#paranoia writes

So many cases solved for the Lost and Found department in just a few months, and yet Edwin and Charles still find themselves hiding. A teen girl had died during a fire in her apartment building, and due to her anger over thinking that she had been left behind on purpose she had been unable to move on to her afterlife. Proving that she was wrong by contacting the spirit of one of the firefighters who had tried to save her, and who couldn’t move on himself because of his failure, had been easy enough. As the firefighter and the girl embraced each other and the blue light started to appear, Edwin and Charles. There were no mirrors close to them, so they had to enter one of the damaged apartments and hide in a damaged closet. Their time as members of the Lost and Found may have made them overconfident to the point where they forgot to check for an exit route, but they still did not feel safe enough to stay in the same room Death was going to be appearing in.

Muffled voices can be heard from the hallway, the girl thanking the firefighter over and over, and the man apologizing for not being able to do more. Suddenly a third voice joins the conversation, Death is here and she is kind as she welcomes the two spirits and tells them to come with her. Edwin grabs Charles’ hand and squeezes it silently as the two of them hold their non-existent breath. And then the silence finally comes, Charles and Edwin are alone in the building and the other two are at peace, everything is as it should be. They wait for a minute, and then another, before they finally leave the safety of their makeshift hiding spot.

They step into the apartment, just as empty as it was moments before, and they both let out a breath of relief. Charles smiles at Edwin, brightly as ever “Job well jobbed, right mate?” and Edwin can’t help but smile back “You are correct, but I do believe it is time for us to go back home”. Charles smiles again, and he adjusts his bag on his shoulder. As they leave the apartment, now holding hands once again they can both feel that something is wrong.

A feminine voice, the one voice they have learned to fear, pipes up behind them “I was hoping I would get to see you both”. They turn around, letting go of each other in their shock and they see her .

Charles doesn’t hesitate, for he knows there is no time to waste. In the span of a moment, he rushes to stand between his best friend and Death herself, one of his hands already inside his bag ready to pull out his cricket bat. He knows he can not beat Death, not even get rid of her temporarily like he had done with the night nurse all those months ago, no one can. But maybe, just maybe, he’ll be able to give Edwin just enough time to escape, and that is all that matters to him at that moment.

He doesn’t get to do anything though, for Death speaks before he can do anything to defend himself and Edwin “I did not come here to take you, I just want to talk”. And then Edwin’s hand is on Charles’ shoulder, the fear clear on his face but accompanied by determination. “We shall talk then,” he says, but he doesn’t move towards Death, and Charles doesn’t either. Death smiles warmly at them, and even though it doesn’t exactly help them relax it at least makes her seem nice. “I have heard so much about the two of you, you have helped so many souls,” she says and Edwin can feel the pride swell up in his chest, getting recognized by the Lost and Found was one thing but Death herself admitting they have helped her is another one entirely.

“Thank you, ma’am, that means a lot,” He says, letting his guard down slightly, it is not like the two of them could stop Death from taking them so staying on her good side is the best thing they can do. Charles follows Edwin’s lead and he also tries to please Death, he smiles at her with all the courage he can muster and says “What he said, miss Death.” She laughs and the sound of it, while still terrifying to them, gives them hope that this meeting will not end with the two of them being separated. “No need to thank me, boys, it is the truth” She steps towards them and neither Edwin nor Charles moves away in fear that they will anger her. Perhaps sensing their fear, Death stopped moving “This is why I wanted to speak to you, I was told by a friend that you fear me” The boys looked at each other and then back to her. “I- well Lady Death-“Edwin started to speak but then Death held out a hand and he stopped.

“I understand, death can be scary” She looked at them kindly, and took a step back to give them some more space “But I can assure you, I will not take you until you’re ready. I try not to do that” Charles was glad to hear that, but he could feel anger and protectiveness underneath his thankfulness “Why did you allow what happened to Edwin, then?” Edwin turned to look at Charles, surprised at the anger in his voice “Charles, do be more respectful” he whispered while glancing to death, but the Endless did not look mad. “That was not me, but I apologize for it. “She looked at Edwin and offered him a hand that he was hesitant to take “You did not deserve that. I promise that you as long as you wish to stay here will not be taken again”.

“Thank you” was the only thing Edwin was able to say as he raised one hand to take Death’s own, his other hand firmly held by Charles. Death gave his hand a small squeeze before letting go, she looked away from the two of them and then back before giving them one last smile “I must go now, people need me. But remember that I will come when you’re ready and not a moment earlier” and with that, she took a step back and disappeared in a flash of blue light.