soul program 00.5 - first reaper Read online

  “Then why did you put it that way?”

  He shook his head, obviously getting flustered. She lifted his chin with her hand and forced him to meet her eyes.

  “You need to tell me everything. Everything.”

  He shook his head out of her grip. “I can’t tell you everything. I don't even know everything."

  “How is that fair?”

  “Why do you think we asked you? A person meant to die anyway? Whether you are guilty or innocent your life is forfeit and you and I both know the men who put you in there will stop at nothing to ensure your death. If you go through with this project then there is a chance you can live, and they won’t ever touch you.”

  “Well then..” She pulled her red tank top up and over her head.

  He skittered away putting a chair between them. “What are you doing?”

  “Collecting payment.”

  Dropping the shirt on the floor she stepped around the chair slowly, as if he were a scared animal. “I don’t need romance, Doctor. I just need human contact.”

  She watched his Adam’s apple bob as he collected himself and began to loosen the lopsided tie at his neck. She stood in her bra and pants and just watched him undress. There was a strange tidiness to it. He pulled the tie away with a jerk and laid it across a nearby table. Next he pulled the sweater over his head and folded that on top of the tie. He finally noticed her watching him when he began to loosen the buttons of his shirt starting at the neck. But he didn’t stop. He finished and removed the shirt to follow the sweater. Now clad in a t-shirt and his dress pants he faltered.

  She chuckled and bent to remove her pants. “I’m not going to bite you unless you ask me too.”

  A deep blushed washed across his skin from his cheeks to his neck. “Why?” he sputtered.

  She laughed again as he stared open mouthed down her body. The realization struck her. “You’re a virgin too?”

  He shook his head, “no of course not. I just don’t get a lot of time for this sort of thing. It’s been a while since I’ve seen a naked woman.”

  “Aren’t you a doctor?

  “Yes but I’m not that kind of doctor. I specialize in diseases... specifically cancer.”

  Her eyes rounded and she stared at him, “you’re not going to infect me are you.”

  “No, course not.

  Relief wash through her and she could finally focus on his form again. “Take off your shirt, Doc.”

  He didn’t say anything as he reached down to the hem of his t-shirt and pulled over his head in one smooth swipe.

  He kept pretty fit for the geeky type. “Do you work out? she asked.

  “Yes, I run, it helps me think when I can’t work the problem. And lately I’ve been doing a lot of that.”

  She could see the outline of his ab muscles. He had nice wide shoulders and a strong chest with a dusting of hair. To her amazement he looked even better without his clothes on.

  She moved closer to him and warmth expanded in her chest when he didn’t back away from her touch. She reached out and ran her palm from his belly button to his neck. His skin warm and radiating heat from being trapped in his shirts.

  She realized she liked the feel of him. Stretching up so he couldn’t miss her intent she whispered, “kiss me.”

  He reached out and ran a thumb across the side of her cheek. “You know you could probably call me Richard.”

  "Dick?”

  “Absolutely not.” He chuckled and leaned down until only an inch of space remained between their mouths. The man teased her by taking his time to press his lips to hers. He had to bend down to reach her but she helped by standing as high on her toes as she could go. That first touch ripped through her. Igniting everything she’d long ago forgotten she wanted. She’d felt lust before. But as she grew older it became more evident most of the male population were pigs. She wouldn’t settle for a quick hump against a club bathroom sink. That is how Ruby found herself pressed against this beautiful man on the eve of her death.

  He prodded her lips with his tongue and she surprised even herself by opening to him. She tasted mint tea and sugar as he melded his tongue against her own. It didn’t take long to get the hang of and before she realized it she had his hair fisted in her hands. After a moment he broke away and they both gasped against each other’s mouths.

  “That was my first kiss,” she said, in a pant.

  “And how was it?”

  She smiled, “perfect.”

  * * * *

  Ruby widdled away the cold distance he placed between himself and everyone else. Years had passed since he looked at, let alone touched, a naked woman. Having her in his arms felt like coming home. A sense of dread began to take root in his chest for what Cardinal had planned for her. He didn’t know if he should be more terrified she wouldn’t survive or that she would.

  “What?” she asked, a tightness forming around her eyes.

  It took a second for him to realize he’d been staring down at her zoned out. He cleared his throat. “Why don’t we go to the uh…bed.”

  She smiled, and he took her hand before leading her to the back. It wasn’t a large bed but neither of them were big people. They’d fit on his full size mattress well enough.

  He sat and scooted to the edge with his back facing the wall and she lay down facing him. When he reached for her hand it shook in his grip. “We don’t have to do this. We can go as far as you want to go.”

  “No. If I am going to die by gas or by some science experiment I am going to do this first.”

  He admired her resolve and the fact that despite her situation she hadn’t broken down to self pity. If he didn’t know her at all he would have never guessed she had no future.

  He reached out and pulled her into him by the waist while supporting her head with his upper arm. She kissed him gently as if they had all the time in the world. If this was her last wish he was going to make sure it was everything she wanted.

  He threw a leg over her thigh and slid them apart so he could make room. She rolled on her back as he shifted to lay between her legs. He didn’t know much about being a female virgin, but he did know female anatomy.

  He began at her neck and when she gave him a little gasp he figured he found a good place to start. As he trailed kisses down to her breasts she froze against him. He placed tiny pecks across the fullest part of her breasts above her bra until she relaxed in his arms. When she let go he put his mouth over her nipple through the thin lace and drew it between his lips. She sucked in a breath and clamped her thighs around his hips in response. As he moved to the other nipple she spread her fingers through his hair and clutched the strands. The slight pain sent a shock wave of sensation through him.

  As new as this was to her most of it was to him as well.

  “Do you like that?” he asked fanning the words across the wet lace.

  A breathy yes was her only response.

  He trailed his mouth down her flat stomach. It didn’t have any muscles only smooth soft bare skin and when he reached the edge of her panties he stalled. The mechanics of going down on a woman seemed self-explanatory. Even so, nerves battled for ground against the lust.

  He decided he should at least try, and pulled her panties down her legs. She opened to him without any prodding and he scooted so his shoulders fit under her knees. She smelled like clean skin and soap. He didn’t know what to expect but took a breath, parted her outer lips and pressed a kiss to her clit. She jumped against his mouth and he delved in deeper with his tongue. Her reactions were sending a frenzy of emotions through him. Many of which he’d never encountered before. Each small sound she made shot through him until he lay short of humping the mattress.

  Before he made a fool of himself she stopped him. “Will you please fuck me now.”

  He smiled and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand before sitting up on his knees. As he moved around to get the rest of his clothing off she unhooked her bra and tossed it away. His heart pounded as he lay h
is naked body along hers. His erection growing harder, even though he might have though it impossible.

  He held his weight to the side on his elbow and watched her for a moment as she squirmed beneath him. This control over her was a heady feeling. She wanted him, he could see it, taste it, and smell it. And he wanted her. He poised to enter her and she gripped his torso. Each of her fingernails a sharp anchor grounding him in the present.

  “From what I understand this is going to hurt a little bit. I’ll make it quick.”

  She nodded but only swallowed and pressed her fingers into him, urging him on.

  He entered her with care until he was sure of the shape of her. Then he pushed forward in one thrust and she bowed her body around him as he sat fully seated inside her.

  They panted together, sharing air, and waiting. He didn’t know how long he had to wait for her to be in less pain so he sat there, controlling himself in the mean time. Her body clutched him hot and tight and he sent a silent prayer of thanks for the discipline he’d mastered in college.

  When she finally shifted and began to relax her limbs back to the bed he relaxed some too. “Are you ok?” he asked.

  “Yes, fine. Please continue.”

  He nodded and as slowly as he could pulled his hips away and back. She winced a little but he continued and after a few moments she loosened to him further. He had to end this quickly though, he wouldn’t last long.

  He leaned back maneuvered so he sat on his heels with his knees jutting out then pulled her hips toward him. After he settled she just watched him, curiosity shining in her eyes. He smiled and pressed his thumb against her clit and her eyes rounded.

  She darted her tongue and wet her lips and then as he began to move inside her again she gasped. Perfect.

  He pressed forward again all the while holding his thumb against her clit. He didn’t need to do much her body moved in response to his thrusts and his hand and he could see her end coming soon.

  “Do you like that?” he asked, feeling bolder, proud.

  She nodded.

  “Tell me.”

  “It feels good.”

  “Are you close to coming?”

  “I think so.”

  He shifted a little and pressed in and out of her again. His heart beat a thousand miles a minute inside his chest. His own orgasm weighed heavy in his balls. He pushed his thumb against her harder and began to swirl it in time with his thrusts and she cried out in pleasure. Just as her body began to clamp around him in spasms he came hard pumping into her as hard and fast as he could. When the waves stopped he found himself slumped across her chest. “I’m so sorry,” he whispered. Moving to get his weight off.

  “No, please, stay.”

  He lay back down and she began running her fingers through his hair. Combing it with her hand.

  “Are you in pain?” he asked, trying to recall if he had anything for it in his apartment.

  “No. I’m perfect. Stop fussing and let me enjoy this.”

  He smiled into the curve of her breasts and closed his eyes. Sleep took him under with the scent of her skin in his nose.

  Chapter Four

  A heavy knock woke her. Ruby jerked awake expecting to find the dingy stone ceiling of her cell. Instead Richard lay across her body, cocooning her in warmth. She smiled as it all came back to her but the knock sounded again and she decided to wake Richard. Shaking his arm gently his eyes popped open and gave her a smile.

  The knock came louder and more urgent this time. “Someone is at the door,” she whispered.

  He leaned over her to glance at the clock. “It’s midnight.”

  She could hear the sadness in that statement and knew the time had come to fulfill her end of the bargain. As he climbed off of her she shifted around and began to find clothing. He grabbed his pants and ran toward the door. Opening it with a jerk.

  “Cardinal,” he said, by way of greeting.

  She sat up and slipped her shirt on then her pants in quick jerks before the man could enter. As he came into sight she had to lean her neck back to see all of him. She didn’t know whether to be scared of him or turned on by him. He had tattoos tracking across every inch of bare flesh. His hair was undercut on the sides making him look somewhat dangerous.

  He approached her and perused her from head to toe. “I think you will do.”

  “Well, thanks.” She glared at him. “Will you tell me what I am submitting myself to now? Or will it be a surprise forever?”

  “You have fight. Good. You’re going to need it.”

  That didn’t bode well. She sat back on the bed and began to lace up her boots. From the corner of her eye she could see Cardinal hand Richard a piece of paper. He opened it slowly and as he read his eyes grew round before he grabbed his own shoes.

  “Is that what this is?” she called to him. “Some kind of horse trade?”

  His brow furrowed and he dropped the sneaker he was about to force onto his foot. Meeting her eyes now he shook his head. “No, this was never a trade. Once Cardinal does whatever it is he needs to do to you then we have more work to do together.”

  She swallowed at the way he said together. And part of her hoped she survived whatever was coming to see what that meant. She liked Richard, even having only known him a short time.

  Cardinal stepped back to stand in front of her. She could feel a tightness beginning to grow in her chest. She rubbed the spot over her heart.

  When he began speaking she jumped back a little “What you are doing will save humanity. Do you think we did not hear your prayers. We did, and you will help.”

  She looked up at him slowly and met his eyes. They were the eyes of an old soul.

  “What are you?”

  “The answer to that you will discover soon but for now we have to leave. We have a journey ahead and the doctor has work to do.”

  Ruby took a good look at the man who would affect the rest of her life, no matter how long that would be.

  “I’m not going to hurt you. You will survive this. I have decreed it and so it will be so.”

  His confidence in that statement was actually sort of convincing. He headed to the door and opened it allowing her to exit first.

  She took one last glance back at Richard but he had his head shoved in a notebook and didn’t even notice her leaving.

  What did she expect? She wasn’t his girlfriend or hell, even his friend, but a “hey go get um kid,” or “good luck,” wouldn’t have gone amiss. She walked down the corridor and out to the sidewalk. Cardinal led her down the block to a run down church on the corner. The red door shone like a beacon through the gloom. She grew a little wary as he bounded up the steps in a few strides and escorted her into the dilapidated structure.

  “Do not be afraid. There is nothing for you to fear here.”

  She nodded and entered. Inside the church candles lined the walls, illuminating the once beautiful glass and sculpture. Now, people didn’t even notice this building on the corner as it rotted away with the worlds’ morals.

  He led her up the center of the church to a wide opening. Symbols were carved into the marble floor and she waited for him to position her at the center.

  “I’ll be honest with you,” he said, clutching her upper arms as he placed her just so inside a large circle. “I don’t know if this will be painful. All I know is that you will survive it. You need to focus on that and hold on for it. You will survive this and you will lead humanity from its long sleep of apathy.”

  She swallowed the bile beginning to build in her throat. Her body still hummed from Richard’s ministration and yet her mind was alert and on the edge of tipping now. She’d prayed for grace but she was dangerously close to casting that aside for mania.

  Cardinal directed her to lay down. She did as she was asked and lay on the cold stone. It seeped through her clothes, chilling her to the bone.

  “Just close your eyes and relax.”

  His voice became a soothing chant as he began to sing. It sounded
so beautiful that tears began to trickled down her cheeks.

  And for a moment she imagined she would be ok. Then the darkness swallowed her whole while a rumble shook through the building.

  Chapter Five

  The Earth jolted under Richard’s feet as he entered his lab. The ground shook and he had to balance himself on the metal banister near the door.

  He wondered for a moment but then the call of his equipment beckoned and he quickened his pace. He’d been so close to the equation before. So very close. Cardinal said he would provide him the one last element he needed to complete the formula. Years of work were about to reach its culmination.

  He began to pour out chemicals, mixing, adding, and testing as he went. The hours passed and he barely registered the breaking dawn outside the window. It wasn’t until Cardinal entered the lab that he even looked up.

  Cardinal made a bee line to Richard who straightened over the microscope he’d been peering in. “How did it go?” he asked.

  “Better and worse than I expected.”

  “What do you mean?” Richard asked, the clawing grip of fear pulling at his heart. He liked Ruby. She had a fire in her that no longer existed in women.

  “See for yourself,” Cardinal said.

  Richard looked up as Ruby entered the room. She looked the same except something looked off. He approached her and she swayed like a new born doe.

  “Are you all right?” he asked reaching toward her.

  She jerked away from his touch and didn’t answer.

  “She can’t speak,” Cardinal said.

  “Well, if that is the only side effect of such a procedure it’s not so bad.”

  Richard met her eyes and then stumbled back over a stool to land hard on his butt in the middle of the cool linoleum.

  Where those beautiful eyes used to be only sat black inky pools of nothing.

  “Is she even in there?” Richard asked, his stomach turning over.

  How could he have agreed to strip this vibrant woman of who she was. He had a hand in this. He crumpled over clutching his knees. As he rocked himself he tried to wrap his mind around the fact that he’d killed someone. It wasn’t something that sat well with him. He was a doctor, meant to save life, not take it away. Especially this one.