Chapter 3: Aftermath of a Death

Death and Emily went back to the realm of the mortals. Death took Emily to a chapel. They saw two men, carrying a casket and they are about to go inside the chapel. Emily's parents are following them behind. Her mother is still weeping. Men carrying a podium and flowers also head inside the small church. 

"That's my body," Emily pointed out. Another set of tears is about to form in her eyes. She couldn't bear to look at her crying parents. 

"Is this already sinking into your mind?" Death asked. 

"It isn't yet. I still couldn't believe that I'm already dead." Emily kept her gaze at the chapel. 

"We must head inside the church. Lets take a look at your body," Death suggested.

Following Death's suggestion, the two of them went inside the chapel. Emily's parents looked at the open casket. Her mom cried even harder. Her loud voice echoed throughout the place. Emily approached her mom and she tries to hug her even though her arms just went through her mother's flesh. She started crying as well. 

"I'm sorry mom! I'm sorry!" Emily tightened her hollow embrace. She then look at her own dead body. She bit her lower lip as she gaze at herself. She lets go of her mom and she walks closer to her casket. She kept looking at herself. Death walked towards her. he puts his arm around her shoulder. 

"They did a good job doing your makeup," Death complimented. 

"It looks like I'm just sleeping," Emily said. "That's my typical look," she added. 

"Are you always this beautiful?" Death asked. 

"Are you admiring my dead body?" Emily asked back. 

"I'm just complimenting you!" Death's voice cracked a little. 

 "Thanks." Emily giggled. 

Zachary and Kendra arrived at the chapel. Both of them have bandages in their legs and they are using crutches. Their heads are wrapped with bandages as well. Kendra approached Emily's mother. She struggles to walk. 

"We're sorry about what happened." Kendra said. 

"It's no one's fault honey." Emily's mom caressed Kendra's face. "Where are your other friends?" she asked. 

"Both of them are comatose," Zachary replied. "Greg, that jerk. The doctor said he has a slim chance of survival." Tears began to form around his eyes as he bites his lip, stopping his urge to cry. 

"We'll get through this together Zach." Kendra gently rubbed her hand around Zachary's back. 

Emily watched his friend cry. Kendra embraced Zachary, comforting him. Emily turned to look at Death,

"Are they going to make it? My friends, are they going to survive?" Emily asked. 

"Only time will tell," Death replied. 

"Don't give me that kind of response! I want a definitive answer!" Emily demanded. 

"As soon as we get back to the realm of spirits I will check the list," said Death. 

"Please! I'm begging you! Let them live." Emily puts her palms together as she looks Death straight in his eyes. 

Death lets out a deep sigh. "It's beyond my control. Whatever happens to them it's not for me to decide." 

Emily covered her forehead with her left palm. She also closes her eyes. She then kneeled on the floor and starts crying. She's calling out the names of her friends who are currently lying in the hospital bed. Death just sat at a pew, watching Emily. Archillus suddenly emerged beside Death. 

"Aren't you going to comfort her?" Archillus pointed at Emily. 

"I want to let her feel what she needs to feel. She's worried about her friends," Death replied. 

"Her friends are going to be alive," said Archillus. "Hey don't worry about you're friends. They are going to survive!" he tried to get Emily's attention. 

Emily stood up. Tears are still flowing from her eyes. He looked at Archillus with a questioning expression. 

"How did you know that?" Death asked. 

"I have the list of the people who are destined to die from that accident. I didn't find the names of her friends there,"Archillus explained. 

"Are you sure about that?" Emily approached Archillus. 

"Yes darling. I am absolutely one hundred and one percent sure." Archillus showed a confident smile. 

"Thank God. Thank god." Emily's worries suddenly changed into relief. 

Death couldn't express how happy he is for Emily. Archillus just looked at the young woman while smiling. 

"What are you here, by the way?"  Death slowly turned his skull to look at Archillus. The hood of his cloak covers almost half his face. 

"I just want to catch up with you." Archillus tapped Death's shoulder. 

"That is not your intention. You can't fool me." Death said. 

"I'm not! I just realized that I am not busy so I decided to hang around with you for the meantime. While I wait for my new assignment." Archillus tries to deny his real intention why he is currently in that chapel.

"Lying is a sin Archillus. You don't want God to lock you out of the gates of heaven." Death kept his gaze on Archillus as if he is looking though his soul. 

"Okay, I'm here because I am interested with her," Archillus whispered. He then subtly pointed at Emily using his lips. 

Emily looked at him, raising an eyebrow. 

"You are like that every time I reap a young beautiful girl. Luckily I don't reap children," Death said. 

"What are you talking about?" Emily barged into the conversation. 

"Random stuffs." Archillus chuckled awkwardly. "Right Death?" He hits Death's arm using his elbow. 

"We are just having a man to man conversation." Death supported what Archillus said. 

"Well, I'm just going to sit beside my friends. Enjoy your manly conversation." Emily walked away, leaving the spiritual beings at the pew. 

"You can talk about her now." Death tapped Archillus' arm. 

"Well, I just think there's something special about her." Archillus stared at Emily. 

"You say that to every female soul I reap," Death said. 

"No, I don't!" Archillus denied. 

"Yes you do! You're always being interested with female souls." Death emphasizes the word "interested".

"I'm just trying to show my enormous love." Archillus deepens his voice a little, trying to sound sexy. "Just look at that soul you are currently reaping, Isn't she someone you want to be with twenty four seven?" He pointed at Emily. 

"No. I want us to part ways as soon as possible. I can't grow attached towards her," Death replied. 

"That's a bit cold,"  Archillus commented. 

"When you're in my position you would understand," Death said. 

"if I am in your position, I would stay with her as long as I can."  Archillus kept looking on Emily. 

Emily sat beside Kendra and Zachary. Their walking aids are placed on the arm support of the pew. Zachary's tears finally stopped flowing. 

"Why does she have to die?" Zachary questioned. 

"I'm asking the same question Zach." Kendra rubbed her palm around Zachary's back. 

"I just couldn't believe it. She didn't even say goodbye. She's gone and now, we have to deal with her permanent absence," Zachary said. 

"We're all going to miss her." Kendra stared at Emily's casket. 

Upon hearing what her friends said, Emily's eyes are starting to get wet again. She just watched her friends grieve over her. All of a sudden she felt Death's cold and rough hand touched her shoulder. She turned to look at him. 

"What do you want?" Emily asked. 

"Come with me. We'll come back here later." Death offered his hand to Emily. The two of them went out of the chapel. Death carried Emily like a princess. 

"What are you doing?" Emily looked Death in the eye. 

Death didn't say anything. A mist of smoke surrounds them. 

The two of them are transported to the hospital where Greg and Holly are currently being admitted. Emily just looked at her friends who are both currently lying down at the beds of an ICU ward. Emily approached Greg's bed first. She gently runs her finger on her friend's cheek. After that she went to Holly's bed. She carressed the hair of her friend. 

After that she went back on Death's side. "They are the people I'm going to leave behind," she said. She dropped on her knees once again. "I'm not ready to go yet." Tears began to flow on her eyes again. Death just stared at Emily, unable to do anything. He kneeled down, extends his arm the he gently patted Emily's head, trying to comfort her.  The song "Your guardian Angel" by Red Jumpsuit Apparatus suddenly blasted through the speakers around the hospital. Emily hugged Death, tightly as she cries. 

"I don't want to leave this world yet. I don't want to leave my life behind!" Emily tightened her embrace. 

Death couldn't utter a single word. All he can do is to let Emily hold him. Archillus appeared once again. He just looked at Death, being embraced by Emily. A reaper who is currently working at the hospital approached Archillus. 

"Death, our beloved leader. Why is he holding that woman?" the reaper asked. 

"He's probably just trying to comfort her,"  Archillus replied. 

"That's not typical of him," the reaper commented. 

"I know." Archillus looked at the reaper while showing a somewhat annoying smile. Despite his obnoxious facial expression, the angel still managed to look good. 

The reaper left Archillus to continue doing his job. The angel disappeared once again to return to the spiritual waiting area to hand out schedules. 

Emily finally stopped crying. She lets herself out from Death's body. She wiped away the tears from her eyes. 

"Do you want to come back to the chapel now?" Death asked. 

Emily nods. After that the two of them teleported back to the chapel where Emily's funeral is being held. 

Time had passed. Everyone at the chapel are busy, mourning over Emily. Her parents cried all day. The clouds are crying with the people as well. 

The moon shines. The lampposts turned on their lights. Everyone who knows Emily gathered at the chapel. All of them are wearing black outfits. Some people recited their eulogies. The first person to go up on the podium was Kendra. Death and Emily sat the pews at the end of the chapel as they watch Kendra deliver her mournful speech. 

"Emily and I have been friends since middle school." Kendra bit her lower lip, attempting to stop her urge to breakdown in tears. "We flirt with guys together, we attended parties, we shared food during lunchbreaks, we study things together. She was really kind and generous." She sniffles. "She may be gone from this world but, memories of her genuine love and kindness will remain in out hearts." After delivering the eulogy, Kendra went back to her seat. Tears are flowing from her eyes. 

Emily's father went up to the podium. he's wiping the tears running down his cheeks. He tapped the mic and cleared his throat. 

"Emily is the best thing that happened to me and my wife. I remember rushing to the hospital when I received the news about her birth. I even tripped over the stairs." Emily's father chuckled. "My baby Emily, for us, she's an angel. Even though she's gone now-" He couldn't stop the tears from falling from his eyes. "She will always be our one and only sunshine." He walks back to his seat while hiding his face from the crowd. 

Emily's mother was the last person to deliver her eulogy. She walks up to the podium, trying her best to remain calm. 

"My daughter is the best gift I ever received from God. Raising her is my most favorite thing to do. I never knew God will take her away from me sooner." Emily's mom began crying. "My baby Emily, I don't know how I can live without you. Maybe if I gave you more freedom, you'll still be here. I'm sorry baby. I could have been a better mother. We could have been better parents." She walked back to her seat. Her husband immediately embraced her. 

Emily cried again while looking at her parents. 

They could have been parents? They are the best parents. I just didn't realize it, until now. 

The night went on. People continued mourning. Emily and Death continued to hang around, waiting for the trial.