Grim and Bear It
Chapter Twenty-Eight

Rule #61: If a reaper disobeys a direct order and endangers a) another reaper or b) a human soul, the reaper may be suspended. -The Reaper Code of Ethics, official handbook.

Poppy

The pink slip had arrived just before I slipped into my cloak for my next shift. Shoved under my door, because they couldn't bother knocking. I was suspended for one week, unless I wanted to appeal the ruling.

Appealing it was a fool's errand. I had left Sylvia during a large soul pickup, and we had been attacked by several demons. We almost lost souls. I deserved this suspension, and definitely one that was much longer than a week.

But a week suspension meant seven entire days away from the human world. Seven days when I couldn't protect Jake. After seeing how close he'd come to death today, I couldn't let that happen.

If only I could replace out when and how he was scheduled to die. Then I could make sure I was there. Maybe stop it.

I needed to kiss him every day, every hour, until I couldn't. I needed to hold him in my arms, needed to hear him whisper my name in the dark. I needed to know how long we had left together.

I was going to have to get a look at the master list. It was as close to a suicide mission as a dead person could have. If I got caught, I'd definitely be put into detention, for years. Possibly even Isle of Exile. The only option was to not get caught. First things first, I needed some help from my family. I just hoped if they ever found out, they'd forgive me. With my hood up, I navigated down the halls toward my dads' place. I knocked on their front door.

"Hello! Anyone home?" I called. They should both be on shift, and I was relieved when there was no response.

I turned the knob and slipped into the main room, then called out again. Still no answer. I dashed into their bedroom and threw open the closet. I grabbed one of the dark burgundy cloaks from the back of the closet and rolled it up underneath my own. I squatted down and pulled out their lockbox, grabbing the key taped to the side and opening it. They'd never been good at hiding keys.

I shifted through the documents and irreplaceable photos, and grabbed my dad's spare ID. Each reaper was issued two, in case one was damaged or lost. The second ID would cancel out the first, which would mean Dad would figure out what happened in a matter of hours.

He'd know it was me. I just hoped I'd be with Jake again by then, giving Dad time to cool down. As long as he didn't file formal paperwork, I'd be okay.

Mission complete, I slipped out of their room and took the long way back to mine. Likely no one saw me. This was the most popular shift for reapers, and I hadn't passed anyone in the hallway. My great aunt Vivian did like to spy on people through a peephole, but I kept my hood up and my head down so she couldn't catch a glimpse.

When I finally got back to my room, I pulled off my robe and slipped my dad's on and rolled the sleeves. I pulled a non-embellished, worn purple cloak over top and tucked Dad's ID card in my pocket. Finally, I shifted into my skeleton form. Now, I just needed an excuse to go to city hall. I paced around the tiny room. Think, think, think. I stilled, remembering Caroline talking about getting a new manifest after her screen had cracked.

I pulled my manifest from my pocket, checked it again. Neither Jake nor any of Jake's family were listed yet. Time to move.

If Poppy from a month ago saw present-day Poppy, she wouldn't believe her eyes. But that Poppy hadn't known the fear of losing Jake for all eternity. She hadn't known how addictive his lips were, how warm his body was, how much she needed him.

Present-day Poppy? Ha. I didn't even flinch when I stepped outside, grabbed a rock twice the size of my hand, and smashed the manifest until the screen splintered and fizzled out. I threw the rock into the river and slipped the list back into my cloak. Now it was time to visit the city hall for the dead.

The building was long and wide, made of white brick and white mortar, giving it stodgy chic vibes. Dozens of reapers in robes weaved in and out of the hallways, wrapped up in work. I'd never had an office job when I was a human, but this seemed dismal.

I couldn't imagine going from a nine-to-five on Earth, then coming here and doing the same. Religion always portrayed the afterlife as restful. Maybe some people got a restful afterlife. Just not Grims.

I studied the map posted at the entrance. The technology desk was three doors down from the stairwell I needed. I would drop my manifest off, replace an alcove to change out of my purple cloak, then access the restricted part of the building. I was the first to admit it wasn't a strong plan-Sylvia was much better at planning-but I was on my own for this.

When I approached the tech desk, a line of five reapers slouched ahead of me. I didn't recognize any of them, since I was usually on shift at this time. Even though the reaper in front of me was tapping their skeleton foot incessantly, a strange calm washed over me. There was a building map behind the desk, and I studied it. Counted the approximate steps between me and the restricted files room. Planned out different entrances and exits. When I reached the front, I was bouncing on the balls of my feet, ready to move.

"Problem?" The man behind the desk barked. He had only bothered to make his face human. He had my dad's bushing eyebrows, but otherwise looked like a complete stranger.

"Cracked screen?" I handed him my list.

His expression didn't change. He handed me a form and a pen. "Fill this out. A new device will arrive before your next shift."

"Next!" he yelled, dismissing me.

When I finished filling out the form, I placed it into the labeled basket, then made a show of looking around, as if I didn't know which way to go. With one final glance at the map, I turned the opposite way I came in and walked deeper into the building. Like offices I had seen on television, city hall had rows of artificial potted plants lining the hallways.

Fake plants provided the perfect cover for a change over. When the busy cross traffic slowed, I ducked behind a tall fern and pulled off both my cloaks, this time tucking the purple under the burgundy one. After straightening and smoothing the fabric, I merged into a line of people, then crossed the hallway when I reached the stairwell access door.

I swiped Dad's card, sending up a prayer of forgiveness. I didn't know if there was anyone listening to a reaper's prayers, but it was worth a shot. The light on the door went from red to green and I opened it and slipped inside. I paused and took a deep breath to steady my nerves, then rushed up two levels of stairs and into another hallway.

Two lefts and a right later, another set of stairs. Next, a series of hallways that felt like they would never end. After what felt like a thousand steps later, I was standing in front of the restricted records room. Within these walls was the list of every person who would die this year, including date and location. I swiped the card. Despite not having muscles, I was tense, waiting for the small red light on the lock to turn green.

The door buzzed a denial and stayed locked.

No. No, no, no. Not this close. I swiped again, but nothing happened. It was stupid to swipe a third time, but I did anyway, too desperate to be rational.

An alarm went off. Shit. Security appeared at both ends of the hall and walked toward me. I swiped a fourth time, fifth time, sixth time. "Keycard won't work," I said to the guards flanking me. "Oddest thing."

I may have gotten away with it if Dad didn't push through the group and stare at me, dumbfounded. He blinked twice before reaching out and taking the card from my hand and studying it, then looking back up at me. He didn't need to see my human face to know it was me. I could tell by his hurt and surprised expression as he tugged down my hood and sucked in a sharp breath as if I had punched him.

"I'm sorry, Dad," I whispered.