Her blonde hair swayed in front of her face as she finally felt the sensation of the cold night wind. Her eyes focused on her fingers as reality slowly seeped into her view. Her legs felt weak and her breathing staggered. The world was staring to spin and vision grew impaired. Before she knew it her eyes and her entire body had given up. She fell to the ground.

The low rustle and thud was heard a little further away by someone with an acute sense of hearing.

He instantly turned to the direction of the noise, “What was that?”

His companion wasn’t as perceptive to that noise. “What was what?” She asked stopping in her tracks.

“I heard something falling…?” He seemed doubtful, but considering all that has happened it was rightful to assume the worst.

“I didn’t hear anything…” She said a little worried. “I think you’re just paranoid. We should head home quickly…”

“I agree. You mortals can’t die unless I do it myself.” The cat mumbled from inside Demi’s sweater pocket, it seemed to be quite comfortable and snuggly to heat itself up. Just as she snuggled underneath the layers of fluff, her ears perked up. Alerted by the sudden surge of undead energy, she dragged herself out of the pocket and stood right between the great power and the twins.

“Arthur! I know you’re there, show yourself.” She sounded through the body of the cat. “Arthur!!”

The twins stood confused on the road, to them it seemed as though Forsyth was screaming at thin air.

“What’s going on..?” Dylan whispered to Demi. “Arthur..? Who is that again?”

A soft voice whispered breathily from behind their ears and sent goosebumps down their spines. “That would be me, dearies.”

“AHH! Who’s there?!” Dylan screamed covering his ears and turned at once to the voice. But there was nothing but the long straight road and shedding trees.

“Ah! Sorry if I scared you…” The voice seemed to have been just as terrified as them. “I mean no harm, kids. Contractually it’s bad omen to appear in front of mortals unless it is time for their departure to afterlife. But due to unlikely circumstances we have been acquainted before. Do you remember when you were in Forsyth’s lair?”

“I don’t know where to look…” Demi eyes were spiraling out of control.

“Hey, Arthur! Enough with the nonsensical chitchat, we’ve got a situation to handle.” She continued to scream at Arthur about the situation at hand. “Do you even realise what is happening at the moment?”

Arthur looked at her with heavy eyes. “Yes… Too many lives lost in such a short period of time and added to that, they’ve all passed away due to unlikely circumstances. I’m not allowed to converse with the dead about the life they have lived and lost, neither can I even attempt to alleviate the pain. Quite the shame… they were young as well.”

“You knew about those deaths and didn’t do anything?”

“What am I supposed to do? I can’t reverse or stop the natural order of things. Interfere or disrupt the world’s progression leads to unfathomable chaos, you know that all too well… and yet, you still had the audacity to defy the laws designed to maintain all forms of life.” As much as she viewed Forsyth as her only friend and companion, it took her immense courage to speak the ill truth of the matter. “You have done grave things, Forsyth. Few more of those…” She glanced back at the twins.

“Attaining a reincarnation would be close to zero, my friend.”

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The cat bent its head, fuming from the head, Forsyth was infuriated by her words. She could not stay another moment inside the cat’s body. Immediately, she rose out of the cat and thrusted towards Arthur.

“My reasons were valid! I did what had to be done. YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO QUESTION MY CHOICES, ARTHUR!”

Old memories seeped in, and so did the turmoil of the past. To go on pretending like nothing ever happened, to cover up the life she had chosen by will just to live momentarily in happiness and substitute the rest for a life of solitude and resentment. The beginning of her new journey as an afterlife brought forth stories of great calibers. Awoken in the same forest as she resides in now, she started her new chapter with a mission to complete. Unaffected by being deemed as a sinner, and unable to feel the emotions required of a human, she understood her mortal life was nothing more than an unfulfilled illusion and being gifted a power to maintain life and afterlife alike, she felt power and found this chance at life to live a little more. She never really knew what it was like to be a mortal or who she was? or how she was? All she knew was the fact that she was a sinner.

After having committed grave deeds, she was given the redemption to cure herself of her stained black heart and become a person who was worthy of becoming mortal again. Until the day comes, she must rid herself and the world of the plague of misfortune caused by the hatred of fellow humans. A manifestation of intense hatred targeted at a single person leads to karma, and this karma determines their fate. Some have it easy, they simply contract a disease or some other unfortunate event, while some may come very close to death. Karma collectors have the power to consume karma itself in hopes to maintain the stories of every living thing. Humans cannot control the karma they unleash on people, whether they deserve it or not, it is not natural since it shortens the lifespan of the individual and they would not be able to reach Judgement point, which ultimately determines their place in afterlife. An untimely death before the prescribed time in the records leads to unattainable roles for the new ghosts and they end up becoming wanderers of the afterlife.

Karma collectors are generally assigned because they had died from the untimely effects of karma and Forsyth was no exception to that. But Arthur was different, her work involved the safe departure of the undead to the Realm of Afterlife. Arthur has witnessed the stories of many until death and stays duty bound to retrieve their soul and depart them to the realm above or below. Deaths are predetermined and Arthur watches them in their final moments as a pass time hobby, she cannot interfere or converse but simply watches as they take their final breath. This was the routine almost everyday, but the past month has posed quite the predicament leaving her perplexed to say the least. Regardless, she’s been on the run trying to track down the unrecorded spirits running rampant on the streets.

“I WANTED TO LIVE, LIVE MY SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE!” She kept going, sending shivers down Arthur’s spine. “I watched them grow and watched them die. They deserved better and that was what I wanted for them to have. It was my choice to make, I willingly involved myself with mortals and willingly surrendered my vessel thereafter… It may have appeared to be a mistake to you, but it wasn’t for me! And this time I know the right course and I will stick to it. The order of life is ripping apart, certainly the Realm is doing something about it?”

“The Realm..?” Arthur pondered deeply. “The Realm has yet to make an announcement. I was simply asked to continue my work, nothing more.”

“Unbelievable.”

“I agree… but it is the truth.”

“Then these dastards will henceforth be dealt with by me.”

Arthur looked away and mumbled, “Fine… I can never stop you, can I?” Just as she said those words, she disappeared without a trace.

Forsyth exhaled after the intense war she had fought with no victors left standing. “Sigh… The only ticket to reach my vessel in the Realm, gone…” She glanced back at the twins, they stood obedient and silent as they heard their conversations. Their faces were riddled with confusion and fear, but they understood the severity better than those Forsyth has ever seen. But to put her trust in them would be catastrophic. Replaying the events of her past only serve as a warning to never near another mortal again. But, even with her conflicting views on humanity, even she knows that humans are also capable of sympathy and incredible endurance during times of need.

But it was time to leave, this issue must be resolved immediately and quickly. Mortals are the very reason she is holding back. She must leave and find her vessel one way or another. In that time, this odd bunch must play superhero until she returns.

She glanced at the two and behind came loud thumps on the concrete roads.

The young man panted as he screamed at the twins, “Guys! There you are, I was looking all over for you!!”

“Will?!” They both turned to witness him.

“What are you doing here? Why are you standing here of all places?” He looked around frantically.

They didn’t answer Will but turned behind. Dylan screamed hoping the invisible force will reciprocate with him. “Forsyth?! Are you still here?”

“You better be, because I want you to listen! If you’re thinking of running off again, don’t even bother because we will come find you even if you never come back. Your story seems complicated and it seems your friend has also left, but we are not leaving until you tell us how to fix this world again. We are on your side, even though we still can’t fully trust you, we know enough to say that you’re the only one capable here. So stop leaving us in the dark!”

“Heh.. So rambunctious…” She smiled.

“Did you hear me?!” He screamed again.

“Loud and clear, nosy imps…! Come meet me at my fort tomorrow at the crack of dusk, my familiar will guide you. Be on time, because now our time is numbered.”

“Is she gone..?” Demi turned around to Dylan. Dylan seemed to convey the same thoughts.

“Guys..?” William looked at the two intently as he held his cat inside his arms.

“We will probably never catch a break from all the explaining…” Demi chuckled nervously.