Free His Soul to Take by C.M. Torrens Page B

gone.
    "Out!” His voice cracked and buried his head in his hands. “Just get the fuck out."
    Silence filled the room and when he looked up, Simon was gone.
    * * * *
    Simon closed his eyes and leaned against the wall outside Robert's apartment, his chest tight, his throat dry and burning. He took a ragged breath, trying to ease some of the pressure. He'd been greedy to ever get involved with him in the first place. No matter that it was always going to be a temporary thing. Robert was always going to die and Simon was always going to live. His curse locked him in between forever. There was no end for him.
    He pushed off the wall and started away from the apartment. He picked a direction at random, just needing to walk. His mind wandered, but the ache persisted. He was alone again. He was so very tired of being alone.
    He felt Reaper before he saw him and spun to face him. Grabbing him by his jacket, Simon slammed him into a nearby wall.
    Reaper smirked back at him and tried to straighten his jacket. “A little upset, are we?"
    "I told you to leave him alone,” Simon hissed.
    "You think what you've done is any better? So I gave him the answer he wanted. I wasn't the one fucking him just to remove a curse."
    "What are you talking about?” He gasped, shaking his head. “It doesn't work like that. They don't replace you. With all these people in the world, we'd be hard pressed to keep up if we were just replaced. The curse is permanent. There is no way out."
    "If you say so,” Reaper said with a shrug.
    "I said stay away from him. I won't have him cursed. He needs to go through.” He shoved Reaper back into the wall. “Why are you scaring him into staying? Do you think he'll replace you? Is that what you're hoping for? That's not possible, and even if it was, I wouldn't let you use him."
    "And you aren't using him?” Reaper jerked out of his grip and stepped out of reach. “Get over yourself. You are no better than me."
    Simon's eyes narrowed dangerously. “Go near him again, and immortality will give me plenty of time to find ways to cause you pain."
    Reaper said nothing and turned his attention down the street. “I have work to do."
    Simon watched him leave and looked back in the direction of Robert's apartment. He wanted to race back and tell him not to do anything Reaper said. To stand guard and protect him from making the biggest mistake he could ever make, but he could already feel the call of another soul.
    He tried to resist, but the call grew louder and more persistent until the vibration in his bones began. Soon the pain would follow.
    Sighing heavily, he turned and began walking toward the call, letting himself be led to his next assignment. The vibration in his bones eased as he started on his way. No, he couldn't let Robert become him. Not if he could prevent it. He had grown used to the fact that he would never leave this realm, accepted his fate. Reaper would have to do the same. Now all he had to do was figure out a way to keep Reaper distracted while he sent Robert on his way.
    Far easier said than done.
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Chapter Eight
    Robert stared across the living room at the phone sitting on the end table. Getting to his feet, he picked it up and sat back down on the couch.
    For a long moment he stared at the keypad. He still knew the number by heart. The sing-song digits were still etched in his memory from youth. Taking a deep breath, he ran his fingers over the keys debating if he should call or not.
    Biting his lip, he pressed the buttons one at a time and put the phone to his ear. The phone rang and rang. He was about to hang up when a gruff voice came on the line.
    "Hello?"
    Robert's voice stuck in his throat and he forced the words from his lips. “Hi, Dad."
    A long pause met him on the other line. For a moment he thought the man had hung up. “Robert,” he said, his voice cordial and hard. “What do you want?"
    "I just... wanted to call. I haven't heard from you in a long