A myriad of red hues circled in the air like mist as a low buzzing assaulted my ears.

The hallway was saturated in blood and glass as the ether stirred around us; the crunching of shards beneath my boots drowned out the sound coming from the door in front of me.

“Re . . . report it to HR?” I joked, trying to lighten the mood but Grim’s unenthusiastic stare told me he found me anything but funny.

This stuff didn't happen often and all I could remember was when a spirit was truly evil—it formed spores and expelled a red-like substance called ether.

It was incredibly deadly for the living and affected the balance of the world. So, if a human stumbled within proximity, their behavior would turn irrational and dangerous—it practically took away your impulse control and fed your most vile thoughts—like an airborne disease. The situation could only get worse and escalate if we left it alone to grow and manifest more.

Grim tsk’d me and moved his hand palm-face up. All the ether vaporized like a vacuum cleaning up the filth and I shifted away.

Every last participle of it . . . vanished.

What did I just witness? “What the—”

“You clearly don't know the proper procedures, and I wasn't going to hold your hand and have you waste my time further.”

I squinted, a little aggravated by Grim’s tone. What a hypocritical dick.

A dry laugh escaped me, and I tilted my head to the side. “I sure as hell know.” I pointed and wiggled my finger at him. “That’s not the proper steps to get rid of it either.”

Grim waved his hand, disregarding the fact he was the biggest POS boss to walk the earth. “That’s of no concern to you. We’ll discuss your shortcomings later. I won't be the reason you’re late for your shift.”

“Hold on. You didn't consider this work? And what about the spirit? I need to send it to hell first.”

Grim smiled and it was striking but deceptive. It was a smile that practically screamed ‘Oh, you have no idea what work is love’ and that scared the living daylights out of me.

“I already handled it. You’re too slow.”

My jaw dropped. “You . . .you didn't even move,” I said, but it sounded more like a question than a statement.

“Go,” Grim growled.

My body turned away from him involuntarily and I snapped my fingers, mumbling, “Alllll right then, damn.”

My scythe disappeared and I pressed the button on my watch and the vortex spun into existence. I rushed inside, refusing to look back or give him anymore ammunition to ridicule me.

I launched into Val's office, hitting my shoes against the tile a little harder than usual.

I muttered a short hi as I passed her and wobbled through the hall and barely managed to make it to my floor and into my cubicle.

A sigh withdrew from my lips as I slammed my ass onto the chair and rubbed my eyes, probably smearing my mascara in the process. 

“You look like death. No pun intended.”