The 'living realm', as Death described it, no longer looks like the world I know. Things were still grey but the shapes around me seemed disfigured. As if the further I swam the less accurate the representation of the world became. Buildings squished about, morphing together like playdough. The people who I can only assume had been walking outside on a footpath, or a road, now looked like aliens with disfigured bodies. Their legs twisted and curved until they finally connected with a smooth but lumpy ground. Their heads squished and squeezed and pulled and pushed into every variation imaginable. I could describe their torsos in the same manner but more importantly their clothes had either become one with their skin or had separated entirely from the body.
The worst part though, is that I can't touch them. Everything I touch liquifies like mud. It's nightmarish. If there is a god, then I would pray that nothing I touch here falls apart in the real world. But I don't have time to pray.
I check behind me for the millionth time to see if Death is coming.
Still nothing.
Just the open world and the trail of liquid I've left behind me. I'm not swimming so frantically now. My pace and form have reduced to a hastened glide mostly, brought about by my sloppy breaststroke form. And I continued this way for a long time. Periodically checking behind me, never stopping.
*****
The fool.
I can understand fearing the unknown. He's not the first to fear me and try to run. However, his stubbornness and single-minded focus are impressive.
He's travelled so far so quickly.
I've been following his trail for seven ticks now and the boy is still not in sight. No one's made it as far as he has before. That being said, he was an athlete whilst alive wasn't he. One of decent ability I would wager given the crowd gathered where he had died. His mind and body were likely quite strong for a human; thus, he swims with trust in his muscles and stamina, however, he has no flesh or bone here.
His soul is untrained and will grow weary.
He cannot keep going forever.
I will catch him sooner or later.
*****
My body hasn't changed a bit since I have arrived here. It is still transparent. I can only assume that this is my soul, or my brain, or something. Oddly enough I still have my team's jersey on. I guess soccer is just so ingrained into me that it reflects on my soul.
That isn't important though. The main point is that I don't have a body. No flesh, no muscle, no blood, no organs, eyes, nose, ears, mouth, or sense of touch. And yet I can still feel all these things. I can see my surrounding, hear and feel this liquid as I swim through it, and unfortunately, I can taste it whenever I get it in my mouth.
Its terrible.
Like muddy water.
The only differences I can tell about this situation and my real body is that I don't need to breathe, and maybe I don't need to eat either. I'm not sure about the eating part yet but without a body I don't see why I would need to.
Breathing, however, I am certain I don't need to. As I swim, I am trying to breathe, mostly due to habit, but nothing happens. I feel no air go into my lungs or come out.
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Generally, it doesn't feel important to notice these things but I did because I can't explain why I feel so tired. Like a creature of this unknown realm lies within these waters and is slowly getting a hold of me. Slowly tightening its grip, making my arms and legs heavier. My head, sinking deeper with every movement, the effort to get it back up increasing infinitely. I am no stranger to fatigue. I know how to push through it, but, this is definitely the hardest work out session I've ever done.
One where if I give in...
I will die.
*****
I pull my watch from the right side of my cloak and rest it in my palm. It's been 17 ticks since the boy arrived here. No one has ever lasted this long in this realm. The trail of displaced liquid suggests he is still swimming, but he still isn't in sight.
I've travelled so far that the living realm has almost entirely lost its shape. It won't be much further before I reach the plateau.
The boy may already have reached the plateau.
That will be an issue.
It is not so easy to track him there.
The land is solid, and no tracks are left behind by a soul. But I must admit I am impressed by the boy's determination. The distance from the point of entry to the plateau is roughly 9 beets, which is almost 1000 km in the boys language. And I am by no means giving chase casually. I have no doubt the boy has slowed by now but to achieve such a gap between us... this is no meagre feat.
*****
I stop in exasperation. Mimicking the movement of heavy breathing without any actual success, I tread in place, staring straight into oblivion.
My right hand, is now resting on a solid edge. I run my hand alone the edge. Nothing is melting.
It's a solid, flat surface. I have a feeling its not the only bit of solid ground either. Everything before me is solid. I know it. Not because I can touch it, but because the grey consistent light source that I've become accustomed to suddenly stops, like a wall of black eternal.
From now on is nothing but solid ground and pitch blackness. Both of these things begin in the same place. Waving my hand in the blackness I notice that I seem to have a faint glow about me. A minor but, welcomed, perk of being a soul now.
I never was a believer of heaven and hell during my life but, I am familiar with the line 'seeing is believing'.
Perhaps I'm already dead.
Perhaps I went to hell.
There's no point in stopping now though.
Using my elbows I sprawl up onto the solid ground and struggle to my feet. My legs, inexplicably tired. Starting with a slow walk I get myself into rhythm. Picking up the pace as I delve deeply into the abyss until I finally reached the fastest I could go.
Perhaps only as fast as a light jog in my prime but it'll have to do. On and on I'll run, as far as I have to, swim or run, blind or not, I'll keep running. I don't want to die yet. I'll run forever if I have to.
*****
This kid. He reached the plateau.
I check my watch.
It's been 36 ticks.
Perhaps expecting him to stop is foolish.
His souls fatigue must make it near impossible to run but I doubt he'll stop. How stupid. If I don't catch him he'll be damned to the same insufferable fate as I am. I won't allow that.
It has been some time since I last stretched my legs.
Perhaps it was even before I died myself. As urgent as it is that I find the boy immediately I also can't help but feel excited. I can't remember the last time something so interesting happened to me.
*****
Each step is getting heavier and heavier. I haven't got a clue whether I am running in a straight line or some elaborate circle that will eventually drop me back off in the waters. All I can see is myself and the ground directly below my feet. Is this really how I want to continue? Apart of me is hoping Death catches up to me.
Not because I want to die.
But because I want some kind of confirmation that something else still exists.
*****
A grin like none I've concocted in how many years spread across my face, almost dislodging my jaw from its place.
A light.
Just a faint one.
It is so far away that I doubt ill catch up to it soon.
But I know, there is only one thing that could glow out here.
The hunt is nearing it's climax.
I can't wait!
*****
This fatigue is playing tricks on me.
I feel as if my footsteps are getting louder and louder.
And my hearing feels, out of rhythm. Like when you would watch a movie but the sound from the speaker felt delayed.
I think I will stop for a moment. Surely, I have enough of a lead to spare a few moments. It's possible that Death isn't even chasing me. I haven't seen him since I first fled from his scythe.
As I slow to a stop I place my hands on my knees, I take deep breaths, even though I can't breathe. After a short reprieve I stand upright again and take a look around me.
Unsurprisingly, I couldn't see anything.
But I could hear something.
*****
I am close.
*****
The footsteps... they didn't stop. They weren't mine!
*****
"FOUND YOU!"