“To the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.”
― J.K. Rowling
Chapter 1
She didn't want to watch the EMTs take her body away, she didn't want to watch the people around her cry, hold each other, and curse God for taking her away, but she knew that she had to watch the fruit of her labors.
A young woman by the name of Abigail has taken her own life, and is now watching as those around her felt the pain and emotion she went through as she swallowed the pills. She didn't know how she could still see what she saw, but due to the moment she didn't care.
Abigail sees a couple desperately trying to go to her body, but the police hold them back. She knows this couple; they were her grief stricken parents. They’re tears were flowing like the greatest river, but the rain made it seem almost unnoticeable, but Abigail saw, she wish she didn't.
Surrounding her were familiar faces and some new ones, she saw her neighbors, her fellow students, the police officers desperately trying to force reporters back, the ambulance workers trying to necessitate her, but knew it was in vain. But one face stood out amongst the crowd, or more or less the lack thereof.
The figure was floating no more than a few feet of the ground; it wore a grey, wavy cloak that concealed its body and face, but not its glowing white eyes that stood out like a flashlight in total darkness. It also sported a tool on its back, a scythe to be more precise. Abigail knew who the figure was, and she waiting for it.
She approached the being, ignoring the sadness that lurked around her, the reporters asking they’re questions to the police, and the crying couple holding each other for dear life. She kept walking till she was mere inches in front of the creature.
The being began to speak, its voice deep, and foreboding.
“Greetings, Abigail. My name is-“
“Death, I know who you are” Abigail finished.
Death didn't react the way Abigail expected him to, he simply chuckled.
“Well, you know about me, not a surprise given how you mortals have portrayed me throughout your books, art, and films”
“Let’s just move on with this ok? Im not in th mood for formalities” Abigail said.
“In a hurry to move on are we?” Death asked.
Abigail simply nodded.
"Well, sorry to disappoint, but you will not be entering the afterlife”
Abigail looked at Death with an anger filled expression.
“What?! Why?!” Abigail shouted at Death
“You possess something that proves useful to me” Death stated in an almost monotonous voice.
Abigail now looked at Death not with rage, but curiosity.
“What could I possibly possess that the potentially billions of other people on this planet don’t have?”
Death didn't speak; instead he waved his hands in front of Abigail, and in an almost instant a ring of purple fire surrounded the pair.
“Wha-“
“Do not speak, only listen and watch” Death interrupted, in a booming, commanding voice
Abigail complied.
“Good, now, you wish to know what makes you important?”
Abigail nodded
“instead of telling you, I will show you”
With that, Death raised his now visible bony white hand into the air, and disappeared along with Abigail in a puff of black smoke
Abigail awoke, surrounded by a pure white light, and bright she had to avert her gaze with her hands. After getting used to the brightness, she heard a voice.
"Rise, Abigail"
Abigail did just that, she stood up, removed her hands from her eyes, and looked forward to see the Death standing before her, looking as ominous as ever.
"Now then, you want to know why you won't be going to the afterlife?"
Abigail nodded.
"Well, you are going to be my agent" Death said bluntly.
"An...agent?" Abigail asked.
"Yes, my agent" Death answered.
"What does that mean?"
"It means you now work for me, Abigail"
Abigail was silent.
"Something wrong?"
"Uh, yes something is wrong! Why am I working for you?!"
Death looked at Abigail with an almost annoyed expression.
"Its a way for you to repay your debt" Death said
"Debt? What debt?"
"The debt you owe that girl's family" Death said.
Abigail was now silent again, but with a grim expression plastered across her face.
"H-how do you know about t-that?" Abigail asked
"Abigail, I am the lord of the dead. Don't ask stupid questions like that"
"S-sorry"
"Think nothing of it, anyways I thought you would be happy about repaying her, isn't that why you killed yourself in teh first place?"
"Yes..."
"Im sorry, what was that?"
"Yes..."
"I still can't hear you"
YES!
Death simply watched as Abigail tried to hold back tears and regain her composer.
"Yes, I killed myself thinking that would make us even ok?!" Abigail yelled again, but this time much softer then before.
Death still didn't say anything.
"It wasn't fair for her to lose her life over my mistake! It was me who should of died, not her!" Abigail said, tears now streaming down her face.
Death was still stood stoic, not saying anything and simply watched as the girl before her cried, letting out emotions she should of let out when she was still alive.
"It should of been me...." Abigail cried.
Death had seen enough, he approached the sobbing girl, and placed his skeleton hand on her shoulder, and spoke.
"Taking your life does not make up for taking hers, but if you work for me, it will get you the closure you want"
It took a while for Death's words to sink in, but they eventually got there. She wiped her face of any remain tears, stood up from her kneeling position, looked Death straight in the face with eyes that held determination and spoke the words that would change her life forever.
"What do I have to do?"
Death smiled under his cloak
"Since you asked, you will become a Wraith; my personal taker of souls" Death said
Abigail looked at Death with a now burning curiosity.
"You will be sent to another universe, to where I have sent others like yourself" Death stated.
"There you will hone your skills as a Wraith, and become strong enough to fight"
"Might I ask the name of this universe?" Abigail asked.
Death chuckled.
"The name of this universe my dear Abigail, is Iris Harmonia"
"Never heard of it"
"You will know it soon enough, once your partner is ready"
Now Abigail was curious.
"Partner?"
"Yes, you don't think I would send you to a whole other universe alone would you?" death asked
"I would prefer to work alone if preferable" Abigail said.
"Well...too bad"
Abigail simply groaned in response. Why would she need a partner? Was she not strong enough? Wasn't this task just to redeem herself? All these thoughts raged through Abigail's subconsciousness, until she heard a unsettling noise. The sound of fire.
"Ahh, it appears your partner has arrived" Death said, now looking in another direction from Abigail.
Abigail looked around, but saw no one. Then Death pointed towards another direction, to which Abigail looked. and saw something truly horrible.
There a few feet before her, stood what appeared to be a burning, decaying carcass. One of its arms cut in half, showing a bone. Its clothes, which resembled a school uniform, were being burned away from the waist up. It face was almost a full skull, only having a bit of flesh still attached to the cheeks.
If the creature did have hair before, most of it was gone, only having a few lingering patches left on the top of its head. One if its eyes has literally melted out of its socket, leaving only one left. The flesh on its arms were melting away, leaving bony replacements, same for its legs.
The creature noticed Abigail, and began limping towards her, with a raised, bony white hand. the creatures mouth opened as if it were trying to scream.
this became to much for Abigail and slowly fainted just before the creature reached her.
Hey...
A voice ringed in Abigail's head
Heeey...
This voice wasn't Death's deep almost terrifying voice, but this one a rather soft, relaxing, nurturin-
WAKE UP!
Abigail felt something hit her forehead, it was all it toke to wake her up from her slumber. Her eyes shot open to be greeted by sunlight, and a figure next to her.
"OW!" Abigail yelled.
"Sorry, but you weren't waking up" said the now visible voice.
The voice belonged to a boy that looked around Abigail's age. He wore a light blue school uniform, with matching black pants, he also had golden, blond hair, with crystal blue eyes.
"He's cute..." Abigail thought.
"Aww, thanks! the boy said.
"What the?! Did you just read my mind!?" Abigail asked frantically.
"Huh, guess I did"
"H-how is that possible?"
"Don't know, guess its part of being each others partners"
"Partners?" Abigail said.
"Yep!" the boy said smiling.
"That's what the boss man said!"
"Boss....man?"
"You know...Death?"
"Ohh" Abigail remembered. She was now working for the lord of the dead, and this would be her partner.
"Let me introduce myself, my name is Danny D. Williams! And you must be....?" Danny said.
"Abigail" Abigail simply said
"That's a nice name!" Danny said.
Abigail blushed.
"This guy is my partner?" Abigail thought,
"Well, you make it sound like you don't want o be my partner" Danny asked, now sporting a frown.
"Dammit, no that's not what I meant" Abigail said.
"Ohh ok then!" Danny said, his frown now a smile.
Abigail was a little confused on how Death could pair her with someone like this. She thought she would be paired with someone who was sad they had jsut died, but this boy appears to be happy about it almost. How can someone sport a smile when they just died?
"So, Danny, where are we?" Abigail asked., now sitting in an upright position.
"Well, while you were sleeping, I looked around and found that we are in a forest, a few miles away from a town near here" Danny stated.
Abigail looked around and they were indeed in a forest, birds could be heard chirping, and tree's leafs could be heard rustling from the wing. She could also hear running water, though she couldn't see it.
"Huh, why didn't you get help from the town?" Abigail asked.
"I don't think its a good idea to go into town just yet" Danny said.
"What? Why not?"
"Cause they are ponies" Danny said,
"Ponies?" Abigail asked.
"Yep!" Danny said, smiling.
"How are you so calm about this?!" Abigail asked.
"Well, at first I freaked out, but then I saw how cute they looked!" Danny said, now smiling even bigger with his eyes shut.
No one can possibly be this calm.
"Ohh, I also met one!"
This made Abigail stop thinking and asked the question.
"You...met a pony?" Abigail asked.
"Yeah, he was really nice! He's even getting some food for us"
"He's....bring us food? Two completely different creatures that he has never seen before?"
"Well, he thought we were hairless monkeys in funny outfits"
"Outfits?"
It was then Abigail noticed she was dressed like a witch, hat and all.
"What....." Abigail simply gawked at her outfit.
"Im pretty sure I didn't die in this!"
"You...died?"
Abigail and Danny looked behind each other to see a light blue colored pony whit a dark brown mane, with the mark of an old clock on its flank, staring at the two of them like he had seen a ghost.
"Hey! Clockwork! Your back!" Danny cheered as he ran towards to pony.
"This is the pony you met, Danny? Abigail asked.
"Yeah, his name is Clockwork!" Danny said
"Really? I never would of guessed" Abigail said sarcastically.
"So, you two can speak? Clockwork asked.
"We sure can!" Danny said.
"Huh, I thought you two were some hairless monkeys and wanted food, which I brought"
As Clockwork finished, he took out a basket and placed it on the ground, and opened it to reveal several fruits, small pastries, and animal feed.
"We can eat the fruit and cakes, but not the animal food" Abigail said, looking at the food.
"Sorry" Clockwork replied.
"its ok Clockwork! I love fruit and cakes! Danny chimed in.
"Yeah, I like fruits too" Abigail said.
Clockwork smiled upon hearing that they at least it something.
Soon after, all three sat down and began eating.
"So you two are from another universe? And you are called humans?" Clockwork asked.
"Yep!" Danny added.
Abigail just nodded.
"Huh, cool"
Just then, while taking a bite of an apple, Danny's ears twitched.
"Hmm?"
"What is it, Danny?" Abigail asked.
"Thought I heard something"
Clockwork and Abigail then looked around.
"I don't see anything" Abigail said.
"Me either" Clockwork added in.
"Oh well, must be my imagination" Danny said, then proceeded to finish off the rest of his apple.
Unbeknownst to the three, there were a pair of purple glowing eyes watching them from the tree tops.