“Don’t drag your feet,” Lucian told the small child clinging to his hand. “Come on now Lisette, don’t be this way, we have to hurry or we’ll be late.”

​

            Lisette looked up at him gripping his fingers with her small hand. “Where are we going dad?” she asked quietly.

​

            “To my work, since your mother is working today, I have to watch you, and you said you wanted to see my work,” he answered adjusting the pink back pack on his shoulder. “Now please do not cling to my leg.”

​

            Her face lit up with enjoyment hearing his words, bouncing with each step. She had always wondered what her dad did for work. He was so very important, she always asked to go with him but usually he always said it was dangerous for little girls. Tugging on his arm running ahead before he had to scope her up.

​

            “Do not run off, it’s not safe,” he scolded lightly, pressing the crosswalk button. “I don’t want your paper to show up on my desk.”

​

            Lisette cocked her head in confusion. She looked up at him curious for an answer, but she knew he probably wouldn’t. He was always like that, very calm and serious, didn’t really say a lot. Her mother always said it was because of his job, it was just who he was. She nuzzled herself into his arms resting her small head on his shoulder.

​

            She gazed up in amazement at the large building, HELL Inc. She wiggled in her father’s arms adjusting herself watching all the people as they walked buy, everyone was so busy. Bowing to her father as he walked by them or talking to them and handing him papers. The hallways seemed endless before they reached an elevator that seemed to go down forever. Until there was no more light coming through the small window.

​

            “Don’t be scared Lisette, it’s fine,” Lucian soothed feeling her grip tighten on his shirt, quivering slightly.

​

            The metal doors opened once they hit the bottom floor. She looked at the number trying to see how far they were, 666. That number seemed to amaze her; she often saw it on his paperwork and the code to her mother’s phone. She wondered if it was important to remember.

​

            “Here darling, I brought your coloring books and crayons,” He stated setting her down on the couch in his office setting the bag down for her.

​

            “Thanks daddy,” Lisette smiled happily swinging her feet happily.

​

            He smiled a little patting her head gently before sitting at his own desk, in front of the large bay window, his back to her. Sighing at the paperwork that greeted him. He worked quietly, sorting through papers, occasionally looking back at the child, checking. He knew she was okay but that worry never left. The only sound came from the swaying feet and humming of the child, lost in her own little world. He turned again when the humming stopped. She wasn’t there. Blinking a couple times, setting the papers down before he let out a sigh of relief. Two little red eyes poking up from the front of the desk.

​

            “What are you doing?” she asked standing on her tip toes trying to see his work. “Can I help?”

​

            “Paperwork, come here,” he answered with a small nod before she bounced again scurrying behind the desk crawling up onto his lap. “Here, stamp this on this line for me.”

​

            She clapped her hands in enjoyment, she felt so important at that moment. Taking the stamp with her family seal, doing just as her father said. She liked this feeling, like she was doing something good, something big. Not really paying attention the names on the papers she was stamping, occasionally she saw a name that was familiar but she would stamp the line anyway. Until she began to feel her eyelids growing heavy, rubbing them, wanting to stay awake. Keep working, just like her dad.

​

            “Nap time,” he stated cradling her in his arms standing up from his chair.

​

            She looked out the window in front of his desk, overlooking the river. There was a line of people waiting for the ferry. She lazily pointed out the window.

​

            “New arrivals,” he nodded lightly. “They’re waiting to be judged, and then they will go where they are warranted.”

​

            “That’s Amy, she hasn’t been at school, where is she going?” she asked looking at a young girl hurdled with the other children.

​

            “She is going where all the children go, heaven with all the innocent, maybe they will be reborn,” he answered shifting her.

​

            “Are we evil, daddy?” she spoke up almost surprising him. “Ms. Ingrid says its bad for children to leave, that its mean and evil, will I go to hell?”

​

            “No, Lisette, we’re not like the humans, we cannot be judged so simply,” he answered calmly. “Death is a part of the world, without it the humans would be out of balance, humans don’t understand that most of the time.”

​

            She nodded lightly yawning, burrowing into his arms stretching. “Where do we go?”

​

            “Nowhere, we are reborn as a new reaper, but very rarely do we even pass,” he answered moving her back to the couch, covering her with his jacket to keep her warm. “You will better understand when you are older, for now its naptime, sleep well my little one.”