I almost forgot this place existed. Everything in the land in between is either solid rock with no bumps or grooves or muddy versions of the living realm where the two lands overlap as a soul passes.

Everything except for this place.

Just like anywhere this ‘land in between’ has rules. It has a start and an end point, a centre, a top, a bottom and physical laws that govern it. But unlike the other realms, this place is artificial. It serves as a convenience of sorts. Like a magnet attracts other magnets this place attracts souls. And yes. You heard it right. This place is a soul.

Its just a really fucking big soul.

The theory is simple. A big magnet attracts lots of little magnets from far away. This big soul attracts lots of little souls from far away. Now I won’t get into the nitty gritty. Just know that this ‘land in between’ is actually just a big arse soul magnet to make collecting souls easier.

As I approach my destination, I wonder how long it’s been since I last did this. Surely, I have enough credit to buy myself enough time, right?

Walking to my goal I feel a sense of nostalgic eeriness. A dim blue glow can be seen over the horizon. As I approach the glow it slowly gets brighter and brighter until I finally reach it.

Before me is a massive glowing… lake? It looks like a lake due to its massive size. You could even mistake it for a lake if not for the glowing blue smoke wisping off its surface. That smoke sends chills down my spine every time I see it. Knowing what that smoke is doesn’t help either. Once again I find myself wondering what in gods name managed to kill this thing.

“Oi!” I say louder than my casual voice but not loud enough for it to be considered a yell.

Suddenly the mood in the air changed. Tension filled my bones from the tip of my toes to the top of my skull. Every dormant instinct within me woke with a jolt as I could almost feel my bones turn to petrified stone.

Inside the lake. Right in the middle. The smoke started to get darker. And then the water beneath it got darker. The water trembled as that darkness got deeper. It grew and grew until it formed a perfect circle with a radius of at least 20 metres. My body screamed at me to run. Fear consumed me. I wanted to run. I wanted to so badly. But I couldn’t. I was frozen in place.

Me.

The grim reaper.

The ferryman.

Was frozen stiff with fear.

As the dark circle solidified in its darkness the smoke from the lake subsided. Soon only an eerie silence remained. Then suddenly, the darkness moved. It moved towards me quickly but effortlessly. Stopping just before it would touch land.

From deep within the darkness, I saw a slight golden glimmer. A moment later the glimmer grew stronger and began to rise from within the darkness. As it approached the surface a blue glimmer could be seen within the gold. Breaching the surface the gold light formed a circle of about 2 metres in radius. The blue glimmer formed a second circle within the golden one of about half a metre in radius.

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

Once the two glowing circles settle at the centre of the dark surface, they two moved towards me. Stopping right in front of me I stared at them. I could feel them staring back at me.

It was as if they could see me.

No. That was exactly what they could do.

‘MORDARATH’

I heard a loud, deep resounding voice in my head as I fell to my knees grasping my skull.

‘Oops sorry, my bad, it’s been a while since I last talked’

I continued to grasp my skull as I glanced at the creature’s eye which was still assessing me. I wanted to yell at it. It bloody hurt to hear its loud voice in my head so suddenly. But I knew better than to try it. It’s apologising now but not because it actually cares. It’s apologising because I’m the only one it can speak to in this desolate void and doesn’t want me to piss off too soon.

Regaining myself I stood back up. Locking eyes with it the entire time.

“Take me to Asroloth” I said.

“Wow, so soon, what has it been a few millennia and you don’t even have a few words for me?”

I just stared at it. I do feel bad for it. To be used endlessly as a soul magnet due to simple convenience. However, there is nothing I can do. Just those few words took every bit of courage and will power to speak. Heck, just staying on my feet as it stares at me is one of the toughest things I have ever done. It wants a conversation? BE LESS SCARY THEN!!!

As I thought this, I continued to stare at it even though my psyche was elsewhere.

“pfft have it your way then” it scoffed before retracting from me and returning to its previous ‘slumber’. My body started to glow. The glow got brighter and brighter until eventually, I disappeared.

*****

I hold my arm over my eyes as I give myself a chance to adjust to the scenery. That brightness is always difficult to deal with. Compared to the dark and desolate wasteland that I guess you could call my home; this place is… the opposite.

A bright white sun glares overhead, covering everything in with an almost divine halo. The sky isn’t even visible here because its so bright. Trying to see ahead of you is like being a deer caught by headlights.

And yes. We reapers know about that. We deal with a lot of deer souls.

Trying to get my bearing I start moving forward and a bit to my right. I may not be able to see but I do remember where I need to go. My eye sockets just haven’t adjusted yet.

Scrounging around I find what I was looking for. Gripping the big heavy door handle I push, putting my back into it. This door is unnecessarily heavy.

After shifting the door open just wide enough for me to squeeze inside, I quickly throw myself into the darkness within and slam the door shut. Unlike outside there is no light in here.

Much more appropriate for a reaper.

My eye sockets are now trying to undo their adjustments in favour of the dark again. I wish I had eyelids so I could just close my eyes.

Wildly waving my arms around I look for the familiar desk that holds my saving grace. After a bit I find what I was looking for. Grabbing hold of it I bring it closer to my, then holding it by the chain on top of it in front of me with my left hand, I hold my right in front of it and…

[Incarnat]

The item lights up! In front of me is a small lantern with a chain trailing from its tip to my left hand. The lantern is about the size of a skull but looks like nothing so morbid. The lantern is golden brown in colour just like my watch. It has a delicate design that gives an air of superiority about it. A small orange flame flickering at its centre. Unlike other lanterns this one has no glass or even oil supplying the flame. My mana is directly feeding it, and the flame is always under my control.

Holding the lantern out in front of me I walk forward, searching for my destination. It’s too dark in here to see much but I know its not far. As I approach my goal the glow arrives first.

A sleek wooden booth embedded in the wall is before me. The booth has unfamiliar runic carvings across it covering every inch of it. Some small bits and bobs sit on the top of it as well as some paperwork and a clipboard. Yes, believe it or not, this is where the ferryman are managed.

Arriving at the booth I stare at the familiar old codger behind it. Like me he is a reaper, except, he is much older. His cloak covers most of him, however, his skull tells enough to understand his story. The reaper has deep cracks across his skull. The bone between his mouth, through his nose and to his left eye has a gaping crack through it. A few of his teeth are missing where the cracked bone should’ve become his mouth.

“Name”, said the reaper behind the booth in an unfriendly but also unbothered tone.

“Mordarath”, I reply.

“What do you want” we questioned in the same tone.

“My leave”.