A Day in A Life of Death

TWENTY FOUR

It has been three days already and I have never heard anything from Sephtis. I wonder where he is right now? I am trying to call him but he is not answering the phone. Wait, maybe I am not doing it right?

I am not quite fond of using this smartphone that he gave me. I still need to learn a lot.

As of the moment, I am on break at work. So I am just sitting in one of the elegant couches of this company. I am not sure where Dianna is also. The last time I saw her was when we parted ways earlier. She went to her office, and I went to the room where the mop and other cleaning materials can be found.

For these past days, I am still searching for that soul… that soul that Sephtis needs to deal with. I don’t know if I can really find that soul here. Maybe she is somewhere else? But where? That is the question.

Damn, we also have no idea about what happened to that soul before she died. All we know is the name and age… I don’t even think that it will be helpful!

“Hey! So as I expected, I will find you here” I turned around only to see her, my only friend… as of the moment.

“Hi Dianna,” I said as I waved my hand to her. She smiled at me and sat beside me.

“It is also my break time. I brought you these doughnuts, I know you are hungry” My eyes automatically sparkled as I saw the doughnut that she was handing me. Oh, I love doughnuts!

“Woah! Thank you so much! I really owe you a lot!” I grabbed it, and immediately took a bite! Heaven’s grace! This chocolate-flavored doughnut is so delicious!

“Don’t mention it, I am happy to help you and I am happy to be your friend. Even if you still have a lot of things that you don’t want to share”

“Hehe… sorry with that” Here I am with my awkward laugh. I don’t want her to get involved with anything about my true identity… of what I was before. I am just trying to protect her, like Makaria. But Makaria seemed like she didn't want to be protected. Of course, who am I to protect her? I am a stalker janitor to her.

“No, I understand. Really. Well, just tell me when you are ready, okay? I am not forcing you”

“Thank you” I was about to take another bite with my doughnut when I felt cold. “Dianna, isn’t it cold here?”

“Yeah, you know, air conditioner.”

“Yeah but…” The coldness felt so weird to me. I even felt the wind brushing off my skin. This is a sign. I know this feeling, a soul might be here somewhere. I stood up and looked around. I examine every person on this floor in search of a ghost.

“But what, Thanatos?”

“Nothing, I think I need to go to the restroom” I hand her my leftover doughnut and I walk towards the men’s room. As I entered, I looked at myself in the mirror and let out a big sigh.

Okay, I need to be ready. There's a ghost here somewhere, but I am not sure if it is Sally or… the one that Sephtis is looking for.

I turned on the faucet to wash my face. Right after I damp my face with the water… I saw the glimpse of a blonde woman walking swiftly towards the door.

By the looks of it…I think it is her...

She’s here

---Flashback---

“Septhtis, what are you doing here?”

“I need your help” I am just asking him but he is already inside my house. Great, this is a very good time for him to need my help. He even sat down on the couch. Well, he seemed bothered right now.

“What? What kind of help and why?” I closed the door and went close to him. He can’t even look me straight in the eyes. He is shaking his legs right now, a sign of being restless and worried.

“Well, like before… I lost a soul. Can you help me find it?” I touched his knee, and with that, he stopped shaking his legs and looked at me.

“You lost a soul again? Really, Sephtis? What is going on with you?”

“Look, I am not yet ready for this job, okay? This whole reaper thing is all new to me. I am just a substitute because WHOEVER THAT BE who committed some crimes against the rules has been punished and I suffer because I am the chosen one who will do his job while he is here” now he stood up and walked in circles. Really? I am getting so dizzy because of what he is doing.

“You can just tell that I am the one you are referring to.”

“Okay fine, it is your fault. So help me”

“As if I have a choice?”

“Yes, you don’t have a choice but to help me. You are the only one I got” with that, he stopped walking and stared at me as if I did a crime, well maybe I really did but… never mind.

“So first, what is the name of this soul?”

“Meria Luna Corden, she is I think twenty-three years old? She has blonde hair that is long and curly. She has a small mole on the right corner of her forehead. I don’t know much about her, she is not opening or sharing everything with me. The last time I saw her is that she is luring outside the M&A corporation”

DID I HEAR IT RIGHT?

“Wait, where?” my eyes automatically widened up. I move close to him as I touch one of his shoulders.

“M&A corporation. Do you know that place?”

“That's where I work now, Sephtis”

“Really? That's great! There'll be a higher chance for you to find Meria. While you are searching for her I'll just reap the assigned souls. Don't worry, I will catch you up as soon as I can”

Damn, I thought I am not a reaper anymore? As far as I remember, I am human right now but why is this happening to me? I still need to fetch and deal with souls? Really? I have my own mission here! But yet, I still don't remember what mission it is.

“So I will be alone in searching?”

“Come on man, There are too many duties that I have to handle this week. I told you that this is all new to me. I am still adjusting”

He is really blaming me for what happened to him. Well sorry, I didn’t even want to break the rules. It just happened. I know that I tried to hide and resist my feelings but, yeah… I can’t

Now, I think it will be easier for me to control my feelings for Mara, I mean Makaria, with her attitude like that? For sure I won’t be falling for her.

“Okay, fine. But if I need your help or if I ever see and catch Meria you will come right away okay?”

“Yeah, sure of course”

“But wait, how can I call you?” Is there some reaper radar that I don’t even know or remember?

“Here bro. Call me” I was surprised when he handed me a rectangular-shaped device. Damn it, I have seen this before but I FORGOT THE NAME.

“What is this?”

“That's a smartphone, bro. How long have you been here on earth? You have no idea what that is?”

“Oh yes! A phone, I totally forgot. It will be my first time owning one” I scratch the back of my head as I throw him my awkward smile. Thanatos, don’t make it too obvious that you are old.

“Damn, you are a primitive grim reaper!”

PRIMITIVE?

Well… yes somehow…

BUT IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO BE ONE OF THE ANCIENT ONES. I MEAN… I HAVE KNOWN HISTORY!

“Well, reapers don't need such things” What I said is totally correct, we don’t need these kinds of things.

“You are wrong! Of course, you also need a smartphone for emergencies like these!”

“Well, I didn't encounter such an emergency like this,” I said as I thoroughly checked the smartphone that he gave me. It looks nice! I like the white color of it, and it is a bit larger than the palm of my hands!

“Are you sure about that?”

“What?” What is he talking about? Maybe I had a problem like his before? Well, I am 99.9% sure that I am not as dumb as him. 0.1% is the chance that I forgot that kind of memory, if ever that I had one.

“Well, you don't remember anything right? Anyways…don't tell me that I am still going to teach you how to use that smartphone?”

“If you need me to find Meria, you also need to teach me how to use this smartphone. You don't have a choice”

“Damn, bro” he looks annoyed but still, he took my smartphone and showed me how to use it. I am amazed! It is a new discovery for me.

---Present---

I followed where Meria is headed to. It seems like she’s following someone but who? Damn, I have been searching for her for three days and I just found her in the men’s room? Really? What is she doing there?

While I am following her, I am also trying to call Sephtis. Damn! He is still not answering his goddamn phone! The ghost is getting faster and faster. I might not be able to chase her anymore!

I glued my eyes on her as I ran. I am trying to avoid banging against other people but…

DAMN!

*Blag!*

Guess what, I did.

“I am sorry!” I just said before I tried to still follow Meria even if she is too far away already.

“Stop right there, you reckless dumbass!!!” When I heard that shout, I automatically stopped from running.

That voice is familiar. I am doomed.

I slowly turned around only to see the woman in red, sitting on the floor. My eyes widened because of my surprise.

For all the employees here, why her?!

WHY? JUST WHY?

“M-makaria…”