"Must we rehash this boring routine yet again?" Azrail sighed.

Abraham's response was simple. He sent a series of jabs all aimed at Azrail's nose. Passion, experience, and rage punctuated each strike.

Yet, just as before, Azrail seemed to move just out of reach of each attack.

CRACK!

Azrail stumbled backwards and had to quickly roll to the side as Abraham tried to slam his heel down onto the frail man.

Abraham smirked as the sound of snapping bones repeated in the courtyard.

A white sleeve wiped the blood from Azrail's nose as he looked at Abraham's elbow that was quickly repairing itself. "So, you broke your arm to extend your reach." he mused. "Too bad you didn't finish me with it. I'll be expecting that now."

Abraham spit on the ground as he glared at Azrail. "I'd hoped your humbling at the party would've taught you to shut your big mouth now and again."

"I guess it didn't." Azrail replied as he opened his arms towards Abraham, as if he was going to give him a hug. "Seems nothing short of death will shut me up. Too bad that day is far into the distance."

Yo! Somebody call for me? Death asked as he suddenly appeared behind Azrail.

Azrail almost jumped out of his skin, and quickly turned around. In the brief confusion, Abraham leaped forward.

As the holy man approached his target, a skeletal fist slammed into the side of his chin. Just before the silver hand made contact, Azrail had already started to turn around with a world-weary frown on his face.

"It would be unfortunate if either one of you took things too far." Sid explained.

Azrail was now facing Sid as he quickly stopped reaching forward. Abraham sat up and grumbled as he set his jaw back in place.

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Huh? Did I miss something? Death asked.

Sid stood up and shook his head. "Nothing important. Just two killers trying to finish each other off."

"Why, I meant no such harm," Azrail lied as he opened his arms wider. His eyes couldn't help but glance behind him towards the skeletal personification of death in a novelty t-shirt.

Abraham scoffed as he stood back up. Still clearly on edge, he said, "Yeah, and I'm just an innocent little girl."

Uh, did I just walk into some weird roleplay thing? Death asked as he took a couple steps back. I mean, chill on you guys if you're into that, but I'd rather not peep any of that freaky stuff in person, you feel me?

Sid seemed to ignore Death as he declared, "You are both dangerous. However, you are also stuck here with us. There may be some opportunities to leave in the future, but for now we are all trapped in this prison together. It would be best if we could learn to at least stand one another."

"Trouble in paradise?"

A shiver went up Sid's spine as he immediately turned around. Standing there without a care in the world was their old nemesis. The man constantly coated in shadows, who always wore a smile on his face. The old god they used to pay tribute to so they could survive. They had killed him, and yet, here he was. Standing there as if nothing had happened.

But...you're dead! Death gulped.

The smiling man gave a short bow. "No, I believe you are death." he said.

"We saw you die." Sid said as he took a step back but also as he clenched his fists.

"You know, I've been meaning to thank you for that." The smiling man giggled. "Do you know how hard it is to leave a job with your head intact? In this market? Nearly impossible I'll tell you that."

In one smooth motion, Death pulled out his scythe from under his shirt. Somehow, he managed to avoid snagging the blade on the fabric.

As he held the weapon up, Death asked, Fine, you survived or whatever, but what are you doing here now?

Abraham grinned and stood up to join Sid and Death as they stared down the mysterious man. While Azrail stayed back and watched the four of them carefully.

"Me?" The smiling man asked in mock innocence. "Why, I'm only fulfilling my promise to you."

"What promise?" Sid queried as he took a small step forward.

The smiling man grinned maliciously as his head tilted down towards Sid's foot. "Ooh, feeling brave? Why, I'll still take you on right now. I could personally introduce you to what real death is like."

Hey! I'm plenty real, dude. Death complained.

The smiling man let out an uproarious laugh. "Ah, if only your big friend was around. I'm sure he would light the spark to this powderkeg. Ah, you lesser beings are always so predictable."

"I think you will be surprised by the progress we have made since our last encounter." Sid threatened.

Abraham grinned cruelly as he licked his lips. He looked like he was itching for this fight more than anyone else.

"I would love to see that, but alas, I think it's almost my turn." The smiling man shrugged.

Death pointed his scythe towards the smiling man. Your turn for what?

"Why, what else? Karaoke of course!"

"You...what?" Sid asked in clear confusion.

"I promised I would bring my friends for some fun at karaoke, remember?" The smiling man chuckled. "Well, I forgot when I was here earlier, and poor little Will. He wanted to meet up again so bad that I figured sooner was better than later!"

The smiling man turned his back on them and started to walk away. "It just felt like the polite thing to do was to let you know. Besides, your golden goddess will be coming to visit any time now. I just hope you're prepared for that."

Sid's eyes grew wide. "What do you know about her?" he asked in a rushed voice as he started to walk after the mysterious man.

But it was too late. Somewhere between his steps, the smiling man had completely disappeared.

The silence they were left with was replaced by distant music. The sound was distinctly 90s as a distant voice rose up among it.

"Look around your world, pretty baby

Is it everything you hoped it'd be?

The wrong guy, the wrong situation

The right time to roll to me

Roll to me"