To Cheat Death

Chapter 2

"I trust everything is in order, Alfred" came the hollow voice of Death from under his heavy hood.

"Naturally sir" said Mr Addams.

He watched nervously as Death looked over the paperwork in front of him. Death never really said very much and Mr Addams liked it that way if he was honest.

"It's just the usual signature sir" Mr Addams chirped. "And of course we have the watch here for you and the details of the person in question inside the folder there for you sir"

Death studied the papers.

"Mr Lucius Todd" said Death. "Is Time certain, you know how I hate the paperwork"

"He believes the watch is due to stop soon sir"

"He said that the last time"

"Well I -"

"And the time before that" interrupted Death.

"I'm sure -"

"And the time before that"

"Sir I -"

"And the time before that as well"

"Sir, Mr Time -"

"Is he here?"

Mr Addams paled. "Begging your pardon sir"

"Time. Your employer. Is he here Alfred?"

Mr Addams began to shuffle some papers on his desk and was desperately trying to avoid Deaths piercing gaze. "I am sorry to say that Mr Time has not long left sir"

Death let out a cool laugh. "Hiding in his room is he?"

Mr Addams paled once more. "Not at all sir, I believe he was due to have a card game with Miss Fate"

"Lying, Alfred, does not suit you"

"I assure you sir -"

"Tell Time that if he is messing around again then I shall be back and raze his home to the ground. I have other business to be dealing with" bellowed Death, purposefully loud enough for Time to hear through his closed office door.

"Mr Death really" said Mr Addams beginning to panic.

"Do you know that the humans would have gone on strike if they had been messed around like this?"

"You can't go on strike!" Exclaimed Mr Addams. "Your Death!"

"I assure you if Time is messing around again then I will be" stated Death plainly.

While Mr Addams was babbling onto himself, Death picked up the folder, the pocketwatch, snapped his fingers and left. Mr Addams was muttering to himself and found himself reaching for his flask of whiskey in his desk drawer. He looked along the corridor to see Time sticking his head of his office door studying the corridor.

"Is he gone?" He asked gingerly.

"Yes Mr Time he is gone"

Time then straightened himself up and fixed his suit. Mr Addams watched as Time strutted down the corridor. Time was a fashionable, handsome man. He was tall, elegant and he knew it and rather enjoyed the comforts of English Victorian society.

"God he pisses me off" spat Time as he leaned against Mr Addams desk. "Does he think he is the only one that gets annoyed with that watch?! I don't understand humans, why can't they just accept that when your time is up it's up? Why does this one have to be so bloody bothersome?!"

"I'm sure that this is Mr Todds time sir" said Mr Addams carefully.

"It better be, otherwise you and I will need to find ourselves  a new establishment" said Time.