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“Hi, Joey.”
He sits in the chair in front of my desk and positions himself comfortably.
“I just got back from doing a lot of collections, but we are still a little backed up.” He leans forward, a sly grin comes on his face. “I know you helped Aiden collect those missing souls. Since you got the experience, do you want to come and help me?”
“I, uh, don’t want to cause any issues.”
He waves dismissively. “You’ll be with me, plus we need all hands-on deck, and we are down a reaper since Aiden cannot help during his trial.”
“I’m not sure—”
“As your friend, I’m telling you that you need to get out of this office. Get some fresh air. Some new experiences before you go to Heaven.”
I contemplate his offer for a second. He taps his watch as a signal that we have to go soon.
Hm.
I’m a grown woman. I can make solid decisions. Why not play reaper for just a little longer?
I give in with a sigh. “Why the hell not? Let’s do it.” I jump up from my chair and walk over to him, placing my hand on his shoulder. He teleports us in the middle of a rundown neighborhood.
“Okay, Joyce, you are going to collect Mr. Thomas Johnson. He just died a minute ago. I texted you his location.” He points in the general direction of where I should go. “Once you get him, meet me here. The soul I am collecting is in the opposite direction.”
“I don’t need a scythe?”
“You shouldn’t. The report didn’t show him to be hostile,” he says. “You’ll just need to bring him over here and we will bring them to Eden.”
I nod. “Got it.”
Joey smiles. “You’ll do great. Let’s go collect some souls.” We head in opposite directions as my phone rings in my back pocket. I pull it out and check it before answering.
“Hey.”
“Everything okay over there?” Aiden asks.
I nervously glance around my surroundings and bite my lip. “I am still working with all the reapers and completing paperwork.”
“Alright, baby. I’ll be in the office in an hour to bring you food. I don’t want to distract you.”
“Okay. I’ll see you—”
A car speeds past me, honking its horn loudly.
“What was that?”
“Uh-Nothing! Sorry, gotta go!”
I click the end button and look at the address on my phone. I need to do this quickly before Aiden comes searching for me. My destination ends up being a run-down house. This house must have been gorgeous in its early days. I walk up the steps and look around, not knowing what to do next. Should I knock on the door? Seems a little contradictory.
Hello, may I enter your house? Oh, by the way, I’m here to collect your soul whether you want to come or not.
I decide to knock. The door opens to the last person I ever thought I would see again. Involuntarily, my jaw slackens, my palms become clammy, and my breath quickens.
The soul clenches his jaw. “Joyce Parker?” he hisses. “I thought I killed you.”
18
STRAIGHT TO HELL. NO PIT STOPS.
