The Black Ball And Pale Hands

It’s been a long day for Leo Drampula. It started just like any other normal day, then the exciting news arrived. He passed the entrance test to Bulward University-one of the most prestigious universities in the whole world. Emotions ran high, everyone was delighted. His parents were overjoyed, his relatives and friends congratulated him. But right now, it’s the best time in the whole day for Leo. He just proposed to his childhood crush, Silvia. 

His energy was so high that he ignored any self-doubt and fear and expressed his innermost feelings. “So can I get your answer?”, Leo asked meekly. ‘Really, what am I doing right here, I know I am not the right one for her. Just look at her-smooth free-flowing red hair and such dreamy eyes and such soothing voice. But what’s done is done', Leo's inner mind rampaged through these thoughts.

“You sure took your time. You know it’s not quite a girl’s job to do this confession thing”, Silvia pouted “But it will be my pleasure to be your beloved”. 

Hearing these words, Leo fell on his knees. “Ah, what are you doing?”, Silvia asked with concern.

‘What is this feeling…I feel like there is a sharp pang in my heart. I really am a lucky guy.’, Leo smiled across his face. 

But the poor soul never knew the sharp pang was not due to the uncontrolled emotions, it was the pang of DEATH. Just behind him, there was a black ball of cloud hiding from all human senses. The sharp blade of a scythe was hanging around Leo’s neck. The scythe rested on the pale hands of the person inside the ball. His eyes were dull yet it was focused upon Leo like a hungry predator-scanning his every move and lying in wait for a mistake.

“I am such a happy man…I still can’t believe it!”, Leo exclaimed.

“Stop with this, believe it or not, from now on I am your girlfriend”, Silvia said.

“Thank you so much”, Leo said. “No, there was no need to thank me”, Silvia said with a smile on her face.

At this moment, the eyes of the man in the ball started to rest. The scythe started to retreat away from Leo’s neck.

“You really are an angel”, Leo smiled back to Silvia.

Just as those words left Leo’s mouth, the man rose from his black ball exposing his pale thin body. In a fraction of a second, his dull eyes flared back to life. Every muscle of his arm stretched to bring his scythe back and land a lethal blow through Leo’s neck.

“Huh, why is everything black? Did I faint?… Talk about a good first expression for a boyfriend”, Leo stared into the darkness.

“Hey…boy…okay?”, a strange male voice hit Leo’s ear.

“Where am I?”, Leo asked as he opened his eyes.

“You are in Neverland.”, the pale man replied.  “What? Where?”, Leo was confused.

“Neverland-The land between the dead and the living”, the pale man exclaimed with his face in full view.

“Neverland!? What is this…. Some kind of joke!”, Leo replied.

“No, it isn’t. And it is my pleasure to let you know that you are officially and unironically dead”, the pale man grinned.