The room was colder than it ought to be. Eric made a mental note to confront the medical staff.
Alan was huddled up in the hospital bed, knees drawn up to his chest, looking almost...apprehensive. The blond didn't know what he could possibly be scared of. It was only the two of them in the room, after all. He'd been called down to see Alan after the younger man had collapsed out in the field and there was apparently some concern about his condition. His junior did look a bit peaky, but Eric couldn't see any wounds or anything. He didn't know why everyone was so worried.
It really was very cold.
The brunette didn't look at him. They'd been sat there in silence for nearly five minutes now, since Eric's initial greeting. He had no idea what could have perturbed Alan this much. He'd faced demons and all sorts of complications before. Maybe he was ill? But that was impossible. Reapers couldn't get really ill. That's what 'immortality' was all about. They were untouchable, invincible.
"It's called the Thorns of Death."
And all at once, Eric learned that he wasn't.