Sudden Departure

Chapter Twenty-Six

A few days later, I stood right up against Death's door. I was seriously thinking about not going in.

On the other hand, I really wanted to. Just to follow Shane's advice.

I hadn't seen Shane, formerly known as "The Guy," since that night. I had stormed out of the mirror room, only to get lost in the hallways. After I sunk to the floor and pouted, he found me and led me back to my bunk. I gave him the cold shoulder the entire time.

As I thought about whether to meet death or not the thoughts I had that night ran through my head. Was that all just a rouse to get me to visit Death? Did Shane really feel anything for me at all? I was, honestly, hurt because I thought that we really had a connection.

I swung Death's door open as hard as I could. The heavy wood crashed against the walls, making Death's head swivel around to face me.

Light poured into the large room so that I could see him resting on the couch.

He looked over his reading glasses at me. "Ah, Shailene. Back so soon?"

I glared back at him. "Yes, I am. What did you want so much that you had to send a messenger for me?!"

He raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"

"Shane. You know. You sent him to come after me, sweep me off my feet and convince me to come here."

Death shook his head and sucked on his teeth. "I did no such thing, but, whatever it was, it obviously worked."

I narrowed my eyes at him and slid onto the examination chair.

He snapped his fingers and the door slammed into place.

He slapped his book shut and looked up at me. "So, silly girl, what did you see when you sneakily decided to go into my head?"

"Nothing," I replied icily.

"Oh," he began, giving a sweetly sarcastic tone, "but you must have seen something. Especially since you have been avoiding me for the past few weeks." He had a smug smirk on his face.

I gulped down air. "I don't remember."

He scowled and uttered a little growl from the back of his throat. "Tell me. Now."

"Alright, fine!' I exclaimed. "I didn't understand it. Just a whole bunch of people. You and a little girl and a fat man..." I trailed off before mumbling, "and Shane." He nodded before I picked up my description. "Um, and this lady, this gorgeous lady, changed from a ball of light to herself, and back to the ball of light again."

"Then what happened?" Death pressed as he leaned forward from his seat.

"Well, uh. She, kind of went inside me." I told him. I furrowed eyebrows at the hint of surprise in my own voice. "What does it mean?!"

He smiled proudly. "It means that I finally know what's so different about you."

I sprung up from the chair and rushed to him. "You do?! Tell me, and then assign me. Please!"

Death shook his head.

I felt a little rage burning inside of me. "What do you mean 'no?'" I shouted at him. "YOU KNOW HOW I'M DIFFERENT. WHY WONT YOU ASSIGN ME?!"

"Calm down!" he snarled. He took a heavy breath and sat up straighter. "I know whats different about you. I figured it out myself, but now I want you to."

"What?!" I yelped.

"Sit!" He barked. I flinched and collapsed back onto the chair. "Now, please calmly answer my questions. How did you know to get into my private study?"