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“Mr. Reynolds?” I mumble, still in shock.

He points an accusing finger at me. “How are you here?”

I stare at him. His attire finally registers in my brain. He is wearing a tan button-up shirt and pants. This man was supposed to be in jail.

I narrow my eyes. “Why are you here?” I shoot back.

He shrugs. “I got stabbed in prison. I guess I’m dead. Why are you here? Are you Death now?” The system must’ve messed up the names of the souls. I would never agree to collect the soul of this asshole.

“No. I’m not Death. I am temporarily working for the afterworld and helping with the collection of souls. I’m here to collect your soul.”

“No,” he states. No? He says that as if it is voluntarily. I can see why Aiden thought I was ridiculous.

I sigh. “Listen. You and I both know you have to come with me.”

He crosses his arms and taps his foot. “Only if you promise I get to go to Heaven,” he demands. I let out a short laugh. The audacity of this man to demand anything. If I can’t get into Heaven, he sure as heck is not getting in.

“What are you smoking? You not only killed your employee, but you also killed me. You are going straight to Hell, buddy. No pit stops.”

“Over my dead body,” he replies.

I gesture to him. “Newsflash. You’re already dead and gone.”

He smirks. “Want to see what I can do?”

Before I can reply, Mr. Reynolds disappears from my sight. I look around, searching for where he could have gone but I find nothing. I exit the house and search around the grounds.

“Fuck,” I mutter. I already messed up and it’s only five minutes of me trying to be a reaper. I have no idea how I am going to get him to Eden without a scythe. Hopefully, Joey comes searching for me soon.

I hear a whistle in the air, then feel something slam against my back. I fall forward onto the ground, the wind being knocked out of me. I roll off my stomach onto my back. Before I can get up, he steps on my stomach and raises a sharp broken bottle.

“You’re the reason I died in prison,” he accuses.

My eyebrows fly up. “Me? What type of backwards logic do you work off?” Last time I checked, I haven’t committed murder. If I could, I would start with this insolent man.

Mr. Reynolds brings the bottle down to stab me, but pauses at the sound of clapping. We turn towards the sound. Standing there with a completely relaxed posture is Aiden, wearing his signature black suit and silver jewelry. His exterior does not reflect the anger that I can feel radiating off him.

“Great performance, Mr. Reynolds. But if you touch her one more time,” he warns, “I’ll make sure you suffer a fate worse than where you are heading.”

Mr. Reynolds turns his full body to Aiden and replies, “I’m not going. I know I will be sent to Hell. I refuse!” I roll my eyes at him. He deserves whatever is coming to him. I hope it’s tier three Hell.

Aiden tilts his head. “What about this situation makes you think you have a choice?”

In response to Aiden’s words, Mr. Reynolds quickly turns and aims the glass bottle at my chest. I know I won’t die again but it’s going to hurt like a bitch. Closing my eyes, I brace for pain, but it never arrives. When I open my eyes again, I see Aiden holding him by his throat.

Aiden leans into Mr. Reynolds, his face relaxed with a hint of amusement. “I warned you.”

He struggles against Aiden’s grip. “I didn’t touch her!” he yells.

Aiden's face darkens, his voice low and dangerous as he says, “You tried to stab her with a broken bottle, and you already murdered her once before. I was the one who collected her soul. I saw what you did.”

Mr. Reynolds begins, “But I—" Aiden throws the soul on the ground and he lands with a grunt. Before he can make his escape, Aiden pulls out the pen sized scythe, commands it to extend, twirls it in the air and swings it through Mr. Reynolds’ middle, sucking him into it.

Finally.

I need a warm bath and some wine. No more adventures for me for a while. I let out a groan in pain, then laugh. “That was insane. He was a dirty fighter, which I’m not surprised about.” I stand up and brush myself off. I am banged up, but not too badly.

I look at Aiden and immediately stop laughing. His eyes are piercing into mine. Nothing in his demeanor reveals how he feels, but his eyes can’t hide it. There is fury burning from them.