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Chapter One

Audrey

Glancingaround,myeyesland on the dead body. All I can see are the person’s feet and the blood pooling around their body. It’s a lot of blood, leading me to believe this was likely a violent death. Maybe that means the person will be a future reaper.

I’m so focused on the body, I don’t notice the soul at first. It’s a woman, but that’s all I can tell. Seeing a soul isn’t quite the same as seeing a person alive. Until they get to the underworld, they are little more than a glowing golden light. The only reason I can tell that it’s a woman is because I saw the person’s feet.

“Hello,” I call out, but the soul keeps staring down at her dead body. I can only imagine what’s going through her head as she stares down at herself. She has her memories for now, but if she’s heading to the academy, then they’ll be wiped away once we hit the underworld.

Walking over, I take the soul’s hand in mine—or at least, what I assume is her hand. It’s not like there’s any real definition to her at the moment. Flipping it over, I see the purple skull and let out a sigh of relief. I know I’ll have to meet the ferryman eventually, but I’m glad it doesn’t have to be today.

“Hi there,” I try again. “I’m sure you’re very confused about what’s going on right now, but I’m here to take you to where you need to go. We can’t stay here. Unfortunately, you’re already dead.”

The soul turns toward me, a wail falling from their lips that brings tears to my eyes. When it turns back to its body, I can’t help turning toward it as well.

“No… No. No. No. No.” I let out my own wailing scream.

This can’t be happening.

Tears spill from my eyes as I see my face staring back at me. Well, my twin sister’s face.

There’s no recognition in her eyes, and I fucking hate it.

Already, her memories are slipping from her.

Glancing back at her dead body, I bite back another wail. Now, I can see more of her body. Her curly red hair is spilling around her, her green eyes that match mine wide open and blank. There are numerous stab wounds to her abdomen, which explains the blood.

It’s not fair. Not only had I been murdered, but so had my sister. Something tells me Michael had something to do with her death as well. Especially with how he spoke to me.

What the hell am I going to do?

Taking a deep breath, I close my eyes. My sister’s spirit is staring at her dead body as she wails, and I know we need to get out of here. This is hurting her, and I never want her to hurt—even when she has no idea who I am.

“It’s time to go,” I tell her, swiping at my tears.

“Go where?” she asks softly. “Who are you?”

“My name is Audrey, and I’m going to take you somewhere safe.” Without waiting for her to respond, I reach into myself and locate the pool of reaper magic, pulling on it as I imagine Scythe Academy in my mind.

One second, we’re in my sister’s house she shared with Michael and the next, we’re standing outside the gates of the academy where I’ve spent the last six months learning to reap souls.

Now, my sister has to go through the same thing.

This is not what I wanted for her. This is my fault.

If only I’d been able to keep Michael from killing me. Or if I’d been able to seek my vengeance before now. But that would’ve been impossible. Technically, until I deliver Wren’s soul to the room inside the academy, I’m still a student myself.

“Where are we?” she asks, eyes wide as the gates swing open to admit us. Her body has taken shape now, the golden glow almost completely gone, and it’s like staring into a mirror.

I fucking hate it.

I probably should’ve tried to direct us to the room and not just the academy. Not that it’s a far walk or anything, the administrative building is only a few hundred feet inside the gates.

“This is Scythe Academy,” I tell her, wondering if she’ll remember any of this once I knock her out.

Yup. That’s something I get to look forward to doing—knocking my sister out with my reaper magic.

“This is the training center for reapers, which you’ll have the chance to become, but they’ll tell you all about it later.” I squeeze her hand, grateful she hasn’t pulled away—even if she has no idea who I am. “We’re just heading to that building right there.”