Walker

"Nori! Do it now!" I hurriedly yelled as panic started to tick in.

"I'll let you see... the melancholy of tomorrow."

|...|

In a silent room, the darkness dwells to keep me company. As the shadows envelop, his smile seemingly shines to guide me.

The hands on the clock must've spun countless now. And with all that time, all I did was lay lifeless on the floor, drenched in my own tears, howling in agony as I draw near to his frigid embrace. My lost soul slowly rots away... for the grim reaper is coming for my neck.

"Are you ready?" A mysterious figure appeared in the shadows and muttered with all calmness.

As if nothing was happening, I casually replied, "You're... real, right?"

"You wanna find out?" He jokingly hollered.

I don't know why, but I feel a sense of calm succeeding my distress. Who knew death would be this... comforting?

"So uh... you're Jon-... no, you're Miles Jeffery V. Reyes?" The mysterious figure said as he pulled out a book and a pen.

Who knew death would be this... unprofessional? I'd assume he knows what to do because it's probably not his first time unless... This guy isn't a new recruit, isn't he?

Heck! Does that concept even exist? Wouldn't that be ridiculous?!

"Y-Yeah, you got your guy." I answered.

"Hmm... you're not on the list. Why the hell are you here?"

What the fuck is this? The grim reaper is supposed to be more menacing and has this air of melancholy around him, but right now, he's messing around!

"I-I'd like to know that myself." I responded as I barely kept myself from lashing him out.

"N-Nevermind that! I don't know how to deal with situations like these, so you have to wait for my superior!"

S-Superior? So this guy is a new recruit?! Again, what the fuck?

"Uhh... may you please enlighten me?" I asked out of disbelief.

"Well, my checklist contains the name and the cause of death of whoever I have to pick up, but I can't see your name! Only the cause of death." The mysterious figure vented as if we were close friends.

"Y-You sure do have it rough, Mister-"

"Tell me about it! It's only my first day, and I have to deal with this bullshit! Why did you have to die in the first place?! You humans are too fragile!" The mysterious figure ranted as he stepped out of the shadows, beet red from anger.

|...|

"A-A skeleton?!" I scrambled away as fast I could and blurted.

Why is he a-... Oh, wait. This guy is the grim reaper. I shouldn't be shocked after all the stereotypes I threw at him.

"Oh... Sorry, I lost my control." The mysterious figure bowed down and apologized.

"R-Raise your head! I-It's alright. This isn't the first time I've seen a corpse."

"A-Anyways, my superior will be switching places with me now, and by the way, don't tell her I told you about the checklist shit!" Mr. Skeleton hilariously asked.

"Wasn't I not supposed to know about that?"

"Bye-bye! Don't rat me out, okay?" Mr. Skeleton said as a bright beam of light came down upon him like thunder.

|...|

He disappeared?! Now that's some classic Isekai shit. He was a great guy while it lasted. I should be meeting his boss any time soon.

"..."

I could hear footsteps slowly ascending in loudness. It's only my gut feeling, but whoever this boss is, they won't be as friendly as my pal, the skeleton.

"So you're finally here." A high-pitched, feminine voice caressed my ears.

It feels like I've heard this before. This soothing sensation flowing through my ears... almost like mother was here.

Don't tell me she really is! I just had a conversation with fucking death himself, so it's a possibility.

"W-Who might you be, ma'am? I gently turned my head around and asked.

"You've heard my voice before, right? Back in the room."

My hands shook out of my control as I clenched them both. And with a voice as shaky as my fist, I stuttered, "H-How d-do you... How do you know?"

"How could I not know? I'm the one responsible for it." In a cold tone, the voice responded.

"Then that means, you ki-"

"I killed your parents? I'm not that heartless, kid." She interrupted in a condescending voice, seemingly unconcerned of all my tragedies.

The thought is killing me inside.

An ostentatious hallucination designed to sober me from my tragedies. An intoxicating distraction from the disturbing truth. Or just another one of my fantasies... I don't know what's real anymore.

"Why am I even here?"

I broke down in tears once again. I've lost count of how many times I've cried. How pathetic... Miles.

"There you go crying again! When are you gonna run out of tears?!" The voice furiously exclaimed.

"You son of a bitch! This is your fault!" While wiping away my tears, I snapped back. "If it wasn't for you, I'd still... I'd still... I'd still be in my parent's room."

"..."

"It's my fault, huh? Well, I won't deny it." Unlike her earlier remarks, the voice answered in a repentant tone.

"W-What do you mean?!" I glared into the darkness she was hiding in and returned.

"I brought you into this world by accident."

My body ceased from shivering, and my eyes widened as wide as they could.

"Huh?" I exclaimed with all manner of suspicion.

"That's why I compensated by giving you an ominous enhancement, but it appears it backfired."

My hands were pulling my hair as if I was possessed. "I don't get it! Why?!" I yelled on top of my lungs.

"Huh... it appears you need to be enlightened." In a pompous voice, she exclaimed as she stepped out of the shadows.

"Listen, kid. Some beings go beyond this universe, and each of them has its own separate realities. The enhancement I gave you isn't the ability to see memories. What I gave you is... the ability to walk in other worlds."