"Are you going to jump?"
Was death so impatient that he decided to ask her that? Was he waiting for her to jump for so long that he grew impatient?
Well, she has been standing on top of these railings for like 15 minutes already not even moving. If it were a normal person who is about to commit suicide by jumping off a building, they would be in the ground 10 minutes ago with a pool of what it seems like red paint below their lifeless body, not breathing anymore with people surrounding their body.
They might be inside an ambulance one of the people passing by has called and being rushed to the hospital, however, nobody could survive that fall so even if they arrived in the hospital even after 30 seconds that they made an impact on the ground, they would still be dead.
If the person wants to die and have already done it, don't revive them anymore. Even though they were revived, they might be alive but they are already dead inside so it's no use.
"Are you going to jump, Tachibana Hana-san?"
How worthy and famous is she that even death knows her full name and was able to pronounce it correctly? Does death really have an accent? Does death really have such a nice smooth and soothing voice? Because of her curiosity overwhelming her system, attacking her mind with multiple questions, she decided to turn her head around slightly but enough to see the figure that was standing behind her. Although she completely can't see the figure's face because of the wind blowing against her hair, blocking almost half of her view.
"Are you death?"
"Do you really want to die to the point that you are thinking that I am death waiting for you to jump and retrieve your soul once you are on the ground?"
"I guess not."
Letting out a sigh, she looked ahead of her once again. Head empty, no thoughts in her head. Was it possible for a human like her to not think anything even for just a spur of the moment? They say that nobody can't as the brain is continuously working and so are thoughts always coming inside their heads, no matter how random it is. Even if you were watching a television program and spaced out then thought about cockroaches not having any wings and feet at all so it would be easy to kill them.
Once again, she heard the man behind her speak.
"Tachibana-san, are you okay?"
"Yes. Why do you ask?"
"You say that you are okay but you are standing on top of the railings as if you are going to jump."
"That's none of your business."
This man must be one of her co-workers as he knows her name. Yet again, she didn't even give him a glance so she completely doesn't know what he looks like. His voice was low and gentle, much more different from an average man's voice which is deep. Soothing, his voice was soothing like the breeze that caressed her skin, calming all of her nerves. How come this is the first time that I hear this man's voice?
She heard light footsteps approaching her, barely audible as it was almost as silent as the wind that passed through her and made her hair flutter with it.
"Tachibana-san."
He called out to her in a nonchalant voice, almost like a whisper to the wind yet she was startled. A slight tremble, her knees suddenly buckled and she lost balance of herself. An accident. She felt her foot slid off the railings, making her lean forward. She could sense death grinning as she finally was going to die yet her instincts took over her whole body and she grabbed the very edge of the platform that was supporting her earlier.
Desperately as if she wasn't wishing to have her eternal sleep earlier.
She looked down and noticed that there were no people nor cars passing by as if they magically disappeared. It was already getting dark and even if there was someone and they coincidentally look up, it would be hard to see her figure hanging over the edge. The night sky has started to dance its way and replace the setting sun and its bright sky. Only a small arc, a small curve of orange and warm light was seen being reflected by the sea itself before it completely becomes dark.
There was no light coming from the building because it's abandoned.
She saw the man looking down when she lifted her head. His cold and blank eyes piercing at her very soul and there was a small smile on his lips as if he was amused on seeing her struggle. This man…
He doesn't even have the slightest intention of helping her up at all even though it was clear that she was struggling. Bastard, she thought to herself and narrowed her eyes on the man. He opened his mouth to speak and as if on cue, the wind blew harshly against them and her hair fluttered along with it. Thankfully, she wasn't wearing a skirt.
"Tachibana-san."
Again with that voice of his. She gripped tightly on the edge of the platform with only one hand, nothing would still change if she used two hands to hold on it.
One wrong step, one wrong move yet here she is grabbing desperately on the edge of the platform. Holding onto that as if it was her life hanging over the edge of the cliff.
"Do you want to live?"
Bastard, is it not obvious? She wanted to say but just stared at him, narrowing her eyes down at him.
"Take my hand."
He lent out his hand near her face, can he really pull me up with just one hand? Hana stared at it as if it was the most interesting thing in the world. If she let go and just let herself fall, death would be there to receive her yet this man, if I accept his hand. It feels like I wouldn't be saved.
He was scarier than death itself.
He has this mysterious aura and dangerous demeanor. Her guts were telling her to run away but where and how when she was literally hanging over the edge of the rooftop with only one hand grabbing unto the thin platform. Her life is at stake here.
So she took his hand. It was calloused and rough but at the same time, it was gentle and warm.
And now she was standing on the ground instead of hanging over the edge with only one hand holding onto the very edge of the platform. Still barefoot and not wearing her heels as her hand was still being held by the man.
"Let go."
She pulled her hand back which he loosened his grip from and she stared at his eyes behind that clear lens held by black frames that he wore. It was blank, nothing, like the abyss, however, it was beautiful. Blue. The blue-green hue carried nothing, not even a single trace of emotion yet she found herself fascinated in it and couldn't help but stare. Just like water that was touched by storm clouds, the current fast.
And before she could even breathe, she drowned in his eyes.
She decided to look away and walk back to where her heels are, it was near the railings, side by side. She slipped her bare feet in it
"Who are you?"
"Death."
"I'll shoot you," Hana said as her hand made its way to her waist where her handgun is seen.
A short laugh slipped past his lips as he heard her response and it died down after a few seconds like fire being poured with water. Even if it was dark, she could see and describe what he looked like. A sudden gust of wind blew, making her hair flutter along with it.
"Minamoto Haruto is my name. I hope that you will remember that, Tachibana-san."
The smile on his lips didn't match his eyes. His blue eyes still held the same usual look, dead and empty like a deep ocean. His voice was smooth and low. And the way that he mentioned his name felt like death introducing himself.