There was only darkness, and it was in total darkness that I awoke. Scared, I tried to call for someone, anyone. But no one responded, and I felt increasingly scared by the minute. My brain, overworked and senseless, thought it was a good idea to run aimlessly into this empty void. And from within this darkness came a voice, calm and chilling.

"Lost soul, fear not. The more you fear, the more you will be sucked by the abysm."

I stopped to look around, trying to locate where the voice had come from. A vain effort, as the darkness was deep and slurry and prevented anything from shining through.

Freaked out and with little control over my body, I screamed through my lungs and continued to run in panic. The voice responded to my actions with an audible tsk.

"Child, you will turn me deaf! Calm down and the darkness will dissipate!" The voice said, commanding and stern.

"Easy for you to say... why should I trust you?" I retorted back, defiant yet shaking like a weak vine.

Sensing my distrust, the voice gained a sweeter tone, as if to dull me in.

"Trust my words. I bear no ill intentions. Now try to slow your breathing. Inhale... and exhale... Inhale... Exhale..."

Since I saw no other alternative but to trust the voice within this strange place, I slowed down my breath and closed my eyes. Inhale and Exhale.

I repeated it again and again until I felt mildly relaxed. Then, a warm sensation filled my body and all my negative emotions, the doubt, the fear, the panic, disappeared like bubbles in the sky. When I was sure I had them under control, I finally dared to open my eyes, one at a time.

The brightness blinded me for a short while, making it hard to see what was around me. But soon, a daunting vision greeted my eyes. A figure in a black hooded cape in the middle of nothing but a smoky white space. Too blurry at first, I could only tell how tall it was, a giant compared to my tiny stature.

Time allowed me to understand what was before me: the face of an impossibly handsome man.

The rest of his body, however, remained hidden under that cape.

"You must be a little confused..." started the man as he came closer. His face had sharp edges and eyes the colour of midnight purple and was incredibly hard to read.

What a strange person...

He gave me a disproving glance, as if he had heard me, even though I would never dream of saying those words to him.

"Dear soul..." he called. The only change on his face was the appearance of a sad glint in his violet eyes. "Unfortunately, you have finished the cycle of your life." He finished, waiting for my response. When I said nothing, he clarified. "You are dead, dear soul."

"I got that.... but how.... why?? This must be a joke... Who are you??" I rambled while I wandered in circles, hands on my head as if the gesture would help me gather my thoughts.

Dead?! That is impossible! I have so many things I still need to do... no... it is an Illusion... I was too tired, so I fell asleep. This was nothing more than the product of my sleep-deprived mind. It is only a dream, Luna. Only a dream.

The man looked at me with increased sadness. "Dear soul, unfortunately, this is not a dream. I am Death, who oversees all souls."

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

I wheezed, unable to understand how this could be. How death seemed so hollow and never-ending. How a man as enticing as him could bring the news of my end with such a nonchalant expression. But more, I refused to believe that this was all there was for me. That my life was just a mesh of short and unfulfilling moments.

"I look this way so as not to scare you..." he explained, and I noticed a tint of discomfort in his tone. "This image was made according to your, strange I may add, likings."

Whatttttt??? No. Impossible. I never dreamed of mysterious men with luscious curly black hair and eyes like purple gemstones. You, sir, are very wrong...

"No, I am not." he thundered. "And dear soul, please try to be quieter. You are so loud it is causing me headaches."

Sorry, great almighty, is not like I can control it...

However, this just made me sure that I was dreaming. It was ridiculous to think that Death itself could suffer over my loud thoughts.

"This is not your dream." he said, his piercing glance like a dagger, leaving me speechless. "Now, let's go through my business with you. Your body has run its course. However, your passing was not supposed to happen until 70 years in the future. By accident you have come to your unexpected end at 26 years of age..." he completed, allowing me to sink in the information.

And it sank. Badly.

"Accident? Accident?! How come there could be an accident like that???" his words ignited the flames of a wronged rage inside me. It was so consuming I lost all reason or care for my situation. "Are you telling me, dear death, I lost my life because of a mistake from you?"

Even if this was a nightmare, it was outrageous how much he lacked professionalism.

"Please calm down or the darkness will surround you again... I am sure you don't wish to turn into a lost soul..." he said, trying to appease me with a soothing voice that rang deep into the very essence of my being.

And in that moment, panic settled. It felt too real to be anything but my sad reality. I took a long breath to regain my tranquillity and to fend off the dark tentacles that were slowly creeping in.

"Technically, it was not my fault. It was the Book of Souls that had a typo. It never happened before. Unfortunately, you were the unlucky one." He came closer while I stepped away, getting angry again.

"Technically?!" I retorted, surprised at his nonsense. "How?! You know what?! I do not care about it, I just want my life back!" I demanded with my hands on my hips.

How unlucky can I be to die because of a typo?! A TYPO!

If this was real, then my life was nothing more than a borderline crazy comedy.

"Of course, I will compensate you. It is only fair I do so!" said the man who showed himself to be the clumsiest death of all existence.

And for a meagre moment, I had my hope back. The belief that everything would be normal again. That I would return to my intended life.

Yet Death crushed my hope, as one would crush an ant with its shoe, violently and without ceremony. "It is impossible for you to return to that body of yours. The soul book has already been signed with your death and cannot be exchanged. However, I have another solution."

"What solution?" my voice was tight and my body shook. Beneath me, the darkness regained ground and circled my feet. "The life I am entitled to is lost, and I cannot go back. It is not fair and I don't care how you do it, just bring back my life!" I pointed my finger at him in accusation.

He, however, remained stone-faced. "Unfortunately, dear soul, that is not possible. There is no way for you to return to your previous life. The only way for you to return to the Living is by taking the body of someone whose soul has crossed but has yet to be reclaimed by the Book of Souls. I intend to send you to this body. Worry not as it is a youthful body, though in a little difficult situation..." he paused, his nose wrinkled while his eyes got lost in something beyond my presence.

The darkness reached my waist, calling for me. Shouting my anger and misfortune back like a broken mirror. Daring me to be brave against my slim odds.

" I don't care about that! Again, I want my body!" I said.

Death moved too fast for my eyes and I lost him in the nothingness. He then appeared just a breath away, his scythe in between us, scaring me senseless. This proximity allowed me to see that his illusion of humanity only covered his face and not the rest of him. His skeleton-dark hands were playing with the tip of his weapon, making spooky noises that amused him.

"No time for more words. Go, soul, rest and be sure that everything will be fine. As a small compensation for the trouble, I gave you the gift of remembrance. It may be helpful. Or not..." And with a sly smile, he moved his weapon.

Before the impending darkness could swallow me, in that fraction of a moment, I saw Death's true face. With the illusion no longer there for my eyes to see, I understood how scary he was.

And how stupid I had been.