text: It was bring your kid to work day tomorrow. The worst day of my life. How could I explain to my kid what I do? I had become a doctor to save lives. If only I knew. If only. I had worked in the ICU for nearly 6 months now, transferred from the ER due to how good i was with the lasso. I had never missed a soul. That was my job. When a patient passed, it was my job to secure their soul for recycling. The power monopoly EPL had a strict contract with RCR, my hospital, for all souls. For nearing two decades now we had learned that soul power was exponentially more potent than electricity or even oil. Everything from your microwave to your TV or even your phone, was powered by souls. How could I tell her? How could I tell her that her mothers soul was probably powering some jack asses nose trimmer? I couldn’t. And thanksgiving was right around the corner too. Damnit damnit damnit. My stupid family is going to ask me about my job too. No one knows. Even if they did, it’s not like anything would change. Their phones and hair dryers were too important. They’d turn a blind eye. Besides, the poor souls were worth more and the politicians knew they could sell the idea of sacrifice for the greater good. “Skrrr*Code yellow room 313*” That was for me. It was time for the next reaping. They couldn’t even call it something better than that? I’m a damn reaper. That’s what i do. I confine souls to a temporary prison before they’re sucked to a crisp by our machinery and are lost to oblivion. You’d think that with the discovery of real souls there would be a religious epiphany. No, there was money to be made. And i was the collector. They paid well too. Maybe that’s why i hadn’t left, maybe that’s why i hadn’t blown the whistle. No if I blew the whistle i’d be powering up some poor broads vibrator in a week. Lass wouldn’t even know a hopeless lanky man like me was stuck inside. It would probably kill the mood anyways. Fuck. I’m on. Nurses were scrambling in the room already. “Dr. Lez, we’ve kept all the windows closed as long as we-“ I held up my hand to stop her. “Just keep them that way I won’t be long.” I uncoiled my lasso from my fanny pack. Jesus they couldnt even give us cool bags for these death ropes. A fucking fanny pack? I slipped my goggles on and surveyed the room. There he was, just sitting there in the upper right corner of the room. Souls don’t have voices, but if this one did, he’d no doubt ask what the hell was going on. He looked scared, and he should be. This wasn’t right. It didn’t stop me though. I gave my rope a final tug and started to spin my lasso. I caught him around the waist and slowly pulled him in. Souls are also slippery buggers. Too fast of a pull and they’d be gone again. Got you. I looked to my tech. “McGaff grab the vacuum.” He grabbed the ancient device and started his process. My job was done. Maybe i’ll ask for PTO and just miss bring your kid to work day. Yeah, that’s what doctors do. I had a whole month saved up why not? Yes yes yes. Easy. I’ll buy Calliope ice cream and drive down to the fair. Yeah, screw it. I’m taking off.