One Foot In & One Foot Out

Prologue

**Author's Note: This story is best read under dark mode. The illuminating white letters and black background just help to set the tone for the overall story and dark undertones.
Plus, the graphics are best viewed with a black background.

"wake up."

"Wake Up."

"WAKE UP!"

"OPEN YOUR EYES YOU IDIOT!!"

The young woman opens her eyes to look up and see a tall figure standing over her. She doesn't seem to notice her surroundings; just the figure.

Tall, about 5'8, dark blue almost black glasses, and natural black hair done in a style fit for a Nubian queen. Her body was like a pear. Smaller on the top, slim in the middle, and killer hips. She had lengthy legs to match her slim, but toned, long arms, and calves that look like they kick people's butt on the daily. She had dark brown skin that seemed to shimmer a hint of gold with the sun shining on it.

The sun! It was sunny outside. The girl looks over the shoulder of the figure to momentarily look around her.

'Where am I?' She thought to herself.

"You're in a forest. Is that not what it looks like?" The figure says pulling the black wired headphones from her pierced ears.

The young woman looks back over to the foreign and intimidating figure and notices an annoyed expression on her pretty face.

"It's about time you woke up. Get up, let's get a move on. I've got other people to find and take."

The young woman is disoriented. Wait, did the figure read her mind? How did she know what she was thinking?

"Because I've got black girl magic!" The figure expresses to the young woman, posing with her hands on her hips and puckering her well proportioned lips as if she were photographing for the cover of the next issue of Essence magazine.

"What?" She responds confused.

"You were wondering if I could read your mind, which obviously by me saying this, I can. You were also wondering how I could read your mind and I responded, "because I've got black girl magic,"" she laughs to herself.

"How are you able to read my mind? Where are we? Who are you? Why am I here and what do you mean you have other people to find?" The young woman frantically questions while standing up and leveling herself against one of the many ginormous trees surrounding her.

"Take a couple minutes to gather yourself and then we need to be on our way."

"Can you answer my questions?"

"What questions?"

"The ones I was just asking a minute ago and the ones you so graciously ignored."

"Oh, you were seriously asking questions? Girl I thought you were just rambling."

The young woman looks at the figure annoyed, rolling her eyes as a response.

She rolls her eyes as well, begins walking away and says, "The name is Jael. You're dead. I'm here to take your soul to its next destination which means, yes, I am a reaper."

Jael stops short when she does not hear footsteps behind her and turns around to look at the young woman who is wide-eyed looking back at her in horror and says, "Let's go bestie! Eternity awaits!"