Love At First Death

Elysia shivered as the chill of the room seeped into her bones. The sheet wrapped around her wasn't nearly enough to fend off the cold– or the overwhelming awkwardness of her situation. Damien, on the other hand, seemed utterly unfazed, like this was just another Tuesday night for him.

"So… do you just leave your dead bodies in the freezer like some leftover lasagna, or do you have an actual plan here?" she asked, trying to inject some humor into the situation.

Damien gave her a flat look. "You're not making this easier."

"Making what easier? I didn't ask to wake up here!"

"No, but now that you're awake, you're my problem," he muttered, scribbling something on his clipboard again.

"Excuse me? I am not a problem."

"You're right," he said, setting the clipboard down. "You're more of an anomaly."

Elysia frowned, not sure if she should feel insulted or flattered. "Well, you're rude."

"Noted."

Before she could fire back, Damien crossed the room and opened a closet, rummaging through its contents. A moment later, he tossed something in her direction.

She yelped, barely catching it. "What's this?"

"A coat. Unless you prefer to stay wrapped in that sheet."

Elysia looked at the oversized black coat in her hands. It smelled faintly of cedar and something else she couldn't place– something distinctly him.

"Thanks," she mumbled, slipping it on. The coat practically swallowed her, but it was warm, and right now, that was all that mattered.

"Come on," Damien said, already heading toward the door.

"Wait, where are we going?"

"Out. Unless you'd rather spend the night here."

Elysia glanced around the sterile, eerie room. "Not really."

"Then follow me."

She hesitated for a moment before trailing after him, clutching the coat tightly around herself.

The hallway beyond the morgue was just as cold and unwelcoming, with dim lighting and a faint hum of machinery. Elysia's bare feet made soft sounds against the linoleum floor as she hurried to keep up with Damien's long strides.

"You're taking this all surprisingly well," he said suddenly, not looking back at her.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Most people would be screaming or fainting by now."

"Most people don't wake up in a morgue," she shot back. "Besides, I'm still in shock, so maybe save your judgment for later."

He smirked faintly, though he didn't respond.

They reached a small office at the end of the hall, and Damien gestured for her to sit in one of the chairs. She perched on the edge of the seat, still clutching the coat like a lifeline.

"Alright, Elysia," Damien said, leaning against the desk. "Let's start with what you do remember. Anything at all?"

She frowned, trying to piece together the fragmented images in her mind. "I remember… darkness. And light. And then nothing. It's all blank."

"Helpful," he said dryly.

"Hey, it's not like I'm withholding information on purpose!"

He held up his hands in mock surrender. "Relax. I'm just trying to figure this out."

"Figure what out? Why I woke up alive when I was supposed to be dead?"

"Exactly."

Elysia sighed, resting her head in her hands. "This doesn't make any sense. None of this makes sense."

"No argument there," Damien muttered.

They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of the situation pressing down on both of them.

"So, what now?" she asked finally.

"Now, we figure out what to do with you," he said, his tone matter-of-fact.

"Do with me? What am I, a stray cat?"

"Stray cats don't usually wake up in morgues," he pointed out.

She glared at him, but he didn't seem the least bit intimidated.

"Look," Damien said, his voice softening slightly. "You're alive, which is good. But we need to figure out why you were here in the first place. Until then, you can't exactly go wandering off."

"So, what, you're keeping me here?"

"For now."

"And where exactly am I supposed to stay?"

Damien hesitated, his eyes flicking toward the corner of the room as if searching for an answer. "We'll figure something out."

"Great," Elysia muttered, slumping back in her chair. "Just great."

As much as she hated to admit it, she didn't have many options. For now, she was stuck with the grumpy, annoyingly attractive mortician.

And something told her this was only the beginning.