Chapter Text
(The Parader’s POV)
April 3rd 1988
My mind is fuzzy and I can’t focus. The blank computer screen just stares right back at me. Somehow, I’m thinking about nothing and everything simultaneously. My eyes wander around the room, looking for something of interest. Just a desk, blank walls and bright ceiling lights.
Coffee cup.
Wall clock.
I look back at the computer screen and sigh.
Suddenly, the phone rings, making me practically jump out of my chair. Why would I bother picking it up? That being said, I picked up the phone. “Y’ello”
“Good evening, soldier” my boss replies, his voice deep and dry. “Oh, Mr. Arius! Good evening to you too”
He can see right through my sarcasm, as he gets right to the point. “Come to my office, sir, The Board has another job for you”
“Say no more” I cheered and slammed the phone back in its place. A job? It’s been a couple of months since I’ve done a reaping, The Board probably decided to give me another chance. I have no idea why they would, but I’m excited nonetheless.
I knock on the door exactly seven times, as usual. “Come in!” Mr. Arius calls from behind the door, but I didn’t need to hear that to let myself in.
“Ol’ Ari, how you doin’?” I ask, sitting down in the chair, with my legs up on the armrest. He rolls his eyes and looks down at the papers on his desk.
“Soldier, with all due respect…” he begins “you need to take your status here more seriously. This is important work” I inspect his face, only now realizing how bushy his brows are…
“Well, I’ve been having saltash luck recently, I haven’t even had a job in months! With all due respect, dear Mr. Arius, I am better at reaping than you think. Remember ol’ Juliet? That went splendidly, did it not?”
He doesn’t seem to be taking me seriously, he sighs and hands me a file. “Your client’s name is Thomas May. He’s 20 years old and will be diagnosed with cancer in the near future”
A grin spreads across my face. “Oh, so we’ve got a young one” I look through the file, stopping at the photos of him. “Not a bad looking fellow…”
Mr. Arius has definitely had enough of me, as he demands I get out of his office. “And remember, soldier, fail this and you’ll be jobless for years to come!” What an earful…
I stumble my way across the hallways, bumping into countless other employees along the way, this damn file was just the best thing I’ve ever even read! No one ever had much nice to say about this guy, he’s a complete and utter dingbat! Has affairs, goes to parties, smokes like a chimney, he’s reckless! And I’m over here thinking: Did you get what you deserve?
Some people just don’t value life until it’s too late. Surprisingly, Thomas isn’t developing lung cancer from all that smoking, no, he’s developing skin cancer. That’s no good. Well, it doesn’t matter if one more reckless man drops dead, the world would be better off without these people. It’s not like anything matters to them anyways.
I’ll see where this goes.