✨ONC 2021 Round Two Qualifier + Ambassador Pick, 2021 Shortlist✨ 57. Death had records of everyone's existence. Except according to Death - your records don't exist. Jared Johnson had two things he most desired in life; a loving wife, and a dream job working in the life-giving department of Natural Progression. It was his responsibility as a Liveliness Inquisitor to investigate and initiate the proper records for an unborn's right to exist. Human life did not occur until Natural Progressions granted it. Five years later, his comfortable life changed forever. Someone illegally used Jared's credentials to initiate life. Although proven innocent, Jared's reassignment to the Death department, processing death dates for the end of life, began to siphon the life out of him. Jared decided to seek employment elsewhere and in the process, discovered the impossible... He had no death record. In a world with predetermined life spans, what did it mean? Word Count: 30550