Becoming Death (23 page)

“Hell.”

My eyes widened and a slight chuckle escaped my lips. “Hell?”

“Our nearest reaper office is in Hell, Michigan,” my mother said.

“Hold it, so your telling me Death has office space and I can go there?”

She shook her head. “It’s merely a postal address. We’re forbidden from ever going there.”

I laughed, shaking my head. “Being forbidden isn’t going to stop me. I’m desperate, so I think it’s time to break some rules. I’m going,” I said, gathering up the books she had given me.

My mother squeezed her lips together. “Just a minute.” She scribbled down an address on a Post-it note and handed it to me. “If you’re going to negotiate with Death, at least take your sister.”

“I can’t believe I let you talk me into this. Mom told you that reapers are banned from the RIP office premises, right?” Clarissa said, tapping her nails on the steering wheel as she waited for a light to change.

“Well, if things don’t go to plan I won’t be a reaper anymore anyway. I’ll be dead tomorrow,” I told her.

“Don’t be so over-dramatic, Madison,” Clarissa said, turning away from me with a frown to stare straight ahead at the road.

“Could Death be anymore obvious by putting his office in Hell?” I asked, trying to break the tension between us.

“It’s only the regional office; the main office is in Orlando.”

“Seriously? Death lives in the happiest place on Earth?” I asked, flexing my bottle of soda in my hand before taking a drink.

“I guess, everyone wants to be close to the mouse,” Clarissa said.

I spat out my drink. “Clarissa!” I shouted before wiping the glove compartment with my sleeve.

Her eyes narrowed but she faked a smile. “You’re so annoying but I’m still going to miss you—I mean, if you-know-what happens tomorrow.”

“Me too.” My breath caught in my throat. “Hopefully Death can be reasoned with.”

She crossed her fingers. “I’m going to need someone to help me look after little Morticia when she’s born and you did promise to baby sit.”

“Is that’s what you’re naming her?” I asked. “Isn’t it a little strange?”

“Well, I think it has a nice ring to it. Plus it’s an old family name. It was our great-great-grandmother’s name. I’ve always liked it.”

“Well, it’s your kid. The name is up to you,” I said.

“It is, so I was going to call her Morticia Madison Clark.”

I glanced over at my sister. “You’re going to name her after me?”

“You were there for me when I needed someone. Plus this way there will always be a part of you in her life.”

I leaned across the front seat and hugged her shoulder.

The grim reaper regional headquarters wasn’t what I expected. There was no fire, no smoke, no dark alleys or lava pits preventing entry. It was a three-story building made of concrete and steel with a tasteful black and gray sign declaring the company name was Removals in Practice Limited, or RIP limited for short. I guess if you were an evil corporation set on destroying people’s lives with contracted killers, this would be as good a place as any to hide that secret.

“Are you sure this is it?” Clarissa asked, glancing up and down the street.

“RIP Limited, it has to be it,” I assured her.

She shrugged. “Okay, are you ready? Do you know what you’re going to say?” she asked, holding the door handle.

I had been rehearsing my speech to Death for most of the journey. It involved a lot of crying and begging, but I was confident what needed to be said. If I were in a comic book, this would be my hero moment where I finally saved the world from evil. Today I had to save my world. I turned towards Clarissa. “I’m ready. Let’s get this over with.”

Clarissa held the glass door for me and I walked inside. The lobby was ornate with marble flooring, dark wood and gold fixings. A mahogany reception desk with a bell stood against the far wall, while a collection of fountains took up most of the room. Dotted around them were pale white statues that were both vibrant and stunning.

“I’ve never seen such a gorgeous place. This artwork is amazing,” Clarissa said, running her fingers along the chest of a male nude.

I shivered. “I don’t know why but this place gives me the creeps. Something isn’t right. It seems like Death’s trying to overcompensate for all the ugliness he brings into the world.”

“Madison!” Clarissa cried out behind me. She fell to the floor, looking at her hand while holding her wrist.

I rushed to her, examining the pink skin of her fingers.

“The statue, it burnt me,” she explained, wincing as she tried to move her fingers.

I looked at the statue but it’s former beauty was gone, replaced with a figure contorted in pain; a pile of teeth littered the ground next to its feet and there was a hint of red on it’s jaw line. The figure across from it had a hole torn through its midsection and its organs were tangled around its hips. The fountain in the middle dripped red liquid. This place was starting to feel like Death’s home.

“Can you stand?” I asked, helping her to her feet.

“My hand,” she whispered before blowing on the skin.

“Don’t worry, we’ll get you to a doctor and I’ll come back here later,” I told her, leading her back towards the door.

She gasped. “I know him,” she said, pausing in front of the statue of a man who’d had a bad day with a chainsaw. She broke down, tears making her mascara run. “He was one of my first clients. I did this to him. I heard his wife say something about him having two personalities—it was a mistake.”

I wrapped my arm around her and turned her away from the grotesque figure. “Let’s get you out of here.”

A tapping behind us slowed our movements and we turned to see who was there. A slender woman with olive skin, a stern bob haircut and red horn-rimmed glasses walked across the room towards us carrying a manila folder. “The Clark sisters, how lovely it is to meet you both. I see you found our security system.” The woman snapped her fingers and the room returned to its original form, and the burn on Clarissa’s fingers faded away.

“I’m okay now,” Clarissa assured me, flexing her fingers.

“How did you—”

“I’m Mr. D’s secretary, Raven. From what I understand, you would like to make an appointment to meet with my boss,” she said, flipping through the file in her hand.

“That’s right, now where—” I started to say but Clarissa stepped in front of me.

“We would be delighted to meet with Mr. D today, if he can clear some time in his busy schedule for us.”

Raven chuckled while pulling out a cell phone. “Mr. D rarely meets with grim reapers but he has been known to make expectations when they intrigue him. I’m afraid he has no opening in his schedule for today but I think I could fit you in sometime in October, if that would be useful.”

“No, I need to see him today.”

Raven glanced at the folder again. “I’m sorry, Miss Clark, I know your time with us is rather limited but I must follow protocol. Although, I do believe if you do not finish your current assignment, there will be a formal disciplinary meeting called tomorrow to serve you with your demotion. I would suggest doing everything in your power to avoid that meeting.” She shut the folder and turned to walk away.

I ran towards her, grabbing her sleeve. “Go get him right now. It’s a matter of life or death.”

She pushed me away, knocking me to the ground. “His favorite kind, but I’m afraid he’s at a golf tournament today and can’t be disturbed.” She walked away slowly, her heels tapping while her silhouette faded away with every step. “Mark him for Death, Madison, or pay the price. It’s your choice.”

When I arrived home from the RIP offices I found Aaron in the kitchen making dinner. He hadn’t heard me come through the door so I took a few moments to admire the way he moved as he cooked. He stirred the wok then lifted a wooden spoon to his lips to check the sauce before adding the perfect amount of seasoning by taste. In his other hand he twirled the strap of his apron, humming to himself. Aaron was definitely missing his calling by becoming a doctor instead of a chef. I wanted to reach forwards, wrap my arms around his waist and whisper an apology into his ear. I wanted to be a couple again. I looked down at my fingers before retreating them into a ball hidden in my sleeves.

“Hey,” I said, coming into his view but keeping my distance. I crossed my arms over my chest and gave him a friendly smile.

“Hi, I didn’t know were home yet. Busy day at work?” He leaned against the counter.

“I just got back. I couldn’t resist the smell of whatever you’re cooking, had to get a taste,” I told him, leaning forwards to get a better view of the pan.

Aaron watched me crumble the cuffs of my sweater. “Are you hungry? I made enough stir fry for three if you want some.”

“Yeah. Three?”

Aaron held the back of his neck. “I decided to call that Becca girl. I hope it’s alright.”

“Is this a date?” I motioned towards the food.

“I’m not sure yet, but I figured if we weren’t dating I didn’t really have any reason to say no to her.”

His eyes locked on mine as he waited for my reaction. “No, that’s fine. I wasn’t really hungry anyway,” I said, denying him one. How dare he try to test me? And Becca, was he naturally attracted to reapers?

“More for us. She’ll be here in half an hour. Do you mind not disturbing us?” he called after me. I swear he wanted me to slap him, but that would have only killed him, so I stomped away. Whatever we’d had was officially over, he’d moved on. I wasn’t even sure our friendship could survive this. I just hoped Becca didn’t get reassigned as his replacement reaper.

I woke up early the next morning to go to my mother’s house. I couldn’t face Aaron. I had failed. I couldn’t save both of us. It didn’t matter anyway. Either way I’d be alone.

I picked up the picture of my father and me from my bedside table. “At least I’ll get to see you again soon,” I said, tucking the picture into my purse. I strolled past Aaron’s closed bedroom door and closed eyes as I whispered, “Goodbye.”