“No, it’s not. It feels so culty to tell people they’re going to die all night and then try to brush it off with a little meditation and an art project like we’re in kindergarten.”

“I’m open to feedback on how you think we should manage.”

“I have no idea, Mrs. Rosa—Naya. But just not that. That was horrible.”

Naya nods, even though Rolando has offered nothing productive. “I understand you were having some difficulties tonight.”

He stares point-blank. “Yes . . . I was finding it hard to tell people their lives were over.” There’s a pause, as if Naya is expecting Rolando to apologize or backtrack because he’s so tired or something, but he won’t lie. “If the other heralds didn’t struggle, I don’t know what to say. Maybe they were on the phone pushing printer paper while I was getting in trouble for comforting a lonely old man.”

“Your compassion is why we hired you. It’s just that we have more Deckers to—”

“Yes, more Deckers to reach. Like the teenage girl who has plans to go on her first date tomorrow except she’ll be dead by then. Or the husband whose wife returns from deployment next month and he’ll be too dead to welcome her home. I didn’t ask for anyone’s story, but I’m getting them anyway.”

“That’s all so upsetting. Truly,” Naya says with tears in her eyes. “Are you sure you don’t wish to speak with the therapist?”

“I’m sure.”

Deep down, Rolando knows this would be helpful, but he’s not in his right state of mind. How could anyone be after working this shift? The amount of people who asked him to help save their lives tonight, as if he hasn’t already done everything he can for them. More than anything he wanted to tell Deckers that maybe Death-Cast is wrong, but he has no proof to support that. He would only be feeding empty lies and giving hope to Deckers who will die thinking they would make it to tomorrow, all because Rolando misled them.

“Death-Cast has a beautiful purpose, but this is a terrible job,” he says. “I don’t want to become numb to people dying. I quit.”

And just like that, Rolando can feel himself slowly returning to his body, as if he were a ghost who was slipping away.

This was the right move.

No drawing was going to save his life.

Dalma Young

6:16 a.m.

Death-Cast did not call Dalma Young because she is not dying today, but she witnessed the first Decker receive his End Day call. That moment will stay with her for as long as she lives.