Everything went white... even the air went stolid.
....
Everything was still white. But... I was still conscious. I could see, hear, taste, smell. Almost as if... I didn't die!
I was lying on something but I was pretty sure it wasn't ground. I wasn't sure where I was because there was nothing but endless white on all sides.
I was amazed that I could process this with all the wounds I had suffered until I felt around for them. They weren't... there.
Where the hell was I?
I got up and tried to feel around for something. Anything. But that was in vain. "Helloooo!", I yelled out to anyone that may have been in earshot, "Anyone there?"
...no response...
I had lost my sense of direction before I took the first step. It left me wandering aimlessly for what seemed like hours. Was I really dead? Was this really what being dead was like?
Endless white. A seemingly endless abyss. The human mind couldn't possibly comprehend this. I kept trying to remind myself that I was breathing, yet even then I wasn't too sure.
I had almost given up hope when I began hearing voices. No, not those voices people hear when they start hallucinating. Actual voices.
In the distance were two hu-... well, I wouldn't call them humans. Well, there was one that was human-sized, at least. But the other... was the height of a flagpole. I kid you not.
Seeing that they were the only other things in existence around here, I felt I'd no choice but to proceed towards them.
As I got closer, they both became silent and turned toward me; as if I was expected there. I would have asked them if they knew where I was... if I wasn't so intimidated.
Don't get me wrong, I'm pretty confident in my own abilities. Take my fight at the plaza, for example. But, this was different.
The tall dude, in front of me, was in a flowing black cloak. I noticed it leaking something... black. It didn't seem like smoke, but it rose into the air all the same. The robe was adorned with black, heavy-looking, chains. He dawned a pair of enormous black wings that were elegant and unscathed in contrast to the rest of his wretched appearance. I could only make out one facial feature, too. Within the shadow of his hood, there was only one glowing, yellow, iris. His aesthetics, alone, weren't what terrified me the most.
A scythe, stretched out across his back, was ferocious in its own right.
Black and full of blades, simply grabbing the staff that held the blade would cut your hands to ribbons. It was covered in chains just as much as its beholder.
The other being, however, simply stayed as a silhouette of a human. No glowing eyes or anything; well, except for a pair of teeth smiling maniacally at me.
I don't know why. I had no reason. I just kept coming. I-it was like my legs wouldn't stop!
He-he was Death, incarnate, and I was basically giving my life away by not turning away!
For some reason, though, I remained calm; physically, anyway.
I, finally, came within five feet away from him and stopped in my tracks. His figured towered over me. I stood there speechless, unable to say or do anything.
"Hello, Child." His voice thundered at me, "You are wondering whether, or not, you have perished. Am I wrong?". I could only manage to shake my head, in response.
"Goods news, you are not dead."
That gave me some comfort. I was about to thank him for the memo when he finished his sentence, "...Yet."
"As of right now," he continued, "your physical body is still hurdling to the ground."
"What?!", I exclaimed, breaking my initial fear into shock. "Fear not, my child," he reassured me, "There is a way you can still survive.". Gee, I mocked in my mind, thanks. "Those markings on your back, may I see them?"
"Hmm?", I had replied. Oh yeah, that's right. I've never told you guys about that.
I was given this weird tattoo from birth. It was a medium-sized circle; in which held very intricate designs and a sigil that I couldn't decipher. The reason I haven't thought about til now was probably for it being out of sight; ergo, it was out of mind, too.
I took off my shirt and jacket, which were surprisingly intact here, and turned around. The entity unveiled a dry, white, skeleton arm from one of his sleeves. It made me shudder as it touched the center of my tattoo.
"Soul...", it said as something started happening with the tattoo. I could feel it glowing. "Release!"
I was pushed to the ground by an immense force. As I caught myself, I heard the sound of glass breaking. For a second, I could feel a rush of energy flow into me. I turned my face to him, "what did...you...?"
"I simply broke the seal that has been restraining your true potential, all this time. You, now, have my blessing."
I felt almost consoled by that notion. "Now, I will take you back.". Another circle, of similar design, appeared below me. "Wait!", I shouted, "Why are you helping me?! Why am I so important that you're literally saving me from yourself?! I don't understand!"
The entity simply laughed and said, "You are an interesting one; being able to question Death so boldly. You're just like your father. It's pretty simple, really."
"You are my successor."
I was dumbstruck. Successor? The thought almost made me fall back. This, this can't be happening!, I remember thinking as the portal swallowed me. I blanked out, yet again.
...
The air started moving again. I opened my eyes to see that I was still falling just like Death had said. "Okay, Death," I said to myself, "You'd better not be pulling my leg". Suddenly, a realization had hit me. HE NEVER TOLD ME HOW TO USE MY WHATEVER IT WAS!!
The ground grew closer and closer. I had to think of something, here and now! I began focusing. Please, I thought to myself, you've got to save yourself! As soon as I felt that I was done for, my body recoiled as if I had launched a parachute. I looked up to see wings... black wings; protruding from my back.
I didn't even notice that i was breathing heavily, nor that the wounds, sustained in the fight, were back. I was just glad to be alive; at least, for the time being.
I glided to the ground softly. I couldn't manage to stand up, so i just fell on my face. I had lost way too much blood and it was starting to take its toll. A reddish black puddle formed on the hard, wet, ground I was lying upon. Before I could black out one more time, I heard voices, again.
"C....?! ...ick! We...t...ge...hi.......pit...l!!"
That was all that I could make out...
I wondered if they saw my wings.
