My father's voice is still ringing in my head ''I must not see your face again until you accomplish your duty, son!'' Why did he had to say it in such a... Dramatical way? I guess responding with ''I have my mask on so, technically, you are not seeing my face right now.'' didn't help my case. So here I am, waiting for the bus like any normal human would. The bus finally arrive, a few minutes late and I step in last as the bus driver almost close the door on me. Rude much. I walk my way to the back of the bus and I bump into someone. I mumble a sorry but the middle aged lady looks around with this offended look, trying to find who hit her. Her gaze pass over me like I'm invisible ''I said, I'm sorry!'' She doesn't even respond and keep walking to the front of the bus, getting ready to get out.

I mean, I know I'm not the most handsome man ever, but she didn't have to ignore me like I'm invisible! Oh wait, I'm so stupid. I am invisible. I always forget about that. You see, I'm an Angel of Death, so the Livings can't see me. I wonder if I will ever get used to it. I'm about to sit on an empty bench, but I stop in my track as my mask flash, signalling me of yet another Soul I have to bring back to the Afterworld ''Urrgh, but I already have one!'' I look at the identification thing that just popped in and it's her, the woman I bumped into a few seconds ago. Did I do this? No, of course not, it's only a coincidence, right? And now she is right there, so I can't pretend that I didn't come in time to get the Soul like I always do. That's why I'm on the bus right now, I could teleport right beside the person that is about to die to welcome them to the world of the Death. But I usually pops in a random place not too far and use public transportation or I walk my way there... Most of the time either the Soul is gone or another Angel did it for me...I know it's bad and lazy, but I hate my job, okay! It's not like I can quit or something and now I have to do it. Great. Awesome. I go back to the front of the bus, right behind her and I wait.

She gets off the bus at the next stop and I follow her. I look around and I wonder what could happen. It's a really calm day and... Loud horn blast, break screaming, loud crashing sound... Did she really tried to cross the road without looking? Looks like she did because there she is, floating beside her body. I can't wait but let out a big exaperate sigh while walking toward her ''Hi, if you would kindly follow me to...'' ''Excuse me! What is this!?'' she asks while pointing at her body ''THIS can't be happening right now! I have an important appointment that I can't miss!'' I look at her, stunned, what is going on? ''Looks like you can't even do your job properly, I want to speak to a manager!'' ''... Talk to a what?'' ''A MANAGER! You know, the one in charge!'' ''Oh! Well, I don't think there is such... a person... for... like...death, so...'' She looks at me up and down, scream out some other nonesense and walk away. And I am not following her. She can haunt whoever or whatever she wants I don't care. Why did she have to be so rude? And now I have to teleport to my next task or I will be too late. I can't lose two souls in less than a minute. I would unlock yet another achievement, but I don't think my boss would appreciate. I try to get my confidence back (or atleast the last tiny bit I still had this morning) and snap my finger to teleport to my next location.

Small pink peppermint bedroom, that actually smells like pink peppermint too! This is a really stereotypical old grandma bedroom. I look at the bed and there she is. Stereotypical grandma in her pink lace nightdress. I see her soul slowly rising above her. She looks around and looks a bit suprised to see me here. She looks down at her body and exclaim ''Oh my! I felt a bit tired and I thought I would lay down for a bit and get ready for dinner with my family... I guess my little nap will be longer than expected!'' I can't help but to smile a bit at her genuine laugh ''And who are you, kiddo?'' ''Oh, huh, I'm the one to show you the way to the Afterworld actually.'' I say while scratching the back of my head. She kindly and willingly follows me, being really happy to finally be able to ''walk'' as fast as she wants ''You know, I was quite the athletic one in my young age! Everyone telling me to stop running while I was only walking!'' We walk together and I listen to all her stories. If only all souls were like that. Maybe I would enjoy my job a bit more ''Kiddo, I know we don't know each other, but I can feel your emotions. You are troubled. I may be dead, but my ears are still working! Go on, what's wrong?'' Everything is wrong! But let's only tell her the last unfortunate event. The bus incident. I explain her everything and how I can't help but feel guilty for bumping into her ''I mean, I bumped into so many people before and it never happened but still... And then she ask to speak to a manager! I don't understand people!'' Then again this genuine laugh, making feel a bit better ''Oh my dear youngling, looks like you encountered what we call a Karen!'' ''But... Her name wasn't Karen. Yours is!'' ''Oh yes! I always thought it was funny that they chose Karen to define those kind of people! Do you still see where she is? Maybe I can help you? I'm pretty good with the Karens!''

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

It took me a little while, but I finally found her. Screaming at the Livings ''They can't hear you, you know.'' She turns around and I can see that she is about to scream at me again, but Real Karen doesn't give her the chance. They both argue for a bit and I have to say that I'm impressed by how Real Karen can shut Fake Karen up. After a few minutes of back and forth between the two, Fake Karen cross her arms and follow us. I can see that she is not happy about it and that makes me really glad! As we arrive at the gate of the Underworld, Fake Karen rush in saying something like ''I'm going to find the manager myself!'' I look at Real Karen and we both burst out laughing ''I wish you could stay with me all the time! You would make my job so much easier!'' ''Oh, that would be lovely, but I guess I can't do that, right?'' I shake my head no and she gives me a quick hug and walk gracefully to the Afterworld and I snap my finger again to teleport myself back in my room.

I fall face first on my bed and I let out a big annoyed growl when I hear a knock at my door ''WHHHAATTT!???'' ''Your father what's to have a word with you!'' ''Fine!'' I always try to not get mad at the messenger. It is not their fault if my father is too lazy to come to my room when he wants to talk with me. I finally step out of my room and go to the throne room where my father always is. Yes I said throne room. I think I forgot to tell you, my father is... kind of the Boss of the Underworld. He has many name, I will let you pick the one you like the most. As I step in he quickly say ''Looks like you did your job well for once, son!'' ''You know that this wasn't a compliment, right?'' And just like that, he is mad at me again. We can't help it really, we try to tolerate each other, but it always have been hard between us. Oh well, looks like even in Underworld families, there are issues.

A few time pass, maybe days, months or years, I can't really tell, but here I am roaming the world of the Living again. But this time I don't have to be invisible, it's Halloween! No one is looking at me in a weird way because of my red hair, my horns or my mask. I really like Halloween! I'm in a good mood so of course, my mask had to flash to give me another soul to gather! One day off. That's all I'm asking! Oh well, let's do this one fast so I can go back to whatever I was doing, which is nothing!