The Man Who Dies for Fun

First Steps

Chapter Ten: First Steps

    Walking up behind the old woman, I couldn't do anything but stare as she and the three next to her began to weep. It was strange. I'd never felt this feeling before. This mourning, this uneasiness. But what were they mourning? Janet, why are you crying?

I went beside the woman, and reached out, my hand passing through like air. Janet cried more, the others grabbing her in a huge embrace, Hugo and Dan and Jenny. What is going on? I just want to be with my family again. We can be together again.

Janet said something but it was jumbled, a language I couldn't understand. She laid a hand on the bed, machines all about beeping. She then touched the man lying there, still as night, quiet as a mouse. He....he looked familiar. I reached out again, but this time I was yanked back, back more, pulled into nothing. Then I was flying up into the sky, where a bright light was welcoming me. I tried to swim away, forced myself to get away, back to my family. Screaming, I didn't want to leave. Not yet.

Not yet.

XXXX

    As the resident necromancer, I like to consider myself an expert in things like ghosts, death, life, and the works. Being someone who can easily see spirits flying around like banshees on a sugar rush is boring to me now. How desperate can one be for entertainment? What's joy to a man who has been restricted to the dull experiences of life and it's finite rules? Fuck if I know. But something I do think is unfair is when I'm challenged as a person, as a being, as someone who matters.

    Halina and I were sitting down, enjoying a nice calm breakfast, when the doorbell rang. I groaned loudly, vividly showing my displeasure. "Ah! I haven't even finished my orange juice. The hell?"

    "Are you expecting someone?" Halina shoved a large piece of waffle into her face, chomping down. It had been two days since I called the meeting, and so far things had been rather relaxed. Granted I hadn't done that much yet. Gotta take things slow, ya'know? "I didn't think anybody knew about this place?"

    "My security measures didn't go off. They must have come from the dock. I must've been to busy eating to have not noticed." Sniffing, I nearly gagged. "Fuck. It's a damn magi."

    "You must not have any magi friends," Halina retorted, giving me a scoff. "What's one doing here?"

    "Meh, probably a handler." The chair scraped across the tile floor as I stood. In my loose pajamas and sweatshirt, it's pretty clear that I'm not prepared to be intimidating. Hopefully that won't be a factor in whatever this is about.

Opening up the door, the woman magi in the very expensive business suit and tie was talking on a cell phone with her left hand on hip, briefcase in hand. Her short cropped hair and sunglasses gave me a spook. She was here on important matters, at least from the vibe she gave off. I coughed, but she gave a 'wait' gesture.

The audacity.

She hung up, and tucked the phone in her pocket. Adjusting her glasses, the woman pushed past me into my living room, glaring even though I couldn't see it. She threw her case down onto the small table. "This is much cleaner than I thought it'd be. But it sure smells disgusting."

"Uh, who are you? And why are you in my house?" I asked, watching Halina creep up in the background. Personally, and I'm sure most people feel this way, I don't appreciate strangers strolling around my house. "And you smell disgusting."

"I am Katherine van Hanse, a Representative of the Pillar Magi." Miss Katherine gingerly sat down on my recliner, hands on knees, trying to hide her revolt. Ugh, why is the Pillar bothering me now? I'm pretty sure I've gotten away with everything..... "And I am here because it was reported to us that you were seen walking with a lone woman. As you well know, you are forbidden to have children, so we want to know what's going on."