After the triage team had rushed Penny into the hospital, Christian had left. He had tasks to complete and needed to put some distance between himself and Penny. He had broken many rules to save her and although he didn't regret it, remaining near her would spell disaster for the both of them.
For the next twenty-four hours, Christian reaped souls as he normally would. Humans, vampires, djinn, and rugaru's were just a few of the creatures he had taken to the other side. Still, the entire time his mind was on Penny and how she was managing. It didn't help when he heard her calling for him. And then someone else called him.
Christian had just enough time to send a soul into the veil before he was violently ripped away to another place in-between. Death sat in a chair, pouring over pieces of paper strewn across a large, dark oak desk. Behind them rested the large scythe, black in colour and pristine in appearance. However, it was a symbol of absolute rule and power. It was no less terrifying than the person who commanded it.
”Sit.” Christian immediately took a seat in a large leather chair that sat on the other side of the desk. Christian was vaguely aware of the heat radiating from the fireplace, another strange idiosyncrasy about Death's domain. Things here reapers could feel as if they were human. Christian could even eat if he wanted to, not that he was required to in order to survive.
The fire light sent shadows about the space, turning the dark green walls more animated. The longer Christian stared, the more he thought he saw words and shapes, but then the light would shift and the markings would be gone.
”Christian.” Christian shook his head clear and looked at Death. They were already staring at him with unblinking eyes. ”You broke four rules and saved a life. You've unbalanced the Natural Order.” Death waved vaguely to a door that was open just enough for Christian to see a never ending row of books.
Christian fidgeted in his seat, pulling on the collar of his shirt. ”The human fought to survive on her own. It seemed…a waste to let a soul with that much spirit left to expire.”
”I believe you brought them to the hospital where they were saved.”
”Yes,” Christian said reluctantly.
Death remained silent for a long time. Seconds, minutes, or hours, time didn't have relevance here. When they finally spoke, Christian felt cold.
”When one life is restored another must be taken. One before their scheduled time. For your transgression, you are to go and take this life.” Death snapped their fingers and a book floated in from the other room to Christian. He accepted the book and learned the name of the woman he was to take. His eyes widened at the information he received. He looked at Death, words of refusal on his lips. Death smiled before snapping their fingers once more and Christian was back among the living.
He stood outside the home of Dahlia Harding. A 35-year-old, single mother of four young children. All who scrambled for love, attention, and food. All that Dahlia tried to provide after working two days jobs with a third on the weekend. And according to the book, a person who Christian had a distant connection with.
Death rarely gave a reaper such information, but this was a punishment. A cruel one, but a punishment Christian had to fulfil for if he didn't, Death would reap Penny.
Unease rolled through Christian's body as he walked across the street. He could hear children's screaming and laughter, followed by a woman's laughter and gentle admonishing. He couldn't do this.
Christian turned to walk away when an image of Penny's face flashed before his eyes. She was laid up in a hospital bed, half her body covered in bandages while a nurse tended to the other wounds.
Choose.
The image faded and Christian shuddered, inhaling great gulps of air. Choice. Christian made his decision and he had to live with it. However, he didn't need to subject the children to seeing their mother die.
Christian waited until the next day when the mother returned to work. He followed her for a long time, punishing himself further before he finally claimed her life and stopped her heart. As the soul left the young mother's body, she stared at Christian with confusion. Christian's normally empathetic face was hard.
“My children…”
”Will survive long lives knowing they had a mother who loved and cared for them deeply. Come, it is time.”
Eventually the woman accepted Christian's hand and disappeared from this life into the next. The space around Christian seemed to sigh in relief as the Natural Order was restored but Christian felt no relief. He turned from the body on the ground and disappeared into another world.
Days had passed but Christian found himself standing across the street from the hospital, invisible to the living around him, and oblivious to their presence as he waited. Why he was here, Christian didn't fully understand. Perhaps he was a glutton for punishment. He had ignored all of Penny's calls, hoping she would just forget him and stop trying. But he had to see her walk from the hospital and return to her normal life. He had to see that what he had done was worth it, and that she would live up to her promise to fight and really live.
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