“I’m coming for you dearie...” the figure whispered in a low gravely voice.

The hood it was wearing swept back in a gust of wind, revealing the skull the figure had for a face, the mouth showed a crooked and evil smile. It raised a knobby hand and gave a little wave.

The image in the middle went black, but there was more the skeleton had to say.

Carly bolted up with fear. She was normally a brave and feisty eight year old, but something about this dream made every little bit of her shiver with worry. She could hear her older sister, Joanna, snoring down the hall. Cautiously, Carly tiptoed out of her warm bed. She heard a soft panting behind her, so she turned on her heal as fast as she could, preparing herself to scream. But it was only her kitten, Baby.

She picked up Baby and cuddled her in her arms. Bravely, Carly continued forward to her sisters room.

“Hello again, Dearie,” the Skeleton greeted from the shadows.

Carly screamed, taking a step back, almost strangling Baby in her arms.

“JOANNA! JOANNA! HELP!” she shrieked as the Skeleton took a few steps forward.

Their parents were out, so Joanna had been left in charge. When she heard her little sister’s cries she instantly shot out of bed and opened the bedroom door. Right outside was a skeleton, with a jet black hood clinging to the bones. Behind him he carried a long, gleaming metal scythe.

Joanna knew at once what it was, “It’s the grim reaper...” she whispered in horror.

The Grim Reaper turned it’s head to Joanna and flashed a smile, “Oh how right you are, little girl, how right you are.”

His voice made Joanna shiver and want to close the door and forget this happened. But then she saw her little sister, dark eyes wide and trembling all over, even her cat, Baby looked scared out of her mind.

“W-what do you want?” Joanna demanded, “You’ve got the wrong house...no one here is sick, or old o-or or...no here is going to die!”

A laugh that sounded like an old man chocking filled the small hallway, “Of course not little girl...no one is. In fact...one is going to be born tonight.”

The Grim Reaper smiled, “It’s been too long for me...being dead and escorting the dead, I want to experience life! And this fine young Carly,” he nodded at her, and Carly’s eyes got even wider, “Is the perfect candidate, young, innocent, close by.”

Joanna let out a sob, “No! No! You can’t just take her!”

His bony shoulders rose up and down, “Why not? She was destined to die tonight anyway; I’m going to be saving her. She’ll be immortal; at least until I get sick of life...so relax, Joanna, Carly will be safe.”

Joanna was too stunned to speak, she watched in horror as the Grim Reaper inched forward, his scythe extended in front of him now. He was advancing on her like a vulture on dead meat. You could see shimmering drool dripped down his decaying teeth.

Carly was as white as a sheet, “Jo-jo-jo....” she stumbled, unable to get the words out.

Baby hissed at the Grim Reaper and struggled out of Carly’s arms. Then Baby did something very odd, she launched herself at the Grim Reaper, claws extended and teeth bared. The second Baby made contact with the skull, a high pitched scream that could have shattered mirrors filled the house.

With a poof of black mist the Grim Reaper disappeared.

“I’ll be back tomorrow Carly...just you wait,” it was simply a whisper, an echo.

“Oh Carly,” Joanna comforted her crying sister, “We’ll be ok, you’ll see, you’ll see...”

Carly woke up, for real this time, a small smile on her face. The Grim Reaper never came back, all that was left was the dream she had every night.

A small yowling meow came from the bottom of the bed.

“Good morning Baby,” Carly cooed, picking up her not-much-of-a-baby Baby.

Like every morning, she examined Baby’s paw. Since that night, five years ago, Baby’s paw had gone from midnight black to pearly white.

“Good morning Baby,” repeated Carly, “Thank you.”

(Sorry for the bad quality...my computer is acting kinda funky...)