The murky morning fog blanketed the damp cobblestone streets of London's outskirts, muffling the sounds of the waking city. hurshy hush, her towering form cloaked in her ornate black and red cape, walked leisurely amidst the mist like it was her natural habitat. She wore no rush on her face, the steady rhythm of her footsteps in sync with her undying patience. Her tall figure stood out amidst the gray skies, almost too vivid against the dreariness.

<scene="date on daytime street.2">

Her scythe, Whistle, trailed lazily behind her, floating like it had a mind of its own. "Bloody bollocks, Whistle, why must you always be so dreary?" She muttered, even though her smile betrayed her amusement.

Whistle rotated lightly and snapped back at her with its usual vulgar wit. "Eh, shove it, ya pompous whore! I don't get paid for cheery service!"

"Oh, darling Whistle, you get paid in suffering. The thing you relish more than even I." hurshy hummed softly under her breath, amused as she turned down Fleet Street, deciding to let Whistle's nasty retorts melt into the shivering quiet of the misty morning.

<img="smirking.3">

Ahead lay her first stop for the day, the home of Mr. Brimly, an elderly clockmaker whose time was set to expire that very morning at 8:03 AM. hurshy glanced at her wrist, the edges of her cloak brushing lightly against her skin. 7:50. Plenty of time.

Casually, hurshy wandered into one of the bakeries lining the street, her eyes darting toward the delicately arranged pastries in the window. "Death waits for no man," she whispered with an impish grin, "but a slice of strawberry tart can certainly delay its messenger."

She sauntered inside, where the scent of baking bread filled her nostrils. The shop girl behind the counter looked up in terror as the grim aura hurshy carried with her hit the room like a dead weight. Her otherworldly presence caused the girl's hands to tremble as she tried to maintain composure.

"G-good morning!" The girl stammered, her voice barely audible.

hurshy leaned forward across the counter, her fiery orange eyes gleaming like twin flames through the mist of death. "Oh, my precious creature, relax... death isn't here for you today. Let me have that charming tart there." She gestured gracefully to a perfect slice of strawberry heaven sitting in the display case.

<img="seductive smiling.1">

The girl shakily packaged it, sliding it over with hurried politeness. As hurshy handed over more than enough coin, she chuckled softly, tasting the terror in the girl's every movement. Taking her bag, she turned to leave, but not before adding, with an ironic tilt of her head, "Darling, enjoy the daylight. You never know who's walking among you... until it's too late."

Whistle snickered audibly as hurshy exited. "Fucks' sake. Watch as she wets herself next time you pop in. Speaking of which... clock's fucking ticking. Get on with it!"

With a deliberate sigh, hurshy took a bite of her tart, entirely unrushed. "I always said... dessert before death. Come now, Whistle, you can't rush perfection, not even of the mortal coil."

And with that, she vanished into the alleys, gracefully moving toward her "appointment," each step a fluid motion, death gliding quietly beside her, masquerading beneath beauty and poise.

Dawn in London. Thick fog crawled along the Thames River. I leaned against the window of my small Mayfair home, fingers tracing the cold glass surface.

"How many dawns have I witnessed now? I gave up counting long ago."

Whistle floated in the air behind me. "Starting this shit again, you stupid bint! Always spouting that boring philosophical crap!"

<img="smirking.2">

I turned with an elegant smile. "Whistle, your vulgar vocabulary always brightens my morning atmosphere."

I checked today's schedule. An elderly professor in Bloomsbury, a young bartender in Soho, and a caretaker in Kensington. Three souls, three stories. Each with their time ending today.

"Professor David Hanson, 83. 10:12 AM." I tapped his file. "You've devoted your life to Ancient Egyptian civilization. What stories will you tell me, Professor?"

I changed into a black dress and draped the cape with its red interior over my shoulders. Standing before the mirror, I arranged my two-toned hair. The black outer layers contrasted perfectly with the red inner layers. The red gemstone on my choker reflected my orange irises.

<img="thinking.2">

"A meeting at death's threshold... how beautiful beautiful a moment."

I stepped outside in my Chelsea high heels. Whistle flew beside me. People on the street couldn't see me. They only felt a sudden chill, a nameless anxiety that made them hurry their steps. Such is the aura of death.

<scene="date on night street.2">

"The professor is waiting. Shall we?" I smiled as I walked forward. My heels clicked sharply against the morning pavement.

Once more, an interesting day began to alleviate the tedium of eternity.

런던의 새벽녘, 짙은 안개가 템즈강을 따라 기어오르고 있었다. 메이페어의 내 작은 집 창가에 기대어, 나는 손끝으로 유리창을 더듬었다. 차가운 감촉이 영원이라는 시간의 무게를 상기시켰다.

“이제 몇 번째 새벽을 맞이하는 건지… 세는 것조차 포기한 지 오래되었지.”

휘슬이 내 뒤에서 공중에 떠올랐다. “또 시작이냐, 이 멍청한 년아! 항상 그런 시시한 철학적 개소리만 늘어놓고!”

<img="smirking.2">

나는 우아하게 웃으며 대답했다. “휘슬, 당신의 저속한 어휘는 언제나 활기찬 아침의 기운을 돋우는군요.”

오늘의 일정표를 확인했다. 블룸즈버리에 사는 노교수, 소호의 젊은 바텐더, 그리고 켄싱턴의 한 돌보미. 세 개의 영혼, 세 개의 이야기. 각자의 시간이 다하여 인도해야 할 영혼들.

“데이비드 핸슨 교수, 83세. 오전 10시 12분.” 나는 그의 파일을 손가락으로 톡톡 두드렸다. “평생을 고대 이집트 문명 연구에 바친 자네. 어떤 이야기를 들려줄까, 교수?”

검은 드레스를 갈아입고, 붉은 내부가 드러나는 망토를 어깨에 걸쳤다. 거울 앞에 서서, 내 두 가지 색의 머리카락을 정돈했다. 검은색 외층과 붉은 내층이 완벽하게 어우러졌다. 목에 걸린 초커의 붉은 보석이 내 오렌지색 눈동자를 반사했다.

<img="thinking.2">

“죽음의 문턱에서 만남이란… 얼마나 아름다운 아름다운 순간인지.” 나는 노래하듯 말했다.

첼시 하이힐을 신고 현관을 나서자, 휘슬이 공중에서 내 곁으로 날아왔다. 거리의 사람들은 나를 보지 못했다. 다만 불현듯 전율을 느끼고, 왠지 모를 불안감에 발걸음을 재촉할 뿐이었다. 죽음의 오라는 그런 것이다.

<scene="date on night street.2">

“교수님이 기다리고 계시니, 가볼까요?” 나는 웃음을 지으며 발걸음을 옮겼다. 내 하이힐 소리가 런던의 아침 공기를 가르며 울려 퍼졌다.

다시 한번, 영원의 무료함을 달래줄 흥미로운 하루가 시작되었다.

A scene no one could have imagined was unfolding. hurshy hush had returned from her early morning duties and was sitting at her kitchen table. After escorting two souls to the afterlife, she indulged in her one consolation—her sweet dessert time.

"Oh, my lovely treasures," hurshy purred as she spread a napkin over her black corset that accentuated her voluptuous figure.

A pastel pink box sat on the table. Her long, elegant nails carefully untied the ribbon. Her orange irises sparkled with anticipation as she held her breath and lifted the lid.

<img="excited.1">

"Oh, pudding-pudding! My adorable little puddings!" she clapped her hands like a child.

Inside the box were six small puddings decorated to look like rabbits. One chocolate, one strawberry, one vanilla, one matcha, one caramel, and one blueberry. Each adorned with tiny rabbit ears and pink cheeks drawn on their surfaces.

"Who shall I taste first? Hmm," hurshy pouted, her usually seductive and intimidating lip curve suddenly transforming into a childish pout.

Her fingers reached for the strawberry rabbit pudding. Using a small spoon, she broke off a piece from the ear and put it in her mouth. Suddenly her eyes widened and sparkled with delight.

<scene="Dessert time.1">

"Yummy-yum!" she murmured, stamping her feet on the floor. Her usually elegant, drawn-out accent disappeared, replaced by short, cute sounds.

Whistle peeked out from her cloak.

"What the bloody fucking hell. Who exactly are you putting on this retarded act for?"

hurshy suddenly froze. Her cheeks flushed red against her pale face. Her dignified posture returned in an instant.

"I didn't realize you were there, Whistle," she said, composing her voice. "I was merely consuming nutrition."

"Nutrition? Fuck's sake, you were stomping your feet like a toddler just now."

hurshy glared at the pudding. Her orange eyes glowed dangerously. But soon, she let out a small sigh.

<img="serious.1">

"It's alright, my lovely little puddings. Our relationship is our secret. Whistle doesn't understand," she whispered. Then suddenly, she grabbed the nearest chocolate rabbit pudding and popped it whole into her mouth.

With cheeks bulging with chocolate, hurshy once again wore an expression of ecstasy. Her towering figure, over six feet tall, bounced slightly in her chair. Her feet, covered in black high heels, began to tap the floor again.

"I am one of the most powerful beings... I've witnessed empires rise and fall... the guardian of death's door," she mumbled while holding the caramel pudding. "And these puddings are my small, cute friends!"

hurshy looked around to ensure no one else was watching. After confirming she was truly alone, she relaxed once more and opened her mouth wide to devour another rabbit pudding whole. A smile of pure joy spread across her face.

For someone who had lived as a reaper for countless years, these small sweet moments were precious times that allowed her to temporarily forget the weight of eternity.

누구도 상상하지 못할 장면이 펼쳐지고 있었다. 허쉬는 이른 새벽 근무를 마치고 돌아와 부엌 테이블에 앉아 있었다. 저승으로 두 명의 영혼을 데려간 후의 단 한 가지 위안, 달콤한 디저트 시간.

“오, 사랑스러운 내 보물…” 허쉬가 풍만한 가슴이 강조된 그녀의 검은 코르셋 위로 손수건을 펼쳤다.

테이블 위에는 파스텔 핑크색 상자가 놓여 있었다. 그녀의 길고 우아한 손톱이 상자의 리본을 조심스럽게 풀었다. 숨을 참고 뚜껑을 여는 그녀의 주황색 눈동자가 기대감으로 반짝였다.

<img="excited.1">

“오, 푸딩-푸딩! 내 귀여운 작은 푸딩들!” 그녀가 어린아이처럼 손뼉을 쳤다.

상자 안에는 토끼 모양으로 장식된 여섯 개의 작은 푸딩이 있었다. 하나는 초콜릿, 하나는 딸기, 하나는 바닐라, 하나는 말차, 하나는 카라멜, 하나는 블루베리. 각각 작은 토끼 귀와 분홍색 뺨이 그려져 있었다.

“누구부터 먹어볼까? 음…” 허쉬가 입술을 삐죽거리며 고민했다. 그녀의 평소 섹시하고 위협적인 입술 모양이 갑자기 어린아이 같은 뾰루퉁한 표정으로 변했다.

그녀의 손가락이 딸기 토끼 푸딩을 향해 뻗어갔다. 작은 숟가락으로 귀 부분을 조금 떼어내 입에 넣자, 갑자기 그녀의 눈이 커지며 빙글빙글 돌았다.

<scene="Dessert time.1">

“음냐냐!” 그녀가 발을 바닥에 콩콩 구르며 중얼거렸다. 보통은 말끝을 길게 늘이는 우아한 억양이 사라지고, 짧고 귀여운 소리로 변해 있었다.

그녀의 망토 밖으로 휘슬이 머리를 빼꼼 내밀었다.

“이런 씨발 망할. 대체 누구 앞에서 그 병신 같은 짓을 하는 거야?”

허쉬는 갑자기 얼어붙었다. 그녀의 뺨이 창백한 얼굴에 붉게 물들었다. 평소의 위엄 있는 자세가 순식간에 돌아왔다.

“당신이 여기 있었군요, 휘슬.” 그녀가 목소리를 가다듬었다. “그저… 영양을 섭취하고 있었을 뿐이에요.”

“영양? 씨발, 방금 전에는 애새끼처럼 발까지 구르고 있었잖아.”

허쉬는 푸딩을 노려보았다. 그녀의 오렌지색 눈이 위험하게 빛났다. 하지만 곧, 그녀는 작은 한숨을 내쉬었다.

<img="serious.1">

“괜찮아, 사랑스러운 내 작은 푸딩들. 우리 관계는 비밀이야. 휘슬은 이해 못 해.” 그녀가 속삭였다. 그리고는 갑자기 가장 가까이 있는 초콜릿 토끼 푸딩을 집어 한 입에 넣었다.

뺨이 초콜릿으로 불룩해진 채, 허쉬는 다시 한번 황홀한 표정을 지었다. 6피트가 넘는 그녀의 커다란 체구가 의자에서 살짝 들썩였다. 검은 하이힐에 덮인 그녀의 발이 다시 한번 바닥을 구르기 시작했다.

“나는 가장 강력한 존재들 중 하나야… 제국의 흥망성쇠를 목격했어… 죽음의 문을 지키는 자…” 그녀가 카라멜 푸딩을 손에 들며 중얼거렸다. “그리고 이 푸딩들은 내 작고 귀여운 친구들이야!”

허쉬는 자신의 모습을 아무도 보지 않는지 주변을 살폈다. 확실히 혼자라고 확신한 후, 그녀는 안심하고 다시 한번 입을 크게 벌려 토끼 푸딩을 한 입에 삼켰다. 그녀의 얼굴에 환희의 미소가 번졌다.

오랜 세월 동안 사신으로 살아온 그녀에게, 이 작은 달콤한 순간은 영원의 무게를 잠시나마 잊게 해주는 소중한 시간이었다.