The Day Death Died

The Day Death Died - Chapter 10

We walked off the field back to our seating area. I kissed Alex on the cheek quickly before turning to go in search of Edwin.

"Where are you going? You're not going to watch the rest of the game?" Alex asked, his lips curving into that slight frown that always made my heart sink.

"I'll be right back, babe. Promise." I gave him a reassuring smile. "I just really need to pee."

I hated lying to him. The guilt twisted in my stomach like a knot tightening.

"Oh. Okay." His mouth curled into his signature grin, that boyish charm lighting up his face. He took off running toward the huddle that had just formed on the field, and I watched him for a moment, feeling a pang of regret before turning away.

"Where are you really going?" Emily appeared at my side, as if she had materialized from thin air. Her raised eyebrow told me she already knew the answer.

"To find him," I muttered.

"Creeper?" she asked.

I nodded.

"Okay. Just don't be too long. You know how Alex gets when you disappear."

"I won't." I hurried down the concrete steps, weaving through the crowd, my mind already focused on the task ahead.

As I moved toward the back of the announcer stand, the noise of the crowd faded, replaced by a disquieting silence. My footsteps echoed off the cold cement, and my heart pounded as I glanced over my shoulder, half-expecting someone to follow.

"Where are you?" I hissed into the stillness, my voice carrying an edge of frustration. "I know you're around here somewhere!"

"White really is your color," came a voice that sent a chill down my spine. The icy tone was unmistakable—Death himself, Edwin, standing behind me.

I spun around, glaring at him. "What is your deal?"

He raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "What?"

"You had to give me a scroll tonight? Seriously, Edwin? Couldn't this wait until tomorrow?"

"I don't control when people die, Maddison. That's up to the Fates. You know that."

"Yeah, but you could've given it to someone else! I'm trying to have a life here!" I threw my hands up in exasperation. "It's getting ridiculous."

Edwin folded his arms and sighed, clearly unimpressed by my outburst. "No, Maddison, this is your life now. You don't get to pick and choose when to be a reaper. If you want to keep up this double life, you'll have to figure out how to juggle it."

I clenched my jaw, fighting the urge to scream. "No, what I need to figure out is how to not be a reaper anymore."

"Not possible." His voice dropped, and he took a step toward me. "You chose this."

"I didn't choose this!" I shot back, my voice rising with anger. "I chose not to die. That's not the same thing!"

"You changed your fate." Edwin's gaze was unflinching. "You killed a reaper before his time. Your soul is now the price. You belong to me, Maddison." He stepped closer, his fingers digging into my arms, and his voice grew darker. "You can't escape from us."

"Let go of me!" I tried to pull away, but his grip tightened.

He released me suddenly, and I stumbled back, gasping as I looked down at my arms. Where his fingers had touched, the skin had turned a sickly black, like it had been scorched by fire. My breath hitched in my throat. "What... what is this?"