Why was death so fucking persistent?

I wanted a night. One night to not have to deal with all these psychopaths. Was the living always this homicidal?

I withdrew a breath and grumbled, “Fuck it.”

I snapped my fingers and my scythe manifested beside me—Kartine already to her feet and tossed her scythe over her shoulder.

“All I wished for was some girl-time, and this slimy corrupted soul had to go and mess it up. I'm feeling a little hostile.”

“You're welcome to do all the work.”

Kartine shot me a glare. “You have no shame.”

“I've been dead for two hundred years. Shame left me a long time ago, and you're one to talk. Misses I’ll go fuck some random dude’s wife.”

“Hmm. Okay. We’re both shameless.”

I laughed and the piercing screech echoed around us.

All the civilians froze the moment our scythes appeared. I scanned the room, shifting through the crowd. The smell of rotten flesh emitted from the hallway leading to the restrooms.

This was not how I thought my night would go. Maybe I should call Causis and . . . I shook my head. No. Get it over with and maybe I can score some brownie points with Grim. Show him that I'm not just a fuck up but I can do my job well.

The hall lights flickered and I pressed on the door, a black hazy filling my vision.

I scanned the stalls—each one empty and wide open. Dripping water over took my senses as I glanced up.

Nothing. I stepped out of the bathroom and walked over to the exit. I pushed the door open and the night had devoured the day, leaving it pitch dark in the alley. The smell of copper swirled with rainwater encased the air and each step toward the garbage, it grew more potent.

Until a man, dead and mangled beyond recognition laid bare on the concrete with his soul nowhere in sight. This death was too soon to be reaped already.

And the essence of the corrupt soul seemed to have vanished but it should have been tied down to this place.

I really hoped it wasn't what I thought it was.

The door swung open and I flinched.

Kartine's eyes searched until they met mine.

Her face pinched. “It’s unbound.”

“You have to be shitting me,” I said, unable to filter my mouth.

So it was a soul-turned ghoul.

Now we had to tell HQ there was an untethered crux on the loose in the city feeding on the populace. They had an insatiable thirst for souls and it will never be satisfied. It will keep devouring and devouring until a reaper stops it.

This was why I loathed demons. They always left a mess of human souls and made us clean up after them.

“Head home. I'll report it.”