Catherine

I always thought the purgatory looked like a dentist's waiting room. The receptionist would look down on her list and say "Adolf Hitler, Satan would see you for your eternal damnation now." in a professional voice. Who knew the purgatory was probably hiding under cars and hidden rooms at the garage. Maybe Damon's desk is the waiting area and I slept there for a night.

"Catherine, are you in there?" I felt someone lightly tapping my forehead. Rose was looking at me funny.

"You don't have to be shy with me Cat. So tell me," she looked at the door before leaning closer, "was he that good?"

I glared at her. Why would she just assume the I was frick fracking with Damon? I mean we live together but that was it. Sure I want to experience some sort of 'adventure of a lifetime' before I die, but hooking up with a reaper certainly isn't on my bucket list.

"He has a small willy wonka," I whispered while showing her my pinkie finger. Rose stared at me for a good minute before grabbing my hands, understanding on her face.

"Are you making him feel better about himself? You're such a kind soul Cat." I withdrew my hands quickly. What in the name of some saint is she talking about? What was there to comfort? By the mention of souls, I fidgeted with my hands.

"Rose, what would you do if, oh i don't know – someone told you they took souls for a living?" I spoke so fast I don't think she understood what I just said. Rose frowned and placed a finger on her lips.

"I'll ask him on where they go afterwards. Oh and if I have a soul. It's annoying when people ask me if gingers have souls. Better to hear it from an expert."

"My my Rose. Sure you have a soul. Not worthy enough to be accepted at the gates of heaven, but I'm pretty sure you have one." We both laughed. I think I'm going to ask Damon that question later. Rose left after hugging me, saying I was doing an honorable thing by staying with him. I badly wanted to tell her the truth but it was not mine to tell.

My day consisted of meeting a couple of people for venues on book signings and later at lunch, continued reading manuscripts. I tried avoiding the others knowing that they'll probably ask me about Damon. God knows how many women attempted to have a conversation with me just to pry some information about him.

Nobody knew I lived with him. Just Ellie and Rose.

My parents are going to kill me.

I know I'm old enough to say (insert Lindsey Lohan's whining voice from Freaky Friday here) 'Let me live my own life!", but I never had the guts to tell them that. I try to convince myself that they just want what's good for me.

Oh sure. Damon's really good for you.

I winced. Even my mind's being sarcastic.

I looked at my wristwatch to see that I've been reading for five hours straight and only a couple of minutes before Damon would come over to pick me up. I quickly got my handbag and produced a mirror, my magic lipstick and some baby powder. I was pouting my lips while putting on some lipstick when I suddenly stopped.

Why are you trying to look pretty?

I put down my lipstick and sighed. Why am I trying to look pretty? Convincing myself that I'm doing it for myself would be an old excuse. Looking at myself in the mirror, I lifted my chin. I don't think it's wrong to try and look presentable for someone. Impressing a person isn't a crime. Smiling, I patted my cheeks, making them slightly pink.

Someone knocked on my door and I quickly grabbed a manuscript. Don't want to look too eager now, do we ladies?

I looked up and was disappointed to see Ashley.

"Yes Miss Stevens?" I asked seriously.

"The man you were with... He's here." my eyes widened but I composed myself, thanking her before she closed the door. The moment she had it shut, I got up and attempted to hand-iron my blouse. When I think I looked like I can impress him, (I can't do much with my make-up kit, can I?) I walked out wondering why Damon didn't bother to pester me inside my office.

When I got to the hallway though, I discovered why.

He was this pretty flower that bees just want to get some nectar from and possibly some pollen afterwards. I mentally patted my back. Being angry makes you good at metaphors Cat.

If I were in the movies, I would've just cleared my throat to get his attention or grabbed his arm and called him 'honey'. But the thing is, I'm not in the movies, and I would probably just be the employee that had a couple of lucky camera shots because the main characters just happened to be where I was.

I quietly turned away and started walking on the opposite direction. He seems to be enjoying himself.

I know how to get to The Garage.

...

I'll ask the taxi driver if he knows.

I was about to walk on the steps when someone grabbed my hand.

"I thought I told you I'd pick you up?" He grabbed my bag and placed it on his shoulder. You know, how women do it. I would've told you he looked ridiculous but the thing is, he didn't. I heard a couple of 'aaws' from behind me and I turned to see the same flock of women around Mr. Bee a while ago. I didn't do anything really. Just silently stared at them without blinking until they got the message and left. Not the 'he's mine' message. More of a 'Don't-make-a-move-on-him-even though-he's-not-mine' message.

We were descending down the stairs when I saw Rose. I wanted to turn Damon around so he wouldn't see Rose eyeing his jeans with regret in her eyes. Why'd you have to tell her that he has a small wonka anyway?

I dared her with my eyes to breathe a word from our conversation. Thank goodness she got the message and just raised an eyebrow before giving me a small salute.

I felt his warm breath near my ear.

"I know Rose thinks I'm a stripper. I'm assuming you corrected her?" he whispered. I looked up and bobbed my head several times, my eyes wide.

His forehead furrowed as he handed me my helmet. I'm going to make it a-must to not let Damon and Rose cross paths.

***

We're here. This is it. I might not come back alive. Mom, if you can sense my end, I love you. The dresses you bought for me are on the back of my closet, tags still attached. Charities will make good use of them.

He held my hand and gently squeezed it before pulling me inside.

It was just as I remembered. Only I know what happens after dark. Ooor not after dark. I'm not sure if reapers had working hours okay. We were approached by a huge hairy man. He looked like a yeti Santa.

"What is she doing here?" he growled. I took a step back. What's his problem? I only wanted to get my car back. And get the hell outta here since this is the closest place I can be near hell.

"Shut it Raph, she knows." Damon placed an arm around my shoulder, pulling me close to him.

Raph eyed me suspiciously and turned to call someone. Another man, wearing the same dirty jumpsuit approached us and smiled at me. "I see you're still alive." Come to think of it, the only difference is Raph had a beard and this guy doesn't.

I frowned. Wait. Damon mentioned someone named Raph.

"Mikey...?" the smiling man nodded while clapping Raph's back. "You mean old brute. Don't scare her off." Raph groaned but said nothing.

I faced Damon. "Why can't I see them anymore? The Raph and Mikey I knew were teenagers. Either you closed my eye or they have a case of Benjamin Button."

He scratched his jaw and looked down at his feet. It dawned to me that maybe, my eye was closed from the last time he uh...kissed me.

"You lying ogre!" I punched his side and he let out an oof, making both of the giants in front of us laugh.

"What's all the commotion about?" this time, the voice sounded feminine.

"Benjie! They're here to get the
actor."

If you're as insecure as I am, you better be thankful you're not with me at this moment. Because the woman I'm seeing now can make any man's panties drop. She had these amazing wide eyes. Her lips were like whispering 'come hither' and by glob! Her body was like an hourglass. She wore a black tank top and brown cargo pants making her look like a badass.

"Hello Catherine Wright. How did last Monday go?" her voice has this natural huskiness in it.

"B-Benjamin Summers?" the woman smiled. I must not faint. So gripping Damon's arm, I made him look at me.

"It's safer this way bonbon." answering my silent question.

"He closed it? How?" I turned to see she-Benjamin raising an eyebrow at us. I quickly removed Damon's hand from my shoulder.

"The way I got it opened Benjie." Damon was glaring at him-her.

It was weird seeing them now. Two Yetis and a hot lady mechanic was a far cry from the heartbreakers and the kind old man I met the first time.

"I want to see Bradley." just to change the subject.

"The actor's good as we can manage. Not good as new. That thing's ancient." Mikey nudged his head for me to follow him further inside the garage, Raph following close behind. I turned to see Damon whispering to Benjie. You'd think they're secret lovers.

"So! You guys collect the souls huh."

Mikey regarded me and shook his head. "We deliver the souls. Getting them is Damon's job, along with the others." I nodded, observing the other guys working around. Who knew what they really looked like?

"And by deliver, you mean..."

"We take them to either heaven or hell." Raph finished my sentence like taking a soul to Satan was just another walk in the park. I felt my hands getting cold.

"Raph takes the good ones up. And I drag the nasties down." I can see my car now. I stopped in front of Bradley and turned to look at both of them. It was hard to take in that I'm walking among reapers but knowing that Mikey takes the bad ones to hell and Raph takes the good ones to soft fluffy clouds was hard to believe.

Sensing this, Raph made his way towards me. "It's a small consolation. Would you go to hell if I was the one to take you there? Or would you rather go with Mikey here just so you can see a friendly face before being punished for eternity?" I didn't know how to answer that. I'd rather not be in hell, thank you.

"So...where do you keep them?" I need to stop asking. But I'm a reader. I get curious.

"That's classified information Catherine Wright." Mikey poked my nose and opened the car door for me. The scent of apples filled my nostrils as I got in.

"Are they harassing you, bonbon?" I turned to see Damon leaning on the other side. He was wearing the same jumpsuit now.

"How much do I owe you?" I'm going to pretend that this is a normal shop and that these are normal people, with normal jobs, living their normal lives.

"It's on me." He smiled and moved to my side of the car. Mikey and Raph left a moment ago. He held out his hand to help me get out of the car. I smiled at him then.

He never let go of my hand. It was a bit noisy and he had to move closer for me to hear him.

I didn't hear him the first time so I moved a little closer.

Bad move Cat.

When he didn't repeat what he said, I looked up to see him staring at me. I felt his hands on my cheeks, never breaking eye contact. This has happened before. Kill me now for being curious, but I closed my eyes like the last time.

***

All the noise seemed to stop. I can't feel his hands on me anymore.

Slowly, I opened my eyes to see that everything was dimmed. Like a huge curtain covered the whole place. I can smell smoke and I think I heard distant screams.

"Bonbon." I turned around to see Damon looking at me. Well he looked like him, but his eyes were different. Like the last time.

I gasped when I saw what he was holding in his arms. Who he was holding in his arms.

It was me.

"Catherine." Turning to the sound of a man's voice, I saw Benjamin. The not sexy version one. He was wearing what looked like a soldier's uniform.

Slowly, men appeared from different parts of the garage. All of them not speaking. Their clothes were all different. Like they came from different periods of time. I saw Raph and Mikey standing in a corner. Their clothing looked like they came from royalty.

"You have to get back to your body now, bonbon. The souls can sense an empty vessel." Damon approached me. I wanted to speak but no words came out. I didn't know what to do. Or how to do it. Do I just jump on my body or hold hands with it?

The screams were louder now.

"Bonbon." his voice more urgent now. I quickly closed my eyes shut and felt some force pull me down.

Oh glob. I'm being dragged down to hell.

***

Damon

"She's going to be fine Damon." Benjie gave an assuring squeeze on my shoulder. I looked down at the Catherine. This is all my fault. I should've moved away from her when I felt myself losing control.

But I didn't.

Maybe deep down, I wanted her to know. To understand what I do. To accept me for who I am.

Holding her hand, I called out to her once more.

She's been out for almost an hour now.

I whispered a prayer of thanks when she slowly opened her eyes, groaning.

"What happened?"

Smiling, I moved the strands of hair away from her face.

"You passed out." she got up from my couch and looked at my eyes.

"Do you want a glass of water?" she nodded.

I gave it to her, not really sure on what I'm supposed to say now. What exactly do you tell a woman when you just pulled her soul out of her body? They should hand out memos for this.

"Where do you keep them...?" I looked up to see her looking at her glass.

"This place is huger than you think."

"How huge?" she took a sip of her water and handed it to me.

"Like Willy Wonka's chocolate factory huge."

I don't know what I said wrong, but the moment I said that, she started coughing violently.

"Are you alright, bonbon?" She nodded and quickly put some distance between us.

Why was she blushing?

And what the hell was wrong with Willy Wonka's factory?

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