The Day Death Died

The Day Death Died - Chapter 6

I kept my eyes closed long enough that I actually fell asleep. When I woke, sunlight streamed through the window, casting a warm, golden light over the sterile hospital room. For a moment, I forgot where I was. But then, the distinct beeping of machines and the sharp scent of disinfectant snapped me back to reality.

"Well, good morning!" A cheerful voice startled me from my daze. I turned my head to see a young nurse tapping away at a computer near the bed.

"Morning," I mumbled, stifling a yawn.

"I'm Missy. I'll be your nurse this morning," she said with a bright smile.

"Great. Can I go home?" I asked, the words slipping out before I could stop myself. My body ached with the need to leave this place, to escape the stark whiteness of the walls and the unsettling quiet of the hallways. I wasn't meant to be here, not after... well, everything.

Missy laughed lightly. "It looks like you'll be going home in a few hours. We just need to take care of your morning meds and some paperwork, then you'll be free to go." She pulled a small cart over and grabbed a syringe from the tray. "How's your pain level today?"

"The pain is fine. Honestly, I feel great." And I did, even though I knew I shouldn't. The spot where I'd been impaled felt almost... normal. There was no real discomfort, no lingering soreness. It was like I hadn't been through a life-threatening injury at all.

"That's awesome," she said, her tone genuine but slightly curious. She pulled down the blankets and lifted my gown to check the bandages. "It doesn't look like there's any leaking or bleeding. That's a good sign."

"Yeah. They did a great job yesterday," I replied absently, my mind elsewhere. I still couldn't fully wrap my head around it—the accident, the surgery, the fact that I should've died. The entire ordeal felt surreal.

Missy carefully injected the liquid into my IV, her movements quick and efficient. "Just more antibiotics to make sure you don't end up with an infection," she explained.

I nodded, feeling a strange sense of detachment. My body wasn't reacting the way it should. No pain, no fatigue, just a slight dullness that came with having spent too much time in bed. If I hadn't known better, I would've thought the whole thing was a bad dream.

"Well, if you don't have any questions or need anything, I'll be back in a little bit to take out the IV and help you get ready to go home." Missy gave me another smile before walking out of the room, the door clicking shut behind her.

For a moment, I just lay there, staring at the ceiling. The morning shift was noisier than the evening one. I could hear the faint echoes of hollering from down the hall, the occasional clatter of carts being wheeled around. It was like the hospital had come alive with sound after a long, eerie silence.

"Hospitals are full of crazy people," I muttered under my breath.

"They sure are," came a familiar voice from the chair beside me.

I groaned and turned to face him. "Edwin."

"Are you always going to call me that?" Death—Edwin, as I stubbornly refused to stop calling him—asked with a mock sigh, his lips twitching in amusement.

"As long as you keep me stuck as a reaper, yes," I replied, swinging my legs over the side of the bed.

He crossed his arms, giving me that all-too-familiar look of exasperation. "I didn't make you a reaper, Maddison. You did this to yourself."

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever. What do you want?"

He leaned forward, his eyes glinting mischievously. "It's time for your first reap."