| Chapt. Fifteen | God Complex |

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There was no coffee this morning.

No, nothing of the sort.

Perhaps that is what went wrong with the day I died.

No, today I stepped through the doors as a strong, independent woman, free of thought about her stupid boyfriend or any late night party her parents were throwing.

Demetri escorted me through the halls in silence with nothing more than good morning. We didn't feel it necessary. I see his flushed cheeks and red eyes even in the darkness of his cloak, even against all the fear and frustration the Reaper had, I knew everything was going to be okay.

I have a plan.

I memorize the halls one last time for good measure. Beautiful gothic paintings in over characterized gold frames greet me on either side. Noah already left his room by the time I'd been ushered out.

This whole day would fly by in a matter of minutes if I weren't careful. I have one goal. A hope and prayer attached.

We enter the dark room, my chest tight and heavy. This is the last time anyone would fight in such vulgarity. The last time I would let Death be unfair, unjust, just to amuse his own ambitions.

The circles are already drawn on the floor, Atticus and Noah standing in theirs. I can see the knowing in Noah's eyes now, the gaunt features and pain hiding beneath strength and determination.

I offer one last reassuring smile.

Death nods curtly, a sharp hiss in an intake of breath. An awful hangover, just as planned.

Demetri lines me up a few feet away from him and I feel my surroundings pulse against me in the dim light.

"Contestants," Death mutters, his voice hushed with pain. "You will be given your final opportunity today, as I pair you against your very own Handlers. Kill them. Or be killed. The choice is yours. But do not squander this opportunity, you know the stakes by now. Should you die here, your soul will cease to exist."

I swallow roughly, eyeing the Wraith off to the side and the Reaper in front of me.

"Don't do anything stupid," Demetri whispers in my head. It feels just as safe as it did the very first day together. Reasoning, a conscience.

I can only smile in reply, nodding as if I understood.

"Fight," Death snaps.

I check into myself, feeling Morana stir inside my very being.

She knows the plan.

Demetri takes a wide stance, arms held close. The look in his eye says it all. He's ready for anything, including death.

Tears well up in the corners of my eyes but I refuse to give into them. To give sadness the satisfaction of winning today.

Morana pours out of me, lashing her tail slightly and stamping down onto her paws like an aggressive bull. You know the plan...

Yes, Master.

Don't fail me.

Never.

I close my eyes and go in, each of us taking a side of the man and trying to get him onto the ground. Demetri fights only barely, enough to look as though he's trying but I feel the difference this time.

A single tear falls onto his cheek as I grab him and thrust him down by the throat.

"I'm so sorry," I whisper, voice cracking.

His eyes soften a little, a smile forcing its way out.

But he doesn't understand.

Closing my eyes, I will myself to disappear, phasing out of existence and away from the Reaper as Morana holds him down with all her might.

Alone, with no more Reapers than contestants, I bet everything right here and now.

I shift back right behind Death.

Fists clenching and casting all of the darkness out of the room, I manifest a piercing spear in my hand, slamming it through his lame armor and suit. The Wraith sputters out, blood spitting through the air as I tear the sharp beam out.

His heart on the end like a toothpick.

Time slows with every eye on me, the battles freezing in place.

Death grapples for my neck, slow and weak with pain and a fateful hangover. This is the reason, this is why everything will be solved.

I pull it closer and stare down, Demetri scrambling to get up and stop me.

Morana bites the scruff behind his neck and pins him to the floor like a misbehaving pup.

I make my decision for the fifteenth time in two days.

Lifting the bloody organ to my lips, I chomp down.

Everything goes black.

Even as I realize I've truly won.

TOTAL WORD COUNT: 24,165

AND IT'S DONE! Just like that! I've finally finished the book and just in time too! This was an absolutely amazing Experience and I couldn't have done it without the help of my friends. 

Now, I know you might have some questions, I'll be posting some answers soon. Hang tight, have hope, and an awesome day!

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