Seven: Under the Dome of a Blue Kiddie PoolWhistling, he entered the morgue. I heard him. Clearly. I knew it was him. I knew it was night and he was not supposed to be there. Hoof rolled my box out of the wall, unzipped my plastic bag. He said, “I’ve got your soul, if you were wondering.”
No, I was wondering how we could change places.
“You look so peaceful. Better than you did when you were alive. Penny would like you like this. But I had to take her, too. Some people are too good for this life, you know? Not her. Obviously. Or you.” He whistled again and it echoed. I imagined he was looking the place over. “You’re going to pretend to die,” he said. “And I’m going to pretend to bury you.”
I smelled something pungent, something rich. He was passing it under my nose. He said my name a
