The Cupid War by Timothy Carter

kinda ugly,” he said at last.
    â€œYou’re not so hot yourself, jerkoff!” the Suicide replied, and Fallon jumped back. He’d forgotten souls could do that.
    â€œIt appears less attractive because of the harm it has caused,” Caleb said.
    â€œA karma thing?” Fallon asked, and Caleb nodded. “So, what do we do now? Do we go find a Soul Reaper?”
    â€œOne will be along soon,” Caleb replied.
    â€œHow long do they usually … ” Fallon asked.
    â€œMove it,” said Bud, elbowing him aside.
    â€œThat was quick,” Caleb said.
    â€œYeah, well, I was in the area.” Bud walked over to the soul. “You,” he pointed at it. “Let’s go.”
    â€œCharming as ever,” Fallon said, watching as the Suicide’s soul moved toward Bud the same way that he had done when he’d died.
    â€œSo.” Bud turned to Fallon. “First day on the job and you’ve bagged yourself a Suicide. You probably think that’ll earn you brownie points, right?”
    â€œNot really,” Fallon replied.
    â€œGood,” Bud replied, and he elbowed his way past Fallon again. “Don’t expect any. Ever.” With that, Bud and the soul vanished into the ether.
    â€œI violently dislike him,” Fallon said, making a rude gesture at the spot where Bud had been.
    â€œDon’t think on it too much,” Caleb told him. “Soul Reapers tend to be abrupt.”
    â€œIs there anyone nice on the other side?” Fallon asked.
    â€œThere’s me,” Caleb told him. “I’m pretty nice.”
    â€œYeah, you’re decent,” Fallon conceded.
    â€œIf Louis were here,” Caleb said, “he’d tell us to stop patting ourselves on the back and get to work.”
    â€œI’d just bet he would.”
    â€œBut Louis isn’t here,” Caleb said. “What say we go catch a real man’s movie?”
    â€œSounds good to me,” Fallon said.
    â€œYou’re going to do all right, Fallon,” Caleb said as they walked back toward the mall. “I’m sure you’ll make a fine Cupid.”
    â€œI hope so,” Fallon replied. “I mean, what else am I going to do, right?”
    â€œThat’s the spirit!”
    They walked back through the exit door into the cinema and searched for a movie worth watching. As they did so, Fallon had a chance to reflect on the unusual turn his life—or rather, his death—had taken. He didn’t like being forced into anything, but if he was completely honest with himself, he hadn’t exactly loved the life he’d been leading before. He’d planned to graduate and go to college, but that was as far as he’d gotten. All he’d wanted from higher education was the chance to get away from his old life.
    Here, in the afterlife, he had a chance to start over and do something truly great. He had it in his power to bring happiness to the world. All he had to do was learn how.
    He also had the chance to fight off the forces that had led to his death. He could literally save lives. If he stopped only one more Suicide, the world would be the better for it.
    What in the world could be better than that?

    p AR t 2

9
    T wo weeks later, Fallon wasn’t an expert Cupid but he was certainly more than competent. Under Caleb’s careful monitoring, and thanks to his interest in poetry, Fallon had successfully put a couple together at a downtown Toronto pub during a spoken-word event. It wasn’t a lot, but Caleb assured him it was more than most Cupids managed in that short time.
    â€œMost new Cupids only manage to make one half of a couple fall in love,” Caleb explained as they returned to the Cupid Center. “And then, the object of that person’s affection leaves the area and is never seen again. Most new Cupids are rash that way, and end up with dozens of unrequited loves before they learn their chops. You, on the