Taste of Death

It begins with white lilies lying at the front of her apartment door.

There's no sender or return address. Just her name written in pink cursive on a simple blue card.

“Get rid of it.”

Her little smile vanishes upon hearing her husband’s words. He’s sitting on the couch, watching TV. Even as she walks across the room with the lilies, he doesn’t spare her a glance.

“No.”

Now, this gets his attention.

"What did you say?"

"...I want to keep them," she says quietly.

He turns off the TV, walks over, grabs the bouquet from her, and throws it on the ground. "Who are they from?"

"I... I don't—"

The sting on her cheek feels familiar, and she knows it'll eventually turn into another bruise she sees every day. He walks back to the couch, purposely stepping on the petals as he does. 

This has been her life ever since she married him.

The first time they met, he had a gentle smile and treated her with the respect and care of normal lovers. But that all changed after the holy matrimony. The monster that lay dormant within him had awakened and walked alongside her, guiding her into a path full of darkness.

But, it’s better than being alone. Anything is better than being alone.

A week later, she finds the same white lilies on her desk at work.

Again, there’s no sender or return address. Just her name written in pink cursive on a simple blue card. Except this time… a small, white butterfly rests on the card.

A co-worker walks by, so she asks, “Who put these on my desk?”

No answer.

Then, the butterfly soars into the air, flying once around her until it takes to the skies outside the window. And, on that day, her eyes that is usually so devoid of life, brighten.

The first time she meets him is in her dreams.

She sits on a chair with her hands on her knees. The room is empty with blue walls and a pink ceiling with a design that looks as if it’s melting.

“...You are much more beautiful in person, my dear.”

A lean man leans against a wall, his face is half in shadow. She clutches the fabric of her dress; her breath catches in her throat. As he walks toward her, her heart races as his face comes into view. Who is this mysterious man? Whoever he is, she can’t take her eyes off of him. He is absolutely beautiful, a physical embodiment of her ideal man.

That should have been her first warning.

He gets on a knee and takes her hand. His touch is unlike anything she’s ever felt. Warm. Gentle. And dangerously left her wanting more.

“My name is Thanatos, and I want to help you.” He touches her cheek, and her eyes slightly widen at the heat that spreads throughout her body. He leans closer, his lips just barely touching hers. “You deserve so much more. Let me help you find your happiness.”

Then, before she can stop herself: “Is it with you?”

Thanatos smiles. “Do not rush, my dear. We will meet each other one day if that is your wish.”

Her eyes open.

Another week goes by, and she hasn't seen him again. After another bad day at work, she's walking back to her apartment, convincing herself it's just a dream. But she will do anything just to feel his warm, comforting touch against her skin again. Perhaps if she wishes hard enough—

A scream pierces in the night. A loud screech. And then a deafening crash.

“Oh, my God!”

“Someone got hit!”

“Call an ambulance!”

She quickly arrives on the street where she lives. Her bag drops onto the road upon seeing her lifeless husband being pulled from underneath the truck that had lost control.

“Please, clear the way!”

Everything around her becomes a blur; she sees no one but him. His head is turned in her direction, his dead eyes mirroring hers. The small, white butterfly on his bloody cheek flies away before he gets taken away into the ambulance.

Her phone buzzes. Soon, she sees the LINE message from an unknown number that reads: Are you happy now, my dear?

That night, Thanatos appears in her dreams.

Once again, she’s sitting in a chair with him in front of her. A small, white butterfly circles the room and lands on her shoulder.

“...Did you enjoy my surprise?” he asks.

“You… You did that?”

Thanatos gets on a knee. “He is with me now. You are free.”

“N-No…” She buries her head in her hands. “But now… I have no one. I don’t… I don’t want to be alone.”

“Do you want to be with him?”

“No!” she cries. “I want to be with you!”

That’s when the God of Death smiles. Unbeknownst to her, the colours of the room begin to fade. The pink melts into black and the blue melts into white. 

“There is a way.”

She looks up at him; his maniacal look appears kind and loving. Slowly, her eyes begin clouding over once again. However, it's with a different kind of darkness. One that disguises itself in shades of pink and leaves you in a euphoric high when you see and think of Thanatos, the God of Death.

He puts a hand around her head and pulls her closer. “...Bring someone with you in death.”

“Bring someone…”

“One shouldn’t be afraid of death, but an unhappy life without purpose.” His lips gently touch hers. “You’ll be helping them, my dear. And together… let’s help those escape to a world without pain.”

She can feel the heat from his body as she succumbs to the kiss that tastes like bittersweet chocolate. He caresses her top lip with his own and repeats the gesture on her bottom lip. The fire that spreads from his hungry kisses is nothing like she has ever experienced.

When he finally breaks away, he whispers, “I expect great things from you.”

Now, she can see no one but him. Without a second thought, she answers, “...Yes, my love," and the butterfly slowly vanishes while the white lilies in her apartment begin to wither.