Death in the City by Kyle Giroux (books to read for beginners TXT) 📕

“BOY STILL ALIVE AFTER TWELVE DAYS WITHOUT HEAD

Doctors puzzled over miraculous recovery”

Death swallowed a heavy mixture of saliva, guilt, and tension, before he continued reading:

“Westford: Doctors at Bathory Pass Hospital are baffled over the case of Johnny Harrison, 12, who, despite being decapitated in a boating accident off the coast of Cumberland, continues to live--even 12 days after the tragic event

  ‘All of us here are stunned,’ said Dr. Richard Kirk, lead surgeon at Bathory Pass. ‘Normally when such catastrophic injury occurs the patient would be dead on-site. When Johnny’s father called us and said his son was still breathing, we told him to bring him in.’

When the Harrisons brought their son in to see doctors, they were shocked. ‘Sure enough, he was still medically alive,’ Dr. Kirk said.

  Doctors say this is the first recorded case of anyone living beyond the normally allotted few seconds post-decapitation. Mrs. Penny Harrison, Johnny’s mother, had a higher power to thank for her son’s incredible condition.

  ‘Obviously this is the work of God,’ Mrs. Harrison said. ‘He is working miracles up there, without a doubt. All the other decapitation victims I guess He just didn’t want to save. But He saved my little Johnny, because obviously he’s better than the rest of the kids who get killed. God likes to pick and choose; otherwise, He would have to save people who don’t deserve it.’

  Doctors are now working on a way to reattach Johnny Harrison’s head, since it still has all senses functioning properly. But Johnny sees benefits in other plans. ‘I don’t know if it would be a good idea,’ Johnny’s head said as it sat on his headless body’s lap. ‘I mean, I can do so much with this. My friends and I can even play catch with my head. And it’d be great for Halloween. So I’ll have to think about it.’

  ‘Normally decapitated heads stop functioning entirely, as do the bodies,’ Dr. Kirk said. ‘But not in Johnny’s case. Both halves function perfectly fine, independent of each other. It’s incredible.’

  Doctors plan to use Harrison’s case in new studies on powerful mutant genes. A new era of medicine may be approaching thanks to this strange and heartbreaking accident.”

“Oh, damn,” whispered Death.

“It was whose fault?” asked Maria again.

A loud clang sounded from the kitchen, making the three friends jump. The oven door had fallen open, followed by a large, lumpy something thumping to the floor. When the door snapped shut, Death walked around the kitchen counter to see Satan standing up and brushing himself off. “Death, old friend,” he said, centering his blood red tie.

“Oh, dear,” said Death, getting sweaty. “You shouldn’t be here.” He tried to nudge Satan back into the oven, but Satan stopped him.

“I can’t visit an old friend? Oh, hello.” Tim and Maria were standing at the counter. “Names Lu—“

“Louis, his name is Louis,” said Death, running a hand through his hair.

“Hi, Louis,” said Tim. “Have you…have you been in the oven this whole time?”

Satan laughed heartily and smiled at Death, his eyes a blazing yellow. “Well this is quite interesting, Death.”

“What did Louis call you?” asked Maria.

“Please don’t,” pleaded Death.

“Now now, old friend,” said Satan. His tongue flashed across his upper lip. “I see the lying and deceit that goes on up here but I couldn’t keep track of yours.” He looked at Maria with a broad smile and said, “You never questioned where this guy came from? Why he kills every living thing he touches?”

“Please,” said Death.

“You didn’t get why every police officer in this podunk zit of a city is dead since they tried to arrest your friend?”

“Is that what happened?” asked Maria.

“This is too good,” cried Satan, howling with laugher. “Don’t humans love their honesty and junk like that? He’s Death! The Death. The Grim Reaper. The Fourth Horseman. He Who Rides With a Pale Horse. El Muerte. My dears, this is Death personified!”

“I don’t know, this isn’t very convincing,” said Tim.

Satan faced Tim so that they were nearly touching noses. “Why? Why are humans so…insufferably stupid? I just crawled out of the oven from the depths of Hell. You’ve seen Death reap people right in front of you. Why…are you so stupid?”

“It’s true,” said Death. He figured if he tried to deny it Satan would press further. It was better to just get it over with now. “I am Death.”

“And I’m Lucifer, but you can call me Satan. Everyone does.”

“Oh God, are you here to take us away?” asked Tim.

“No,” said Death. “The opposite. I’m retired.”

There was silence for a long time. Tim and Maria looked like they were trying to form words but were physically unable to. Death shuffled his feet and tried to smile. Satan successfully smiled. “Who wants to find a café for some coffee?” asked Satan.

“Can’t you just make some appear or something?” asked Death, not quite in the mood to go out.

“I don’t have powers on earth until the seals of the Apocalypse are broken,” said Satan. “Except to go to and from Hell, of course. Doesn’t mean I can’t come up for a little fun now and then. My treat. Earlier today when I was scoping out where you lived, I robbed an old man who was swindling people with the three-card monte on the sidewalk.”

Death was about to decline when he saw a grin stretch across Maria’s face, which made him want to laugh with excitement. “I’d like that,” she said.

“The pretty girl says yes,” said Satan. “And what does the sweaty little bald man say?”

“Yes,” said Tim flatly, his own smile fading.

A short scream sounded from the living room. It was Brian, pointing at Satan with the arm that was not in a sling. “No,” he shouted. “You have more of your weird friends over. Just stay away from me, alright?” He slammed the door behind him as