The Reaper

A Soul Pact with Death

“I identify as Death.” I faintly introduce myself to the patient on the hospital bed “The Reaper, people would prefer.” Trying to sound as polite as I possibly could, despite my appearance, to those who've come banging on my ever welcoming door.

“Death?” Within seconds after stating my name, then would they realize-

“No , noo please, please... I beg of you” his soul pleaded whereas his body was still lost in a two weeks coma. “I’m not ready to die”

This man Infront of me has been in a car accident, I thought sadly as I could hear the machine which assisted him to breathe beep beside me. Has a wife and two kids. Owns a multi billion company... And isn’t as loyal as a married man ought to be.

Though they had brought him in early... His condition was, and still is, severe. Suffering traumatic injury to his head and a stroke. What more, he had been under the influence of alcohol when it all happened.

He ended up falling into a coma and has not woken up since then.

Unlike his soul, his body however, is ready to give up on him. Tired of fighting. Tired of living.

“Please death... I have a company to run” his soul slowly came out of his body. That’s what happens to a soul when I am around someone whose time on earth is up.

“A company?” I repeated, baffled by his priorities.

He had not even mentioned his wife and kids first. The very group of people who never missed a day to come make some prayers for him.

“I know. I see them here every night, sometimes even falling asleep by your stead“ I deviate a bit

Regardless, the look on his face assured me he still hadn’t considered his family. What a man!

If I wanted to, I would swap souls with him and repay thos wonderful people for their kindness.

“Who are you talking about?” His now floating soul questioned, looking around for some clues.

But his attitude disgusted even an eternal being like me!

I stir my head towards the little desk beside his bed. Where they had laid a family picture for him, and get well soon cards every single day. Hoping that if he’d woken up and they weren’t there, he should at least know they always visited.

No matter, even with all their efforts, he’d been oblivious of their presence. And thought primarily on his company.

The youngest son, being held in his father's brace whereas the older stood in between mommy, a dashing brunette model, and their unfaithful father. Each having genuine smiles plastered on their faces. Ignorant of father's deeds.

He tried grasping it, but it’d passed through his gaseous element. “Them too” he said after repeated, in vain efforts to take hold of the picture ” I have a family to feed, nurture... Love”

“It’s time for you to go home” I inched closer, with the scythe in hand, tilting it over his unconscious body “At least you won’t hurt anyone anymore when you leave this earth”

All the while wondering, over his agonizing screams as I extracted his soul which now painfully parted ways with flesh, if he would have thought about them, or when he would have brought them up if I had not,

“Wait...” He managed to conjure despite the fact that this was the only time a soul could ever feel any form of pain as it is the body who always endures such “ I am a dead man no matter what I say” he finally admitted. Tired of trying to get me convinced that it was not his time to leave this earth.

“But I have a request. I need you to do something for me-“ saying through gritted teeth.

I paused the long and torturous splitting session, bringing the scythe back to my side.

The least I could do for people like him is have little conversations and hear them out. The dying wishes which they never thought would be soon and so had not made any.

“What would that be?” I pry a little further, “What would you like from death before you, ironically, die?”

“I want you... To provide for my family. My kids, my wife. Be faithful to her, unlike I’ve done for the past years... To undo all my wrongs”

Did he consider me to be that gracious, I mused at his hefty wishes. Not only becoming a married man, a father of two kids, but to also run a business I had no idea what the first thing about it includes.

“And why should I?” No matter, despite how fun the challenge sounded, especially with pleasuring his gorgeous wife, why did he have a sudden change of heart?

He doesn’t even mention his company anymore.

“I wouldn’t be at ease with myself” he faced the picture, offering a slight smile before looking back at me “ even in death, I doubt my conscience will be able to rest “

Selfish prick.

He still only thinks about himself.

‘I wouldn’t be at ease with myself’ I thought mockingly ‘Even in death, I doubt my conscience would be at rest‘

I could swap souls if I wanted to. But if it is as a request, I, am sadly obliged to listen... And obey their every last wish.

“Very well then” I inhaled... “I, Death the Reaper, accept to take control of your corpse and fulfill your dying wishes... Then would I leave and you shall be buried” exhaling at the finish of the sentence.

“What-“ “what am I to say?” He panicked.

“Accept me as your new owner” What else?

Stupid humans, I thought as I snapped two fingers. Whiffing out a contract where the souls who makes an oral pact with Death could read their single line.

“I, Castillo Perez, accept your soul into my... my corpse?”... “Why am I a corpse?”

That was the beginning of a new pact with this partially dead man.

“Now what?” He asked almost immediately. Not giving me time to even answer his first question.

“Now, you would be dead for a few seconds, as I swap our souls. Doctors would rush in and find you, well and alive despite being told otherwise half a minute ago by the heart rate monitor. You’d be perfectly fine. No traumatic brain injury or coma. All damages will be reset once my soul is inside you. Then I go home to pleasure my wife and hopefully have her making more babies-“

“I’m ready to go home now“ he smiled, trasparent arms raised on both sides as a form of surrendering. ‘And you talk a lot’

Though he had not said it out loud, I was gifted, rather, cursed to hear every soul’s thoughts.

I glared at him, empty eye sockets and all, what exactly does he think home is. Hopefully not a personal mansion of his... “By home, I mean the endless pit inside of me”

“I’d rather not listen to you pleasuring-“

“I eat you now” I rephrased, cutting him off. Now bothered by how unmoved he was. “I eat your soul”

“Get it over with then”

His voice harnessed not a single hint of fear compared to the beginning when he desperately begged for his life.

“Are you considering to keep me ali-“

“Die” I command, annoyed by this shear lack of fright.

His soul immediately tore from its flesh. A dreadful ripping sound filled the room only but for a second.

If blood was involved, he'd be bleeding all over the place.

It was much more painful like this, I thought with a smile as I watched it form into a wailing blue soul orb.

Using commands such as 'die', his soul screams even after being free... And it is eternal.

Using the scythe, a much longer process but you’re at ease once splitting is complete. No forever delight in your pain for me.

“Now, I take over-“

I could already hear the crowd -nurses and doctors- running from the distance. I had to hurry up the process... But-

I could wait a little, till they bring out the defibrillators and dramatically gasp in all the air in the room.

“Yes” I grin deviously, trying to have as much fun as I could get from all this.

“HE’S HAVING A CARDIAC ARREST” a female doctor yelled, “GET THE DEFIBRILLATOR, WE HAVE TO RESTART HIS HEARTBEAT” ordering everyone around her.

"CLEAR"

She seems familiar, I noted as I inched further to her side. Taking in her floral scent, mixed with that of hospital artificial fragrance contained in soap and cleaners.

All your efforts are for nothing. Once his soul is gone... “He can never come back” I whisper the latter into her ears.

Her ocean blue eyes widened and body froze on the spot. I could see the dark hairs on her hand rise like tiny soldiers. She’d equally stopped trying to charge electricity into the dead guy, but that was only for a short while.

“He will come back” she replied, more like... Tried convincing herself as she rubbed both devices at hand once again “he MUST come back”

Perplexed by her sudden change in attitude, I stayed a little longer. She could definitely hear me... But how exactly is that possible.

Could she see me?... See me?

Is it her? The girl that I could swear was looking directly at me all those years ago. 7, to be exact. Did she really not see me?

I might be jumping into things. No one but those close to death can see me. Here she is, well and still very much alive after 7 years.

“Clear” she yelled before placing it on his chest. The corpse lifted into the air, falling back down almost immediately. “Clear!!” Promptly repeating the process.

“His heart is unresponsive doctor “ a nurse stated the obvious.

“I CAN SEE THAT!” She carelessly tossed the expensive devices at hand away. It had crashed loudly, causing everyone in the room to fret at her unprofessionalism.

Nobody liked when the obvious is stated.

I sighed, as I, for some hated reason, felt aweful for her. How different our world’s were... She brings back to life, whereas I take away.

Just why would I feel bad for my enemy.

She sobbed softly, her head was lowered as I could witness the one tear drop that fell to the white sheet “Help me please”

“Whatever you are” her voice had now intensified “I need you to bring this man back to his family!”

"You’re not dead, you can’t ask me for favours..." Fortunately for you, I thought grudgingly, this man has already done that for you.

My body morphs itself into a black vortex before compressing into a dark misty orb.

That was my soul. Dark as the person who possesses it.

I manouver it towards the corpse that everyone, but her, has given up on. Hovering over it, before I then diffuse into his heart.

“CLEAR”