As the rain splattered against the old hospital windows, loud enough to all but drown out any sound within, a hooded humanoid figure entered the hospital hallway to the waiting room. It hadn’t passed through the doors, it had simply appeared. As if deciding that this place was where it wanted to be, or perhaps where it had to be. The lights trembled as it walked past, the light bulbs flickering like windblown candles. This night was like any other, and like any other night there was a job that needed to be done.
The figure clad in darkness paused for a moment in the waiting room entrance, it looked around; taking in its surroundings as if to make sure that it was safe. It glanced around the room, noticing the beaten-up chairs and the two figures sitting in the seats. A father, and son, or so it assumed. It was hardly well-versed in the affairs of Humans. They were familiar, yet alien to them. The figure regarded them for a few moments longer.
They must be her family. It concluded eventually. Why were they waiting here? It was already pretty late in the evening, far too late for visiting hours. It assumed they were here for the same person it was. Perhaps they knew what was going to happen, the manifestation of some sort of preternatural insight that humans at times were capable of. It watched the little boy and his father for a brief moment, making sure they weren’t paying it any attention as they stopped moving completely. They didn’t blink, they didn’t breathe, their hearts ceased beating, but they were definitely still alive. They simply had yet to arrive in the future. Fears assuaged, the figure stepped cautiously into the lobby.
A few steps in the tall figure glanced around, wary nearly to the point of paranoia. Still the rain drummed against the windows unabated, uncaring that time had ceased.
“Luna, are you sure this worked? The rain is still moving?” It was quiet as it spoke aloud, partially out of force of habit as there was no need to do so. The thoughts were what mattered, not the half-whispered words that passed through the air with almost the wake of a butterfly's beating wings.
“I’m positive, the rain should pause shortly. Now get to work, Lorie, it feels like you’re always looking for excuses lately.” Luna snapped through their psychic link, annoyance and a sense of blame accompanying the words.
Lorie let out a small, relieved yet frustrated, sigh as she strode into the lobby. Not a soul moved, though for a moment, just a moment though, she thought she saw one of the child’s eyelids twitch minutely. “Okay, good.” She murmured to herself as she stepped through the waiting room and into the hallway with patient rooms.
Almost as if on command, Lorie could hear the son and father talking again. That should not have happened. That wasn’t how it was supposed to work.
“ Luna!” Lorie yelped through their connection, she hadn’t meant to send a pulse of alarm and accusation along with her thoughts, but she knew that Luna had felt them.
“ Relax, I’m just moving the time stop ahead of you. Now keep moving, we’re already running behind.” Luna snapped back defensively. “ You’re always doubting me lately.” Though Lorie had no reason for to doubt them.
“It’s not that I doubt you, it’s because it has happened twice now that your powers have malfunctioned.” Lorie reminded them.
“ Don’t speak so loudly, sister, you never know who’s listening in.” Luna warned, clearly in no mood to discuss the topic any further.
“And you call me paranoid.” Lorie sighed heavily before continuing on her way. There was no sense in arguing, not now, not in this place.
Lorie watched as the lights flickered as she walked along the hall. Each step, each rustle of her cloak causing a new flicker to rush through the surrounding light bulbs, despite this she had no trouble reading the numbers printed on the wall next to the doorways leading to the various rooms. Each number she sent to Luna, trusting her to guide her if necessary. She paused in front of an open door—the only room with an open door. Was it chance or destiny?
“ This is the room.” Luna commented as though Lorie couldn’t already feel it.
Lorie nodded wordlessly, stepping into the room. She took everything in at once, noticing the heart monitor and IV were still running, still making sounds. “Luna?” She took a startled step back as her gaze landed on a figure leaning against the bathroom door.
“Took you long enough.” The figure huffed. It was a man was clad in a torn up yellow rain coat, rain drops glistening across its surface in the dim electrical lights, still dripping water onto the linoleum floor. His yellow rain hat was hiding most of his face. Not that she needed to see it.
Lorie reached for the hand sickle on her hip. “Jack! What are you doing here?!” There was more that she could ask, should ask maybe. How was he here and at this place and time?
Jack snorted. "Waiting for you, Lollipop." His voice feigned mirth, but Lorie's gaze was instantly drawn to the deep scowl on his lips that spoke volumes to the contrary. He looked older than the last time she had seen him, older than he had ever been in life, hints of gray in the stubble of his beard that hadn’t been there before, deep creases of age were practically etched into his skin; eroding away the gentle laugh lines that had once been there so long ago. His bitterness had aged his empyreal self as surely as time would have done the same to his physical body. “You’ve been so hard to find lately. I haven’t seen you in ages.”
“Because, I didn’t want you to find me! I can’t help you, so…” Lorie whimpered, her speech trailing off into stunned silence. Shards of old pain pierced into her being, Jack was not the only one that suffered, not that he’d believe it, or care, for that matter. Theirs was an old and painful argument. Worst of all, it was an argument that went nowhere. Not that he would listen to her reason; he never listened! Perhaps he was always like that and she'd merely been too blind to see it. Perhaps he changed, as humans were so liable to do...
"You never tried to help me," he rumbled. "Nor my son, for that matter. My son!" he repeated for emphasis. His voice filled with bitterness and resentment. Too much of both to ever truly listen or understand. The words cut at her being. My son , as though that was all their child had been, only his, like a possession not a person. “You don’t help anyone anymore. You just reap souls, without considering how anyone else feels.”
Lorie took a deep breath, knowing the familiar same pattern was about to play out again, "Jack, I know you don't understand deeper functions of this universe. Or more that you don't want to understand." she rephrased herself calmly. ""I don't make exceptions or rules, I just do my job." She carefully stepped closer to the hospital bed and the unresponsive woman on it.
“So that's that? You're just content to hide behind your duties and take her away from everyone she ever loved? I never thought you were cold, Lorie. Maybe I was wrong?" Jack smirked, words barbed and cruel as Lorie could only fidget in place, her hand moving back and to handle of her sickle with visible hesitation. "What about her husband; her son? I'm sure they mean nothing to you. Rules, duties, that's all that ever matters! Are people are just cogs in a big machine, Lorie? Replaceable parts! And you get to play watchmaker, Lorie, pulling out the broken parts and tossing them aside? Like they never even mattered in the first place?"
Luna chided the hesitation, “ Sister, you need to do this. You know the consequences if you don’t.”
“I know… But Jack is here, I am worried he may try something if I don’t at least talk to him right now. You know how Jack is.” Lorie responded back through their psychic link, rather than risk being overheard with even just a mumble. He was clever enough to use any scrap of information she carelessly gave him against her. She wondered if that was unique to him or something every human was capable of.
“Did I upset you that much?” Jack sneered, his tone mocking her slightly. He knew that this wasn’t it. He knew her too well for that and didn’t hesitate to use it against her. She wondered if, perhaps, it had always been like that. Every interaction they ever had now tainted by this unending tide of animosity he forever tried to drown her in.
"I don't have a choice, Jack. Keeping the balance of everything is more important than a single life. If I don't reap her soul there will be major consequences for everyone and everything. She has to die. As much as I'm sympathetic to you and her, I can't allow you to throw off the balance any further." Lorie approached the bed, looming over the woman. Jack thought her cruel and uncaring, to him, to Humans, it no doubt appeared that way. Appearances were deceiving, she felt for the young mother, she felt for her family, for the father that would suffer, for the child that would grieve.
The alternative however was infinitely worse.
“I thought you might say that. But you know, reapers are a funny thing, eh? You plan to kill that little boy’s poor mother and his newborn little brother too. Such a cold heart you must have! Eh, Lolli?” Jack chuckled when Lorie stepped back, her hand tightening on her tool. Why was she hesitating? Why was she allowing him to throw her off balance like this? Did she have doubts? That was preposterous, she knew without a shadow of a doubt that all of this was necessary. So why? Maybe because she missed what they once had? She had no answer.
“ Don’t let him get to you, this is exactly what he wants you to do!” Luna growled, their own hostility nearly painful in its intensity. Born out disdain for Jack’s actions as well as the pain he caused Lorie. “ My powers can only hold for so long if we don’t want to throw things off, now hurry up!”
“I don’t have time for this.” Lorie snapped, though he was not wrong. She would end the lives of this woman who had done no wrong, and her child as well. It was what had to be done. “I can’t argue this with you, Jack.” She wanted to say more, would have said more, if she hadn’t notice his stance shifting slightly, his head twitching sideways as he shifted his focus onto something behind her.
“W-Who are you?” Stuttered a small voice from behind Lorie. “Y… You’re going to kill my mom…?” Lorie turned around sharply to see the young boy from the lobby, the son of the woman she was reaping. His expression morphed slowly, unnaturally so, as he looked at her. Like a recording played at half speed, though she could see him moving with growing fluidity and ease as he, somehow, overcame Luna’s time stop. He looked mortified, especially after he saw what was under her hood. There wasn’t a face or a head under the hood, or at least nothing that a human would recognize as such, more like a small floating solar system above a neck. Several dark eyes opened across the miniature planets and the centered sun as Lorie started in shock and horror.
“He’s not an illusion, Lolli, I promise. I can’t do that anymore.” Jack sighed, trying to sound casual, in control, but she knew him well enough to know that he was as surprised as she was by the child’s appearance. Lorie also knew that he was already considering how to best make use of this unforeseen interruption, to turn and twist it into something to use against her. “Don’t have the strength anymore.” That was a promise without meaning or value. Jack couldn't be trusted, but this was no illusion. She knew that even without his piping up.
Lorie blinked a few times before more eyes opened on the surface of the center star. The small child recoiled in fear, almost as if she’d burned him by her stare. She took note of the motion, but her gaze was fixed on something far more permanent than his mortal coil. “A new soul? His first time around… and I’m stealing his mother from him….”
“ Need I remind you that you are doing your job! Protecting him, and people like him, from catastrophic events, like a mass extinction event!” Luna hissed within Lorie’s head, impatience boiling over.
“Little child, you do not understand.” Lorie managed to choke out.
“You… You’re a monster!” The little boy shouted, tears welling in his eyes from fear. “You’re going to take my mommy and my brother!”
“I won’t hurt you, I promise!” Lorie stepped towards the small boy, who only stepped back in obvious disbelief and fear. She considered the possibility that this young human had heard the lie in her words. She had no intention of hurting him—that much was true, but the actions that she had to perform would do so as surely as though she were to rend his soul apart with her own two hands.
“Wouldn’t do that if I were you, Lollipop. You’ll just scare him even more; death itself is terrifying after all.” Jack mockingly reminded her, clearly enjoying this turn of events. Clearly more than content with this situation. There was a slight hint of affection in his tone. Not for her—never for her, at least, not anymore. No, it was for this situation. He enjoyed the pain it caused her, as if torment served as a substitute for what he truly wanted from her; what he craved from her.
Lorie’s eyes shifted to Jack as he began walking over to the boy. She took a small breath and shifted her head’s shape to a more human one, an attempt to look less terrifying to the child. She reconfigured her appearance to look like a young dark-skinned woman, with deep amber eyes and black thin hair. She was well balanced for her height. The long dress visible under her cloak didn’t change much beyond the shimmering pattern on it dimming with the more human like façade appearing over her. It had been lit up like the stars of the universe, now they passed more for sequins. She stepped between Demetri and Jack.
“Little on-” Lorie began softly, using much the same tone she had once used to talk to her own child.
“D-Demetri.” He croaked out, and it took her a moment to understand that he had introduced himself, not knowing that she had already read the name engraved on his soul, tears dripping from his face onto the floor as he back himself into the doorframe.
“-Demetri, the universe works and is safe because of what I am doing. I need to take your mother and brother… I’m sorry.” Lorie sighed, glancing back to the bed once more.
“No! Y-You can’t!” Demetri yelled, lunging forward and grabbing Lorie’s dress. “Please! If Mommy dies, Daddy will be hurt! Pretty please!” He clutched at whatever fabric he could reach, half sobbing into it. “P-Please!” He knew he could not stop her, and still part of him denied it even as he tried to beg her to change her mind, as though any of this was her own choice. The tragedy of life was once again revealed in his heartbroken pleas, for a mother who deserved better, and a brother who would never have the chance to truly live.
Lorie yelped when her garment was suddenly grabbed. She gulped; she had a job to do but she couldn’t. Not with this little soul clinging to her form, he could get hurt. “Please…. Please let go.”
“No! I’ll do anything!” He yelled, desperate, only clinging more tightly to her when he saw her hesitate in response. He’d try to hold on forever to protect his family. Ignorant to the fact that sometimes holding could do so much more damage than letting go, difficult and painful as it was.
““See, Lolli, you’re doing a bad thing,” Jack spat in a mocking voice. "Tearing a family apart like this; tearing another family apart." he emphasized, his lips settling into a snarled grin of utter malice. His eyes radiated pure hatred, gleaming with an ethereal glow from beneath the shadow of his hood. "Do you enjoy it?" he asked, his lips shifting into a smirk as if he savored her emotions like some humans savored the taste of burning tobacco..
“I’m doing my job!” Lorie snapped, her human guise briefly fracturing and uncoiling as she glared at the man before her chosen form reasserted itself. “At least I’m trying, Jack! And I’ve had enough with that ridiculous nickname!”
Jack scowled. “Trying!? Trying, she says!” He scoffed, any kind of joy genuine or faux gone as his lips twisted into an ugly grimace, her discomfort clearly stoking something foul within him. It wasn't like continually turning over the coals of anger in his soul could ever grant him peace. No, this path would burn him alive. Lorie knew it.
“Please…” Demetri pulled Lorie from her thoughts as he moved closer. “Don’t take my mommy!”
Lorie stared at him for a moment longer, as Luna piped up. “ Lorie, you need to move faster. I’m not sure how much longer I can keep time still without there being some form of consequence .”
“ I am having some complications of my own! A fresh soul is her older son! And he can move! And see me!!” Lorie yelped through their connection.
“W-What do you mean he can move?” Luna stuttered, blindsided as Lorie realized just badly taxed Luna must have been to remain ignorant of this development.
“He’s moving a lot, Luna! He’s currently holding onto my dress and begging for me to spare his mother!”
“ You’re kidding… Well we can’t do that regardless of him being able to move. You know this.”
“I’m aware… Perhaps I can make a deal with him?”
“Do remember, this is a little child. They're not exactly reasonable creatures.”
“I have to try.” Lorie took a deep breath and carefully turned her attention back to the sobbing boy. She knelt down next to him and looked into his eyes.
“Demetri, do you know what making a deal means?” She asked very softly.
“No.” He shook his head with the tiny answer, she had expected as much.
“It is when two parties agree to make some form of exchange. I am willing to make a deal with you, if you let me do my job.” Lorie swallowed hard, hoping that someone so young could follow her explanation. Sure, her attempt might be futile, but what else could she do? She had to follow through with her work regardless of the child's feelings or wishes. But yet here she was, reasoning with a child. Why? Why did it bother her so much? Was it guilt? Empathy? Perhaps she simply didn't want this child to fall into the same trap Jack did and consider her—and the world, for that matter—to be utterly uncaring and heartless?
“… I don’t have enough in my piggy bank… Not enough for Mommy.” He whined, a shiver racing down his spine as his limbs began to twitch in panic.
“This isn’t like buying candy, little one. It’s… more like a pinky promise. I will bring the soul of your choice, either your mother’s or your brother’s, back to you as your first child. In exchange, you will never tell anyone about this and you will let me do my job.” Would it mean anything to him? No matter the soul she returned, it wouldn’t be his mother or brother anymore. Would he even remember? Or would he simply grow up, this encounter burned into his psyche, believing everything they were speaking of to be nothing more than a nightmare from the night half his family died?
“How would he know if you keep your end of the bargain, Lolli? He can’t sense souls, I mean it’s a miracle that he can somehow see you.” Jack commented, all too eager to sow distrust and discord, his expression even more sour than before now that the child was no longer pulling at her but listening to what she had to say. “I didn’t know people could do that.”
“He can see me since he’s a fresh soul. This is his first time in the realm of the living. He has not died yet; it is also why he can see you and move around so much in Luna’s time stop.” Lorie explained, and then almost instantly chided herself for it. She ought to know better, she knew better, and still, when she looked at Jack she sometimes saw glimpses of how and who he used to be, the youth all so eager to learn, to understand.
“And here I thought I was special.” Jack sighed with fake disappointment, if it was fake, he had always enjoyed being special, being unique in some fashion. On some level he no doubt was genuinely annoyed by Demetri’s ability to move about.
“You were before you became a parasite.” Lorie shot back, and for the first time this evening open hostility crept into her voice.
“You didn’t say that when we were a thing!” Jack scoffed with a roll of his eyes, only now, when he could hurt her with it, acknowledging what they once had.
“That was before you mutilated our son!” Lorie snapped struggling to keep her voice even.
“I didn’t mutilate him! I was trying to help him!” Jack yelled back, hands balling into fists as he took a step towards her. Lorie noticed Demetri shaking in fear as their argument grew more heated. This wasn’t why she was here.
“Not in front of the child!” She said lowly, her voice gaining an inhuman edge that more than made clear that there would be consequences if he kept scaring the child.
Jack laughed, an utterly forced and hollow sound. But to Lorie, it seemed like he only did so to buy time as he considered something. Then after another pause, a hum this time, he continued, his words sounding almost kind. “So, does that mean… newborn souls are different?” The tone of voice was almost, almost, as it had been years ago. Now though there was this ever present edge to it, the hint of obsession, no longer wanting knowledge for curiosities sake but rather to make use of it.
“I am not answering that, you power-hungry madman.” Lorie grumbled, she had already said too much. What had once been could never be again, when would she learn that? When would she stop letting these memories influence her?
“Aww, what a mean lady!” Jack chuckled, his mocking becoming less casual as he got more frustrated.
“I…” Demetri interrupted the two, looking between them with uncertainty. She could almost see his thoughts on his face. On one side was she, the strange terrible monster that had come to take his loved ones away, but offered him kindness, on the other side was Jack, seemingly more human but exuding a sense of poorly concealed malevolence. Not once had he ever talked to the boy directly, no he had acknowledged Demetri like one might knowledge a tool, something to be used, and his demeanor had been much the same when talking about his mother and brother.
Lorie wondered just how much the child was aware of. She knew better than to underestimate humans, they were surprising beings, and children were the most surprising of their kind by far. To that end, she wouldn't be shocked if Demetri knew Jack was exploiting him. It was clear as day the man didn't care about him or his family in the slightest. The boy was a means to an end and nothing more.
Jack’s clothes were tattered and ripped in multiple spots. Well loved, but he reminded Demetri of the people on the side of the streets. The ones begging for change that daddy said never to go near. Meanwhile, Lorie wore a stunning dress. No rips, no tears. It looked brand new. She looked like a princess. Maybe even a Queen, she was also a scary monster, but right now she looked and acted far more in line with those kinds of people his parents wouldn’t raise a fuss about if he got near them. “H-How will I know?” He shook as he stuttered.
“You will just have to trust me. I promise you, your first-born child will be your mother’s soul, or else everyone will die in a mass extinction event.” Lorie mumbled the last bit more to herself.
“What?!” Jack shouted as though he hadn’t heard all these warnings before. It wouldn’t last this time either. He’d dismiss her as a liar, again, or perhaps he’d think that extinction of the entire human species and more would be a fair prize to pay for what they’d lost.
“Like the dinosaurs?” Demetri paled, eyes wide with fear.
“Do we have a deal, Demetri?” Lorie reached her hand out, hoping to speed things up a little. Luna was straining as it was, she had delayed too much already.
“Don’t do it, kid! She’s not to be trusted! She’s lying!” Jack yowled as though he could be trusted.
Demetri looked between Lorie and Jack again before cautiously reaching towards Lorie’s hand. “Pinky promise?”
“I promise.” Lorie smiled softly. “I will bring her back to you, now… run along. I have work to do still. And please know, your father will be alright. I will make sure of this.” A gentle smile touched her lips.
Demetri nodded, staring at his hand a few seconds before he shook Lorie’s. A small multi-colored glow formed around their touch, sealing the deal with a tingling sensation in its wake.
“Whoa.” Demetri’s eyes widened at the array of colors within the glowing light. Lorie couldn’t help but let out a giggle at his awestruck stare.
“I need you to go now, dear.” Lorie slowly got up after releasing his hand. “Please run along now. “
“Can I say goodbye, please, Ms. Lolli?” Demetri stared.
“It’s Lorie, but go ahead. Please make it quick.” Lorie sighed.
Demetri nodded and ran over to his mother’s side. “I’m sorry, mommy.” He stood on his tippy toes and kissed her hand where he could reach. “I’ll miss you, mommy… Ms. Lorie?”
“Yes?”
“Is she going to go to a good place? Like Heaven? Like daddy talks about?”
“Yes, I will make sure her soul reaches the Eternal Paradise, until I can place it back down.” Lorie smiled softly. That was where the woman’s soul was going anyway, it didn’t hurt to tell the little boy to help sooth him.
“I’ll see you soon, mommy.” Demetri tears up. “I love you.” He kissed her hand one more time before lowering his heels and looking to Lorie. “I’ll go back to my daddy now. We were waiting on the doctor.” Lorie nodded to him as he approached her.
“Thank you, be safe little one.” Lorie sighed softly.
Demetri stopped in front of Lorie, making her tilt her head. He threw his arms around her legs and looked up at her. “You’re nicer inside than I saw. Maybe death isn’t supposed to be scary… Thank you Ms. Lorie!” He smiled up at her before glancing to Jack.
Lorie let out a soft chuckle, gently patting his head before shooing him from the room. “I have much to do little Demetri. Please go, I’ll keep Jack here to keep you safe.”
Demetri nodded, looking at Jack before darting out the door. Jack let out a snort, earning himself glare from Lorie.
Once they were sure he was gone, Lorie walked over to the mother.
“You really just made a deal with some brat? Yet you won’t make one with me?” Jack questioned harshly.
“Demetri was looking for comfort, not power.” Lorie sighed. “Now get out of here, before I shatter your soul.”
Jack laughed. “I’ve been around for so long because you’ve refused to do that. Even after I supposedly mutilated our son…” His smile faltered for a moment. “It’s funny how soft-hearted ‘Lady Death’ is. Yet, you’ve so many followers. When are you going to choose a new suitor? Hm? Or do you stay single and let me live since you’ve still feelings for me?” As if choosing a new suitor were that simple, as if he hadn’t poisoned the well, as if he hadn’t make her wonder if another wouldn’t do the same to her as he did.
“I hold nothing but distain for you. You twisted our son into a monster! Now get out of here!” Lorie snarled, grabbing her sickle and raising it. She concentrated her energy into it. The blade and handle grew longer, slowly resembling more of a scythe shape.
“You still love me, admit it, Lolli.” Jack smirked as she brandished the scythe at him. “Or are you finally going to get rid of me?” She should, she really should, and yet something held her back still. Memories? Feelings? The idea of what they once had? Luna would chastise her upon her return for her foolishness, they’d be right to do so.
“How dare you! Even if I still love you, I need you to go away. I need you to leave. I need to do my job. Jack, please. Nothing can bring son back. I needed to reap him just like anyone else. He's gone. He's someone else." Lorie felt foolish, like she was appealing to a man that no longer existed, or perhaps never existed outside of the rose-tinted memories within her mind.
“No.” Jack snapped, a downright maniacal light flickering within his eyes at her declaration. “But fine, I will leave. Just know that when we become stronger than you, nothing will stand in our way. We will stop everything you and your sister do. We will make everyone live forever. You won’t cause more people more pain.” He let out a hiss as she shoved the scythe at him. “Fine! I’ll leave!” With that he disappeared in a huff. She’d love to think that he left not because he was afraid of her, but because he didn’t want her to do something she’d regret later when her anger waned. It was a pity that she knew better by now.
Lorie paused for a moment, blinking back tears stinging at her eyes. Then, she turned her attention to Demetri's mother. She carefully sunk her free hand into her chest, slowly she pulled out a glowing purple orb.
“Time to get you home.” She softly stated. She carefully turned her scythe back into a simple sickle, carefully pressing the blade into the soul. As she cut into it, it began to glow, resonating with the energy of her powers. The more the soul was cut into, the smaller it became and the more the blade gained a purple sheen. After that, she placed her sickle back into its fixed spot at her hip.
“I’ll see you soon.” She whispered before leaving the room. She paused for a moment when she heard commotion. She froze up, quickly using her abilities to cloak herself in a simple illusion of a nurse. She gulped, unsure why things were all moving again.
“ You argued for too long .” Huffed Luna, exhaustion dripping from every syllable. “ Now, go reap the little baby while you can. He’s where the premature ones are. I’ll stop time one you get there. Then I’ll stop it so you can get out.”
“Alright.” Lorie didn’t have much energy left to argue with. She simply headed down the hall.
Lorie walked past the flurry of doctors, and some nurses, that were running towards the late mother’s room. She was quick to hide herself against the wall, and then rush to the waiting room when no one noticed her. She had to pass through this lobby to get to the nursery.
“W-What’s going on!?” Demetri’s father, Liam, stopped Lorie when she stepped into the waiting room. “Why can’t I see my wife?” He immediately demanded, he was pale, shaking, worried, afraid.
“Sir,” Lorie awkwardly replied. “She’s currently being worked on, she got an infection. Our best are on it.” She wasn’t sure if this was the right answer given she didn’t really know which culture she was dealing with.
“What do you mean!?” Liam yelled, only more anxious now than he’d been.
His tone made Demetri get, anxiously grabbing his father’s leg. “Daddy, maybe you should let her do her job? It’s important… isn’t it?” He asked, looking anywhere but at Lorie.
“I just need to know what’s going on, Demetri!” Liam snapped. “She has to know something, anything!” His voice broke near the end, turned from angry to pleading.
“Sir, I need to check on your newborn. Please get out of the way so I make sure he’s not sick too.” Lorie looked around, trying to mask her nerves.
“Excuse me!” A woman wearing a lab coat came from the hallway Lorie had just walked from. “Are you harassing one of the staff? This is an emergency, I need you to let her do her job or I’ll have you removed.”
“No! Please!” Liam yelped. “I just need to know what’s going on with my wife, please!”
“He wasn’t harassing me; he’s just worried for his wife.” Lorie felt obliged to add as well. He was simply worried, how could she hold that against him? She was the one that had helped make this the worst night of his life.
The doctor sighed and shooed Lorie on, clearly not paying much attention to who she was beyond the appearance of a uniform. “Get back to work, I can handle this.”
“Thank you.” Lorie nodded and quickly walked off; she didn’t need to further upset her sister by lingering. Nor did she want to look suspicious by running off.
Once she had found the nursery, she quickly reaped the newborns soul and headed back towards the hospital entrance. She paused in the waiting room, looking over to see Demetri comforting his father as he sobbed. The doctor was still talking to Liam and Demetri as Liam wailed. Lorie let out a heavy sigh before looking away and walking on.
“I’m sorry for taking so long, Luna. I will be home soon.”
“ You have so much paperwork to do, Lorie.” Luna grumbled. “I’m not helping you this time either, maybe you’ll learn your lesson that way.”
“I know, trust me… I know.” Lorie glanced back over her shoulder at Demetri, who was telling his father he’d have a daughter one day, someone just like his mother. Lorie smiled a little before disappearing once she was out of sight of cameras and people.
“Stay safe, little one.”
The End.