[ WP ] You 're in bed with a terrible cold when you look up to see Death sitting in chair on the other side of the room . He is reading a thick book when he looks up and says , `` Do n't worry . Take your time . I just started this ... . ''

I woke up with a pounding in my head, and chills. I sighed. Yet another day with this stupid cold. I decided getting up was n't worth it. I was n't going into work anyway, so I might as well sleep to get better. As I was returning to the blissful escape of sleep I felt the temperature in the room drop significantly. I pulled my blanket up higher and tried to get comfortable but could n't. I started to get out of bed to go check the thermostat when I noticed something out of the corner of my eye. I froze with one leg out of bed. A chill went down my spine and my hairs stood on end. I let out a slight yelp. The hooded figure that was sitting in my corner chair looked up from the book he was reading. 
 
 `` Do you mind?'' He said, sounding annoyed. `` I'm trying to read, and it's hard enough to focus without all of your little noises. This is the new James Joyce, and you know very well how he writes.'' He looked back down at his book, tapping his finger lightly on the front cover. 
 
 `` Who are you?'' I asked as I pulled my leg back under the blanket. For some reason that gave me a feeling of security that I knew was unfounded. 
 
 `` I'm death.'' He said nonchalantly, not even looking up from his book. `` How else do you think I got this new book from an author that's been dead for years? I keep the talented ones around.'' 
 
 It took me a few moments to process what he was saying. Death. `` Wait... does that mean... that you're here for me?'' I gulped, hoping this was all some sort of cruel joke. It had to be, right? It was probably one of the guys from the office, wanting to get at me for not coming in yesterday while they had to pull my weight. 
 
 `` Yeah, but do n't worry. Take your time. I just started this...'' Death sounded as if he did n't even care, as if this was just his normal routine. Something about his casual attitude unnerved me even more. 
 
 `` But.... All I have is this cold!'' I protested. `` You ca n't possibly be Death.'' 
 
 Death chuckled and reach up to pull down his hood. The fabric fell away to reveal a pale faced man with pure black eyes. He smirked at me. `` You humans are so funny. You never think you're going to die. Always assume it wo n't happen to you for some reason. But yes. It's your time to go. I've got to keep a schedule you know, so it has to happen today. But as I said, I just started this fascinating book so you can take your time until I get to a stopping point.'' 
 
 My stomach dropped. My hands went clammy. My heart fluttered. I stared off into space. I could n't be dying. Not now. I did n't even do anything with my life! I started to bargain. I offered him anything and everything. 
 
 `` Trust me, you do n't have anything I desire.'' Death said. `` You're better off spending this next couple of hours doing something productive or meaningful. Go... I dunno... Kiss a woman, or whatever you humans like to do.'' He waved me aside as he shifted positions in the chair to get more light on his book. 
 
 `` Kiss a girl? You think that will just make me okay with dying? You've got ta be kidding me! I ca n't die now! I ca n't!'' I felt anger growing inside me. It was n't fair. `` Just leave! Get out of my apartment!'' I yelled at Death. 
 
 He did n't even acknowledge me, and just flipped the page in his book. I scrambled to think of a solution. My gun. In the nightstand. I slowly reached over to my nightstand and opened the drawer. I kept an eye on death, careful to not let him notice me grabbing the gun. I pulled the gun out of the drawer and slid it under my sheets. I was n't even sure this would work on an otherworldly figure like Death incarnate, but I figured I should give it a shot. I pointed my gun at Death and shot him, square in his chest. He looked up at me. `` Seriously? You thought that would work? Do you mind?'' He scoffed and returned to his book. I was in full panic mode now. I emptied the rest of my clip into Death, and one of the shots went right through his book. 
 
 Death closed the book and set it aside. As he stood the room grew dark and the temperature dropped even further. `` Do you realize what you've done?'' He growled at me. `` That was the only copy.'' A silver blade reflected what little light was left in the room as he pulled out his scythe. The last thing I saw was that blade, and then just darkness.
