246: A Killer’s Promise

The room was dark with the only source of light being a dimly lit lamp. In the room a trio of rugged men seated anxiously at a desk. Across from them, a slender man dressed in blacks and grays, and a crow-like mask covering the upper half of his face.

“We’ll ask one more time.” One of the three men barked. “Can we trust you to carry out this mission?”

The shaded man relaxing himself in his seat with arms stretched behind his head chuckled.

“For the last time I’m sure I can help assist those already doomed by fate.” The men exchanged looks and begrudgingly handed the paper to the masked man.

“We’ll see how you do within a month’s time.” One of the men sighed. Carelessly skimming the paper, the man couldn’t help but think, how hard can this mission be.

The bell rang faintly to signal the start of lunch. The hallway usually quiet with just whispers and the faint sound of IV drips now filled with the loud chatter of a variety of different conversations buzzing around the cafeteria.

Three children sat in a row at the left end of the cafeteria. One with her head down, focused on drawing, one smiling as he bit into one of his rare treats from his Auntie, one staring out the window in a daze. Suddenly the girls’ attention was grabbed by the boy offering her a quarter of his sandwich. The other girl just finishing her masterpiece turned her head around, revealing a piece of crust in her mouth.

“No thank you.” The girl quickly turned her attention back to the window.

“C’mon!” The boy protested, “You haven’t eaten anything yet!” The girl keeping her attention on the window gave an uninterested nod.

“By the way”, the other girl said, wiping away eraser shavings on her drawing. “Did you hear there’s a new doctor in our unit?” The boy turned curiously.

“Another one? Isn’t this the third already?” The girl gave a nod.

“I heard it’s because they can’t take the job.” The job? The girl took her attention away from the window curiously.

“Wow how do you know all of this, 247?” The boy asked intrigued. “Well”, the girl started as a guard towered over them.

“Lunch is over, get back to your rooms, now.” She glared. The boy quickly handed the girl the rest of his sandwich and smiled up at the guard.

“Thank you, I didn’t hear the bell!”

“Go!” The guard barked.

The girl upon entering her room looked down at the sandwich, nervously glancing towards the door, then back at her sandwich. As she opened her mouth, she heard a knock and quickly stuffed the sandwich in her gown, panicked. However, she heard the door of the room next to hers open instead and sighed in relief. As she took a bite, she suddenly remembered what 247 had said earlier about there being a new doctor in their unit. I hope he isn’t scared of us this time. She thought.

“Almost done.” The man looked at the boy who had his eyes tightly shut as his blood was being drawn.

“There we go.” The man tapped his arm to let him know it was over.

“Usually it hurts, but it didn’t hurt now!” The boy opening his eyes smiled.

“Ah.” The man gave a nodding smile, as he labeled the tubes.

“What’s your name?” The boy questioned as he swung his legs.

“Hm?” The man looked up after pasting on the last label.

“Your name?” The boy asked again curiously.

“Ah, my name.” The man smiled. “You can just call me Reaper, I guess.” The boy looked at him in confusion.

“That’s your real name?”

“Well,” The man began.

“Sorry Mr. Reaper, I hope that wasn’t rude.” The boy said quickly.

“You’re fine.” The man chuckled.

“Also,” The boy started again. “Why are you wearing that mask?” He questioned.

“Oh, the mask,” The man frowned. “I like to think it looks cool I guess.” He chuckled to himself.

“Oh ok!” The boy satisfied with an answer.

“I’ll be right back, I gotta go test these.” The man picking up the tray of tubes began towards the door.

“Ok!” The boy said, as he waved.

“Damn.” The man sighed, turning onto his back. “These beds are uncomfortable as hell.” He frowned at the ceiling. Suddenly he thought about earlier that day with his assignment. He then let out a sigh. That kid isn’t gonna make it. He rolled onto his side, closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

“Oh! Good morning, Mr. Reaper!” The man turned around and met eyes with his assignment.

“Ah.” The man smiled. “Morning 245.” He said, turning away towards the employee table.

“245!” The boy turned face to face with his friend.

“Oh, 247!” He smiled.

“Is that him?” She asked looking in The Reapers’ direction.

“Hm?” The boy cocked his head. Then realizing she meant their new doctor.

“Oh, yeah that’s him!” He smiled.

“He said his name is Reaper!” He laughed.

“Reaper-“The girl was suddenly interrupted towered by a figure.

“Sit down, this isn’t story time!” The guard barked. The two quickly sped walked to back to their table.

“Where’s 246?” The boy looked up after chewing a spoonful of his cereal.

“Maybe she’s getting blood work?” The girl shrugged.

“Do you think we’re stupid?”

There was a silence.

“Oi, brat!” He angrily shouted. “Well,” He said with a frustrated sigh. “I hope that sandwich was yummy because as punishment we will be taking away your lunch hours.” He grinned. “That’ll teach you.” The man snarled as he walked out. The girl too shocked to process the scolding, or worry much for the punishment just looked helplessly towards the window.

“Your boy is on the ‘to die’ list.” The man looked at the Reaper with furrowed brows. “The injections don’t seem to be doing much of anything, therefore he has been deemed useless.”

“Ah.” The Reaper responded while looking at the bulletin squinting.

“Any ideas on how you’ll tell a child such a thing?” The man let out a sigh.

“This place pities not even the innocence of a child.” The Reaper turning his attention towards the man.

“Sure is a shame.” He smiled quietly. “Man,” He began. “How could I break the news to such a puppy eyed boy?” The man sighed.

“Well, that would be up to you, I suppose.”

“Yeah but-“The Reaper began.

“A killer questioning how to kill his prey?” The man laughed as he walked away. The Reaper glared, then let out a long sigh.

“Wow, not even a flinch.” The Reaper chuckled.

“I told you I’m not scared anymore, Mr. Reaper!” The boy smiled up at him.

That warm smile. Those innocent eyes, so full of life. Of all the assignments he’s ever had, none have involved the duty of having to kill a child. He had to let him know. He couldn’t let the boy go with no idea what was happening.

“Have you-“ The Reaper paused.

“Hm?” The boy turned his attention towards the man.

“Humans, we can’t live forever y’know.” The room suddenly filled with a dreadful silence.

“I know.” The boy quietly answered.

“Some deserve to live longer lives, and yet, inevitably some die young, cruel deaths.” The Reaper said as he looked out the window. The boy gave a silent nod.

“245,” The Reaper began.

“I’ve been told I was too weak for my medicine.” The boy muttered quietly. ” Am I-” he looked up at the Reaper who still had his attention focused on the window. “Am I... dying?” The Reaper turned slowly to face the boy.

“Sometimes, life just sucks.” He gave a try hard smile. The boy nodded slowly.

“Mr. Reaper?”

“Mm?”

“Can you be the one to kill me?” The room once more fell quiet. “Ah, I meant please.” The boy gave a slight smile. The Reaper looked around the room for answers. A boy like this? A boy like this doesn’t deserve to die at the bloody stained hands, of a cold, calculated killer such as himself. But the boy had requested this. The boy needed some sort of closure that only he, The Reaper knew how to provide. The man smiled softly as he weakly walked towards the drawer containing the needle. This boy doesn’t deserve to die. He told himself over and over again in his head like a broken record. He flicked the needle a couple of times. The man studied himself in the mirror for a moment. The last thing the boy deserves to see is a crow dirtied by the sins he’s carried with that mask. He gently placed the needle down. And began to remove his mask. The man looked at himself once more and gave himself a slight nod of reassurance as he gently picked the needle back up. The boy facing the door of the room next to him turned back around.

“Oh!” He said amazed. “You took off your mask.” He laughed. The man couldn’t help but stare for a good second as this boy laughed in the presence of death. A death they both knew he didn’t deserve.

“It was getting in the way.” The reaper chuckled.

“By the way,” The boy began quietly. “Mr. Reaper, can you keep a promise?” The Reaper once more became flabbergasted by the boy and his pure innocence. A promise? He thought.

“Well, they certainly shouldn’t be taken lightly.”

“But, can you keep one?” The boy repeated himself. Without much thought the Reaper began. ” Well, it really depends-“

“There’s a girl next door.” The boy pointed towards the door he’d been facing.

“Her name.” He paused. “Her name is 246.” The boy looked up to make sure the Reaper was still following along.

“246.” The reaper repeated back.

“She’s very quiet, nobody, not even the doctors know about her past.” He paused. “She’s my best friend,” He began tearing up. The Reaper quickly grabbed a tissue, and began dabbing the boy’s face, almost instinctively. “Can you...will you protect her?” The Reaper met eyes with the boy. The boy staring hopefully into the eyes of death. The Reaper reached for the needle. Gave a smile and raised his pinky at the boy.

“I promise.” He smiled as he injected the needle into the boy’s arm. He laid the limp boy down softly onto the table, resting his arm.

You didn’t even flinch. The man thought to himself smiling one of the most the sincerest smiles he’s ever smiled. Tears streamed down his face.