“Get up.” Larissa stalked over to me. Her black pencil skirt exaggerated all her curves as she bent down, and slammed her perfectly manicured hand on the neatly stacked folders on my desk. Her neon green eyes laser-focused on my computer screen. “I need you to finish up your fieldwork. Please don’t make me write you up with another incomplete.”
I pushed myself away from the desk, clenching the side arms of the chair, and smiled up at her. “I did my fieldwork last month.”
Larissa sighed and took her hand off my desk, placing it on my shoulder with a firm grip. “Get out of the office, Estelle. I won’t ask you twice.”
“Can I at least ask Mason to come—“
“He’s busy working on cases you didn’t finish,” Larissa shot back.
I gulped. Alright. Hint taken.
A few souls and I would be cleared for another month. No biggie.
“Okay, I’ll head out now.” I gave Larissa a reassuring thumbs up, but her intense stare didn’t waver as she relaxed her grip on my shoulder.
I cleared my throat, sat up, and wobbled to the reaper station on the 20th floor.
My legs yearned to give out when Val came into view, sitting behind a glass desk.
The room was anything but inviting. Starch white walls and one half-dead fern in the corner with fluorescent lights and no windows. It was like walking into a coroner's office. Sterile, empty, and clean.
I cleared my throat and grasped the hem of my blouse. “So, how many for me this time?”I asked, looking at Val who remained focused on her screen.
Her long nails clicked against the keyboard. Her honey-brown eyes barely visible from the light reflecting off her glasses.
Val didn’t lift her gaze to mine as she spoke, “Ninety-nine. It’s a short day for you.”
Val’s nails continued to tap against the keyboard until a loud ding convulse around us. My wristwatch zapped simultaneously with her final click, and my nerves intensified as the shockwave shook my equilibrium.
I clenched my side, stifling my nerves back.
Short day? She had to be fucking with me. That will take me hours if not a whole twenty-four hours. Ugh, why couldn’t they leave the soul-reaping to the ones who were good at it?
It always made me want to hurl.
The vortex spiraled in cerulean and deep plums as it pulsated, and I reluctantly stepped in.
It spit me out in a rundown apartment; the stove leaking gas. Not a flame in sight.
Yet.
All the false light blared down on me.
I inhaled, shook the tension enveloping my body, and snapped my finger.
The scythe materialized in the air before me. I reached my hands out and grabbed a hold of the snath.
I lost my grip as it slipped through my clammy fingers. “Shoot. Shit. Shit. No, no. Please.” I frantically reached, but the steel blade slammed onto the tile—viciously clanging until it settled.
“Who’s there?” a rough voice called out from the dark doorway across the room.
I crouched down, wiped my sweaty palms on my black slacks and stood up, throwing the scythe over my shoulder.
I took a deep breath and gave my best customer service voice despite my menacing appearance. “I’m here to help,” I said, smiling.
Fake it until you make it Estelle. It’s only been… what? A hundred years of reaping? You’ll get better, eventually.
I glided to the dark entrance. My eyes lingering on an old man slouched beside the bed, staring back at his corpse.
“It can’t be real.” The man shook his head profusely, not making eye contact with me.
I stood still, watching. Each reaping, it never got any easier.
“If you stay here, it will only cause you more suffering,” I said in a low voice, hoping I didn’t sound too bleak.
The man turned to face me, his eyes red and puffy with sunken cheeks. “Go away.”
I clenched the snath of the scythe tighter.
For reapers’ sake. why did they never want to listen? Ever. It‘ like they all strived to make my day a living hell, dragging this processes out longer than necessary.
I tilted my head and gritted through my teeth. “I’m afraid, I can’t do that.”
I stalked close to the man, and he shrunk into the side of the bed, swinging his arms, flailing and screaming as I raised the scythe.
“GO AWAY YOU DEMON.” The man swatted me away like a mere slap could do anything.
I swung with all my force, tearing a hole through space. “Go before I push you in,” I growled. My temperament turned more aggravated each time he defied me.
I didn’t have time for this. I wanted it to be over.
He was my last reaping before I could relax.
“NO NO NO. I got rid of you!” The guy shot up and shoved me out of his way.
I slammed into the side of the end table; the edge stabbing me in the ribcage, and I gasped out for air.
Damn, I really hated how strong spirits were when they first died. I grumbled a few curses under my breath and pushed myself up.
My eyes fixated on the body lying in-front of me.
It wasn’t the old man.
A woman in her mid-thirties. Her hair perfectly brushed and in pigtails; her skin gray and her eyes wide open.
This man… I shook my head. No. Not my problem.
I sprinted out of the room, half-thinking I would have to chase the bastard down.
But he cowered in a fetal position next to the front door, muttering under his breath, “Why… Why can’t I leave?”
I stalked towards him, and he shriveled further against the doorframe.
I clicked my tongue. “All monsters are trapped once they die.” I swung my scythe again, ripping open the door to the otherside.
I snatched the man by his collar and yanked him to his feet and tossed him inside.
The tear closed, and I slammed the scythe on the tile, snapped my fingers and it vanished. I lifted my wrist and pressed the side button of my watch.
The vortex opened, and I walked through.
I stubbled into Val’s office, dusted my hands off on my slacks.
Val gave me a small nod as I stomped past her; my feet exhausted from chasing a hundred lost spirits all day and night.
I rounded the corner and saw my little cubicle and barely made it to my chair before I collapsed onto it.
I let out a breath of relief and melted into the chair.
It was Friday, and I finished all my reaping. I didn’t even have to work through the weekend.
A happy giggle escaped my lips as I jiggled my legs in excitement. I was going to pick up some curry on the way home and binge watch some K-dramas with lil Dew.
“I wouldn’t get too excited just yet.”
I tipped my head back and Larissa popped out from the corner. She had heavy bags under her eyes as she rubbed her temple in discomfort.
“What do you mean? I completed all my reapings. What more is there?” I scrunched my brows in confusion.
“Upper management wants to have a word with you.”
I choked on my own spit as I launched to my feet, trying to find any hint of sarcasm in Larissa’s expression, but her face remained deadpanned.
“You can’t be serious,” I squeaked out.
“Afraid I am. They found an error in one of the spirits you reaped. You sent them to the wrong place.”
My eyes dilated. “That fast? I mean… that can’t be right.”
Fuck.
“Go to the elevator and press the sixth button and… don’t make him wait too long. He’s in a nasty mood.”
When was he ever in a good mood? Oh, man. I was so screwed.
“I mean are you sure it was me and not—“
“This isn’t something you can get out of.”
A hysterical laugh escaped my lips, and I quickly covered my mouth. “Alright then. Wish me luck.”
“Oh, sweetie. You’re going to need more than luck.”
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