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CONTENTS OF THE BOOK
THE GENESIS
CHAPTER 1: THE WEEPING POET
CHAPTER 2: THE LOST CITY
CHAPTER 3: THE WANDERER’S VOYAGE
CHAPTER 4: THE SILENT COMPOSER
CHAPTER 5: THE AGELESS PHILOSOPHER
CHAPTER 6: THE INVENTOR’S DREAM
CHAPTER 7: THE HIDDEN SANCTUARY
CHAPTER 8: THE SERPENT’S EMBRACE
CHAPTER 9: THE TIMELESS GARDEN
CHAPTER THE LAST
FAREWELL
WELCOME!
THE GRIM STORYTELLER
BOOK #1
OF
REMINISCE
..A peek into DeAth’s DiAry..
H.P BLACKWOOD
The Genesis
The Genesis.
I, Death, was born during the time of The Genesis. As
the universe burst into existence, so did I, coming into being
to maintain the delicate balance that life required. At first,
there was only darkness and chaos, swirls of creation and
destruction intertwining in cosmic dance. As the stars,
planets, and galaxies began to form, I felt my purpose grow
clearer. In the early days, I was more of an observer, as life
was still finding its footing amongst the vast expanse. I
watched, intrigued, as the first primitive forms of life
emerged and began their endless struggle towards survival.
With every success, however, came loss. And with each loss,
my place in this cosmic tale became more and more
defined. As eons passed, life evolved and flourished,
blossoming into countless variations and complexities. My
role likewise matured, mastering the art of neutrality, for I
knew favoritism had no place in the natural order. This
impartiality was crucial, lest my dominion become tainted
by personal emotions and bias. As I walked amongst the
living, I began to comprehend the profundity of my task.
Each life, no matter how brief or fleeting, held its own
unique beauty and story. Through their own experiences,
they were connected to something greater than themselves.
As I fulfilled my duty, I contemplated the
interconnectedness of all things. Eventually, eventually, the
living beings discovered languages and expressions to make
sense of their world. They sought ways to grasp the
unknown, creating vast mythologies and tales to explain my
existence. I was sometimes perceived as the ultimate evil, a
malevolent force seeking to reap their lives solely for my
satisfaction. If only they knew how much I loathe this never-
ending job! Others imagined me as a benevolent force,
gently guiding those who passed into the safety of the
beyond. Despite their fearful conjectures, I endeavored to
remain anonymous, taking solace in the knowledge that I
was much more than a mere character of their creation. I
knew that I held an irreplaceable role in the great tapestry of
the universe, establishing parity between life and death.
Over time, as humans built their societies and civilizations,
I swirled unseen in the background, contemplating my own
existence. I pondered the age-old questions of love,
empathy, and whether it was possible to experience them in
my line of duty. I contemplated the very nature of my eternal
presence, forever living yet never truly a part of life itself.
Through this internal quest for self-awareness, I eventually
discovered that even in death, there lies the potential for
rebirth and renewal. The trees must shed their leaves for
new ones to grow, the phoenix must burn to ashes before
rising once more, and the sun must set for a new day to
dawn. In this realization, I discovered my own role in the
cycle of creation. Now, as an ancient and eternal being, I
stand on the precipice of time, looking back on what has
been and forward to what may come. Yet, within the vast
expanses of eternity, I am but a passing shadow. Bearing the
responsibility of the universe's equilibrium, I await the new
and unknown chapters that are yet to unfold before me.
I have seen so many books start this way. And when
talking of books, I have seen ALL books ever penned. And
typewrited. And also keyboarded. I know how all of them
were written. Not that I was the one who gave the authors
the brain to write. Nope. I can’t even write a child rhyme on
my own. It is because the souls that facilitated the writings
later ended up with me. This way, I have become quite
knowledgeable over the years. And when taking of souls?
Oh! I have taken quite a lot. And many more are still
coming. It is never-ending, never-stopping. The party never
stops. Just like humans say. But the truth is that humans
never party for long. You should see them groaning on their
way to work on that dreaded day of the week. I do have a
laugh at many. Sometimes, I make them nearly run into a
car. You should see the way they swear. Ha, ha! It is quite
funny. I am always like: “Heyo! It wasn’t the driver; it is me.”
But they never hear me. But in the end they all do. When I
go to them and say “Time up,”, it is the only sound they
hear. Nothing else. I become their Beethoven, my sound
their symphony and they my thrilled audience.
Lest I forget, I must analyze my diary first of all.
The font I have chosen for my diary is actually a
tribute. Tribute to Algeria. You see, that North African
country is actually one of the places I respect when it comes
to human places. Back in 19-something(I am quite bad at
dates) they invited me to that place quite a lot. Man, I didn’t
have to do no soul-searching. They handed lives after lives
to me. I had my hands full but I managed to take them all.
But the tribute is not because they gave me lives. It was the
quality of lives they gave that made the difference. Now, you
might think I began working during the Algerian War. You
are as wrong as…..well, no comparison. You are just wrong.
Plain wrong.
I began working…when? Aha! That crazy boy who is
a big brother to all humans gave me my first duty. Kanhan
some call him. Others say Cain. He gave me my first duty.
That little piece of…..tranquilo. Spanish for calm. I am not
going to swear at him. Although he irks me, I mustn’t swear.
It is against my orders.
Now, he asks his brother to follow him into a deserted
place. And he…. He called me. That crazy boy. Anyone ever
wondered if I was napping at that time? I had to come
anyways. I took the soul and he dealt with the body. I didn’t
even watch him do it. And it has being over a million years
since………
That is how long I have being working, soul-
collecting.
I am writing this diary as a tribute to Algeria because
the souls I got were nice ones. Souls of rebels, of people who
wanted change, good change. These people were giving up
their lives so I won’t take the lives of others. Even when the
truth that no matter what, the lives of those they were
protecting will be in my hands, they fought on. “At least, they
will grow old,” they said. Tributes to those souls. So, there
is the reason for the Algeria is an inspiration for my diary.
Guess how my diary looks. Did I hear you say an old
scroll with bones as the cover? Ha,ha! You must have
thought I am an oldie. No way! I follow trends too. I have a
whole collection of paperback books from various
publishers on my shelf(the shelf is not made of bones also!)
My house is filled with so many things you won’t believe if I
tell you. Wait until you come here. Seeing is believing.
Now, I have ten stories to tell you. One chapter, one
story. This stories are real, not fabricated. I have watched
them happen over the years. Some of them are just a few
decades away. Some are millions of years past. These ten
stories have always had me feeling something that nearly
feels like human emotions. But the feelings never develop
fully. I wasn’t made to feel emotions. I am just a pipe to
conduct human souls, not a vessel to hold them.
Now my story begins. In the Next Chapter.
Spoiler: Algeria didn’t make my top ten list. Nor did
Hitler.
Pardon me for dilly-dallying. I MUST mention
Hitler. And since the man with the funny moustache didn’t
make my list, I will write a little about him here. Him and
the other nine events that had me working overtime to
gather souls.
Ah, Adolf Hitler, the Fuhrer of Nazi Germany in the
early-mid 20th century. The man responsible for egregious
war crimes and the Holocaust, causing the demise of
millions of innocent souls. Gathering the lost lives from this
era, I found myself working around the clock. At times I
questioned if I’d manage to keep up with his twisted
schemes. Nonetheless, it’s an event that remains seared into
the pages of my diary.
Next up, the World Wars. They were terrible,
destructive events that lasted for years on end. World War
I ushered in a new era of violence and suffering – not just
the soldiers on the frontlines, but also among the millions of
innocents caught in the crossfire. And just when I thought
humanity might have learned its lesson, World War II
reared its ugly head, with even more catastrophic
consequences – certainly not a favorite period in my lengthy
career. I swore at humans then. Not that it had any effect.
But I vociferated so loud, my ears ached. It was stupid of
them. Stupid of you all. Or maybe your forefathers.
The infamous Roman Emperor, Nero, certainly
deserves a mention in my chronicles. During his reign, his
actions led to despair and anguish for many, as death and
disease ravished the citizens of Rome. From setting the city
ablaze to carrying out brutal executions, Nero’s rule ensured
that my workload remained quite monumental during his
time.
The Terror of the French Revolution undoubtedly left
an indelible mark on my diary. The Reign of Terror, from
1793 to 1794, saw the death of tens of thousands as a result
of gruesome, public executions via the guillotine. Leaders
such as Maximilien Robespierre and Jean-Paul Marat
propagated an atmosphere of fear and suspicion, meaning I
had plenty to do – a time I wouldn’t want to revisit.
The devastating atomic bombings of Hiroshima and
Nagasaki in 1945 will forever be etched in my memory. The
United States’ decision to drop two nuclear bombs on these
Japanese cities left immeasurable carnage in their wake.
Countless souls were ripped from their mortal coils within
seconds, while others suffered from the long-lasting effects
of radiation exposure for extended periods, giving my diary
more stories than I could ever wish for.
Speaking of weapons of mass destruction, let me
transport you back to 1347 when the Black Death – the
infamous plague – tore through Europe with a vengeance.
As the microbial Grim Reaper, the bacterium Yersinia pestis
hastily made its presence known, ultimately causing the
demise of an estimated 75-200 million people. Needless to
say, I worked tirelessly in those four years to keep up with
the overwhelming influx of souls. Most were little kids, boys
and girls, crying for their mama. Are men really useless? I
don’t know. But none of the kids wanted the bald men.
They only cried for mama and her blouse.
Mentioning death and destruction would not be
complete without acknowledging the notorious Joseph
Stalin. Stalin’s dictatorial rule and various policies, including
the Great Purge and forced famines, led to the demise of
millions. These incidents kept me particularly busy during
his time as the leader of the Soviet Union.
The 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States were
undeniably catastrophic events – a day etched with pain and
shock. The lives lost that fateful day remain vivid in my
memory as I guided the countless souls to their eternal
resting place. This event not only gave me additional work
but also marked the beginning of a new era filled with
uncertainty and fear.
The Rwandan Genocide in 1994 was another horrifying
period that left a lasting imprint on my diary. In just 100
days, around 800,000 Rwandans – mostly of Tutsi ethnicity
– were brutally massacred, with death becoming a constant
fixture in the region. My work was relentless as I ushered
countless souls for their final journey.
Lastly, the Spanish Influenza pandemic of 1918-1919 is
one event that stands out in my worn-out diary.
Approximately 500 million people were infected, and an
estimated 50 million lost their lives during this global health
crisis. As wave after wave of infection took hold, I continued
to guide these unfortunate souls through their transition,
wondering when the relentless flow would cease.
Phew, writing about these things made me tremble a
bit. When the events happened, I didn’t tremble. I just went
to work. Automatically, steadily. Just doing my work. But
now, sitting here and writing it down really made me
tremble. Now to the next chapter. And this time, I promise
you, no dilly-dallying.
FIRST STORY
THE WEEPING POET
His tears were his ink, his whispers his verses, sadness his mood.
CHAPTER 1
The Weeping Poet
He cried. He wept. The tears streaked his paper and
mixed with his ink.
Beneath the last whispers of twilight, I stood on a quiet,
moonlit street, my shadow stretching along the cobblestones
– for even Death admires the silvery glow of the moon. The
chimes of a distant clock tower echoed through the
darkness, signaling midnight’s arrival. It was time.
Outside a humble abode, a solitary figure, wrapped in
a thick cloak, knelt before the doorstep, his quill scratching
dry ink onto a worn parchment. This was Edward Thorne,
the weeping poet. Though his heart, burdened by sorrows,
had seen better years, his pen flowed, as if guided by the
celestial muse herself.
The stillness of the night embraced his every word,
inscribed with tears of tragedy and deepest yearnings woven
into fragile strands of verse. Here, in these well-crafted lines,
lived an unparalleled beauty that rose from the ashes of his
tormented soul. Though the world knew him not, his words
echoed louder than any mortal could comprehend.
Chorus:
Celestial resonance, harmonies untold
In the deafening silence, I will be bold
With every touch, a melody unchained
A symphony of passion, my spirit uncontained
Verse 2:
The cosmic dance, the rhythm of the night
The whispers of the moon, guiding me to light
Though silence engulfs me, I feel the love
Transcending limitations, like a soaring dove
Chorus:
Celestial resonance, harmonies untold
In the deafening silence, I will be bold
With every touch, a melody unchained
A symphony of passion, my spirit uncontained
Bridge:
For every unspoken word, a poignant note
A gentle lullaby from the depths I wrote
In embracing the silence and hues unseen,
My heart and soul create a love serene
Chorus:
Celestial resonance, harmonies untold
In the deafening silence, I will be bold
With every touch, a melody unchained
A symphony of passion, my spirit uncontained
Verse 1:
In the quiet of my world, I hear your call
An ethereal presence, our hearts enthrall
Through the soundless echo, my love unfurled
A serenade etched in the air, forever swirled
Chorus:
Silent serenade, a love that never wanes
Connecting our hearts, transcending earthly chains
In a world of whispers, we’ll sing our song
Our bond enlivened, forever strong
Verse 2:
As I discover every note, in the stormy mire
You, my love, ignite my heart’s blazing fire
In the absence of sound, a love profound
Within the stillness, my gentle heartbeat is found
Chorus:
Silent serenade, a love that never wanes
Connecting our hearts, transcending earthly chains
In a world of whispers, we’ll sing our song
Our bond enlivened, forever strong
Bridge:
For every tender touch, I find my grace
Embracing the silence as our hearts race
In the calm dusk, our love will bloom
A canvas of light within the gloom
Chorus:
Silent serenade, a love that never wanes
Connecting our hearts, transcending earthly chains
In a world of whispers, we’ll sing our song
Our bond enlivened, forever strong
Then there came that fateful day. A day just like any
other, adorned with lighter moments and heartfelt laughter,
a day where sorrow and pain had seemingly retreated to the
shadows. It was on this day that I received the command –
the whisper from beyond to wield my scythe and claim their
souls.