The Art of Death

Chapter 1

Picture is some lyrics from the song Hostages by The Howl & The Hum. 10/10 recommend listening to this song :) 

The Art of Death

Chapter 1

Death is inevitable. Humans live a restricted life, one where they eventually stop growing and begin the process of dying. Each and everyone of our bodies has the capacity to produce only so many cells and once it's produced those, our bodies start to deteriorate . It's the journey of life, and at some point the body decides it's done growing. In Everlee's case, she was the ripe age of three when her body gave up. Yes, three. Everlee was going to die at three.

Everlee was an obnoxious child. Always getting into trouble whether it be throwing paint at walls or escaping her child-locked room. She was a gifted mastermind by the age of three. Definitely too clever for her own good. At least, that's what her parents always said.

Death hates picking up young child souls. He tries to stay distant at all times but there is something different about picking up souls that have barely lived. They lack adventure, they lack intelligence, and they lack life experience. It's his least favorite kind of pickup. But he does it no matter what because Death has a job to do. In this case, Death, or Maddox, will do what needs to be done. Souls must be contained and controlled—the world is not ready for the chaos that derives from a lost soul.

Maddox is the Grim Reaper. Or at least for now he is. Maddox died at the golden age of 21. He died over 200 years ago so he doesn't really miss his old life. He's quite good at his job considering he has 200 years of experience. His employer, Lucifer, loves Maddox because Maddox is fantastic at his job. He excels at picking up souls and transferring them to their next adventure. The messiness and sadness of death disappears after picking up so many souls. It's no longer heartbreaking to take a soul. It's his job so he treats it as that and that only.

However, to be blunt, child pickups suck. No matter how heartless Maddox has become, it's always a little bit painful to pick up a child. Therefore, Maddox was reluctant to pick up Everlee. But his boss got the signal that someone was dying and sent him off. No arguments allowed in Death's business.

Maddox arrived at the hospital room swiftly. Of course it's in a hospital. Maddox swears that at least 80% of the deaths are in a hospital. Geez, can't humanity switch if up a little. Add some spontaneity to death. Maddox rolls his eyes but observes the hospital room.

It's that hospital white, the white that anytime you see it, your heart skips a beat. It's peculiar that most often, humanity portrays white as pure and black as dreadful. Yet, hospital rooms, rooms filled with pain, death, sorrow, and illness often are pristine white. Funny how our perception of one color changes in contrast to one's life situations and experiences.

Maddox wrinkles his nose at the smell. The room has a sickly smell, like someone went crazy on the disinfectant and didn't air out the room properly. Maddox floats gently into the room to observe Everlee.

A little redheaded girl lays in the bed, machines plugged into her allowing her to continue to breath. Yes, another red headed devil to add to the collection of the many redheads in Lucifer's repertoire. The prominence of the girl's blue veins display her sickly pale color. Maddox notes that her skin is scattered with bruises and scrapes, an artwork in itself. Her parents, or at least that's what Maddox presumes the older generation in the room are, sit next to her clutching her hand.

Maddox drifts over and hovers directly over the little girl.

Car crash? Bike accident? Freak event? Maddox wonders what her cause of death is. He'll be excited to ask her.