The Executioner

1- Pain.

  
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The pain she felt was excruciating.

She never thought being pulled into existence by threads could hurt so much, but it felt as if knives were stabbing in and out of her flesh. Weaving together the dark and light fabric to create something that should never have existed. The elements seemed to actively pull away from each other with every new piece added.

First an eye, then an ear, maybe the second leg. They never asked for this. It just sewed and sewed. Weaving and pulling at her cloth and skin. Could she really call it skin anymore? It hurt- so, so much. Almost as much as the first time they died.

When it was finally done, she lifted her head to see who was the monster that had brought her back to life. She had come to enjoy floating around in the empty space of the afterlife. It was a simple life, never growing hungry or bored, just existing in space. So what had the authority to pull at her soul like this?

The creature was gorgeous.

Long hair as white as snow, and skin that seemed to glow in contrast to the pure blackness of the afterlife. Her billowing clothing adorned with intricate detail would put any mortal seamstress to shame. Wings sprouted from the back and sides of its head, four in total, that covered its two pairs of eyes. Even with this fact, she could still feel her soft gaze as it caressed her cheek with its warm hand.

"Hello, child." It said, with a smile of warmth "do you know where you are?"

She tried to remember her earliest memory before arriving at the afterlife. The glowing orbs of other's curious souls began to form a small crowd.

She shook her head.

The figure pulled her chin up, examining its work and marveling at her almost invisible stitching. It planted a small kiss on where her lips would be, breathing out softly as she pulled away.

"You may not know who you are, but know this." It said, "You will be known from now on as The Executioner. I have saved your soul from damnation, and you will serve me to my full satisfaction".

She nodded, almost in a daze. Had this figure really saved them? The crowd of souls grew bigger, still, whispering among themselves at the sudden revelation. Who was this goddess that saved the dammed soul?

It chuckled softly "Ah, you're wondering who I am, is that right?"

She nodded.

"I," it said with a sudden rise of power to her voice, "am Inari, your savior. Serve me well, and consider your reward the life I have breathed into you once more."

The Executioner nodded, and Inari pulled her into a hug, caressing her back and holding her head into her chest. It felt right to her somehow, as if they were the only two puzzle pieces that clicked together to form a beautiful picture.

She owes her everything.