A Taste Of The Afterlife

Six: All The Questions

"Enya! Want to come with me to the office!" 15 calls out. I've been here for two days now and have been keeping to myself in my room. I was mostly sleeping but I also started a sort of drawing diary from a notepad Ray took off the fridge to give to me so I had something to do. I'm tired of staying in my room now and have decided to venture out to the rest of the house in hopes I wouldn't bother Ray with my existence.

I come out of my room in the new clothes Ray bought the other day. I figured he'd buy something ugly on purpose but surprisingly, he got me some pretty good clothes and not to mention he bought matching undergarments, which I didn't think he would be willing to get those sort of things and much less have them match.

To elaborate more on Ray, I think he and I get along fine for the moment. I had a full-blown conversation with him this morning without feeling like he was staring at me with murderous intent and other than the fact he used to kill people, he's pretty cool. Though I do realize he has a temper and so I shouldn't push anything just in case he decides to kill me. I'm already dead but he could torture me or something and I'd rather not experience that.

"15, you have a desk job. I didn't even want to be in there with you when I died." I told him. I walked into the living room where Ray was watering one of many plants that litter the house and I spot 15 by the door with a satchel and fancy looking suit. "Wow. Why do you look so professional today? You weren't wearing a suit when you collected me."

"It was supposed to be the boss's day off so we usually go casual on those days. We can get away with it sometimes but there's going to be an inspection today so he'll be making rounds. We like to at least try to look like we're serious about our jobs to the angels, despite not having any real work other than collecting. Also, I look great in a suit and I like to rub that in the face of the poor angel stuck in purgatory for the day."

I shouldn't have but I giggled. The idea of a sweet, beautiful angel that's probably use to a clean, shiny, cool aired, good smelling office that has to spend the day in the hell's side of purgatory whilst being surrounded by these super attractive demons who are clearly pretending to be serious was funny to me.

"Speaking of your boss.." I wander over to a chair and leaned over the back. "Does he actually work? Or just walk around the office and intimidate people, not actually doing his job... whatever his actual job is. And now that I think about it, isn't he collecting souls because God asked him to? Shouldn't he be like rebelling and refusing to work?"

"As a leader, regardless of what, he or she should always do the hard work needed for their group to thrive or do what they believe they should." Ray answers. He didn't appear to be interested in the conversation but he answered me anyway, still watering his plants.

15 nods in agreement. "Exactly. A leader of rebels has to work hard so his rebels can continue rebelling, even if it means giving up your own rebellious spirit. Get it?"

"I.. guess.. Anyway, no. I would rather walk into ongoing traffic a second time."

"..that could be arranged.." I swore I heard Ray mumble this but I tried not to think too much about it in hopes we'd eventually become friends since we are living together now.

15 laughs. "I don't want to go either." he waves and scoots out the door.

I looked over to Ray, now bored. He had switched to another plant now, clipping some of the life away. "So Ray.. when did you die?"

"You ask a lot of questions."

"So I've been told."

"About forty or so years ago I think. It's hard to keep track of time here."