It is raining, I am exhausted, and now this shit is happening! Death itself has descended down from heaven and wants to have a ´short´ chat with me.

My frown deepens. I don’t want to deal with this any longer. He has been talking to me, quite enthusiastically, about this new project of the gods. I didn’t even know there were any. Never bevor have they bothered to talk with any of us. I rudely interrupt him, asking just why they never bevor bothered with us. His reply was just a nonchalantly nod. They indeed never bevor bothered trying. Assholes.

In the end, he relents with a sigh. “EARTH WAS AGAINST THE GODS INTERFIRING WITH THE HUMANS. BUT GRANDMA IS DEAD NOW. SO,” He happily clapped his hands. “THAT RULE NO LONGER APLIES. THAT MEANS, WE FINALY HAVE A CHANCE TO CARE FOR OUR LITTLE BABY BROTHERS AND SISTERS:”

While that was all interesting and stuff, that still didn’t mean I would want any part of this new project of theirs! The babysitter part I would be able to accept, but the package deal was still bad overall. 

“BE MY CHAMPION. AS I SAID EARLYER, I NEED ONE TO CONSOLIDATE MY POWER. I PROMISE, I WILL LOOCK OUT FOR YOU.” He just doesn’t give up!

“That will still be a no from me, Mister death. I want nothing to do with anything dead, as I have told you multiple times now.”

“AND I KEEP TELLING YOU, YOU ARE THE PERFEKT FITT!”

“How exactly? I am a florist. What do I have to do with death?”

“I WAS ALLWAYS INTERESTED IN YOU.” I frown. Do I have a stalker?

“SINCE YOU WERE LITTLE, YOU KEPT STUMBLING INTO MY WORK. I BELIEVE THE FIRST TIME I SAW YOU, WAS WHEN I TOOK YOUR GRANDMOTHER.”

I pale a little. That was indeed the first time I witnessed death. It was, what later led to me becoming a florist. But I quickly shake the bad memories out of my head. I have an offer to escape from. While I was deep in thought, he retold the numerus deaths I witnessed, but slowly wound down.

“EVEN AFTER EVERYTHING, YOU CHOSE TO KEEP CLOSE TO ME AND MY WORK. BECOMING A FLORIST IS A SHURE FIRE WAY TO KEEP EXPERIENCING THE DEATH OF THE LIVING. FLOWERS BLOOM AND THEN DIE SO QUICKLY, AFTER ALL.”

“I view it differently. I choose my profession to be close to Life. Seeing the flowers bloom always was a symbol of your competitor in our cultures.” Deaths face showed me a brilliant shade of red on his, thus far, pale cheeks.

“SHE ISN’T MY COMPETITOR, BUT MY LOVER.” He locked honest to goodness like a little schoolboy at that. “LIFE SENDS ME PRESENTS, WHICH I THEN KEEP FOREVER. I LOVE AND ADORE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF HER CREATIONS.”

Ok, now I am speechless. I never viewed it that way. Always saw the doom and gloom of the whole dying part.

“TELL YOU WHAT, HOW ABOUT YOU TRY OUT BEEING MY CHAMPION FOR THE NEXT WEEK OR SO. GET TO KNOW THE JOB, SO TO SPEAK. SOUNDS FAIR TO YOU? AFTERWARDS WE MEET AGAIN AND YOU TELL ME HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT IT.” His reddened cheeks became as pale as bones once again.

Frustrated I rubbed at my temples. “OK” I pressed out. No longer in the mood to continue the conversation. “I am your champion for the next week and get to turn down this stupid offer at the end. This time, you will take my no seriously!”

“EXELENT. WE SEE EACH OTHER NEXT WEEK THEN.” With a wave he left like shadows evaporating in the light.

The conversation was over. Now alone again I continued going home under the flickering artificial light of the streetlamps. Beyond frustrated and exhausted now, I quickly left the deserted roads to fall like the dead into my bed at home. I cringed at that thought.

I wanted to quickly forget the whole situation. Tomorrow I could talk with my boyfriend, relive some of the stress and anxiety of meeting a GOD after a long and frustrating day at work.

I could get him on the phone right now, but I didn’t want to wake him up. Both of us would have a hard-enough time at work tomorrow anyways. So, I did the next best thing and cuddled myself into a cocoon. And finally, with three layers of blankets and grandma’s teddy bear in my arms, I drifted into a restless sleep.

The next morning was the same routine as always: wake up, crack your bones into the right order, eat, brush your teeth, and go to work. 

Work was atrocious today as well. The customers more riled up than usual, though there were way less than usual. Small blessings. 

Only at breakfast with my colleges was I enlightened. My colleagues huddled around the a few phones. Watching with bated breath what the news bring.

Seems like I wasn’t the only one contacted by a freaking GOD yesterday. Some soon made their positions as champions official. Others like me, seemed to wait a little longer. The religions across the world were in absolute chaos. Desperately trying to cling to a shred of power and authority in the wake of these revelations.

But soon I had work to do again. Looks like at least my own countrymen were less likely to lose their heads when their gods were exposed as only imaginary friends. Though the GOD´s bring their own set of problems. Politicians news speakers and religious authorities try to calm the mob down. I guess the next few years will be a trying time.

After cleaning up a particularly large mess at the orchid section I got to go home again. But at the end of my work shift a nice little surprise waited for me. My boyfriend was waiting for me at the entrance.

With a brilliant smile I greeted him. He said he was here to whisk me away to home. And we got to walking. After a while he tried to take my hands into his. I recoiled as if struck by a red-hot iron rod. The mood dampened from here. I was ashamed from my repeating behavior, while he tried to pretend to not have noticed. It was our typical song and dance routine. A frustrated sigh left my lips.

“Don´t beat yourself up over this. We talked about this already, didn’t we? I don’t mind waiting for you. I understand that you just aren’t ready for human contact jet.”

“It´s just, that I wish, I were…” At that he nodded his head “I know, and I still love you.”

Red in the face I replied, “I love you too.”

After that, we talked a bit about other things and naturally, we came upon the topic of the GOD´s, at about the same spot Death contacted me yesterday.

“What do you think of all that? I would never have guessed there really are so many GOD´s out there. Seriously! They aren´t even fitting into any of our pantheons. Why would they hide like this for so long?”

Still deep in thought about what happened earlier, and in a responsive mood from our small talk, I answered without thinking. “It is because Earth, their grandmother, didn’t want them to interfere to much in our mortal affairs. But, as she´s dead now, the mice are dancing on the tables.”

He looks at me thoughtfully. “How do you know that?”

Caught unaware, I quickly replayed what I had just said. Shit! I quickly had to come to a decision.

“Ahm. I wanted to tell you yesterday, but it was already too late in the night.” A quick deep breath filled me with strength again. Pointing at a particularly dark spot ahead of us I said: “You see that spot under the damaged light? Death gave me a visit on my way home last night.”

Turning I looked him in the eye. “It gave me quite the fright. The shadows melting together and growing deeper in shade. Glittering stars being extinguished on his robes.” My thoughts taking an altogether different turn. ”Life and Death are lovers.” He halted in his tracks, looking startled.

Laughing I told him, “It´s true. Life sends, well, life on its way. And at the end of their road Death collects them to keep forever.”

Thinking on it for a bit I told him: “Yea, imagen death being red in the face. It is quite adorable. We both may not conceive it that way, but we are both presents to death, send on our way by Life to her partner.”

“That sounds so fake, you know?” “Oh believe me, I know! He told me unholy amounts of celestial bullshit to convince me to be his champion. At the end I relented, just so he would shut up.”

“So, you actually are a champion of the GOD´s.” “That is, until I tell him next week that I really don’t want this job. Currently I am on probation. Somehow I managed to negotiate this little titbit into our contract.” I felt awfully smug about that. You don’t get a chance to negotiate with GOD´s just because. And I would wager not many would be able to boast actually achieving something.

He snorts, bringing me out of my smug self-congratulation. “Well do I have to put a title before your name now? Most of the assholes on TV think very highly of themselves now, being selected by the true GOD´s now.”

“Oh, my NOPE! Don’t you dare! Your usual nicknames are bad enough already!”

“Of course, my prickly princess.”

Groaning in agony while he just chuckled, we trotted up to my apartment. Standing in the entrance way we couldn’t just let go of each other. Figuratively speaking, of course.

“Please don’t tell anyone that I am Death´s chosen. It would just end badly.”

“I know, your secret is safe with me.”

He took a while to continue. I could see, that he was ruminating on something for quite the while already. In the end he said “If you don’t mind me asking, what is the duty of a champion? Do you…”

I cut him off right there. “No! I don’t reap the souls of the living.”

We stood a bit in awkward silence, bevor he said: “Sorry, that was insensitive.”

I sight. That wasn’t supposed to come across like that. “I’m also sorry. I shouldn’t have blown up on you like that. It´s just. Not very nice, what I have to do.” I fell into silence at that again. We did that a lot today. 

“Do you want to talk about it? You know, that still didn’t answer my question, what do you do as the champion of death?”

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

I blushed. I really hoped he would have dropped the subject. “I am supposed to…” Taking in a deep breath I pressed out: “I am supposed to be intimate with a corps to bring them back to life.” Burying my head in my face, I could only imagen what he would say to such a ridiculous superpower.

“Jesus Christ! No wonder you didn’t want that job.”

“It´s just a straight up no, right? Who in their right minds would want that? Simply: No.”

“So,” he gets out between stifled laughter. “You have to do, what? How do you romance the dead? Isn’t that just gross? How the fuck did the GOD´s even come up with that?”

Glumly I reply. “I have no Idea how one comes to think, that is an acceptable thing to do.” A deep sigh left me. Also something I did a lot of during the day. “That is, why I will ditch this job as soon as I get the chance. That being, next week.”

“Yea, would do the same. Seriously, who would want that as their job? What does that even accomplish?”

“Don’t know. He rambled about wanting a champion to manifest his power in this world better. No idea though why it has to be that way though.”

He smirks. “Guess, GOD´s do work in mysterious ways.”

Groaning at the stupid joke I climb the stairs to my apartment. “That was bad, and you should feel bad.” 

“Nah, I think I did pretty well.” That dammed smirk of his! “Anyway, you are now home. I will take my leave.” “You sure you don’t want to call a taxi?”

“Or maybe you would want me to stay? We could cuddle to sleep.” Saying so with a straight face I could do nothing but roll my eyes in response. “We both need to sleep, so go home already.”

“Tche, prickly princess.” Oh, how I hate that nickname! With a big harrumph I turn my back to him and close the door. I hear him snickering from behind it. He just knows how to push my buttons.

Opening the door, just a small bit, I say to him “Good night, Marcus.” Bevor closing the door again I hear him whisper “I love you too, Lily”

I make it quick and fall into bed, exhausted from the unreasonableness of humans. Seriously. Nothing much changed. Just because some gods are proven to be false doesn’t mean you should proclaim the end times! The few customers that did come were just assholes. 

For a long time, I stared at the celling, thinking my talk with Marcus trough. Keeping me from sleep.

In the morning I try to get the sleep sand out of my eyes. As that doesn’t work, I take a quick shower to really wake up.

The same trot brings me to my workplace, were at the end I´m once again greeted by my lover. Does he plan on making that a regular thing? I wouldn’t mind, as the country slowly gets more and more tumultuous, it would be nice to be escorted home.

We speak about this and that. The priesthood is seemingly just starting to freak out. Took them a while to work out, that this wasn´t just a hoax. Over the next week the world is sinking into some kind of organized chaos. The GOD´s, not having anticipated the problems they would cause, incapable to reign in the rampaging puny humans. The governments just hanging in with by the skin of their teeth. 

Then suddenly at my early morning break I get an unexpected call from the police. Marcus was found on the streets. On his way to work he got in an accident with a car, the driver leving without calling an ambulance. 

As his condition is critical and getting worse by the hour, I quickly gather my stuff and rush to the hospital.

In the traffic stop and go I have too much time to myself. Thoughts quietly running out of control, tears start spilling down my face. I think about Markus and our little fights. I remember my Mother and Father, taking their last breaths. I remember my grandmother. Damnable Death, making me remember this part of my life.

She was the first to die in my life. I barely remember my time with her, I was too small. But I remember her giving me my first toy. My teddy bear Mr. Fusels. A big toy for a baby and a stable companion throughout my life. When I’m down I cuddle with him. I often give him to Marcus to have his scent on him. Closing the gap my fright of touch puts between us just for a bit.

I must have been about 4 when my Grandma died. Just old enough to remember, it gave a lasting impression. She played with me when it happened. Suddenly she didn’t want to continue. I was sleepy as well, with it being so late, so that she could easily scope me up and onto her lap. Together we sat on her favorite chair in front of the TV. We cuddled together.

She fell asleep first and even though I was sleepy as well, I continued to climb up and down on her, makeing noise and generally a big ruckus. Eventually my mother came in and we found her dead. 

At the time I didn’t understand, but since then I had a phobia of touch and the dead. Only on very rare exceptions would I crave human touch. It was the reason I went into gardening. No human touch required and far removed from the dead.

But she wasn’t the last person to die in my arms. Both of my parents, some of my friends and a few teachers. Death was always near to me. It actually was how I met Marcus. After a particularly gruesome death of one teacher he was there in the hospital. I quickly learned that he was the son of my recently deceased math teacher.

I am so anxious. And I don’t know what to do with myself. Sitting in the taxi and listening to the traffic jam competing with the baleful radio, its obnoxious jiggle themes grating at my frayed nerves.

Finally reaching the hospital I got out and found my quickest way towards my boyfriend. He was in the intensive care wing and a cheerful nurse showed me the way. As we arrived, even she couldn’t hold her good mood. She locked at the patient’s info and told me he hadn’t long to live.

Marcus was stabilized, but just for the moment. Many tubes were attached to him, reaching towards machines, I did not understand the function of. I could speak to him, but had to get into special clothes first, so as not to contaminate the room. 

Tears were running down my face. It was impossible for him to speak, as he was on supported breathing, barely even conscious.

I gently told him of my day, how lonely it was without him. The rows upon rows of idiot customers that still wanted plants in this chaos. I told him of how much I loved him. His lips quirking up and although obstructed by the plastic tube I could imagen him calling me his prickly princess. 

He died, I cried. It was scary how routine it has become.

After a while, I noticed someone standing behind me.

“YOUR WEEK IS NEARLY OVER. TO BE PRECICE, RIGHT NOW.”

Startled I turned around. And found Death leaning against a wall. A clock on the wall told me I had been here for the entire day. Funny, how our brains get hung up on the strangest things.

Just as the last time, descriptions eluded me. Death was human in all the ways it would matter to the naked eye, but still, there were things about him that just weren’t.

Sobbing like mad again and furious to boot I began my incoherent screeching. After a while I found my balance again.

“IT IS NOT EASY, LIVING LIFE. AS GRANDMA DIED, I TOO HAD TO TAKE MY TIME TO COME TO TERMES WITH IT.”

I could only find a bitter snarl in me. But the fight has left me. The only thing left being the familiar emptiness in me.

“BUT DO YOU NOT HAVE A WAY TO TURN EVENTS AROUND? I GAVE YOU THE OFFER TO TEST OUT BEING MY CHAMPION. NOW IT IS TIME TO TELL ME, DO YOU WANT TO WORK FOR ME?”

My tears started back up. I cried again, GOD´s damn it. “IT IS TIME, GIVE ME YOUR ANSWER.”

A heated glare found itself back on my face. “What you ask is impossible for me. I am supposed to touch the dead, while I have problems even touching my own loved ones. Go away.”

“I CAN GIVE YOU CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE. IS THAT NOT WHAT YOU SOUGHT? THE ABILITY TO TAKE BACK WHAT I WANT TO TAKE FOR MYSELF?”

I was a mess. Chaos reigned supreme in my head. Thoughts tumbling over themselves. “If, if I take your offer, can I really take him back?”

“OF COURSE.”

“I love him. So much.” Hot tears fell again. I would have to get over my phobia. For him, I would try.

“I KNEW YOU WOULD BE SWAYED. YOU MADE THE RIGHT DECISION.”

Hesitantly I reached out. First touching his hand. They were still warm. Recoiling from the unfamiliar action and breathing heavily I tried to find my center again.

“QUICK NOW. YOU ONLY HAVE TO KISS HIM, THEN YOUR POWER WILL BRING HIM BACK. YOU HAVE TO DECIDE. I CAN´T ALLOW HIS SOUL TO STAY HERE FOREVER.”

Mustering every shred of courage in my body I bent down again. Hesitating again, just before his lips. This would be my first kiss. The first time I would be willingly touching someone this intimate. And it was with the dead. This was so fucked up.

Chanting a mantra in my head I got down further. This is my boyfriend, this is my boyfriend, this is my boyfriend. I gently took his hands into mine. 

I usually was so afraid of touch, but right now, I needed it. Hesitantly I was caressing the back of his hand with my thumb. 

Our lips met. Involuntarily I breathed out, the magic quickly tock hold, filling the cooling body with life once again.

His eyes fluttered open, his wounds knitting themselves back together. Bones growing together were they were broken. 

A smile graced his lips. “I saw you in my dream, we had our first kiss.” Happiness was enveloping me within its embrace. 

“I WILL TAKE MY LEAVE THEN. I WISH YOU TWO THE BEST. SHOULD I NEED ANYTHING FROM YOU, BE SURE THAT I WILL CONTACT YOU. UNTIL THEN, CHAMPION.” In a puff of shadows, he evaporated. 

Marcus was gawking at the sight. “Was that?” I sight, “Yes, that was him. I am now the champion of Death.” A sly grin stole itself on his now whole face. “So, you sold your soul, my NecRomancer.”