Sudden Departure

Chapter Fifteen

I paced in front of the archway to Death's room. The open blackness was replaced with two doors split down the middle with intricate iron curls embedded in the thick, black wood.

I slicked my hair back from my face and walked in the other direction. I didn't want to just walk into Death's room. He had a fiery temper and I didn't want to get what I had experienced before. I was also afraid that I wouldn't be assigned again. It was humiliating.

Thousands of Sudden Departures were thrust into Death's cold hands daily. For hundreds of years they had been assigned right away. Why was I any different?

I released a deep breath and pushed open the doors. They creaked and groaned. As I walked farther into the room they slid with a whisper to a close.

Ahead of me, Death's glowing skin shone in the darkness. He looked over his shoulder and flashed me a smirk. "Took you long enough, didn't it?"

I nodded and progressed towards him. He gestured to the dental chair from before. I slid into the chair and placed my hands formally in my lap.

Death pressed his hands together and rested them under his chin. "How was the rest of your evening?"

I shifted in my chair. "It was nice, thanks."

"Hmmm," he considered my words, "what happened?"

I swallowed and clamped my hands over again. "Well, I went with Nebula to find a new outfit, then I went to the Receivers level and napped, and then I went to dinner."

His eyes blinked open as he moved his hands to sit on his thighs. I watched his eyes rove over my clothes and take them in. "Interesting choices," he mumbled, "I expected something different. Who did you eat with?"

"Um," I racked my brains and tried to remember. How was any of this relevant? "Uh, Nebula and Millie, Receivers, Hershel, a Scout, and Terrance, a Guardian."

He nodded and pushed himself up swiftly from the couch. He folded his hands neatly behind his back and strode around me in circles, walking as if he was as young and strong as any other person my age.

"Today, your tests will not be as taxing as the one from yesterday, or they might. I don't know with you, you are much different."

I nodded and clenched my hands into fists so hard that little half-moons were marked in my sweaty palms.

Over his shoulder, he turned his nose up at me and whipped around to be leaning on the armrest. He closed his eyes and opened his lips to a slight part. He sucked in a heavy breath so that his ribs showed through his shirt. His white face was turning a shade of purple as he wheezed and his chest and stomach sank back. Suddenly, he released his breath and a giant ghost wisp drew away from him.

Meanwhile, his skin changed. Some of the light faded and the bright white retreated and left behind a grayish glow. His navy eyes were left empty and cold.

The wisp, his soul, wafted around around us, settling in a heavy mist. Just like the mist I saw around my house a few days before I died. Gosh, I thought, that seems like a million years ago.

Death straightened. "Don't worry, this test is meant to make you pass out. Don't reject the effect." His voice echoed from his soul, even though his lips were moving.

His hand lifted from its side and his index finger and thumb pressed against my eyelids and pulled them shut. Then, his hand slid across my face making it numb.

"Open," his soul echoed.

When I opened my eyes I was in Death's room, but the darkness was slowly receding. It leaked back to reveal a room identical to the main lobby, but with two giant wrap-around staircases leading to a book-filled loft hanging overhead. Random mix-matched couches and chairs were strewn against the wall and caked in dust.

The doorway was wide open and standing in dead center was the boy from last night. He grinned toothily at me and then turned around.

"Wait!" I called.

He stopped in his tracks and when he faced me Cameron's face replaced his.

"Cameron!" I shouted and ran towards him he smiled with a melancholy look adorning his eyes.

He wrapped me in a hug and buried his face in my neck. Tears streamed down my face and I sobbed against his chest.

"I know, I know. I miss her, too," he consoled.

I furrowed my eyebrows. "What?"

He made no acknowledgement of my words as he pushed me from the hug and grabbed a tight hold of my chin. Even dead, it's sends tingles through my body.

"I miss her, too, Ally. She was here then, but you are here now."

I frowned and looked down at my clothes. I had on a tight pink top and skinny jeans painted on. My feet were covered with think Ugg Boots and my nails were painted an obnoxious blue. I am Ally, I thought in horror as Cameron pulled my lips to his by my chin.

Before I knew what I was doing, I smiled against his lips and withdrew, placing my hands on his chest. "Oh, Cam, I think she would want this."

I gaped in horror as I left her body and watched.

Then, the scene changed. My mom was kneeling alone on the floor in my room. Her makeup was smeared and bags were clinging under her eyes. She sobbed and buried her face in my favorite sweater. Behind me, Stuart and my dad walked in and enveloped her in a tight hug.

She wrapped her arms around their backs and they went down the stairs and out of the house. All of my friends and family stood out in the yard and watched as they toppled into a moving van, with the pets in tow, and drove away.

I sat down on the front porch with my legs out in front of me and my head against the door. I felt hands slide down my face and heard Death's soul command me to open my eyes.

I was back in the dark with Death's gray body next to me. He opened his mouth and his soul flooded back into him.

I pressed my hands into my lap and smiled hopefully. "So, what do you think? Am I assigned?"

Death pointed towards the door. "Out," he shouted before rubbing his hands along his face.

I scrambled from the dentist chair and half ran to the door.

As I pulled on the handle of the door Death spoke again, "In twenty minutes the Scouts are having a mission, go with them."

I nodded and pulled the door wider.

"Sleep on their level, too," Death growled.

"Okay," I answered as I slipped through the door.