Arthur was submerged, submerged in an endless sea of darkness. His life flashing before his eyes as he remained floating through the endless void.

'Where am I?' Such were his first thoughts the moment he regained consciousness.

His eyes looked around in confusion before a sudden force gripped his foot and yanked him in speeds light would have been envious of.

In mere moments, light entered his vision. He gasps, like a fish out of water, breathing air like his life depended on it, his body aching all over as a man spoke up.

"Oh my, it seems I've gotten a good catch this time."

Arthur looked up, only to lock eyes with blood like orbs, a red sea consuming everything in it's path, something that pulled forth every fear in his being. Though despite all that, it held a certain familiarity, one that elicited feelings of warmth.

"Well, my fishing skills seem to have gotten rusty. Didn't think I could catch such an old man."

Arthur shouts on impulse, "Fuck you, I'm twenty-one!"

The man chuckles at the outburst as Arthur slams his hand back to his mouth. He then looks up closer, inspecting the man before him, one in his mid-twenties, eyes red as blood, hair white as snow and skin almost shining through the void.

"Well, my apologies, young man." He stood back up to his full height, revealing a fishing rod at his side as he wore a jacket, each pocket filled with fish hooks.

He then tilts his head to the side as Arthur's world shifts, "Though be that as it may, it would be best if we get unto the reason you are here."

Before he knew it, the once ever reaching darkness turned white. A fact that leaves Arthur breathless and terrified at the realization of what the being before him could do in a mere thought.

He looked down to his clothing, his hoodie drenched, his shoes squeak and his hair wet as he sat upon a chair, facing at the man seated upon a luxurious sofa.

The man combs his white hair back as his clothing changes, turning into a black tuxedo covered with a domineering overcoat that seemingly swallowed the space around him.

"So, I'm sure you're confused."

"Well, yeah. I was just walking before regaining consciousness, submerged in water. I wonder who else wouldn't be confused!" Arthur shouts back, his temper flaring once more.

"Apologies for that, though. I do have a reason for your conundrum!"

Arthur, crosses his arms, water spurting at his face from the force of his arms, "What is it then?"

"You're dead." He then clicks on his stopwatch.

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"Eh?"

Arthur remained In utter shock for a few minutes, his body frozen at the realization of his death as his ghost brain tried to process the information.

"Huh? No way." He utters in denial as the memories flashes by his mind, leaving him in complete denial.

A few seconds pass before he roars out in anger, "Like hell I am!"

The man only gave out a curt smile as he held his cane before a paper present itself before them both.

He gestures it to Arthur as he spoke, "Well, as you can see here, you died from a falling piano. A fact that is most unfortunate and truly hilarious."

Arthur reads it repeatedly, his eyes locked unto the document, the detailed report of his death. He then looks up, his eyes begging as he asks, "Is there no way I can go back?"

His eyes burn up, "Please, I don't want it to end like this."

The man merely shakes his head, "It is unfortunate, but your death is absolute."

Arthur crumples within his seat, his eyes hollow, as his life flashes before him, everything he did for his freedom gone like the wind, "Huh, so this is how it ended."

He then looked down in resignation, "I guess, this is much as I deserved," He looks up to the man, "So what do I do now?"

The man clicks his stopwatch, "Well, you go to the Afterlife."

He looks down upon the timer before giving him a smile, "Six minutes and nine seconds, Nice~. Congratulations on creating a new record."

"New record?"

"Don't think about it." He waves his hand in dismissal as he puts the stopwatch back to his pocket.

"Instead, I wish for you to think about this." He passes unto him a pamphlet, one depicting a logo of infinity, whereupon the word "The Afterlife" was written.

"I would like to invite you into joining our glorious institution called The Afterlife."

"The Afterlife? but I thought I was going to hell or something."

A cane taps and the white landscape was drowned in hellfire, the heat of which was overwhelming as the shouts of the damned continued endlessly, "That could also be arranged."

"No...no. I think I'll pass." He nervously chuckled as the scene shifts once more. All that was left was the white-haired man, before him, sitting, unfazed, finding endless amusement from his misery.

"Oh, then are you willing to join us at The Afterlife? I'm sure you can be introduced to our organization, from our simple and optimized pamphlet." He gestures at the one between his fingers.

"This…" He looks back in hesitation before looking back down, reminding himself of the hell he just saw. After all, how bad can an institution be?

It took fifteen minutes for him to read through everything. The information written within the pamphlet has left him with several existential crises and questions. All of which have left him severely drained.

"This is nuts."

"It truly is." He give a fond smile, reminded of fond memories, "I understand it might be a lot to take in. So, I can certainly give you the-"

"I'm in!"

"Oh my, that was a lot faster than I would have thought. It seems you found something you like there."

"Yeah," He then points at a page, "This! What does certain anomalous and malevolent beings mean?"

"Well, as you've read. The goal of The Afterlife is the protection of mortal souls and it's consequent cycle. We are to attack them and destroy their essence, effectively cleansing their soul of such memories."

"That sounds painful."

Hellfire once more drowned his sight, the sounds of scream once more rung to his ears as hell infinitely expanded, The man's eyes watching it all in amusement, "Well, yes, it does look quite painful."

Arthur gulp in anxiety, his once wet clothes drying from the extreme heat as he spoke, "Um, can I also ask about this three years in this academy of your?"

"Oh?" The hellfire disperses quickly, "I would have thought you would take the quick route and immediately jump in as a fifth order executive. With your experience and all that."

He then shrugs, "Doing this just sounds more fun."

"Great!" the man claps as he stood, his arms forward in greeting, "Well, the name is Dearith. I'm glad to be working with you from now on."

The white then recedes, leaving behind a simple office, "I hope you enjoy your stay here at 'The Afterlife'"

He gives a wide grin, "Have fun on your first day of school."

"Wait? WHAT!?"