It was dark. Some would even call it pitch black. But Adrian could sense movement in the darkness - and he could see himself, as if he was an actor, standing in a sole spotlight on stage. He was unarmed, and wearing his dress blacks. Everything was crisp and polished. He couldn’t feel any of the pain he was sure he should be feeling.
It didn’t take him long to realize where he was.
“Dweller?” His commanding voice echoed as he twirled around, “Dweller on the Threshold?”
Once again, he heard movement.
“Is it my time?” He asked, bold and unafraid.
It appeared slowly to him. A woman’s face, slowly being unveiled, not far from him. She was wearing a black robe, with a black hood and veil. She had dark eyes and dark hair. She was beautiful. There was a jingle of bells on her right anklet as she stepped towards him on bare feet. Adrian wondered what this could psychologically mean, but dismissed it as some memory he must have had in the Middle East.
She was Death.
Not the intimidating reaper that most Western men pictured, but warm and inviting. Ready to throw open the doors to Eternity for him.
Somewhere around them came a sound like thunder crashing. A huge drum, heavy and primal.
“It can be. If you’re ready.” Death told him, in a soft, silken voice.
He thought for a moment, before asking “Is there more that I must do? Only you can tell me that.”
Death smiled, placing her hand gently over his medal of Valor.
“Wisdom in your question, my love. Nobody is questioning your ability or your contributions. You can retire into the sky, if you wish. You’ve earned your immortal star. You’ve earned your rest.” She said, sweetly - as if speaking to a child.
“Please. Is there more I must do?”
Death touched his face, fondly, and looked into his eyes.
“Yes, my love.”
Again came the sound of thunder.
“Then… send me back. I’ll never find rest, knowing I could have done more, and… I know you’ll always be here, waiting for me.”
“I do love you, child. You could always think ahead. You could always plan.”
Once again, the thunder in the distance. A pounding that echoed in his head.
“And what is that sound?” Asked Adrian.
Smiling almost tearfully, Death responded “Your heart, Adrian.”
She walked back into the darkness, bells on her ankle jingling with every other step, knowing that she’d have to wait for him.
He felt pain coming back to him, and he heard a distant voice shout “We’ve got a pulse!”
“Lord in Heaven - what does it take to kill this guy?” Another voice asked, unbelievingly.
Distant thunder.
There were cries for more units of blood and to keep him on oxygen, but he wasn’t ready for all of that just yet. It had been a hell of a day, and he was going to have a nap, first.
~ "The Last Viper"