• Chapter 1

    What is death? Is it a concept to be feared or welcomed? For some, death is an inevitable part of life.
    Our story begins in the heart of the complex process of death. The Bridge Relm. A girl is seen running through the halls.

    Girl: DM! DM I have important news! This cant be ignored!

    The girl stops in front of a grand door painted black with silver and gold skulls bordering the edges. She knocks with urgency.

    Voice: You may enter...

    The girl immidiately walks through the door to come face to face with the one known as DM. Death Muertos is his formal name and he took his position as the Grim Reaper many years ago. DM's skeletal face is hidden within the dark shadow of his pitch black hood. The bottom of his traditional cloak is smokey and his weapon of choice, the scythe, eerily floats behind him.

    The impatient girl handed him a file with names of the recently deceased. Next to the names is the word "RELEASED".

    Girl: What is the meaning of this?! I did not approve of these ressurrections!

    DM: I know, I approved them.

    Girl: May I have a reason?! Lately you've been quite lenient on the newly deceased.

    DM: Let's just say I felt that they just weren't ready to leave the living world.

    The girl, unhappy with the answer, slammed the folder on DM's desk. Her eyes beamed red with extreme anger.

    Girl: May I remind you that you assumed this position cutting all emotional ties from the ONCE living. You are the only one who can keep the balance between death and life! The fact that you're giving spirits a second chance only proves you're becoming a weak leader!

    The room fell silent. For a moment the girl felt that DM would react in anger to her comment.

    Girl (Thinking): Maybe I said too much... 'sigh' but it had to be done. For the good of the Bridge.

    She watched in awe as she saw DM start to wield his scythe. He sliced through a nearby mirror. DM created a controlled black hole that soon opened up to reveal the Death Record. The Death Record shows how many souls that have passed on under each Reaper's reign.

    DM: Behold! This is my current Death Record! Filled with the most names to date so don't you dare question my capability to do my job! YOU are my assistant and what I say goes! Not you....

    Girl: Well then... (conjours her weapon the double-bladed scythe) I guess I'm going to have to kill you myself in order start calling shots around here. I WILL preserve the laws and conduct of the Bridge as the new Grim Reaper!

    DM: You really think you have what it takes to defeat me!? How naiive you've become over the past years. You may be well trained, but don't think that a few lessons in combat and soul snatching techniques is going to help you pass this test!

    Girl: Don't underestimate me! You and I both know that as long as there are souls to take in the area.... I....LIVE.....ON! What about you DM? How much punishment can you take before biting the big one?

    DM: ENOUGH!

    DM hurled a powerful blast of fire at his once trusted assistant. She easily dodged it and went in for a deadly slice. DM used his spirit shield to keep the girl's scythe from contacting. She fell backwards. Once she gained her footing, she threw her scythe and leaped in the air. DM punched her incoming weapon away but neglected to watch for an incoming attack. The girl managed to kick DM in the stomache. She pulled out a dagger and struck DM close to the heart. DM fell to his knees.

    Girl: 'chuckle' Had enough... "Your Majesty"?

    She picked up her scythe and assumed the beheading position.

    Girl: Well it looks like your reign AND your time is up. I'll keep the balance in tact far better than you ever have!

    As the girl was about to finish off DM, the girl howled in pain then fell to the floor. A dark hooded figure stood with a pistol that's loaded with bullets that drain souls of whomever they strike. However, the girl's special ability renders the bullets ineffective, but not entirely. The bullet only stunned her. The hooded rescuer came to DM's aid.

    Rescuer: Your Excellency, we must leave the area at once. The stun is only temporary.

    DM: And let her rampage through the Bridge? I won't stand for this treason!

    DM came to his feet. He reached in his cloak and pulled ou a glowing wishbone. The wishbone grew to fit around the girl's neck. It tightened rendering it impossible to remove by force.

    DM: This necklace will reject all stolen souls usd to resusitate her. Now one last act to save the Bridge.

    DM picked up his scythe and struck the girl in the heart. He then summoned a tombstone. The tombstone pulled in the girl's lifeless body. DM, the hooded rescuer and the tombstone were then transported to a graveyard.

    DM: It's a shame... She was going to make a great successor... Power went to her head although she had good intentions.

    Rescuer: But won't she just reappear in Bridge again?

    DM: No. Beings killed in the afterlife worlds such as Blue Cloud and Dead Soul Valley remain trapped in their tombstone. The only was to release a trapped soul is to be amongst the living. The human touches the stone and the soul is released.

    Rescuer: So how do souls manage to stay in the stone with so many living humans?

    DM: There is no way for a human to discriminate between a stone with a soul and one without. Also souls can only be released between the paranormal hours of 1 and 2 AM. These hours were proven to be the times with the least human activity in the graveyard. 'sigh' come now we must leave before someone sees us here.

    DM turned around but found the hooded figure gone. Puzzled, DM vanished back to the Bridge.

    DM (thinking): The next assistant I train, I shall warn of the dangers of great power. The story of Emra must be told....

    (HERE LIES CHAPTER 1)