Taylor was doing her best to hide her breathlessness as they climbed the hill.
“Almost there,” Ever said. She pursed her lips and continued. Now that she thought about it, she’d never seen Ever out of breath. Granted, she’d never seen him do any exercise, but he also didn’t seem that unfit. Could he apply his reaper tricks selectively, like could he do it only to his lungs so that he didn’t have to breathe? So many questions, so little time.
“We’re going to your home, right?” Taylor said. She took a deep breath in as quietly as possible. “The cemetery.”
Ever started saying something, stopped, then started again. “We’re going to the cemetery.”
“And you want me to meet a ghost?”
“If you don’t mind.”
“Not at all. I’ve always wanted to meet some ghosts." Her heart rate quickened and she knew it wasn't because of the hill.
Ever slowed and looked back at his colleague as he waited for her to catch up. The light of the lamp post shone right down on her; it was like a spotlight showing her emerging from a hidden platform on center stage.
“Tell me about this ghost buddy of yours. Boy or girl?” She asked.
“Man.”
“Scary or not scary?”
“Not scary, once you get past his straightforwardness.” The rusty gate squeaked as Ever pushed it open. Ghosts turned to him, waving and nodding. Ever waved back to nothingness.
That's... not creepy at all. A new worry crossed her mind. “Is he going to want to possess me?”
Ever thought for a moment. “I don’t know, I hope not.”
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They stopped at a weathered headstone separated slightly from the others. The oak tree was about 20 feet away, branches swaying gently.
“Hey Baz,” Ever said. He was sitting on top of his headstone, chin to his chest, arms crossed. A snore rose gently from him. “Baz, there’s someone here who wants to see you.”
He snorted and opened his milky, unseeing eyes. “Ever? ‘Sat you?”
“It is. Remember what you told me you were waiting for?”
Baz floated up off the headstone and onto grass to the side. “Hmmm…” he rubbed his permanent 5 o’clock shadow. “It wasn’t a beer was it?”
“No. What sort of visitor were you waiting for?”
“You didn’t!” He smiled, revealing a missing tooth. “Did you bring a girl?”
“Yes, her name’s Taylor.” Ever motioned to the raven-haired woman. “Say hi, he can’t see you.”
“H-Hi Baz,” Taylor said, weirded out but going with it. “How are you?”
He cleared his throat. “Hello there, Miss Taylor. I’m very good thanks, especially now that you’ve come to visit me.”
“He called you ‘Miss Taylor’ and says that he’s really good especially since you came to see him.” Taylor smiled, cheeks rosy in the darkness.
“Ever,” Baz said, “you reckon I can see her?”
“I can make it happen.”
Ever straightened up and looked at Taylor. “I’m going to perform a reaping. I’ll help Baz see you, then he’ll leave for the Underworld. You won’t see anything but it will definitely be happening.” He disappeared in front of Taylor only to reappear a few seconds later. “Thanks for believing me.” He disappeared again.
Taylor was left smiling faintly to no one in particular. She looked around; for all intents and purposes, she was the only soul here. Of course now she knew better. In actuality, nothing had changed - nothing except the realization that the random guy she had hired off the streets out of pity three months ago just happened to be next in line to be the grim reaper or Death or whatever he was. What were the odds?
The thought that earlier had made her heart beat just that little bit quicker returned. Could he help her locate them? The souls that she knew of, but had never seen?
A sudden gust blew across, kicking up dust. Taylor covered her eyes with the back of her forearm. Something thin and brittle got caught in her hand and suddenly, the wind was gone as quick as it had come. Taylor blinked several times, before looking at her hand, where a mottled oak tree leaf, edges slightly curling, had lodged itself amongst her fingers.
END OF SUMMER
