The crashing sound of the storms woke me. Even after countless attempts to return to a dream state, I would awaken to the abrasive sound of thunder roaring across my ear canals. I laid there in my bed, listening as the rain ran like pellets of broken glass across my tin roof. It was no use. I had to wake and prepare for the day. The weather had no care for whether I slept well or not at all.

Walking towards the kitchen, I noticed a figure in the alley way. Calmly walking with an umbrella and illuminated by the overhead lights that lined the alleyway. He made no unusual motions, but only holding the darkend umbrella above his head as he walked slowly against the sheets of rain.

Though it was deep into the evening hours, it was not unusual to catch a glimpse of some late night drunkard wavering as he made his way down the alleys or an employee at the nearby hospital reporting for duty. It was casual in all senses. Except for one thing.

As I sat and waited for my coffee to finish brewing and listened to the melody of rain, I noticed the figure return and walk the other direction. And then back the opposite direction. It was as if he was searching for something or someone. Yet, he would never turn his head and the pace continued without hesitation.

As I sipped my coffee, I watched the figure continue back and forth. Never stopping or chnaging the pace, I became concerned. It was difficult to make out the figures facial features as their head was masked by the overhang of the umbrella and obscured further by the downpour falling from the mobile shelter.

Eventually, the curiousity became too much for me. I had to know why the figure was pacing the back alley and decided to make my way outside to the carport positioned next go the alley. As I moved to the carport, I noticed the most peculiar setting.

Under the carport, an abundance of bright blue butterflys were rested. As if some calling, they had all gathered in one area. Given that the conditions were less than favorable, I figured they had been migrating and took refuge in the carport. They flapped their wings in near unison as I approached.

“Excuse me. Can I help you with anything? I noticed you had been walking through the alley and was concerned you might have lost something.” I muttered very quietly.

Without hesitation, the figure came to an abrupt hault. The facial features still covered by the umbrella. I quickly noticed one of the bright blue butterfly’s resting on the arm of the figure. It’s wings folded and motionless.

”You’re just as beautiful as the rest of them.” the figure answered, in a soft spoken voice.

”I’m not sure if I understand what you are talking about?” I responded with a slight stutter.

“The lost ones. They always know where to look. They found you. You found them”, the figure spoke with such softness that it barely broke through the rain’s spattering.

”They wanted you to join them. They are the same as you and you are the same as them. Their illness was too much but their souls burned bright. They knew you needed them” the figure continued.

”How did you know I was sick? Who are you?” I yelled back in the most demanding tone I could muster.

As I finished my sentence, the blue butterflys that were positioned under the carport began to flap their wings while grounded. A sudden small gust of wind brushed my body and an intense sense of dread overcame me.

Standing there, confused and on guard, I watched as the figure turned to face me. His face appeared as an almost ghostly white skull. His bulging dull blue eyes staring back at me and penetrating my very being.

”This is yours. This is where you belong now” the figure whispered as the buttferfly that had been resting on his arm began to open his wings.

”I am the collector. The keeper of pain. Your vessel is tarnished. Your body is fleeting. I have prepared this for you. You will know torment, no more. I am DEATH.” he said as the rain stopped abruptly.