Page 26 of Death

He looks at me. “What do you mean?”

“You’re Death, right? The grim reaper?”

“I go by many names.”

“Okay, so, how does everything actually work?” I ask. “Do you cast judgment? Are there pearly gates involved? Is there a heaven? Or a hell? Or is it a limbo kind of thing?”

Ari laughs. “Bit heavy for first date conversation, don’t you think?”

I stare at him, expecting the answers I deserve.

He nods in acceptance. “I am no judge,” he answers. “Nor am I jury or executioner. I’m merely an escort.”

“People die and you take them... where?”

His eyes narrow. “Are you sure you want to know?”

“Do you always answer questions with questions?”

“Would you be as open about your private business as you now expect me to be?”

I close my mouth.

“Tannis, I don’t want you to take this the wrong way, but the inner workings of this world... they’re not for you. Not in your current state.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing insulting, I assure you. The answers you seek will come to you in time, but not tonight.”

I sigh. “Fine.” I stare forward, suddenly realizing I’m not sure where we’ve gone. I don’t recognize this street. “How many people die a day?” I ask.

He releases a breath between his smile. “One-hundred and fifty thousand,” he answers. “Give or take.”

“That’s a lot.”

“It is.”

“And you escort all of them to... somewhere?” I ask.

“I do.”

“Then, why do you have time to be here with me?” I ask. “Shouldn’t you be working?”

“I am,” he says with a shrug.

“Right now?”

“Yes.”

“Right this second?”

He chuckles. “I’m a god, Tannis. Being in two places at once is little more than a parlor trick. Don’t be jealous, though. You have my full, undivided attention.”

I tilt to face him. “What else can you do?” I ask.

“I can pull a rabbit out of a hat,” he quips.

“Seriously, what can you do?”