Part 6: The conclusion

Hi, I'm Hades Mortem and if you don't know who I am by this point, there's really no need for you to continue reading. If you do remember me however, get ready to hear the final part of my story.

Frankie and I stood still staring at each other. Neither of us said anything, mostly due to the fact that we honestly didn't know WHAT to say. Due to my "touch of Death" no one had been able to touch me ever before. Yet Frankie had done just that a moment ago. She seemed stiff and maybe a bit frightened now. I think she had just realized what she had done and what could've happened. I was no different to be honest. I was confused, shocked and incredulous but at the same time very relieved, blissful and euphoric as well.

I tried to make eye contact with Frankie, who had her head pressed down and was staring at the floor. "Frankie," I carefully began. Frankie slowly raised her gaze and I noticed how fragile she looked. She was nothing like the confident, relentless girl I had learned to know. "Perhaps we should go speak to my father," I continued and stretched out my hand for Frankie to grab. "If you want to, that is," I still added.

Frankie looked at my hand for a while, weighing the options in her mind and then, after a doubtful moment, she grabbed it and greeted me with an encouraging and approving expression. "Let's go," She said decisively and with a noticeable increase of confidence in her voice. I nodded in agreement and so we left to see my father.

As I explained everything to my father, he just stood by the window staring out and clearly surrounded by thoughts of his own.

"Do you know what caused this?" I asked my father after finishing the explanation. My father sighed heavily and turned to me. "I do," he answered with a regretful and guilty voice. I looked at my father with a very demanding and questioning eyes. "Tell me," I urged with an oppressive tone. "It was your tears which granted Frankie an immunity against your touch," he revealed. "My tears? But how?" I asked in disbelief. "If someone is able to make Death itself cry for them, then is that person not worthy of living? Has that person not proven his significance to the universe by succeeding in evoking human emotions in Death? Is that person not a marvelous rarity to be beheld for having made the ultimate, unforgiving, uncheatable force of nature care?" My father lectured with his usual, haunting voice. I thought about his words and to me, they made perfect sense.

I took a deep and long breath. "Why didn't you tell me before?" I asked with a slightly bitter tone. "I thought it better to live without than live with and eventually have to let go," my father replied. "Let go?" I asked curiously. "Not even those loved by Death can live forever. There will come a day when they too, must be removed from this world by our hands," my father explained with a heavy heart. He obviously had more than enough dark and tormenting memories related to the matter. I suspect one of them might've even had something to do with my mother, whom I've never actually met.

I thought about myself and my friends for a moment. Someday Frankie's body would fall apart and decay. Ghoulia would eventually share the same fate as well. Spectra would survive the longest, but over time her energy would be drained and she too, would fade away. And what about Catty, Twyla, Invisi-Billy and Toralei? They were still alive, so they'd be the first people to depart from this world.

"Then I just have to make the best out of my time with them," I said determinedly. I had the cure now, albeit only temporary, and I would definitely take advantage of it. "Wise words. And truthful as well," My father said approvingly. "So, should I go and tell my friends the good news then?" I asked. "Go. And savour every moment you share with them," my father instructed encouragingly.

I walked to the door with Frankie, but instead of stepping outside, I stopped and turned around. I walked back to my father and embraced him tightly. "Thank you. You don't know how much this means to me," I said. "Well, I think I have a pretty good idea," my father replied. This statement pretty much confirmed my suspicions. "I love you dad," I whispered. "I love you too Hades," my father replied with a haunting, yet loving and gentle voice.

So, has anything changed since I discovered how to make people immune to my touch? Yes, quite a lot actually.

The first thing I did after returning to school, was distributing vials filled with my tears to every student in Monster High. Those were tears of happiness, by the way, and they work just as well. Now you might wonder, how did the bottled tears even work if I'm supposed to cry for each person I care about individually as a sign of my affection towards them? Well, as my father already explained, my TEARS are the key to averting the "touch of death". Feelings have nothing to do with the efficiency of the cure, as unromantic and boring as it may sound. The person just has to receive my tears in some form or another and they're immune. I get it, crying inconsolably in front of your best friend is definitely more dramatic, meaningful and memorable, but my method was way easier and faster. Still, some of my friends had the privilege to witness a personal "demonstration of affection" from me. These people included Ghoulia, Gigi and all the members of the Disappearing Club. Sending them an ordinary flask of tears just didn't seem appropriate after all they did to help and support me and after all I put them through.

I've also received many new friends. Sure, people were a bit suspicious and doubtful first, but over time they got used to the fact that I'm completely safe to hang around with nowadays. In fact, many of my most devoted former haters are now some of my best pals. Regardless of all this however, there are still some people who fear and hate me. I doubt those people will ever change their minds but that's their loss, not mine.

And lastly, as you might have already guessed, I approached Toralei and asked her out. This is how our conversation turned out:

"Hi Toralei. I...I was wondering if...If you'd like to do something...With me someday? I recall you saying I'm quite an...Uh...Interesting guy," I awkwardly stuttered. "You know, now that you don't have your powers anymore, you're not nearly as exciting as before," Toralei said with a teasing voice and grinned playfully. "Oh, it's okay. I always thought Meowlody was prettier than you anyway. Maybe I'll just ask her out instead," I swiftly replied. "Jerk," Toralei said, clearly amused by my comment. "So, is Friday okay?" she then continued, smiling attractively. "Sure. I'll see you then," I answered with a confident and firm voice. "I'll look forward to that," Toralei said slowly and seductively before walking away and leaving me with a joyous smile on my face.

So, this is it then. I've certainly come a long way since the beginning and I've also learned a lot along the way. I've learned to love myself the way I am, I've learned that not everyone sees me as I see myself and most importantly, I've learned to never give up or lose hope. So what if it's a cliche? If you're not convinced about the authenticity of these lessons, you clearly haven't been paying attention. Anyway, my name is Hades Mortem and this is how my story ends. Farewell!



THE END