Passing The Mantel

Passing the Mantle

Standing from his throne in the realm of the undead. His bones rubbing together this frail old man a shadow of his former self. Well, not a man but we will get to that in time. He stands up, draws a tattered and very worn black clock over his shoulders. The color has faded from black to gray. He spoke to himself out loud "today's the day. My replacement has arrived after millennia of this. I get to rest." Walking down the stone steps slowly he grabs his scythe and makes his way to greet his guest. The steps took him a few minutes to get down where it used to take him just a few seconds to get down them.

Death walked down the lengthy hallway of his camber. As he did he looked side to side admiring the stone statues depicting his predecessors. What was his mortal name? He pondered this for a moment before speaking to himself once more “huh it appears I can't even remember my own name. Well that's not important now.” Touching his scythe to the large set of double doors causing them to open instantly.

A man stood in front of him, about 6 foot brown hair and a bewildered look on his face. This causes death to chuckle to himself. He had a look much like that one the day he had been chosen.

The boy looked like he was about to piss himself when he saw Death step through the doors. The boy spoke to death in a frantic time “Who are you? Where am I, Most importantly what the fuck are you? Death just stood there letting him have his outburst when he thought the boy was finished Death spoke calmly and with great effort. Even speaking has become a task.

“I am Death. I believe that answers both your first and third question. As for the second question, that one requires a bit more of an explanation. However let us not speak in the hall like a couple of heathens.” Death snaps his fingers and they are transported to a large dinning hall. Predictably the boy stood up and shouted “what the hell was that? How did that happen? None of this can be happening. I am dreaming, yes that is it I am just dreaming.”

“Evan, I am going to need you to calm down.” Death spoke his name and this caught his attention. “You asked me another question if I am not mistaken. Well if you would sit down I will answer that and any subsequent question you have for me." Death snapped his fingers filling the table with mouth watering food. As well as a goblet filled with wine appeared in front of Evan. “Why don't you have a drink and eat something to calm your nerves, you're going to need it.” Evan went to protest but decided to not argue with this strange man. “He was right, however, I am starving. Wait, how am I hungry if I'm dead?” he thought to himself .

Death laughed. "Just because your dead Evan does mean you don't need to eat."

Wait, how did you know what I was thinking? I didn't say that out loud.”

“I have many abilities Evan I am death after all. But this is not important. Let's get back to what is. Your second question was where you are. Well you're in may hall; in the realm of the undead. This is where I live when I am not taking the souls of the departed to the afterlife.”

Evan who at that point had a mouth full of food. Stopped chewing and slowly swallowed. “Wait, you're telling me you are the grim reaper? Like you go up to earth and when someone's time it up you take them to heaven or hell?”” Evans' tone sounded shocked, and very doubtful.

Death spoke “yes and no. I don't often go to earth other than to deal with a difficult soul. Normally when they die they go into the bright light, This is the gateway to my realm. Upon them entering here I judge them and send them to where they belong. Some call it heaven or hell others call it hades. I have also had many names: Grim Reaper, death, Charon and many others. But regardless of the name my job remains the same. I am here to keep the balance.”

Even looks at him “So why am I here?”

“That is simple, you are my successor. You will be taking the mantle of death.”

“What” Evan yelled. “How am I going to be death if your death? Also what if I don't want to become death. This seems pointless. Why does the world even need a death?

Death looked at Evan and removed his hood for the first time. Evan was not sure what he was expecting but a mummified man that resembled beef jerky more than anything was certainly not it. “Well that was underwhelming Evan spoke I was expecting something scary not a walking talking pice of beef Jerky.” Even sneered

Death ignored these comments and camly spoke “ Balance Evan. Balance is what keeps this world running smoothly. Good can not exist if evil doesn't and evil can not exist if good does not. But if the good men don't do what is needed then all it takes is for good men to do nothing for evil to prevail.

” Let me show you what we are ultimately doing this for. Once again death snapped his fingers and once again they were thrust into a different location. However this one gave Evan a sense of peace. "This is the goal." Death spoke

This time they were transported to a beautiful realm. Evan did not have words for what it was. Utopia would be the best word he could use. The gates were pearl wihite and when death approached they swung open. Stepping through the gates Evan’s was left speechless, this place radiated a feeling of peace and serenity. The streets were paved with brilliant colors that resembled gold, emerald, rubies, sapphires.

“This place is amazing, is this heaven?”

"Yes, this is what mortals call heaven. When a soul dies with no regrets and has lived a good life this is where they go to rest, They want for nothing here."

"What do you mean by a good life. By just being kind to people and doing the right thing. Do you have to believe in God and follow all the strict rules that follow?" He asked honestly, curious. “Further more what if you did not live a good life?” Evan asks Death.

For the first time a wicked grin crossed death's face. Without a word he snapped his fingers

An intense heat blasted Evan in the face. A whiling could be heard which caused him to cover his ears with his hands. Death taps him on the shoulders and hands him a pair of headphones. This helped block the sound. Evan looked around and noticed shapeless black forms with red eyes being dropped into a massive black abyss. While a massive creature stood over the hole. He dipped his head down into the abyss. As it brought its head up with a mouth full of what Evan assumed to be damned souls. It chewed them up as they shreked even louder and devoured them. Above that sat tables with people strapped down. As a 10 foot tall horned monstrosity tower over them peeling the flesh off their bodies. Death snaps his fingers one final time and they were transported back to his realm.

"What, what, what was that? Hell? What was that monster, that wealing. The things cutting up other people. Why would anyone be forced to that place what could you possibly do to get that fate? "Evan was crying his face had lost all color, the fear was clear in his face.

“I am sorry I had to show you Evan but I needed you to understand. We have these places for a reason. He let out a heavy sigh and continued “ If we don't do our jobs and make sure the souls get to the right place then this world will collapse in on itself. So this is the burden or our charge. But it is a noble change and when rest comes. We will finally know the bliss we gave to so many others." The seriousness in which death spoke these words took Evan aback.

“Evan it is time to take my scythe and accept the mantle of death. My time has come to an end and I finally get to rest. Once you take the scythe all the knowledge will be bestowed upon you.” Death extends his arm and Evan takes it,

Evan takes the scythe. A flash of light filled the dark chamber and when cleared Evan was dressed like his predecessor. Flowing black robe scythe in his hand. memories flooded him from all the previous deaths. Once this mental download for lack of better word was finished Evan knew everything he would need to do this job. Evan looks for the former death but all that was left was his tattered cloak. He realized one more monolith had been erected in seconds and that a statue sat sentry looking over Evan as he took the mantle of death and kept the world's balance for however long it remained his duty.

Evan walked up the stone steps and sat on the throne. He looked at the old death statue and spoke. “I will not let you down. You choose well when you choose me. But I think I will be just a bit more hands on than you.” Just then he heard the call of a soul that was ready to depart “well no time to rest on ceremony time to go to work for me. He snapped his fingers and went to work