You Have The Stench Of Death

He had a premonition that the pack of his obsessed readers was going to track him down and it was further confirmed when Mason, his personal assistant, and his manager Noah, almost ram his door down had he not answered on time.

"Shit!" He cursed out loud, grabbed the few stuff he could reach for, and was out of the door. 

The entrance of the hotel was flooded with screaming teenagers, wonderful. 

Wearing a baseball cap and a face mask with a hoodie to hide his identity, his appearance was still a straight giveaway to the excited fans. 

"At this rate, we would make it to Creek city tomorrow" Mason attempted a joke but the look he received from Ben was enough to mutt him for the next ten generations. 

The poor boy pressed his lips together helplessly, mentally resolving never to speak again. 

Ben sighed and tousled his hair, he hated this unnecessary inconvenience. 

He was a very straight and driven person who hated the impulsive deviation from life, unlike his spontaneous and adventurous younger self. 

After communing with the undead for years, he realized there was no more time to waste; one had just a little time to spend on earth till everything was gone. 

Thankfully, the hotel management helped him out by giving him access to their secret underground entrance since he was a VIP. 

"What's my schedule for today?" 

"Just the interview with Lifestyle magazine, the others have been shifted due to our lateness" Mason answered, his eyes glued on the road; he was driving. 

"Lifestyle magazine?" He rolled his eyes thoughtfully, "Isn't it the same broadcast company that claims my books are fable and tales for ladies ?" 

"Appears so" 

"Cancel it" 

His assistant's nervous gaze met with the manager's, they had fixed the appointment without his knowledge due to the fact they knew Ben would never attend it. 

As a male proficient writer with an interest in paranormal romance, they had tagged him as effeminate and Ben had found that offensive. 

"Franklin -" His manager tried to change his mind. 

"Those books are too precious to me, I won't have anyone make a caricature of it just so their television ratings could go up," He told him sternly with fire in his eyes. 

Most of his stories were the justice served for some ghosts - not all of those ghosts wanted his body, some just wanted him to tell their tales. To use his influence and show the world the unfairness they suffered before death so the world could sympathize with them. 

Besides, at the end of the story, he gives them the happily-ever-after they never had, prompting them to move on to the afterlife; he would never joke with his books. 

"Just forget about it," He said dismissively and lay back on his seat with his eyes shut together - matter closed. 

"Once you arrive, just drive me to the hospital, that woman must be waiting for her unfilial son," He said under his breath, but they heard him clearly. 

Ben went straight to sleep which was strangely peaceful until he was awoken by his manager. 

He was tapped on the shoulder " We are here"

Adjusting his eyes to the brightness of the afternoon, he looked out through the window, taking in the sight of the large four-story building that covered numerous acres of land. 

"Here" His assistant tossed the cap to him which he had removed earlier during the drive.

Throughout the years; caps, hoods, masks, had become an essential accessory in his daily life. 

"Just give us a call once you're ready to leave," His manager said 

"Where are you going?" 

"Well, unlike you, young master, we don't have any accommodation in this city" He replied sarcastically. 

Ben ignored him, put on the cap - making sure to keep his eyes hidden - and stepped out of the van, adjusting the cap once again before walking into the hospital. 

He didn't inquire at the reception desk since he already had an idea of her room number. Once in the elevator, he moved to the VIP floor when a call came into his phone. 

Jasper?

Ben was truly surprised, did he know he was in the city already? He hasn't even informed him yet - well, his talkative assistant must have disclosed the news. 

"What's up, bro? " He accepted the call at once. 

"When were you going to tell me you're back?" The voice from the other end of the phone asked. 

" I'm sorry, I got distracted" 

"You're always distracted" 

Ben chuckled," You know me well but don't worry, I'll compensate you in your bachelor party; it's going to be a blast -" 

Perhaps he must have been the one blasted because the next he knew, he found himself on the floor; a weight on top of him. 

Sure he was distracted during the call, he had made sure to check the passageway and it was clear the last time he looked. The only thing he managed to catch out of the corner of his eyes before falling was something - no, someone, diving straight at him. 

The collision knocked the breath out of him but when he looked up, he froze.

"Are you alright?" Her sultry voice mixed with anxiety and the worry lines on her face was the first thing he saw.

Everything seemed to happen in slow motion: The red-haired beauty was hovering over him, checking for injuries on his body with an apologetic expression while he stared on like a moron hit on the head.

But that was until he saw it; the shadow surrounding her like a protective barrier. 

Ben screamed out of fright and shoved her roughly to the side as he shot up to his feet. 

"You have the stench of death!". He said more to himself than to her, checking his body. 

"You!"

He heard her angry roar.