K.D. Worth - The Grim Life

Published by

H ARMONY I NK P RESS

5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886 USA

publisher@harmonyinkpress.com http://harmonyinkpress.com

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of author imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

The Grim Life

2015 K.D. Worth.

Cover Art

2015 Paul Richmond.

http://www.paulrichmondstudio.com

Cover content is for illustrative purposes only and any person depicted on the cover is a model.

All rights reserved. This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of international copyright law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines, and/or imprisonment. Any eBook format cannot be legally loaned or given to others. 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 the written permission of the Publisher, except where permitted by law. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Harmony Ink Press, 5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886, USA, or publisher@harmonyinkpress.com.

ISBN: 978-1-63216-890-0

Library Edition ISBN: 978-1-63216-891-7

Digital ISBN: 978-1-63216-892-4

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014920701

First Edition March 2015

Library Edition June 2015

Printed in the United States of America

This paper meets the requirements of

ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992 (Permanence of Paper).

To anyone and everyone who has ever felt they were not worthy.

Never forget, you are loved from up above.

This story is a culmination of life, experience, and faith, with more than a dash of imagination. I hope these words will resonate with the lost soul in each of us.

Deanna

M Y NAME is Max Shaw and Im dead.

Well, I assume that Im dead.

I stood in the middle of the road, staring at the hunk of folded metal that used to be my mothers minivan. The sounds of sirens echoed in the distance, the whine growing louder as they drew closer to the scene of the accident. But nothing could drown out the terrified screams from my date, Debby Kowalski.

Max! Max! Answer me!

My lifeless body lay sprawled across the hood of the white pickup that had just T-boned us as I drove through the intersection on a green light.

At least I thought it had been green.

Above me the heavy signal light changed, casting green and red lights across the wet spots of the intersections pavement. My lane had a green now, so did that mean it had been red before, or maybe yellow? Id only had my drivers license a few weeks.

Had the accident been my fault?

I rubbed my forehead, trying to recall what color the light had been, but I came up blank. Id been so distracted in my head that I hadnt been paying attention.

So much for defensive driving.

Though a sophomore, Id just left prom with my upperclassman girlfriend, and we were on our way to after-prom at the school gym. Even now, as I took in the surreal scene before me, my mind wasnt on giant sumo wrestling games or the Velcro wall my friends were so excited about. It was obsessing over what Debby had whispered to me on the dance floor: My parents arent home. Maybe you should spend the night.

Yet instead of possibly losing my virginity to a girl, I died.

What kind of messed-up kid was I that I was less afraid of the latter?

Debbys haunting wails as she screamed my name brought me back to this strange reality. I looked for her, but I couldnt see Oh my God! Shes trapped in the van!

Debby! I ran forward and a cold wind rushed over me, her name disappearing in a frosty cloud on my lips.

Above the minivan, a dark, shadowy form appeared out of nowhere. Swirling like an aura, the shadow seemed to suck the air right out of my lungs. The hair on the back of my neck stood up, fear itching down my spine.

Whatever that thing was, and no matter the risk, I had to help Debby.

Stop!

The command came from behind me, and it was delivered in a firm, authoritative voice.

Frightening even.

Powerless to do anything but obey, I froze in my tracks just as an arrow whizzed overhead.

The arrow collided with the shadowy form, causing a burst of icy air to blow my hair back and flutter my clothing.

What the?

I looked over my shoulder to see who the heck was shooting an arrow in the middle of town, but the flashing lights of a squad car barreling toward me blinded my vision.

My arms rose at once, bracing for impact with the police car, but someone yanked me clear mere seconds before I was struck.

Heart racing, I watched the cops slam on their brakes, parking a safe distance from the wreck. The dark shadow had disappeared, taking the chill in the air with it. Other cars had stopped, and a man helped Debby break free of her jammed seat belt. Thank goodness she was alive!

Out of harms way, I studied my rescuer with the spooky voice. I was a tall well , Im five eight in my tuxedo rental shoes. I was hoping to gain a few inches this summer like Dad said might happen. Regardless of my somewhat limited height, I had to crane my neck to make eye contact with the big, imposing man whod saved me from dying a second time tonight. Then again, if I was dead, the car wouldve passed right through me like it did with ghosts in the movies, right?

I kinda regretted not finding out.

Unsettling gray eyes studied me back, and long blond hair framed a face both weary and handsome, maybe even wise if one could describe a face that way. The man was dressed oddly too, wearing a long brown duster and snug blue jeans. He had on road-worn biker boots and a rather large opal ring, which caught the light in a kaleidoscope of colors. There were tattoos peeking out from the V-neck of his T-shirt too.

And he had a giant crossbow in his hand.

I didnt quite know what to make of him, and though he was rather intimidating and my corporal body was bleeding out on the hood of a pickup, something about his presence left me feeling serene. Calm, even.

He startled these musings by speaking. Do you know whats happened?

I scoffed and pointed at the chaos surrounding us. Um, duh. Im dead.

Lips pursed in a sympathetic yet somewhat amused smile, he nodded. Okay, good. Cmon, then. Its time to go, kid.

Wait! What was that thing?

Thats way above your pay grade, kid.

Insulted by his abrupt dismissal of my question, I shook my head. Whats that supposed to mean?

Are you ready to go? he asked calmly.

Go where? I dont know you and you wont even answer my questions. What was that dark thingy and how did your arrow hit it? And what are you doing with a crossbow in the middle of suburbia? Dont you know theres a school less than a mile away?

He slung the crossbow over his shoulder, answering the last one. Yes, I know theres a school nearby.