Don't Touch the Tattoo

I was late to work on May 5th 2017. I remember it all, the sky was blue, the maple trees in Sundale Suburbia were a bright green. They had finally gotten their leaves back from a snowy winter. All of those little houses just a couple feet apart. The occasional kid riding their bike on the sidewalk.

I heard the notification ding of my phone and glanced down to see my screen light up. It was my manager Kelly.

I was never one to look at my phone while driving, but for some reason on May 5th, 2017, I needed to know what Kelly had said.

"Where the hell are you Maya?!" I could practically hear her yelling at me through the message.

*Ding!*

Another text? I was on my way, but I wasn't going to text and drive. What was the worst thing she could do anyways? Then it dawned on me. Fire me. She could fire me.

*Ding!*

I scrambled to grab my phone.

"Riley answer me!" The first text read.

Then the second.

"Or you're fired!"

No. No way. That thought was just supposed to be the worst case scenario, not what would actually happen! I attempted to hold the steering wheel with one hand typing as fast as I could with my free thumb. Glancing up at the road when I could.

"I'm so--"

Glance up at road.

"Sorry--"

Glance.

"please don't fi--

Suddenly there was someone crossing the street and it was too late.

I screamed and heard a thud as my car skid to a hault.

The air bag punched me in the face, but I didn't care. I put my car in park, unbuckled my seatbelt, and ran out in front of my car.

There lied a man in all black, he had long black braids that complimented his dark skin. And his eyes were a charcoal grey. His chiseled jaw was scraped up and his chest was shoved inward. I knew then he wasn't going to make it and tears escaped my eyes.

"I'm sorry, I'm so, so sorry." I wept falling on my knees beside him.

He reached out and I took his hand in mine.

"Now you must become death." He wheased.

I felt a sharp pain and a tattoo of a scythe appeared on my wrist.