Cipher

“She needs me to…?” Summer wondered if she was helping or hurting by indulging this crazy woman.

“To help her resolve some things before she dies, of course.”

Summer shook her head. “Okay, this is getting too weird.”

“I know it’s hard to grasp, but this is part of who you are. You get a person assigned to you, and then you help them before it’s too late. We call you Ciphers. You’re more like deciphers, but that’s simply too long, so we decided to go with the shortened version.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“I assure you I wouldn’t joke about this. I take my job very seriously. You do the before stuff; I take care of the rest. So, here’s everything you need to know about your job in a seashell—”

“Seashell?” Summer asked. “Don’t you mean nutshell?”

“I knew that sounded wrong.” Gabriella shrugged. “Anyway, you find a way to solve problems for people before they pass on. That way, their deaths will be filled with peace. A big part of your job as a Cipher is bridging relationship issues so that people can deal with their deaths, while giving their loved ones closure as well.” She pointed one finger in the air. “It’s a win-win.”

“Yeah, except for the people who die. And their families. It sounds like a lose-lose.” Unexpected tears formed in Summer’s eyes as the words hung in the air. Death sucked. There was no closure. No help. Only emptiness and pain that gradually got a little duller with time. No one—not even someone who looked as harmless as cotton candy—was going to change that.

This had gone too far, and Summer decided it was time to end it. She cleared her throat, working on making herself sound as serious and firm as possible. “Okay, I don’t know who you are, but you need to leave.”

When Gabriella didn’t move, Summer darted toward the door.

The door slammed shut with a resounding boom. “I can’t,” Gabriella said. “Just like you can’t get out of this assignment.”

Summer grabbed the doorknob and twisted. It didn’t budge, which was impossible. Even if she locked the door, turning the knob released it. She threw her hip into the door, thinking that might dislodge it.

It didn’t, and ouch. Pain radiated from the spot on her hip, up her side.

“You see,” Gabriella continued, “I know all about you and your extra gift. Think about it, dear. You’ve felt it before. Sensed someone’s death coming.”

Summer released her grip on the doorknob and slowly turned to face Gabriella. She’d never told anyone her secret. Not Mom, Dad, any of her friends. No one.

Visions of the deaths she’d seen flashed before her eyes. At first it was only random encounters with complete strangers—nothing seemed certain. Then there was the one that changed everything. The one she couldn’t rid herself of. Because it had come true.

“Your silence is answer enough,” Gabriella said, breaking up the images flashing through Summer’s mind.

How could she possibly know about my visions? And how much about them does she know?

“You said you take people home. Home like…?” Summer couldn’t bring herself to finish.

“I collect them when they die. I’m like a tour guide, if you will. Only there’s no going back from the tour I take people on.”

“So what, you’re like the Angel of Death?”

Gabriella pressed her lips together, not confirming or denying.

“But aren’t you supposed to look scary? Like, have a black hooded cape and a scythe or something like that?” Summer needed a reason to dispute what Gabriella had told her. She’d grasp at any straw, regardless of how illogical.

“Where people get that idea is beyond me.” Gabriella shuddered. “As if my job’s not hard enough, looking like that would scare people to death. Of course, they are already dying, but we’d rather ease them into it, not shock the life out of them.”

Summer pressed her fingertips to her temples, her breaths coming faster and faster. “I’m going crazy.” It was the only explanation. “I need to go visit Peach Street.”

“No one needs to go to Peach Street. Now, we’re getting way off track, and I simply don’t have time for that. Like I said, you’re new, so you get someone who has more than a few days or hours left. Ashlyn and her mom have a very strained relationship. You need to get Ashlyn to make peace with her mom before it’s too late.”

“But I don’t even know her. How am I supposed to do that?”

Gabriella stuck a hand on her hip. “Well obviously you’re going to need to get to know

her.”

Yeah, act like I’m the crazy one.

Okay. I can do this. I can get to know this Ashlyn chick and see what I can do to help her.

Then Summer remembered the awful sensations that followed her visions, how even when she didn’t know the deaths were coming true, the graphic images left her disturbed for days. “I just want to move on with my normal life. I don’t want this job.”

Gabriella stepped forward and placed a hand on Summer’s shoulder. For someone who was supposed to be a hallucination or dream, the woman had a surprisingly solid grip. “Honey, no one wants this job. And no one can do it all. It’s too exhausting to be responsible for everyone. That’s why you get a case at a time. Look, I’ve got a complex schedule to keep, and I’m out of time. I know you haven’t been properly trained, but it is what it is.”

Gabriella patted her dress. “Now where did I put that…? I swear, they’re impossible to keep hold of.” She kept mumbling and searching the folds of her skirt and her sleeves. “Oh well, I’ll just have to get another.” She pinched the air, tugged down, and a brochure appeared in her fingertips. She handed it to Summer. “I want you to study this over the weekend…”

Summer glanced at the title: Repairing Friendships and Mending Broken Relationships.

“And I want you to make contact with Ashlyn as soon as possible. I’ll check back in to help whenever I can. Don’t take this assignment lightly. She’s going to die whether or not you do your job. If she leaves without resolution, that’s on you. It’s one of the worst parts of the job.” Gabriella sighed. “There are actually lots of unpleasant parts, but you have to remember the good that you’re doing, and how comforting it is to know you helped someone’s last moments be more meaningful.”

The jewel-encrusted watch on Gabriella’s arm chimed. “Oh heavens, I’ve really got to go. Study the brochure. Make contact.” With that, she started to fade, leaving a glittery outline before disappearing completely.

Chapter Two

Summer stared at the spot for a good minute, mouth hanging open. People didn’t evaporate into air. And while she would’ve liked to believe it was all an elaborate dream, the stupid brochure was still in her hand. Her thoughts spun, and her lungs didn’t seem to be expanding anymore. She tossed the pamphlet on her dresser and grabbed the doorknob. This time it turned, no problem.

In a daze, Summer drifted down the stairs. The kitchen seemed like a good place to find comfort, so she headed there. After downing several Oreos and a large glass of milk, Summer moved into the living room, flopped onto the couch, and turned on the TV.

As she stared at the television screen, she tried, and failed, to put the weird encounter out of her mind. Question after question ran through her head: Shouldn’t I be religious if I’m going to do this kind of thing? Why wouldn’t they pick someone more experienced? And the biggest question of all: How can I fix someone else’s life when mine’s such a mess?

Summer heard Dad toss his keys into the dish next to the door—somehow she’d missed the sound of him pulling into the garage. Knowing he’d come around the corner any minute, she pushed back the weird thoughts