School of Deaths Read Online Free Page A

“Well, Suzie, things aren’t that bad. Don’t believe the terrible stories. Being a Death is pleasant, and you may like your classes.” He rose and turned away.
    “I have something I’d like to give you. Where is…? Ah, yes.” He opened a cupboard and started rummaging through drawers. “A sign of friendship that may come in handy.” He pulled out a small cake and placed it in a red pouch.
    “This is food from the In-Between. More potent than the food they eat in the World of Deaths. The cake will bring you strength. Eat it sparingly, and only when your courage fails you. You’ll learn how they respond to a girl. My guess is it won’t be pretty. You will need to be strong.”
    “Thank you, Athanasius,” she said, taking the pouch. It seemed to shrink when she touched it, and slipped easily into her pocket. Athanasius winked.
    Cronk entered and held out his hand, beckoning Suzie to follow.
    “Until we meet again,” said Athanasius.
    “Thank you again,” she said, her voice stiff. “Goodbye.”
    “You’re welcome, Suzie, and good luck.”
    She glanced at the desk, where a massive pile of contracts sat in a heap. She wasn’t sure which one was hers. She wiped a tear away again, following Cronk out the door.

 
Chapter Three
    The World of Deaths
     
    “Hol-hold on,” said Cronk.
    Suzie held on to his robe as he raised the massive scythe. He swung down and the world blurred. Colors, sounds, and smells assaulted Suzie at once. The ground was gone and even Cronk’s black robe seemed to fade in and out of focus. A moment later the ground appeared.
    Night blanketed the World of Deaths. The ground was soft, and she stepped on fresh grass. Her eyes took a few moments to adjust. The air was moist but cool, and had a pleasant smell of strawberries. The rotten smells were gone. Above her, stars shone in a dazzling display, far clearer than she had ever noticed at home. Large trees stood some distance off: the edge of a forest. A cluster of fireflies buzzed like fairies near the trees.
    “This is the World of the Dead?” she asked. Cronk nodded.
    “Can’t be,” she continued. “This seems like home, even nicer than home, in fact. And it smells like strawberries.”
    “This is the La-La-La-land of Deaths,” said Cronk. “A ni-ni-ni-nice place.”
    “But where are the skulls and fires and stuff?”
    “Wou-would you ra-rather have those?”
    “No, of course not.”
    “Come on,” said Cronk. He led her away from the forest and down a hill. They were on a path, leading away from a small stone on the spot where they had first appeared. The moon above shone bright, and though nighttime, she could see.
    Cronk led her beside something shimmering. The reflection of the moon glistened on the water, probably a pond or small lake. Cronk held out a finger, pointing.
    She leaned over and let out a gasp. A girl stared back at her: her reflection, yet, unlike the one she had seen at home for months. The girl staring back was fleshy but not plump. Her features were pretty. Her usually stringy black hair looked thick and smooth, hanging like silk around her lightly freckled cheeks. Her cheeks were full; the skin didn’t cling to her skull. Even her gray eyes seemed to shine. The skeletal girl she had come to expect in the mirror was gone.
    “Is that me?”
    “Yes, your tr-tr-tr-true self. This is your home now.”
    She gazed again. She wasn’t her old self, she looked better than she ever had. She smiled, but glanced up. The smile faded as she remembered.
    “I’m only here for a year. Then this nightmare will be over.”
    Cronk shrugged. “Few p-p-pass the test. Too ha-ha-hard.”
    “What’s on the test? What makes it hard?”
    Cronk shook his head. He either didn’t know or wouldn’t tell her.
    “You can’t tell me?”
    Again, he shook his head. He motioned her to follow and they walked along the shore, climbing a rise, moving away from the water. They reached a flight of marble steps and Suzie followed.