The Departed (Working Title)

Chapter Two

The next day I awoke to obnoxious clanking of metal on metal, and an irritated "Rise and shine!" Presumably from Jax.

I rolled over in my bunk to Les already dressed and ready for the day. She wore simple black leggings with a black shirt and tennis shoes. "Good morning roomie!" She said gleefully, unaware of the dread I felt realizing everything wasn't just a dream and I truly was still considered dead.

"I set your clothes on the bottom of your bunk. Once you're ready we can head out for our morning run!" Les explained.

Woah, woah, woah... morning run? This is the afterlife, I thought I was going to be able to escape the need for exercise. As if reading my mind, Les explained to me how it helps to generate our powers, much in the way sleep does. The more endurance and energy we have, the more we have built in our system to help transport ourselves or any other soul into the afterlife. By the time I was dressed and ready to go, I still wasn't convinced the run would be worth it.

Everyone had filed out to where we had the camp fire the previous night. Jax ordered us to filed into a single file line shoulder to shoulder. We did as he said.

"I'm going to start ahead of you guys to make the trail, it's going to be a brutal one today," Jax started, "The first one to make it back to camp will be rewarded with no dish duty, the last one back to camp will owe one hundred push ups and dish duty for the entire week."

Everyone groaned at his last statement. I swore I saw the corner of Jax's lips turn up into the slightest grin. I didn't think he had it in him to smile, really. Before anyone could get a word in, Jax had disappeared before our very eyes. Only a small indented trail lay before them. Les explained to me how superior reaper powers allow for them to move at warp speed before we headed off into the trail.

Before going into the run, I knew I wasn't in the best running shape but this trail kicked my ass. We trekked through the forest up and down steep inclines, past a babbling river, twisting and turning through the pine trees. Everyone drug up so much dirt we were hardly even recognizable by the time we were nearing the end. I was at the back of the pack as we were trudging up the last hill and I could see everyone disappear as they crested the top. My lungs burned, I wouldn't be surprised if smoke started seeping out of my mouth they felt they were literally on fire. My quads and calves were shaking so bad and my stomach felt as if it was going to turn inside out. Brutal might have been an understatement when describing this run.

As I crested the hill, I could see the other camp mates gathering around the fire pit pointing fingers at one another, yelling. I didn't have the wherewithal to figure out what was going on because my stomach had dropped to my feet with the knowledge I was going to have to complete those one hundred push ups. Great.

Once I finished my run, I collapsed to the ground, exhausted. How was this supposed to help generate the energy needed for my reaper powers? If anything I felt like all my energy was depleted. As my heart rate began to slow and the burn and my lungs began to extinguish, I could hear my camp mates growling at one another.

Jax reappeared ordering us all to line up. But I was still rolling in the ground in pain as I tried to listen to his announcement.

"You guys completed the running course, and I would congratulate you... however, we had some poor performances," Jax started.

My arms were covering my eyes but I could feel his burrowing into me as I was still convulsing. "Our first place finisher was Reach. I would say job well done, but I don't reward those who make short cuts. In your training should any of you use your powers to get ahead, I will find a punishment worthy of your crime."

I hadn't even been close enough to see that Reach had done anything of the sort, but that explained why everyone was at each other's throats. I glanced over at Reach, who was glistening in sweat. He had short dirty blonde hair, gorgeous green eyes, and a six pack. I could hardly understand his need to cheat when he was clearly in perfect shape to finish the run. Reach was muttering something under his breath as Jax continued his lecture.