Her body lay on life support in the heart of the hospital, machines surrounding vibrated and beeped to keep her alive. 

At the tap on her shoulder, I blinked into an infinite black realm. Right in front of me, stood a fourteen-year-old girl. Her skin was as pale as ice, and scars covered her body. Thick brown hair was flowing over her shoulders and her denim clothes reminded me of the 90's.

"Who the hell are you!?" She asked, her voice was hoarse, as though she'd been crying.

So this was her unconscious state... It was very...dark...

Her mind was nothing but an empty void of darkness, baron and cold.
Utterly isolated from mundane desires and emotions.

Perfect.

The girl was still glaring at me, awaiting a reply. "Me dear child? I am Death." I told her earnestly. Slowly, she arose from her crumpled position on the ground. Her eyes were roar from crying and her nose slightly snuffled.

I wasn't entirely sure how she would react. Most people I introduced myself to laughed as though I was their older brother pranking them for April fools day. Mortals don't believe much, I'll tell you that. However, this girl skipped that boring and repetitive part. Instead, she relaxed a little, and whispered. "Did it work? Am I dead, grim reaper?" A small smile curved her lip. She was happy at just the thought. Peaceful, almost. How did she get that bad? I winced. "I prefer you call me Death, if you don't mind. The name Grip Reaper is so long, and it's not really a name. It's my job. How would you like to be called Student?" I raised an eyebrow, hoping for her to comment .

She did not.
She just repeated her question.

Never before had I had to tell a mortal I'd saved their life when they so badly wanted to leave it. It was very awkward, and not like me at all. I hoped I wouldn't have to again. "No. You are not dead... But you are not alive either." Baffled, the girl raised an eyebrow. "So...I'm stuck in limbo...?" She guessed. Stupid mortals and their inaccurate and highly offensive fictional theories. I sighed. "No. Limbo is the medium ground between heaven and hell. It's where the dead go if they are undecided. For instance: this lady died a couple of years ago. She had robbed a bank when she was younger, but used that money to feed starving orphans. Not a penny went to her own means. Question is: should she be punished for robbing a bank, or rewarded for saving children's lives."

Blinking, the girl seemed to only get even more confused. I tried again. "You killed yourself." I told her, pronouncing each word slowly. "But I stopped your life force from rotting away." She stared at me aghast. "You did what...?!" Her hoarse voice croaked on anger. She was really getting on my nerves. "Rather than reap your soul child, I placed you in a deep coma. One you can only wake up from if you want to. You are neither dead or alive."

I expected her to burst into a song and dance; for her to give me a bouquet of flowers and vow that she'll forever be in my debt. After all, it's not everyday I give up a little of my power to save a life.

Sadly, some mortals really aren't appreciative though because she exploded with fury. "WHY THE HELL WOULD YOU DO THAT? YOU'RE MEANT TO REAP SOULS, NOT SAVE THEM!"

I sniffed. "Dearest child..." The girl rudely interrupted my planned speech. "My name's Connie." She snapped. "Not dearest child, or little girl." I shrugged, it didn't exactly make a difference to me. "Connie..." I corrected myself. "There is something about you. Something different... It's in my best interest to keep you alive, and I will do that at all means necessary." I hit the end of my scythe on the ground to emphasise my desire. The girl jumped. Connie's brow furrowed. She exhaled a soft breath, not able to look at me properly. "Why me? Nobody cares about me." She was a wounded cub who needed her deceased family to hold her tightly. I was not able to help in that department. Anything vulnerable of such made me shiver with disgust.

Instead, I pretended I hadn't heard her, and turned around to inspect Connie's mind. "We are currently in your mind. I can teleport us anywhere from in here, nobody will see us and only your conscience can follow."

Connie slumped her shoulders back with detest. "The only place I am going is heaven, hell or, more likely... Limbo. Take me there now." Her voice was threateningly sharp. Only, to me, that was nothing more than an interesting reaction for a mortal. Any normal person would beg me to save their life, and I always denied them. That was why this girl was strange. When I didn't answer, the girl took it upon herself to continue. "You said I could decide if I wake up or not? Well I decide to not. There. Done."

I wanted to take of my shades and poison her attitude with my icy glare. However, I restrained myself. I wasn't going to harm her. I needed her. She was the key I've needed all these years  to unlock the secret of who I was. She was NOT going to just float aimlessly around in limbo for eternity.

Instead of arguing with her, I snapped my fingers. We were stood in her private room in the hospital. Connie advoided her motionless body that was hooked up on life support.

That was when the girl noticed her Dad, kneeling beside her body, praying for her safe return.
He was a mess.

Connie held her breath. She couldn't even blink as she stared at him. At what she'd intentionally done to him.

"Nobody cares about you, huh?" I grunted. Connie broke her stare sheepishly. "Connie, I'm going to make a deal with you." I told her simply. "I'm going to show and help you, give you reasons why you should fight and break free from your coma. If, by the end of it, you still can't stand to live, I'll let you go. What do you say?" Connie hesitated. She was prepared to say no, when a stare from her Dad caught her eye.

Reluctantly, she nodded. "Ok..."