Prologue

The grim reaper was a boy, with transparent skin and a black robes.

The grim reaper had a key- though many thought it was a scythe.

The grim reaper existed in between life and beyond, wherever that may be. Time was linear, though unimportant. He’d turn around, and there would be a child, or an old man, or a baby, or a woman. Sometimes they sat there and cussed him out. “Get away from me!” they’d shout. “Leave me alone, it’s not my time yet!” they’d cry. Other times they’d stare off blankly, and let him guide them to the door.

The door was a funny thing- one of his best friends. The door and the key. He’d wait with the newly dead, he’d walk with them, until a door appeared in the black void. Sometimes it would take a while- other times it’d take no time at all. He usually loved the former- the longer visitors usually told him more about Life, about the Before. But when the door appeared, they’d never stay. And he never asked them too.

“Are you ready?” He’d ask instead.

They would always say yes. He’d hand them the key, and they’d stick it into the massive lock.

“Go ahead, turn the key,” he’d step away and watch them turn the heavy key, the little blue lights of their life would race through the grooves along the stick, and the key would glow, the door clicking open, leading you to After. Some went to what could be described as Heaven. Others went to Hell. Some reincarnated, or so he assumed.

He remembered them all. There were hundreds upon thousands upon trillions, but he remembered every single one. Their faces, their reactions, how much they spoke, what they said, and even how long they stayed.

So when someone came back, he knew.

I mean, it could’ve been a doppelgänger, there were plenty of those. The little drop of omniscience that came with his being told him otherwise.

“Uh… hello there!”

Her eyes were just a bit wider than they were supposed to be, her dimple appearing to one side of her mouth as she smiled. She knew who he was and she had an idea that she wasn’t supposed to be there.

“Haven’t I seen you before?” he smiled, trying to seem like this was totally normal. He got the sense that she saw through him anyway.

“Maybe.”

He frowned. He was hoping she’d prove him wrong.

“Hey, don’t look at me, I don’t know,” She held her hands up in defense, “However, I have a strange feeling you’re going to see a lot more of me.” She offered a sheepish grin, almost apologetic.

“I don’t understand,” He cocked his head and looked at the girl curiously.

“Oh,” it was her turn to frown. “Well, I died, and then I walked through your door thingy and woke up two weeks before the death. I just kinda chalked it up to a dream and continued living, until I died again. Seeing you, it all kinda came back to me.”

He stared at her in wonder, deep in thought. After so many people, she was the first to come twice.

“This isn’t supposed to happen, is it?” It was less of a question, more of a statement. The grim reaper just kinda shrugged, not really knowing what was supposed to happen.

“There’s a first time for everything, I guess.”

She nodded. Then something behind him caught her eye, and she dropped her head to the side, leaning to peak around him.

“Aaaand there’s the door. I guess it’s time to go back?” The grim reaper, took a quick glance over his shoulder to see the ancient door, confirming with a nod of his head and disbelief.

“Are- Are you ready?” He stuttered. It was so much faster than the first time. She was more quiet for most of it, talking briefly at the beginning and briefly at the end.

“Yeah, I guess.”

“Alright then.” He stuck the key in the door and stepped back. “You know what to do,”

She stared at the key, then looked back up at him.

“Goodbye, then.”

He nodded once, giving a quick, wan smile. She grabbed the key, her life bouncing quickly through the grooves. The door clicked open. And she was gone.