Reaper: Book 1

Two Sick Reapers

The wind hits us like a baseball bat, it almost knocks us over as we make our way. "Ow! Shit that hurts." I said as I use my hood as a windbreaker. I start running to the house. Pierre follows close behind even though she falls with every step. I grab onto her to keep her from falling. We finally make it in the house, Pierre loses her balance and falls to the floor "Curse these heels!" She exclaims. I helped her up. She's shivering as she stands "Are you alright?" She asked worriedly. I nod. "I'm fine. Are you ok?" She nods back. "Just a little cold " I look at the man who was standing in front of us. "Can we use your fireplace?" He looked confused. "Fireplace?" I point to it. It's old but it looks like it still works. "Ah. Help yourself." He said. I light it and tell Pierre to come over. She sits next to it and warms her hands. She shivers as I do. "I should also mention that reapers get sick easily. We have weak immune systems". She says. "Oh joy. Thank you for the heads up." I say as I wrap my coat around her. "We probably got a cold or something now." I sneezed. "Probably. " I agree as I pull out a sweater from my bag and put it on. The man brings us some warm drinks. "Thanks," I tell him.

I took a sip of the drink. Its warmth is soothing. I set down the cup almost spilling it shivering myself as I  poke at the fire. "What are u doing?" She said to me confused. "If you don't move the ashes and burning wood around it will go out," I informed her. "What will go out?" "The fire. Silly." I say putting the poker down. "Oh yeah." She said. I blew on it a little. Flames rise up more. "Fatigue... confusion... damn it" I turn to her. "You should lay down. I'll stay up and keep the fire going." I said as I  grabbed a couch pillow and give it to her. She lays down on the couch while still shivering. "Do you have any extra blankets?" I asked the man. "Yeah, one moment" He replied as he goes to get them. "Here." He said handing them to me. I put one on Pierre. "Thanks. Sorry to bother you." I say with a smile. "Its no trouble. Pierre took care of me its the least I could do," he told me.

"What's your name,? You seem like a nice guy." I asked. "Bryson." He answered. "I'm Emberly. Nice to meet you." He nods. "You might want to make sure she's still laying down. Knowing her she'll be up". He said. I go to check on her. She's sleeping. I walk over and pull the blanket on her more. I checked the fire before walking back to Bryson.  " she is sleeping." I informed him. "Odd. " He said. "You're telling me. I've only known her for a few days and I found her to be stubborn as I am. Haha." I laughed. "That's just how she is. She refuses help and depending on her mood she'll refuse to help others." He told me. "I'm the same way." Bryson walked to the other side of the room. "I'll contact Drax to let him know you're both ok." He said.  He came back a few minutes later.

"I know how she feels and why she does what she does. I close myself off to people too". I said as I walked over to him. "She'll open up if she's having a bad day. She doesn't do well with keeping secrets or opening to the right people". Bryson said sitting down on a chair. "We are a lot alike. Even though we are far apart in age." I told him as I sat across from him in another chair. "Technically yes, for mental maturity but she was 19 when she died". He said. " sixteen here. Can I use your bathroom? My clothes are wet from the snow melting." Bryson nods. "Yeah its the first door to the right". He said. I go and change into dry clothes putting my were ones in my bag. I return to the chair I was on. Bryson shit his phone. "Drax said you guys will stay here until the storm ends then he's coming to get you". He said. Pierre stirs. "She's starting to wake up a bit. She's running a slight fever. What about you? Are you feeling ok?" He asks me. "I'm fine." I said as I sneeze." just a small cold. Nothing crazy. I should check on her." I said as I sneeze more. I got up and turned around and walked over to her. "Nope, you're running a fever. Sit". He demands as he sits me in a chair.

" hey! I'm fine I need to make sure she is ok." I protest. "She is fine." He said. I make a face and surrender. " fine." I said annoyed as I sneeze yet again. Pierre is still asleep but shivering while I fight sleep. "Go to sleep. It'll help you feel better". Bryson said.  "Can't sleep. If I sleep ill just wake everyone." I protest. " Are you asleep talker?" I nod. " more of screaming and freaking out. It's like a panic attack but in my sleep. I get them sometimes while awake." I informed him. "I know. There are some reapers that do that". He says." I was told we get panic attacks as reapers. I'm one in training. But I've had a fucked up childhood. I've had Panic attacks since I was alive. They are just worse now. " I said as I nod on and off. "That happened with a majority of us. It rarely gets better for reapers in training, but they'll get better over time. Sleep is the best medicine. Pierre has been waking up every so often but she goes right back to sleep" Bryson says molding in Pierre's direction.

I looked over at her. Still sleeping. Tossing here and there. Sometime in the night I finally passed out. When I wake up Pierre was wrapped in a blanket and has new clothes on. She's reading a book. I scared myself awake by snoring. "Ahh!" I screamed as I fell off the chair. "Oof!" Pierre wines from the sound. "That was loud," she says. Sorry. How are you feeling?" She puts her book down. "Like shit. But I've been through worse". She says. " I'm hungry." Pierre nods in agreement. "Drax will be here soon. We can eat when we get back. Bryson is at dispatch. His schedule had him working early." She told me. Drax walks in about an hour later. Pierre was about to get up to greet him but he sits her down.

I out my coat and boots on. "How long were you two out there?" Drax asks. "Don't know. We stopped in an alley for a bit to get out of the wind." I answered. He feels both of our foreheads "You're both running a fever. Bryson told me about both of your symptoms. No work for either of you until you get better" Drax informed us. We both pout. "Awe but Drax I'm fine!" Pierre protests. "Save your breath." He says. I groan holding my stomach. "Are you both able to stand?" He asks. Pierre puts on her heels and stands with some difficulty. I nod and stand up. "Let's hurry and get back so you can get warm properly," He says as we go back to the hotel. When we get back to the hotel Drax forces us to sit down. "I've been sitting since this morning! I don't want to sit anymore." I complained. "Too bad. Sit." He demands. I slipped back in my chair. Pierre is shivering a little bit, she doesn't seem happy about Drax's harshness either. I sit legs and arms crossed. And decided to play a game on my phone for a while. Drax brings us some warm drinks and some blankets. "Thanks." Said as I cover up and drink some. Pierre doesn't pick up her drink. She slumps over and falls asleep. I fall asleep. I woke a few hours later and snuck out to the roof.