Reaped Out
Act 1

Chapter 1

Being an eighteen year old young woman on the cusp of adulthood, days shy of graduating high school; most would say I had the world at my feet. Having been blessed with a higher than average IQ and the ability to drown out the white noise of adolescent society, I had successfully coasted through high school and now rivalled a select few to take the title of valedictorian; many of my peers and teachers saw great things in my future. As part of a routine wind down of senior year I, along with the other graduating students, were interviewed by the hapless excuse of a school councillor to plot out the rest of our lives.

"What do you want to do with your life Daria?"

Truth be told, I hadn't given it much thought. The major goal I had set three years prior was to survive high school life unscathed and thus far, I had somewhat managed that. Physically at least. Mentally, I hadn't been so lucky; having one of the most popular girls in school as a sibling had its drawbacks, especially when I had been constantly referred to as her 'cousin or whatever'.

What was my life plan? Was there a predestined path for me to follow, or was I in charge of my own reality? Was life really what you made it or was it a series of random events you unwittingly stumbled through till the day you died; which for me was in approximately forty minutes time.

"Good afternoon Laaaawndale High. This is your principal speaking, to remind any of you who may have forgotten that the first ever annual Fashion Expo will be held in the auditorium in half an hour. I will also remind you that attendance is mandatory for all. So come along and support your school- Goooo Lions!"

"Well, there goes all hope of actually doing anything productive this afternoon." Jane muttered as she and Daria arrived at their lockers. "Although, I could do some sketches and compile them for a new work...You could use it as a basis for an essay on the deterioration of teen society and the worrying trend of preteen wrinkles." She shot a smirk toward Daria.

"I'm not going. I've had enough of all this, Li can't do anything; we have a little more than a week left of school before we graduate."

"Hmm, I wouldn't bet on it she'd find a way to make you pay."

"Forget it. I'm out of here, I just have to return a book to the library and I'm going home." Daria retrieved a large thick textbook from her locker, shut the door and began to walk toward the library.

Daisy stood at the door to the auditorium and glanced at her companion with a worried look.

"How on earth are we supposed to find our Reap?" Daisy fretted as she nervously pushed a stray lock of golden hair behind her ear.

"We? Our? Since when did this become a team sport? The only reason I'm here is because you can't be bothered to steal your own car." The younger blonde deadpanned as she scanned the halls.

"Georgia, come on, please? There's thirty five minutes 'til E.T.D." Daisy's crystal blue eyes shone helplessly.

Georgia sighed. "Fine, who do we have?"

Daisy retrieved a crumpled Post-It from her purse and studied it. "D. Morgendorffer, 1:45pm Lawndale High School auditorium. Which would be helpful, if the whole damn student body weren't assembling there."

Daria and Jane walked slowly toward the school's exit which unfortunately, meant passing by the entrance of the auditorium. Daria stole a few furtive glances as they walked by; it seemed they were able to evade Ms Li. They had reached the large, glass, double doors to the exit of the building when they were caught.

"Ms. Lane, Ms. Morgendorffer. Where do you think you are going?" Ms Li stood in the middle of the corridor her hands placed firmly on her hips, feet planted on the ground. The two girls froze in the school's threshold; one door semi -ajar, held open by Jane's outstretched hand. "Inside. Now."

The two girls exchanged glances then turned and sheepishly followed Ms. Li.

Daisy and Georgia perked as they heard the name and slowly turned toward each other. Daisy flashed a smile, and turned to greet Ms Li.

"Excuse me, Ms..."

"Li." Ms Li turned toward the thin, stylish blonde. One look and she deduced this woman had to have been involved with the expo, the expo that was funding the new football uniforms.

"I was wondering if I might have a word with Ms. Morgendorffer?" Li raised her brow in suspicion and Daisy thought on her feet. "She has been elected to partake in the expo; a makeover." Daisy beamed.

"Fine. Good luck." She scoffed. "Ms Lane, this way."

Jane stood in the doorway of the auditorium and observed the other young female that accompanied the blonde. Jane guessed she'd be no older that nineteen; her face mirrored the familiar deadpan expression that was regularly seen on Daria. Jane glanced back to Daria as the taller blonde shook Daria's hand, then turned and motioned to the other girl to follow her, as Daria returned.

"Come on. In. Both of you." Ms Li said curtly, she saw the disdain on the girls faces. "Go on. It won't kill you."

"What was that about?" Jane whispered as they walked down the aisle.

"I have no idea; I think she's had one too many hair treatments or chemical peels."

The two girls found a seat in the front row. Daria scoffed as they sat and looked around the hall at the larger-than-life size beauty products, with the closest to them a curling iron and a set of bobby pins.

"It looks like a Barbie threw up in here; who on earth would find this appealing?" Daria queried; she didn't have to wait long for an answer.

"Oh wow, Kevvie! Look at that big hair dryer. Imagine how much hair you'd have to have to use that!" Brittney's inflected voice squeaked from behind them.

"Aww Babe they're for like, giant chicks."

"Oh Kevvie, you're so smart."

"Oh. My. God. You just had to try and rebel. We could have had a seat way back in the safety of the outcast section..." Jane muttered.

The lights dimmed as loud electronic house music filled the room and a parade of Lawndale's popular females traipsed across the stage. Stacy walked out followed by Sandi; it was evident that they were arguing.

"Stacy, I will go first." Sandi ordered.

"But Sandi, we decided in the choreography earlier, that we were going out by height." Stacy replied meekly.

"Yes. But now I've changed my mind."

Sandi yanked Stacy's arm back. It caused her to stumble and lose her footing. Stacy reached out and scrambled for something to use to regain her balance and found only the large curling iron sculpture for support.

The sculpture teetered precariously and fell. It upended the table that housed the bobby pin sculptures and launched them into the air.

The room stood silent. The only sounds were the soft sobs emitted from Stacy as she lay trapped under the curling iron sculpture. Jane took in the scene and was the first to break the stunned silence.

"HA!" she cackled, making no attempt to hide her laughter. Tears streamed down her face and she tapped Daria's shoulder while she tried to regain a little composure. "Aren't…you…glad…you…didn't…miss…that." she managed between breaths, eyes glued to the train wreck on stage. She waited for a response, moments of silence passed and Jane turned to her friend.

Daria sat lifeless; impaled to her chair by two of the over sized hair pins. One had gone through her stomach and the other was lodged through her head, still swaying slightly. Jane sat in shock and found herself incapable of movement.

Daria stood at the doors, confused as to how she had gotten there so quickly.

"Hey, Dara." A hushed feminine voice beckoned from the hall.

Daria turned, entered the corridor and met with the shorter blonde from earlier.

"Hey, you've got to hurry up and move on. I've got to get back to town I have a Reap at seven." Georgia spoke in a hushed tone while she scanned the empty hall as they walked to the exit. "You didn't see that blonde chick did you; tall, stylish, complete pain in my ass?"

"Move on? What reap? What the hell's going on?" Daria asked her normally monotone voice broke in bewilderment.

Georgia sighed in exasperation. "You're dead. Your current state of existence is a soul. You're a ghost." George stuck out her hand and moved it through Daria's mid-section for emphasis. "Now, I have to find Daisy and you have to go to, where-ever it is you go." She said as she opened the doors and caught a final glimpse of a bright burst of light. She looked between the lights and Daria.

"Aww shit. Well, it looks like you're sticking around. Welcome to your afterlife."