but didn't wake up.

Nate's hand slid to his waistband, where the knife was hidden. He pulled it out, the metal gleaming softly in the low light.

He knelt down next to the bed, looking down at Olivia's sleeping form. She looked like an angel, her chest rising and falling slowly with each breath.

It happened in a fraction of a second. One minute, Olivia was asleep. The next, Nate had plunged the knife into her chest, right between her ribs.

She let out a strangled gasp, her eyes snapping open. She tried to sit up, but Nate was too fast. He grabbed her shoulders, pushing her back down onto the mattress.

Nate kept going, his face a mask of determination. He counted out the stab wounds in his head, each one echoing through the silent room.

Olivia struggled beneath him, her fingers clawing at his wrists. But she was no match for his strength. He had the advantage, and he knew it.

He kept going, the blade of the knife sliding through her flesh with each strike. The metallic smell of blood filled the air.

“4, 5, 6, 7, [...], 663, 664, 665, 666.”

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Nate stopped. He was breathing heavily, his chest rising and falling with each labored breath. Olivia lay beneath him, her body covered in stab wounds.

He stood up slowly, his mind still reeling from what he had just done. He felt numb, like he was watching himself from outside his own body.

He stumbled towards the door, not bothering to look back at the body on the bed. It was done.

He had done what he came here to do.

He stumbled out into the hallway, heading towards the front door. His head was spinning, his thoughts racing.

As he reached the door, he paused for a moment. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself.

He knew this was the end. He had made a deal, and all deals had consequences.

He closed his eyes, bracing himself for whatever was to come next. The air around him felt heavy, like it was pressing down on him.

He had accomplished his part of the deal.

Kaori

@Kaori

The deal

Kaori