The day was dark and gloomy as rain fell in thick waves over the small quiet little town of San Vivida, Mexico. As the rain was falling, many of the quiet friendly villagers hid in their small homes spending time with their families telling stories and the like. However not all was peaceful; at the edge of the village where the rich farmland laid, a short middle aged man ran as much as he could despite his disability in his leg while he carried a small baby in his arms. He had found the newborn abandoned in the forest and as a kind nurturing man he wouldn't dare leave a baby to die. The best thing he could possibly do was bring the baby to the most respected man in the village; Death. Despite the name, everyone in the village looked up to Death. Many told stories to the children that Death came from a distant magical land, with teachings and magical potions that helped heal the village especially during the times of plague. No matter if it was true or not, all of the village was grateful to him. With the newborn wrapped in cloth and held tightly in his arms, the man known as Jorge knocked quickly on Death's door. He was soaked to the bone, and his cane that he relied on to walk was long discarded back in his hut. As a lonely man, Jorge's only solace was having conversations with Death as well as practicing his love of carving into wood. Often he would carve small toys for children and fashion small furniture for the locals from scraps of wood he would purchase from merchants. With a shiver and a grunt, Jorge held the quiet baby close to his chest. As he was waiting he prayed that the silence didn't mean the baby wasn't alive.

"Por favor, dios mio..." He whispered to himself.

(wait, Grim didn't enter the house)

(wait, Grim didn't enter the house)

Ouch sorry I'll fix that)Fixed)

Edited August 2, 201510 yr by Aqua7KH

Death ran back and forth from the table and the medicine cabinet. He kept opening and closing little drawers filled with ingredients as he mixed them up on the spot. He poured something on Miguel to numb the pain before he began to remove the dead skin and wrap up the injuries while coating them with a special tonic. Things had gotten much dangerous for the two. If someone could try to set fire to murder a small child and a helpless elderly man, what could stop them at trying to murder them further on?

 

Grim and Megara ran over to Jorge, the fire blazing as it ate up the house, black smoke rising into the air. "Mama...what is happening...?" Grim asked, tears falling down his cheeks. How could something so bad, so dangerous happen to people like Jorge and Miguel? Why them? They had never done anything wrong! "Jorge! Dios mío, hold on! We're getting you help as fast as we can. We'll get you all fixed up!" Megara insisted, her figure shaking as she tried to wipe the charcoal away from Jorge. Her fiery nature quickly took hold, standing up before snapping at the townspeople. "What the actual hell is wrong with all of you?! How could you possibly just stand around?! Isn't this the man you've known all of your lives as the toy maker, old Jorge, and now you just stand around and watch him like a dying rat?!" Megara screamed, her face burning red with anger. Grim was crying full on by this point, just scared and confused. "M...mami..." Grim sobbed. Megara rubbed his head and turned back to Jorge. "Come on, we're taking him home." Megara huffed, grabbing Jorge's arms and beginning to pull him away, dragging him with all of her strength despite her petite figure. Grim followed, his head down as he tried to help his mom. Why were the people so mean? They were never mean to them...why were Jorge and Miguel any different?

Miguel suddenly started to yell in pain once Death went to work. After pulling on the dead skin the once numb feeling was replaced with nothing but pain never experienced before in his entire life.

"Stop! Stop!!!" He shrieked. "It hurts!!!"

 

Meanwhile in the town, all was silent. Megara's words hit many. Jorge was once toy maker. Most of the adults standing there remembered the toys they played with as infants that were made by Jorge. Those toys were passed to their children. Jorge was a man who was loved by all, especially the children for his wise kind soul. But it was after he took in the witch's son when everyone shunned him. Some people just stared at Megara. Some didn't care. Others actually teared up. But all were too afraid to dare say a word. Many townsfolk were afraid to help Jorge due to what others might think.

Death gently rubbed Miguel's head, hushing him down. "I know it hurts. I'm sorry that it hurts. But I promise you that once I'm done you're going to feel so much better." Death assured, kissing his forehead. He reached out, picking up a liquid that looked like water, but had an ever so faint green hue. "Remember when I told you about snake's venoms and their effects? How some paralyze and others do other stuff? The reason people like me collect such things is because when fixed, they can help us. Here." Death purred, having Miguel drink the liquid. "This is dilated venom from a snake. It has only the good effects of the venom. It will numb out the pain." He explained as he had him drink it. It was a tedious task, as it depended on the snake, and snakes didn't exactly come over, full grown, with the needed effects willingly. But luckily he had some left.

 

"Papi!" Death turned to see his son standing there, tears falling down his cheek as he looked utterly distressed and sad.

 

"Grim-" Before he could continue his wife walked in, dragging Jorge behind. "Megara!"

 

"They wouldn't help so I will do it myself...!" Megara huffed, resting old man Jorge resting on the carpet. No soon after Megara was at the verge of fainting from the sudden urge of strength.

 

"Mierda! I'm working with Miguel, check him for any injuries and explain them to me, I'll tell you what to do!" Death asked, to which Megara hurried to do, used to helping out her husband in medical emergencies and needs.

 

"What do I do?" Grim asked.

 

"Come here." Death ordered. Grim walked over and Death had him hold Miguel's hand. "I need you to hold Miguel's hand tightly. If he feels any pain, he will have to need something to hold onto. It needs to be you. You need to remind him he's not alone." Death asked, turning back to work on Miguel. Grim did as told, holding Miguel's hand and kissing it gently.

 

"I'm here...Jorge is here, mami is here, papi is here, we're all here...you're going to be ok..."

Miguel continued to cry and squirm until Death fed him the venom turned medication. Slowly, the pain did feel numb. But it also made Miguel's mind very cloudy. His head lulled to the side, turning to see Grim through half-lidded eyes.

"Greeem..." He muttered tiredly. His body went limb due to weakness.

Meanwhile Jorge was fighting to reach consciousness. There was nothing really wrong with him, except for some burns. However he had a lot of smoke in his lung and the side of his leg was bleeding really deep from the rusty nail cutting into it. There was still some rust in his leg.

"Miguel...Miguel!!!" Grim yelled, shaking his hand as tears fell down his cheeks. "Wake up, wake up!"

 

"It's ok, Grim. He's just tired and weak. Let him be. Keep holding his hand." Death ordered. He did his work on Miguel and Megara did her work on Jorge. She pulled the rusty nail out of his leg and wrapped a leather belt tightly around his leg to cut the flow of blood. She cleaned the wound and began to treat it along with the burns, bandages and colorful cures and ointments going on and about, back and forth from Megara's grip and Death's. Two brilliant minds working to fix the two broken people before them. These were the power couple of the town, a reputation that Grim would have to live up to along with so many other expectations. The loved healing the hated. They spent their time, and by the end of it, they fixed them all they could, Jorge resting on the sofa as Miguel rested on Grim's bed. Grim rested right next to him, holding his hand as he watched Miguel's stomach go up and down with his breathing.

 

"Thank goodness they got out in time..." Megara sighed.

 

"Yeah." Death agreed, washing his hands. Once he was clean, he picked up his scarf and made his way out the house.

 

"Where you going?"

 

"To check on the house. To see if there's anything left." With that, Death walked off. He headed back to the now burnt up house, the black standing out in the colorful scene. If there was anything left, he would try to salvage it. These people had done nothing wrong...why did they had to suffer so much so?

Miguel slept silently. Sometimes he would drift awake only to fall back asleep again. It wasn't until when he felt Grim's hand on his stomach that Miguel drifted awake once more.

"Greeem..." He hoarsely muttered, turning his head to look at his friend with half-lidded eyes.

"It hurts...."

 

Meanwhile, as Death stood in front of the house the damage was devastating. It was nothing but burnt wood and ash. All of the crowd had left already, not one daring to help in any sort of way. However on the side a little boy stood sobbing, staring right into the ground as thick tears streamed down his face.

Grim looked up and quickly snuggled up to him, holding his hand still. "I know, I'm sorry, but daddy says that he can't give you more medicine unless more time passes." Grim murmured, resting right next to Miguel, facing him as they shared a pillow. "You can do it, ok Miguel? You're so strong! You caught a snake all by yourself and everything! Don't you worry, I won't leave your side. I'll be here always...Amistad fuerte llega mas allá de la muerte. Remember?" Grim smiled, snuggling up to Miguel gently.

 

Death picked up burnt pieces of wood here and there. Everything was down to ashes and pieces that were unusable and unfixable. It would all have to be done from scratch. Anew. And something told him that the town wouldn't be helping any time soon. He noticed the child that cried as he stood by the burnt up house. He hurried over to him, rubbing his shoulder. "Hey, what's wrong? Are you hurt? If you're worried about Jorge and Miguel, they're alive. Just a bit hurt, but alive." Death explained.

Miguel sniffled silently as he just laid there. He wanted to hug Grim back but he just couldn't. His body was in too much pain to even move. Instead, he just slowly nodded and closed his eyes.

"S-Sí....." He hiccuped.

 

Meanwhile the boy only continued to look down. He kept sobbing and sobbing even after Death had talked to him.

"Papa is going to be so mad at me..." He muttered, not really acknowledging the fact that Death was there. "Papa is going to be so mad... So mad... M-Miguel won't have a Papa either because of m-me... Papa is going to be so mad... So mad so mad so mad..."

Grim smiled and snuggled up closer. Just then, his mother opening the door carefully. "Grim, you didn't wake him up, did you?" "No he woke up on his own." Grim said innocently, not moving from his place. Megara smiled, walking over as she pulled the covers over the two and began to tuck them in. "Alright then. How about a little song?" She asked. Grim nodded in anticipation. Megara gently stroked Miguel's head as she began to sing...

 

"Arrorró mi niño,

arrorró mi sol,

arrorró pedazo,

de mi corazón.

 

Este niño lindo

ya quiere dormir;

háganle la cuna

de rosa y jazmín.

 

Háganle la cama

en el toronjil,

y en la cabecera

pónganle un jazmín

que con su fragancia

me lo haga dormir~"

 

Death rubbed the child's head gently, hushing him down. "There there. Why would he be mad? Did you do a prank? Surely it can't be that bad." Death asked. "What did you do? What happened?"

Miguel was happy to see Megara there. She always knew how to ease the strongest of pains. The lullaby brought peace to his heart and ears although he struggled to stay awake. After a few minutes however his mind surrendered to sleep. After a few minutes he was already snoring before the song even finished. "..."

 

Meanwhile the boy continued to sob and cry. He was shaking, deeply fearing something or what he did.

"He's gonna be so mad.... So mad so mad.... I'm not allowed to go near this house... He's going to be so mad at me..." He made small whimpers and cries. "A snake told me the toy maker was doing to die because of today and the witch's son too... I wanted to tell them stop throwing r-rocks at the house but t-they wouldn't listen... My papa is going to be so mad at me... He's going to be so so mad... So mad..."

Grim fell asleep just as quick thanks to his mother's song. He curled up, sleeping whiled holding Miguel's hand. Megara smiled and kissed his head and Miguel's. "Buenas noches mis príncipes." Megara purred before walking out of the room and slowly closing the door.

 

Death listened to the boy's story and couldn't help but to be ever so confused. A snake told him? "A snake?...child snakes don't-!" Death began, but suddenly stopped himself, a chill running down his spine. Snake talking, that Jorge would die...it couldn't possibly..."...its ok...don't worry. I'll make sure your dad doesn't get that angry with you. You didn't do anything wrong, you tried to stop it...what's your name, and who's your dad?" Death asked, rubbing the child's back gently.

The boy seemed to calm down a little after Death listened to his story, however panicked when Death mentioned his dad.

"My papa... He's going to be so mad..." He uttered. The boy didn't even bother saying his name. "My papa told me not to go near the house... He's going to be so mad... The snake said he is going to be mad... I don't want him to be mad... He's going to be so mad at me... But I have to go home now... He's going to be so mad at me... So mad... The snake said the toy makers' skin will rot... I have to go home now... He's going to be so mad at me... My papa is going to be so mad at me... So mad..." The boy kept repeating the same things over and over again. Most would think he's mentally insane and delusional. He wasn't even making direct eye contact to Death. He just kept staring at the ground. "My papa is going to be so mad at me..."

 

Death felt as if the moment around him was surreal. It wasn't a dream or a nightmare but it felt just like it. This child he had never seen before talked on and on about things and how his father would be mad and how a snake had spoken to him...could it possibly...it couldn't be. Countless of possibilities ran through Death's mind as his eyes widened in horror. Could it be that Miguel wasn't the son of the witch after all. Even if he was, who was this child who spoke so cryptic...Death knelt down to the child's height, and decided he wouldn't risk any chances. He grabbed the child by the shoulders and forced him to turn to face him and look at him. "I am talking to you. Answer me...who are you, who is your father, how come you can speak to the snake...is the snake around?" Death asked. It felt as if he had just encountered something no mortal such as him should had ever encounter. That this child was something beyond that what everyone could consider to be strange or dangerous. "Tell me right now."

The child shivered in fear after Death grabbed him. He closed his eyes, fearing the worse. His sobbing only increased, growing louder.

"M-Mi papa... The fisherman..." He cried. The fisherman was the nicest man in the village almost. He even helped Jorge from time to time giving him free fish and whatnot. It was known that he loved his son and wife with all his heart.

"A-Are you going to hurt me for t-telling? T-The snake said I'd g-get hurt if they found out...! M-My papa is going to be so mad at me! He's going to be so mad! The snake left... M-My papa is going to be so mad at me..." His eyes were wide, fearful, almost as if he himself saw or encountered something that he shouldn't had. After a few moments he broke eye contact once more and looked down to the ground.

"I-I have to go home... M-My papa is going to b-be so mad at m-me..."

Death lowered his gaze ever so slightly. The fisherman was usually a kind man. Everyone said great things about him. Maybe he was being paranoid? "...Don't worry. I won't hurt you. I won't even tell your dad you were here. If he gets mad, I'll tell him that I asked you to help...come on, I'm escorting you home." Death insisted, taking the boy's hand gently as he began to walk with him. He knew where the fisherman lived. It was a lovely house near the shore. "No one should hurt you for trying to help. You tried to stop this from happening. That makes you a good person." Death added, hoping it would calm the child down as they walked over to the house. "If Jorge dies, it isn't your fault. You merely tried to stop it. If anything it should be the one who started the fire who should feel guilty. You did nothing wrong...alright?" Death assured, softening his voice and glance in hopes that he didn't end up scaring the child. He could be scary when he wanted to...but overall he could never stay angry at any child for too long.

(S'rry only had time to type this)

The boy only continued to cry. As Death took him along to his house the boy shivered more and more in fear. Death's words did not ease the boy's heart at all.

"G-Good people die..." Was all the boy muttered. Once they got to the fisherman's house, it wasn't a moment later until the fisherman answered the door. Upon seeing his son the man cried and immediatlelt picked him up.

"Ani!" He cried, smothering his son with kisses. "I-I was looking everywhere for you!"

The boy, Ani, sniffled slightly and buried his face in his father's chest. The fisherman looked to Death.

"T-Thank you... For finding my son."

 

"(We all do.)" Death though in response to the boy's comment on how good people died. Death came for all, the actual thing and not him, of course. But no one was able to evade such thing. The only hope was for one to live a fulfilling life and die off from old age. Upon the encounter with the fisherman, the name of the child was revealed, Ani. "It's fine...he just seemed a bit lost." Death said, though it was hard to keep his question from simply escaping his lips. Did this father knew that he was able to speak to snakes and serpents? Did he knew about such dreadful messages? Were anyone else to find out outside from just a few ears, it would turn out one of two possibilities; either the towns people will think of it as a miracle...or as witchcraft, and if the second option came true, it would be the Miguel situation all over again...the only thing he could possibly think was that the child was either gifted...or cursed. Regardless, as it was once with Miguel, children were children...and this child, despite his scary prediction, didn't seem to mean any harm. "He doesn't seem hurt. He must have been scared...children will be children after all."

Ani looked down, his eyes empty. If anything, they were full of dread. Accepting dread. As if he was a lamp accepting the fact that he was about to be slaughtered. He was quiet, not saying anything.

The father sighed softly and kissed his son on the forehead. "I'm so sorry you had to go all this way Muerte. Those damn kids. I heard what happened at Jorge's house and I feel terrible about it. I hope he and el niño is okay. My wife told me they're okay thankfully... I'll have to catch some salmon later and save it for them. Those kids need to be taught some dicipline. When will this village learn the 'witch's son' is nothing more than just a false tale? He's nothing more than an innocent child."

Death shook his head slightly. "I've treated Miguel and Jorge as soon as I was able to. They seem in stable condition...but only time will tell." Death said, taking in mind of what the child had mentioned. About Jorge dying and his skin rotting..."Traditions and superstitions haves always been the way of the people, sadly. Generation after generation old habits die hard. Even though there is no proof of Miguel being the witch's son, fear will usually overcome reason...as it has been proven today." Death sighed, and then smiled softly. "Even if there was a child of the witch...no child is born into this world bearing the sins of those before them. All children are pure and innocent. Even if gifted their parents do not define what they will be. Who knows, maybe the witch's son will end up being a hero, and the town will be proven wrong." He rubbed the back of his head. "I should get going. I need to check up on the two back home. Have a good afternoon and be safe." Death added. He then gently rubbed the boys' head. "Don't get lost again now. But if you do, you're welcome to play with my son any time." He said, and then bid his farewells before walking off. Maybe there was a son of a witch, maybe there were two, three or none...

The fisherman nodded with a small frown on his face. How terrible the people in this village was. Why were his neighbors so cruel?

"I admit I do believe that boy is la bruja's son... I will never forget those chestnut eyes they both share. But that doesn't matter at all. I am the son of a drunkard. But I am not a drunkard. I am but a humble fisherman who makes sure every mouth in this village is fed. That boy will prove one day that he is only himself. Until then however, I fear the others will do their best to treat him horrible..." He signed softly when Death announced his need to leave.

"Lo siento..." The fisherman said with a frown. "I do not wish to keep you. Buenas tardes. I hope to cook you up a nice fish sometime."

Ani only continued to look down. He didn't even respond to Death's friendly gesture. This silence caused his father to look down at his son in worry.

"Hijo... What is the matter with you?" The fisherman asked as he began to carry his son inside the house. "You're always so talkative... You're never shy!"

 

Death walked quietly over to his home, past Jorge's house, or at least, what was left of it. Why couldn't the people of the town be more understanding? Maybe because  he was a doctor who had studied outside such a small place, and relied more on reason and logic than superstitions that had been passed down from generation to generation...yet how could the people let fear dictate their kindness over someone who they had all cherished so long before any of this ever even started. Once he got home, he was greeted by Megara, who told him that the children were fast asleep, much to his relief. "Good." Death murmured. He then went ahead to pull away his scarf, pull up a chair, and sit next to Jorge as he laid on the sofa. "I'm going to stay by his side for the night. Though his injuries are minimal...I wish to stay by in case something happens in the night." Death insisted, though the tone of his voice quickly alerted to Megara that something seemed a bit off about her husband. "What happened while you were out, Muerte?" Megara asked. Death blinked a few times and gave Megara a reassuring smile. "Just...met someone who told me something." Was all Death would say. He picked up the nearest candle. "I'll explain later." And so, he blew it out.

The next day, all appeared to be well. Jorge had woken up very early, however Miguel was still fast asleep. He woke up in eight in the morning as he usually would to tend to the crops. But this time he woke up in pain. As soon as his eyes open, he shot up in the couch and began to cough uncontrollably due to the newfound pain he was feeling.

"A-Agh-" he sputtered, his dry mouth preventing him from making a complete sentence.

"M-Mi-.... Gue-...l..." He held his hand to his chest, and began to force himself off of the couch.

"I need.... Se-...e.... Mig...uel...."

Death rested on his chair, fast asleep as his head hung back, his arms crossed. He had fallen asleep on watch duty. Even the doctor had his weaknesses. However Jorge's struggle brought him to become awake. Death rubbed his eyes and quickly shot up awake at the sight of an awake Jorge. "Don't move!" Death insisted, running over and gently pushing Jorge back down on the sofa. "You just woke up. Hold on, I'm getting you water." Death murmured, hurrying over to the kitchen and coming back with a glass of water, helping Jorge drink it. "Here we go. Please drink it call up. It'll clear up any residuals that might still be in your body." Death asked, looking down at Jorge worryingly. "Miguel is alive. Most of his body received severe burns, but I was able to patch it all up as best as I could. He's asleep and under numbing pain medication...if you want to see him I can take you, but I won't allow you to force your body." Death insisted. The sun was barely rising, rays of light shinning through the windows. "I tried to savage anything from your house...I couldn't find anything." Death sighed, rubbing his head. "You and Miguel can stay here as long as you need to. Especially while you're under medical care."