Even in Death

Chapter 1- Death’s Deal

        Throughout my life, I have been taught that death is something to fear. Countless pages, screens, and instinct have drilled this fear into the back of my mind. What we were taught is that it could come at any time, and we would never receive a second chance at life. We all have ignored this warning. We think, “It’s not going to happen to me! I’m going to live a long, full life.”

I was one of those people, up to the very end.

        It wasn’t a peaceful death; I would have preferred falling off a cliff to what happened. I got separated from my friends in a nature hike area. No replies to my shouting, or any bars for my cell phone to call for help. That’s when I heard a scream just around the bend. I ran towards it, thinking it was just some playful screams, but I realized too late what they truly were. Around the bend was a large, wooden bridge-walkway over a brook. The wood was splotched with blood, with more spilling every second. I couldn’t see the body the blood was spilling from, but I did see it from behind; the lightly curled black hair, the tanned, but splotchy skin, the small switch-blade bearing down countless times onto the body blocked by the attacker. Within seconds, the screams stopped; only heavy breaths sounded. I stepped back instinctually, my shoes making noise in the dirt. Immediately the killer turned towards me. They stared at me, blood slowly flowing down their face and clothes, painting them crimson. Their eyes were a brilliant green, though wide and bloodshot from stress and shock. They frowned at me, having become calm in a matter of seconds. It slowly turned into a crazed smile, their eyes widening and they began to giggle incessantly.

We moved at the same time; I tried to turn and run and they ran towards me with their switchblade ready to strike. I didn’t scream, I just ran. They caught up very easily, grabbing me by my long hair and pulling me down into the dirt. They muttered something under their breath, but I couldn’t hear; I was too focused on the instrument of my death. They brought it down on my arms first, making sure I felt the pain by twisting the blade into the wound. I couldn’t stop myself from screaming out, and they gave a wide, wicked smile in return. Stab after stab, I felt myself become weaker and weaker. I eventually stopped screaming, muffled sobs and groans of pain were the only things I could sound. Before I closed my eyes, I thought I heard muffled yelling and gunshots.

        I awoke with a start, breathing heavily before my vision came back to me. I was in a dark room, no windows or lights. Looked around for any semblance of light, walking around in the dark. I smiled when I found the light switch, but it was short lived. I tried to flip it, but my pale finger passed through the light switch. I tried again and again to no effect, looking down at my hands in disbelief. I had to know what was going on. I stuck my hand onto the wall, and it went through the wall. It was then that it had finally occurred to me. I crumpled to my knees and sobbed; I knew I was dead.

        That was when I felt it; I suddenly knew I was not alone in that dark room. I looked towards where I awoke and saw a table. My body lied on the table covered in a white sheet. Specks of red could be seen on the sheet, and I knew it was my blood leaking thought. Behind the course was a tall figure holding a scythe, wearing a flowingly black cloak that covered their features. Only one feature showed, and that was the arm holding the scythe. A chill ran down my spine, I knew exactly who this was. The Grim Reaper, Death incarnate. Death spoke, the voice masculine, “You know why I am here.”
I didn’t have the strength to stand as he approached, slowing passing through my corpse. Tears flowed from my eyes and I started to breath heavily, but felt no surge of breath come to me. He stopped a few feet in front of me, leaning down. A skeletal hand peaked from his robe, gently grasping my shoulder, “Come, and I will let you pass on in peace.”
I burst into tears, my mind only focused on how my death was anything but peaceful. He sighed, “A tragedy.”
I peeked up to see the black hood, “H-how did you?-“
He interrupted me, his calm tone turning dry, “I have seen countless deaths, I can spot a tragic death in an instant.”
My tears dried, much like the tone, “Then, you know it’s not fair.”

Death spoke simply, “Life is hardly fair.”

I stood with a sigh, “That’s what everyone says,”
“But death is.”
I raised an eyebrow, giving Death a skeptical tone, “Because everyone dies?”
“That is part of it.”
He raised his left arm, the same arm that had touched my shoulder moments ago, “But there are deaths that deserve a second chance.”
I nodded and smiled, “Yea! Yea, they do! Does that mean?-“
“Do not mistake me.”
I frowned again as he continued, “All who die belong to me, but those who die tragically…”
An orb of light appeared in his hand. It was a gentle light, like a bright candle. His hood turned to me once again, “May earn a second chance.”

I blinked, and the next thing I saw was Death pushing that light into me. I crumpled to the floor, feeling a burning sensation inside me. From my chest it quickly spread to my entire body. I shook from the pain, but I refused to cry as I writhed on the ground in a fetal position.

        The pain stopped in an instant, turning to warmth that flowed back to the flame’s point of entry. I sat up, putting my hand over the point on my chest. I felt an object in my hands, a metal object. I opened my hands to see a small medallion in my hands. The medallion seemed to be made from a warped metal, holding a circular shape. Inside were thirteen small stones, all black, scattered in a pattern with one gem in the center. I heard Death speak in amusement, “Thirteen, interesting.”
I blinked, slowing standing, “What is it?”
He pointed towards the medallion, “That is a representation of your soul, including the sins of your life.”
I raise an eyebrow, “My sins?”
“There are more sins than those ‘seven deadly sins’ that are tossed to reckless abandon.”
I put the medallion on, “And you decide that?”
“You do as well.”

“What? How?”
Death chuckled, “You mean to tell me you believe you have no flaws?”
I shook my head, “No, I understand now.”
Death stood tall, his voice serious, “Then I may continue. Our deal is simple; you face all the sins of your life, proved by that medallion, and you will get your second chance.”

He extended his right hand, and his scythe disappeared, “Do we have a deal?”

I looked down at the skeletal hand, uncertain, “What happens… if I fail?”
“You will go through Soul Death, and you will cease to exist.”
I reeled back for a moment, but I calmed down and sighed, “Then… I guess I have no choice.”

I grasped Death’s hand, feeling the cold of his bones, but strangely not bothered by it. We shook our hands for only a second before he pulled his hand away. He lifted the hand towards his head and spoke to me, “Your trials will be over when all the gems turn from black. Good luck”

He snapped his finger and my world faded to black.