Chapter 1: The God of Death Has a Few Demands

She dropped her keys on her dresser and flicked on the fan. It whirred to life, temporarily circulating hot air while she worked to open the windows. Once she unlatched the last one, she breathed a sigh of relief. At least on the hilltops, where her family lived, there was a bit more of a breeze. She peeled off her work shirt and tossed it into the laundry.

At last, a moment’s peace!

“We still need to go to the cemetery. This culling day was of particular importance to ancient Selvadoradian calendar and—” Ben started.

“For love of llamas Ben, we’re not going to the freaking cemetery!” Alice shouted just as there was a knock at her door.

“Alice, are you okay in there? It’s me, Mayra,” her sister called from outside the door. 

Alice groaned and put her face in her hands. She had been working the graveyard shift ever since Ben had taken to listing sims’ misdeeds and commenting on their purchases when they came to the checkout counter. It was easier to deal with at night when almost no one came by. But her body still hadn’t adjusted. Alice was exhausted, overheated, and the last thing she wanted to do was have a conversation with her sister.

Maybe if she didn’t answer, Mayra would just go away and forget she was even at home.

“Not likely,” Ben muttered, and Alice could almost see him rolling his eyes. 

The rapping sounded again. “Alice, I just heard you in there so I know you’re home. I need to talk to you,” Mayra continued.

“No rest for the weary,” Alice sighed and pulled on a tank top before letting her sister in.

“When you’re finished with this…whatever this is…we will be making our way towards the burial ground. Correct?” 

“Hush you,” Alice murmured.

Mayra gave her a quizzical look, “I didn’t say anything.”

“No, not you…” Alice paused. This was always the hardest part. As far as she could tell, no one could hear or see Ben but her. While the jury was still out her sanity, she figured it was best to keep this information to herself. Still, it was difficult to have an extra person that no one could see involved in every conversation and Alice couldn’t help but respond to Ben out loud. Talking to him in her head was just too confusing.

While the jury was still out her sanity, she figured it was best to keep this information to herself.

“It’s nothing. I’m…tired,” Alice finished lamely. “What do you need?”

Mayra looked suspicious but she didn’t pry. “Well, I’m leaving for Newcrest U on Friday and I was wondering if you’d drive up with mom and dad to help see me off,” she explained. “Maverick has duty on base and if you’re not there to run interference, dad will just get all emotional and mom will start demanding to see my professors’ credentials.”

Alice tried to hold back a laugh. She didn’t want to give her sister false hope. Their father, Cyrus, was very high up in the military…so high up that they had no idea what his job title was and only the vaguest notion of what he actually did. And yet, he loved romance novels and sappy movies and had been known to cry at greeting card commercials. Her little sister leaving home to study engineering 800 miles away? His tear ducts didn’t stand a chance.

Their mother, Valeria, was a well-regarded research scientist. It was her work that initially brought them to StrangerVille. She didn’t enjoy sappy movies but she did love reading fellow researchers the riot act whenever they insisted on clinging to outdated theories or models. Valeria Martin was probably relishing the opportunity to go toe-to-toe with Newcrest’s most senior professors. Alice bit the inside of her cheek.

She would not smile. She would not smile…

“I can see your smile! You know how bad it will be. Please, as my older sister, help me avoid this misery. Look. I even brought some flowers to brighten up your place and to…well…bribe you,” Mayra laughed, gesturing to a vase of flowers she set on Alice’s table. 

Alice wished, and not for the first time, that their brother Maverick was the eldest. At least if she were the middle child, Alice could shirk responsibility for her siblings with less guilt.

“We don’t have time for this,” Ben cried. “Soon the sun will not be in the optimal position for receiving the reaper’s report!” He was beginning to grow agitated.

Alice could feel power building up inside of her. Small sparks shot from her fingers. She clenched her hands into fists to cover it. 

This was why she couldn’t be a good older sister.

It wasn’t just Ben rattling around in her head, it was his powers coming through her body and shooting out in uncontrollable bursts. Her head began to throb and she grasped the counter for support. 

She felt it then, a sort of tugging that seemed to split the air around her. Instantly, a gnawing hunger started in the pit of her stomach. 

“No,” Alice choked out.

“Whoa, Alice. Are you ok?” Mayra leaned forward with a concerned look on her face.

Alice shook her head, eyes squeezed shut. The air was almost suffocating. She could feel the tugging directed towards the flowers. She tried desperately to redirect it. 

“Alice, if you’ll just focus—”

Ben was starting with her now of all times?

“I said no!” Alice shouted.

Mayra reeled back as if Alice had slapped her.

There was a pulling sensation and suddenly, a sweet energy coursed through Alice’s veins. She opened her eyes and looked around. The flowers on the table were fine. Alice still felt jittery but her headache slowly subsiding. After a few seconds, she felt completely back to normal. Mayra stared at her as if she had sprung a second head. 

Alice tried to soften her tone. “I can’t take the time off from work.” 

And there it was, the lie that would push Mayra away. Taking time off from work was the only thing Alice could do with any ease. The part-time clerk at the Route 309 Convenience Store that hardly anyone visited and no one found convenient couldn’t take time off from work? Her sister knew it was bullshit and responded accordingly.

“Sometimes you are so full of it. You can just say that you don’t want to, Alice. You don’t have to lie,” Mayra replied frostily. 

“I…I…” Alice trailed off, unable to put together even a semblance of an apology.

How would she begin it? “Oh sorry, the ancient god who’s taken up residence in my body is needy asshole and he makes it impossible for me to be a good person?” No. There was nothing to say. Better Mayra didn’t get used to Alice being available.

“It’s fine,” Mayra said.

But it wasn’t. Alice turned away and lowered her eyes, the words stuck in her throat.

Mayra sighed and walked out.

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