The castle seemed deserted as we approached it, but once we came under the portcullis and entered the central keep, it all changed. The gray-washed walls and colorless scenery gave way to bright white walls, a deep red carpet, and lots of brown paintings and furniture stationed all around. People walked all throughout the building,

It was an odd mix of people, I thought. Half of them wore suits and formal wear, and the other half looked like they were getting ready to go to a mosh pit. Black was the dominant color in clothing everywhere I looked, and I felt out of place in my white t-shirt and blue jeans.

Marisha grabbed my arm and steered me to a large desk across from the doors, rolling her eyes at my gaping expression. A woman in formal dress sat behind the desk, her fingers tapping rapidly on a keyboard and watching three screens at once. She seemed hyper-focused until Marisha cleared her throat.

“Ah, Adept Marisha.” The woman said, turning her attention to us with a smile. She looked curiously at me, the normally dressed guy being dragged around. “Is this a new recruit?”

“Yes,” Marisha said, ignoring me as I stared around in confusion. “We’re here to see the Grand Reaper. Or Mikel, if he’s here.”

“The honorable Grand Reaper is away at the moment,” the woman said. “Master Mikel is in his office.”

Marisha nodded once and dragged me away again. Finally annoyed, I jerked my arm free from her hand. “I can walk just fine.” I snapped.

“If you say so,” She threw over her shoulder. “Keep up, now.”

She led me away from the main hall where the secretary was located, and down a smaller hall that headed straight into the depths of the building. There were a dozen doors on either side, but Marisha walked past each one without even glancing at them. She walked up to the final door at the very end and knocked twice. A deep voice sounded from inside, and she opened the door.

“Good evening, Master Mikel,” Marisha said as we crossed the threshold. “I got another one.”

Mikel was a tall, broad-shouldered, and powerful man clad in a black leather jacket and jeans. He looked like he’d been a lumberjack in his past life. He had jet black hair cut short, and a straight beard that grew along his strong jaw. His eyes were dark brown, almost black, and unwavering as they turned to stare at Marisha, then me. I felt a shiver go down my spine at the look. Just his presence seemed to carry weight.

“Adept Marisha,” Mikel said, nodding once, then looked to me. “What is your name? How did you die?”

Marisha started to answer for me, but Mikel held up his hand to stop her. “Let him speak for himself.”

I liked that. I stood as straight as I could under his scrutiny and puffed out my chest. “My name is Silas Redman. I… I was hit by a car.”

Mikel nodded again, as if in understanding. “Not every Reaper is born the same way. Was it painful?”

I thought about that for a moment. Had it been painful? “To be honest, I don’t remember it that much. I’m a little sore, but not that bad.”

He seemed to study me for a few more minutes in silence, then, surprisingly, his face relaxed into a wide grin. “Relax, boy. Gods know you’ve been through enough today.”

In spite of his fearsome appearance, I couldn’t help but obey his instruction. I felt my shoulders slump, and the air went out of my chest as I sighed. He sat down behind his desk and gestured at two chairs in front of us, and we sat down as well.

“My name is Mikel Axtmann,” He said. “I’ve been a Reaper for nearly forty years. I’m Marisha’s mentor and teacher, and yours as well, it seems.”

“Uh-huh,” I said slowly. “My teacher, in… what exactly?”

Mikel glanced at Marisha in slight confusion, then said. “Right. Let me start from the beginning.”

As a student, I could recognize a long-winded lecture incoming. But at least this wasn’t Mr. Jensen’s stuffy classroom. I sat back in my chair more comfortably, prepared to hear whatever Mikel had to say.

“As you can tell by now, you died. You were hit by a car, and your life ended. But you are lucky. You’ve got a second chance at life. Our Lord Death has selected you to be a Reaper. My student found you and brought you to me, so I will teach you.”

He stopped abruptly. I continued to sit silently, waiting for him to continue, but he said no more on the subject. He was leaning forward, staring at me intently, clearly waiting for me to reply. How the fuck was I supposed to reply to that?

“Let me just confirm,” I said slowly. “I died, and now I’m alive again, but I’m required to work for some god of Death?”

Mikel sighed. “No. You will work for the balance. It just so happens that Death is the balance. All things born, and all things die. And if something cheats that process, we put a stop to it.”

“No, thanks,” I said. “If I get a second chance at life, then I’m going to live a normal life.”

I stood up from the chair. Should I bow? He was called a Master, after all. I decided not to. It felt unnatural to consider. So instead, I turned to leave. Another person might have thought my behavior rude, but I didn’t care. I didn’t want any part in this.

“Marisha.” Mikel’s voice was not raised or threatening, but I still felt a chill run down my spine.

Marisha was upon me in an instant. She grabbed my shoulder with her hand and yanked me back roughly. My instincts from years of wrestling practice took over, and I grabbed her hand and had her arm locked in seconds. Then, seeming to realize what I was doing, I let go.

“Sorry about that,” I said. “It was just a reaction. But I’m leaving.”

I almost had the door open when I felt something hard hit me in the small of my back. I slammed against the door, closing it again and letting out a groan. This woman was crazy! I pushed off the door and charged her, my anger getting the best of me. She tried to grab my arm again, but I was taller and much stronger. I slammed my chest into hers, hooked on foot behind her leg, and knocked her flat.

“Let me leave,” I growled, holding her arm at an awkward angle, looking up at Mikel. “You can’t make me do anything.”

Mikel and I stared at each other for several long seconds without speaking, and then I felt Marisha move. Ignoring the pressure I kept on her arm, she reached up with her other hand and smacked the inside of my knee. It buckled, and in an instant, I’d fallen limp. She hadn’t put me in a hold or restrained me in any way. But I still couldn’t move.

“Jesus Christ, Silas.” She panted, sitting back in the chair. “Would you at least hear us out?”

The feeling was returning to my body now, and I slowly clambered to my feet. Realizing now that there was no way for me to leave without permission, I decided to sit back down. I pointedly avoided looking at Marisha, glaring instead at Mikel.

“Fine,” I said shortly. “What are the perks?”

Most people would have disliked the question, but Mikel replied instantly. “Four hundred thousand.”

“W-what?” I spluttered. “Per year?”

Mikel nodded. “You will also be provided first-rate accommodations so long as you live. Your every physical need will be taken care of.”

Wow, that’s a lot of money, I thought to myself. That’s more than I’ll ever need. Hell, I could pay my parents a quarter of that, and they’d never have to work again. But still, this was all super fishy. What would it say about me if I accepted without knowing more? That would be stupid.

“What exactly does a Reaper do, then?” I asked brusquely.