Of Death and Decorum

    "The choice is yours, Daniel," Death said, as he motioned towards the two eternal doorways before them with a nonchalant wave of his arm. Death and Daniel stood side by side, shoulders level with one another. Not just their shoulders, but everything was level between them as they stood there, gazing into the eternities that branched out from behind the windows to the afterlife. Death always took a form close to his patients when their time came to speak with him. For when Death had taken the contract from this God he had decided it to be wisdom in himself to try and be equal with those to whom he spoke. 

    The God of this realm was one of justice. The souls of those he was assigned to reap were His children. Death had assumed it would be a nice touch; he took pride in his work after all. His height, breadth, thickness of body, and even perceived attractiveness were all similar to Daniel's. Though he always kept his characteristic "dead" look. Pale skin, raven hair, and hooded clothing. He figured it was easier for people to tell who he was this way. Created less confusion. Life was hard enough to figure out. Why make them suffer more in death?

    "What is this place?" the boy asked. Daniel was still young when he'd killed himself. Seventeen. He appeared to be fairly average in most every way. 5'10", slightly athletic build, short, messy, brown hair and matching dim, lifeless eyes. Yes, average in every way except for the awful gloom that had surrounded him his entire adolescence. Of course, that was gone now. Upon dying, Daniel was able to see and recognize those dark spirits surrounding him and was able to shrug them off for the first time in six years. They scrambled and screamed as they ran from him, terror filling their hollow eyes. They always did. Spirits that malicious were only assigned to those who had been truly magnificent before their earthly trial. Generals in the war that had them cast out in the first place. The war that decided who got the bodies and who got to experience life. The war that decided who got to progress and who didn't.

    Of course they were more than happy to harass and sculpt the boy's life. With his memories from before restored though, no matter where Daniel went, he'd always be stronger than the pitiful beings that had dragged him down and torn his spirit raw. Death took comfort in that.

    "You're stalling, Daniel" Death said as he again glanced towards the doorways.

    "I—," the youth sputtered

    "It's alright," Death sighed. He sat down on the grassy hill, then patted for Daniel to do the same. The boy seemed to relax visibly as he did so. "Eternity is a big decision. Take all the time you need, but don't spend it here." The wraith then reached into the front pocket of his black hoodie and pulled out two Dr. Peppers. They were Daniel's favorite.

    "Thanks." Daniel said as he took the drink in both hands, smiling. Seeing that almost makes this job worth it, Ellheim. Death thought as he gazed into the boy's face. He hadn't been able to before, but now he could definitely see the resemblance in this child to his creator. In that moment, Death thought he saw God smile as well.

    "You should be able to recognize it," Death stated.

    "Recognize what?"

    "This place, I pulled it from your most peaceful memory. You asked where we were."

    Daniel looked around. Head cocking this way and that. They were on a hill. Empty football stadium and bleachers in front of them; his high school on the right. Yeah, he remembered.

    "I don't get it though. I thought this place was one of the major reasons you did it. Why is this," Death said with a grand wave of his arm, "your most peaceful memory? You hate it here."

    Daniel took a long sip from his drink and set it to the side, then fell backwards. He lay on his back, with arms behind his head, one knee propped up. Baffled, and in an attempt to make sense of the memory, Death did the same.