text: *Well... except for a few moments...* &#x200B; &#x200B; \- Alright... Let's see who's next. There was the Reaper, doing its job as per usual. It had just taken a soul to the afterlife, so time moved a fraction of a second. Somebody somewhere was shocked to find themselves in a world of stopped time, but that wasn't the case for Reaper, who had lived that since the moment it was born. It left its crook aside and searched something under its robe. After struggling to find it for a few seconds, it took out a piece of paper. \- Edwin Carlson... Age, 43. Location, New York city, New York, USA. Cause of death, car accident. A wealthy man wanted to try out a racing car... He died doig what he wanted the most. And so, Reaper put the paper back in its robe and picked its crook back up. He raised it and hit the floor with its lower end. Suddenly, Reaper found itself in a racing track. There was a single car, smashed against a light pole. Multiple people were surrounding the car, but only one was moving. It was a man, around his forties. He was walking in circles, looking troubled. He had a lock in his chest. \- Edwin. The man looked behind himself. His legs started shaking, and his face went pale. \- D-D-D-Death! S-Stay away from me! \- No, Edwin. I'm not Death. Death is a natural process of separation between the body and the soul. Edwin gasped. \- Yes. You are already dead. Edwin fell on his knees and started crying. Reaper walked towards him slowly. It picked him up and held him in his arms. \- Calm down. It was inevitable. You can't live forever... If it makes you feel better, you don't end here. Reaper kept trying to calm the man down for ten minutes, until all he did was sob. \- You... You're not Death...? \- No. I'm the Reaper. I'm the one who helps souls reach the afterlife they're destined to have. \- And what afterlife do I deserve? \- The crook will be the judge. Once you're unlocked, you'll be taken there. \- Oh... They both stayed silent for a moment. \- If there's anything you'd like to know or do before your trial... - Reaper said. \- Well... There are a few things I want to know. They both sat. Edwin inhaled for a moment. \- First and foremost, what are you? Are you a spirit? Are there others like you? \- That's something I'm not even fully aware of. All I know is I've been created for the sole purpose of helping souls cross the metaphorical bridge between this world and the other world. \- I see... They both stayed silent. \- There is a Creator, though. \- Oh? And how is he? \- It doesn't have any shape or form, but it does have a voice. A strong, deep voice. \- Is it a loving God? \- Nah. I don't think so. It just wanted to create something. \- So that means... \- Yup. We are all the Creator's experiment. We have no ulterior purpose. \- And how come there's an afterlife? \- Well, it's not a "loving God", but the Creator does grow affectionate of its creations. At least of some... \- What do you mean some? \- You humans have an afterlife. I'm stuck in here. Forever. It's clear it doesn't want me to be with it. \- Huh... Silence again. \- And how does it feel to be the Reaper? \- It feels awful. I was created with a pleasant response to people who embraced their fate, but most people only accept reluctantly. " My job is horrible. Having to tell people who found Death a solution that they're in for more suffering... Seeing people from multiple religions have an existencial meltdown... Seeing the dreams and passions of young people crushed by their own fate... It honestly sucks. And I'm stuck here, living the same nightmare over and over again. Edwin sat there, unsure of what to do. \- I'm sorry to hear... Sounds like a really rough life. - He said. \- It's alright... It's not like I can do anything about it. Edwin thought for a second. \- But how do you know you'll be here forever? \- I'm the one who takes people to the other world, I can't take myself there. \- But what if someone else did? What if the Creator did it itself? \- Don't be stupid, the Creator doesn't care about me. \- And why is that? \- Because I'm going to stay here stuck... forever... Reaper stayed still for a moment. \- Well... I guess you do have a point. Edwin smiled. \- And now, I think it's time for me to go. \- Huh, really? No other business you'd like to take care of? Not even your wife? \- I'll meet her in the afterlife. What is 40 years without her compared to an eternity with her? \- Alright. They both stood up. Reaper pointed its crook at Edwin's lock. \- O, sacred crook, look into this man's soul and seek his actions! Judge them! Were they born from truth or were they created for evil? Only you will judge. The crook increasingly emitted a green light, and once it became intense enough, Reaper touched Edwin's lock with it. A spark came out, and a single chain came out of the lock's lower side. \- Purgatory. \- Huh? There's a purgatory? \- Yup, there is one. Judging by the small size of the chain, it shouldn't be that long a visit. \- Well... I guess I have no other option. Might as well accept it. I completely accept my fate. Reaper gasped lightly. Edwin giggled. \- You're welcome, Reaps. Now, take me there. - he said offering his hand. Reaper took his hand, shocked and perplexed. A green vortex formed below Edwin's feet. \- I guess that's it for now. - said Edwin. \- It... seems... \- Pleased to meet you. \- I... Nice to meet you too... Edwin started slowly descending. They both looked at each other. Just as Edwin's mouth was about to go through the vortex, five words came from it, followed by a smile. \- Hope to see you again. Edwin's hand went through the portal at last. It was all over. The vortex closed. Reaper just stood there, still shocked. \- Yeah... What if the Creator pulled me out itself in the end of times? Reaper got absorbed into this question. It dribbled around it for years and years to come, until the answer was eventually handed down to it.