"No," Logan announced, his lips pressed into a firm, white line.

"No?" Mason blurted out. "What do you mean no? What part of 'this shit ain't quittable' didn't you understand?"

Logan turned away, his sunken eyes glinting with determination.

-Lord grant me strength.

I felt like my head was going to explode. And we were still no closer to fixing this mess.

"I don't care man. I'm not killing anyone."

Mason grunted, his fingers tugging at his hair with such force, I was certain he was going to end up bald.

"Ugh, I told you a thousand times already. We. Don't. Kill. People. Am I speaking Chinese or something?"

"No, you just stand by, while they get killed for no reason," Logan hissed, disgust swimming in each gaunt line of his face.

My heart fluttered at the sight. Never before had I related to anyone more in my life.

-He might as well be the male version of me.

I'd had the exact same reaction when the first name had popped up in my book. I actually think I'd used the same retorts on Kevin as Logan did with us, just so I could get out of it. Which was a total waste of time, that helped no one, especially the soon-to-be dead woman. But at the same time, the compassionate part of me couldn't blame him for his resistance.

Adriane Litchfield, Age: 45. Date: November 4. TOD: 3:26 p.m.

It didn't seem so bad. The woman, though not nearly old enough to meet her end, wasn't exactly beginning her life either. Plus, the fact she was meant to die at Water Street, in the middle of post-work rush hour, made me believe a car accident was most likely. A clean, swift reap. Ideal for a first-timer like Logan.

-Sure, Violet.

There were no ideals for a first reap. Death was death, whether it happened quickly or slowly.

"Look, I don't care," Logan said, exhaling a breath through gritted teeth. "If you say you have to do this job of yours, then go do it. But I'm not going to be a part of it. I did not make an appointment."

"Mother..." Mason bit back the word, the vein in his forehead throbbing. "No, no, no that's not how it works. I need my notebook for a reap. And since it's attached to you, I need you to come with me."

Logan scoffed. "Why, just take the damn thing and go? Not that hard to do."

Mason gave a sarcastic laugh and turned to me, shaking his head.

"Seriously, am I speaking Chinese right now? Or has dying really made your skull that thick? That book is basically the magic oracle of Death. It can not only predict who is going to die, but also gives me— and you for some messed up the reason I can't figure out— reaper powers. It's not some library book I can use and lose as I please. It has a mind of its own. And right now, it's ain't in the mood to just 'let me take it'."

"I'm sorry man," Logan pressed his palms together and touched them to his lips. "I can't. I won't."

"Violet, get your damn boyfriend to see reason before I beat it into him," Mason released a muffled scream through his tightly sealed lips.

I blew a breath and approached Logan. Perhaps punching both of them would be the miracle needed to put an end to this godforsaken conversation.

"Logan, look. I know this is hard and totally horrible..."

"Oh, do you now?" He shot me a glare, the blue sky in his eyes sparking to life, as if the sun had finally managed to break through the storm clouds that had dimmed them since his death. "You're asking me to let someone die. No, sorry, help them die. Yeah, you're right, it's totally horrible. And I'm not going to do it. I can't."

"I understand. But you have to," I paused, my fingers absently trailing the two remaining lines on my wrists. When I spoke again, I willed my voice to soften.

"I was once where you were right now, and I didn't want to do my job either. I thought it was horrible that some random, innocent person, with their entire life ahead of them, was going to die. But... I learned the hard way that no matter how much you want to, you can't change fate."

I picked up the maroon Ledger. Flicking it open to the last page, I found Adriane Litchfield's name written in neat, cursive letters.

"Logan, please. You have to. We need you. She needs you," I took Logan's hand into mine, another bout of electrifying warmth surging up my spine the moment my skin touched his. When I placed it on the page of the open Ledger, I could sense his muscles going rigid.

"Don't make this harder than it needs to be. Help Mason reap her."

For half a heartbeat, the world around me vanished in a whirlpool of static. I glared into Logan's blue eyes, the azure once again dulled by a coat of gray. As if the heavens in those irises were about to open and let the torrent pour out.

-Please, please, just don't fight it.

I couldn't bear to see him suffer the punishment of not completing a reap, not after everything he'd been through. It would just be too cruel.

"I'm sorry," He said, shaking his head. "I can't."

I didn't even have time to exhale properly when Mason lunged at him.

"Mason, Mason, no, stop it, stop it!" I screamed, trying to push him back. it didn't help that he was at least a head taller than me and twice as strong.

"Listen, dickweed, you are going to do this, or I am going to hurt you in ways you've never even dreamt of. Got it?!"

"Screw you, pal," Logan shot back. "I'm not going to be an accessory to murder. You want this job done, you do it yourself."

Mason lunged again, and it was a miracle his shoving didn't make me topple over.

"Okay, stop it!" I shrieked, and shoved him back.

"Mason, a word?" I said, and before he could protest and say something stupid, or offensive (or both) I dragged him outside.

"What are you doing?" I hissed.

"Falling apart, isn't it obvious!?" He fired back. He sank down to the concrete, leaning against a dimming street light. The pink blush of dawn made his amber eyes glow like molten gold.

I sighed, and put my hands on my hips.

"I am so fucked V. So viciously fucked," He mumbled. "I mean it this time. No amount of goodwill you have with Kevin is going to save me."

"Don't say that."

"Why not, we both know it's the truth. Adriane Litchfield is going to die, without getting reaped, and my ass will go straight into the Nothing. But not before Kevin has a damn field day with me."

His words made my stomach twist, and I practically fell on my knees in front of him.

"No, no, don't you dare say that. Your time is not up yet. You still have a chance."

He lifted his head. For a split second, the dark circles around his eyes made it look like the Reaper magic had shattered. The eighteen-year-old teenager eternally frozen in time, suddenly looked ancient, the weight of his worry transforming him into a forty-something man. The man he would have been if Death had not stolen the life from him with one, cold kiss.

"Yes, one chance. Which that absolute Muppet in there is going to waste!" He hissed and buried his face into his hands. "God, how did things get so messed up?!"

"Hey, hey, no, no don't do that, don't go quitting on me yet."

When he ignored me, I forcibly lifted his head and made him look at me.

"We still have plenty of time to fix this. And who knows, maybe... maybe you can do this reap without Logan. Maybe if he lends you the book, you'll be able to reap Adriane Litchfield, without any issues."

"And if it doesn't?" His gaze deepened and he swallowed hard. "If losing my book means I've lost my ability to reap?"

I sighed and draped my head. It was a real possibility. After all, if Mason still had his reaper powers, then the Ledger that was supposed to give him said powers, wouldn't have rejected him like that.

-Maybe... maybe he really isn't a Reaper anymore.

My heart picked up the space. "No, I refuse to believe that. Whatever happened between you two may have messed up... Death's list of employees. But I refuse to believe that it made you lose your powers."

Before I could change my mind, I reached into his jacket pocket. I pulled out the butterfly knife I knew he kept in there for protection. With a quick flick of my wrist, I slashed at his palm. My stomach roiled uncomfortably when a line of sangria red, thicker than any human blood, oozed out of the gash.

Mason didn't even flinch. His wide eyes trained on the gash, he waited with bated breath. Seconds ticked by in agonizing slowness, and for half a heartbeat, I thought he wasn't going to heal. Finally, the wound started to knit itself together, the viscous blood crawling back into the flesh. I watched the cut fade, with a sluggishness that made me squirm.

"There," I said, my voice quivering. "You still have your powers."

Mason watched the newly formed pink skin on his palm. The cut, though faded, wasn't completely gone.

-That still counts. So what if he healed a bit slower?

"Right. I can still juggle knives without having to worry about losing a finger," Mason said, every muscle in his face stiff. I could see the silent scream reflected in his irises. "But that still doesn't mean I can tie the knot with Adriane Litchfield."

I gritted my teeth, my gut doing a cartwheel.

"I'll talk to Logan again. I will make him come with us. Just in case."

Mason clutched my hand, his pale, clammy fingers digging into my flesh.

"We are going to be okay," I murmured, my voice filling with more resolve than I actually felt. If Mason noticed my faking, he didn't say anything. I rose up to my feet, letting his fingers slip from mine.

I was halfway to the door when he called out to me.

"V? Thank you. For having my back."

I nodded, a funny kind of warmth blossoming in my chest.

-I am not going to let you go. I promise.

Turning on my heel, I went inside the warehouse, resolve in each step I took.

"Logan, we need to talk," I announced when I entered, doing my best to will authority into my voice. I got no response.

"Logan?" I called out again, casting my gaze around the silent warehouse. The dilapidated space was empty, with nothing but glass, trash, and a solitary futon near the window.

My heart dropped.

-No.

Going on my first instinct, I rushed to the decrepit bathroom. I pounded on the door, a torrent of heat attacking my extremities.

"Logan?! Logan are you in there?!"

No response.

-No, no, no.

"Logan, seriously, I know you're upset, but hiding from me isn't going to help things!"

I flung myself at the door again, vigorously jiggling the nob. "Logan please, if you're in there, open up!"

Again, no response. I pushed the door harder and practically collapsed inside when whatever was jamming it gave in. The tiny, rank room was covered in grime and darkness.

It was completely empty.

"Mason!" I screamed and rushed out of the bathroom. I couldn't breathe. I scanned the warehouse one more time, looking for clues that might pinpoint where he'd gone. All I found, was the flashlight I'd given him earlier resting abandoned on the futon.

I grabbed hold of it, just as Mason burst through the front door, his eyes alert and ready.

"What? What is it?!"

I cast a look at the broken window above the futon. There was a footprint etched in the dirt staining the windowsill.

"He's gone!" I breathed, "Logan's gone."