Sunday, July 29, 2007

This is not a dream
“ ‘From the darkness I come and to it I shall return.’ Ha!” I scuff quietly as I place the book back on the shelf, “What a corny starting line.” Though I guess I shouldn’t dismiss it that much either; I mean, I make comments like that all the time.
“Can I help you find anything?” I turn around and stare at the plain looking attendant.
I shake my head, “No, just browsing.”
“Just ask if you need anything.” The attendant said as he walked off.
I sigh and pull out my PDA from the inner pocket of my jacket. After a few seconds I had my date book open. ‘3:00 pm, 1120 W Mark Ave. T. Hansen.’ I check the time in the top corner, 2:55. Out of the corner of my eye I see a small goblin like creature beckon to me before scampering like mist up the stairs. Instinctively I follow it.
As I reach the top of the stairs I look over at him as he sat on the railing, “So?” I hold my hands up in confusion. The creature points to a middle aged man with short brown hair, wearing a leather jacket and a pair of faded jeans, who was browsing the CDs. Must be T. Hansen. I slowly walk over to him and pass behind him brushing my hand gently on his back, “Excuse me.” I say as I pick up a Dave Mathews CD.
I watch the man out of the corner of my eye. He looks at a few more CDs and then walks off to the stairs. Seconds later I hear a ‘Shit!’ and some loud thuds, then a few screams and a ‘Call 911!’ I look up at the all too familiar man next to me, “So what’s the T stand for anyway?”
The man looks at me, his confusion easy to read, “Toby. Am I dead?”
“Broken neck probably.”
“Did you kill me?”
I shake my head and point to the laughing goblin, “He did, I just took your soul before you died.”
“So you’re death?”
“Kinda.”
“I though death was a dude with a cloak and sickle.”
“This ain’t the middle ages, bud.” I pat Toby on the back and lead him back down stairs, giving his body and the swarm of people a quick glance.
“So what now?” He asks as I pull him away from the crowd.
“Well, usually you are supposed to pass on. Ya know, go to heaven or whatever you believe in.”
“What, you don’t take me there? You actually read this stuff?” He sticks his hand through a random manga back on the shelf.
“What, can’t an undead girl have a hobby?” I grab the latest yuri manga from Seven Seas, “Anyway, how could I take you to a place I don’t know. This ain’t an escort service.”
“Well then how did you know I was going to die?” Toby walked through the shelves as I went to the register.
“I get an email every morning telling me the times, places, and names of people who are going to die. I don’t get reasons.” I sigh as I watch a clerk scamper from somewhere to the register, “If you really want to know, you could try and ask one of the deathlings. They are the ones that do the killing.”
“Sorry about that.” The clerk says as he scans the manga, “Find everything you are looking for?”
“Yeah,” I point to the police that were entering, “A bit crazy today.”
“Someone fell down the stairs.”
I hand the clerk me credit card, “You don’t say.”
“Sign here,” The clerk handed me a receipt.
“How tragic.” I glance at Toby, who is trying to grab a pen that sat on the counter.
“Have a good day, ma’am.” The clerk says as I grab my bag and leave.
“How did you get this job anyway?” Toby asks as we leave the store.
“I died.” I say flatly as I check the PDA again. I look at Toby, “So, you gonna pass on or what?”
“I just ask how I am to do that.”
“And I said ask someone else.” I open the door to my car, “Well, get in. I have a 4:30 appointment at a sushi bar.”
Toby reluctantly sat down in the passenger seat, “Who’s going to die now?”
“An A. Lewis.” I toss my bag on the back seat and close my door, “My sickle is in the back seat.”
“Are there more of your kind?” Toby asks as I back out of the parking spot.
“I told ya this ain’t the middle ages. We’re broken off into different departments. I’m in the outside influence department. Everything from falling down a flight of stairs to suicide. Worst one I’ve seen was in a meat packing plant. Dude fell into the grinder.”
“How did you get into the plant?”
“I’m undead, if I don’t want to be seen then I won’t be.”
“Ah.”
We spent the rest of the drive to the bar in silence. I have been to this place before, and if I remember correctly there is a hibachi side. Most likely some drunk idiot will get it. When the goblins don’t help me, it’s like a game of Clue. Find the high risk factors and the potential victims. If I’m lucky, A. Lewis will have a reservation.

“Welcome,” The cute looking hostess greets me as I enter, “Will you be at the bar today?”
I shake my head, “No, I am actually with the A. Lewis party.”
The woman nodded, “They are at table 4.”
“Come on,” I motion for Toby to follow, “If all the seats are taken you’ll have to stand.”
“Whatever.”
As I arrive at table 4 I see a very business looking man with other business looking people, “Mr. Lewis?” I stop behind the group.
A thirty-something black hairs man looks at me, “Yes?”
I extend my hand, “I’m Allison Long from the New York branch.”
“I don’t remember hearing about anyone from New York coming.” He took my hand all the same.
“It was last minute. I was in town and my boss told me to come here.”
“Well, have a seat Allison.”
I sit at the end of the table and watch as the chef comes with the food cart, “Ah, looks like we have a new guest.” He bows slightly towards me, “And what will you be having?”
“Whatever you got with you.” I grab the sake and pour myself a cup.
The chef smiled and started his cooking show. I look at Toby, “So how do you think it will happen?”
“I don’t know.” He watched as flames shot up from the grill, “The dude catches fire.”
“I was thinking that, but from the look on the deathling’s face that killed you, it most likely will be more gruesome.” As if coming at request, one of the goblins appears in the seat next to me. I lazily pour him a glass of sake, “Speak of the devil.” I check my watch, two minutes.
The goblin downs the drink and gives a quiet growl. The chef was doing some kind of knife show. Is was only a flash, a small speck of light as the tip of one of the knives breaks and lodges itself into A. Lewis’s neck. A spurt of blood and an all to familiar scattering of people.
“You’re not from New York are you.” Mr. Lewis says as he watches his co-workers try and help him.
“I lived there some time back.” I grab the sake bottle and hook my arms in my two dead guy’s and leave the bar. I’ve got a schedule to keep and death waits for no one.


NNM
Nana has been a bit violent lately so today she will be killing with extreme cuteness
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