Kade floated above the grass, arms crossed and a smirk curling on his lips.
"That's just step one," he said, nodding at the still-glowing hologram above Lucas's head. "Now comes the fun part."
Lucas sat up on the lawn, hair ruffled, expression hollow. "That wasn't the fun part?"
"Nope. That was the warm-up." Kade cracked his ghostly knuckles. "Now we go get the Book of Death."
Lucas squinted like he misheard. "The what?"
"The Book of Death," Kade repeated, like he was talking about a recipe book.
Lucas sat straighter, blinking. "Please tell me that's just a cool name. Like, Book of Death sounds edgy, but it's actually a bedtime story."
Kade shook his head solemnly. "Nah. It's the real deal. Written by Death himself. Bound in scythe-forged black leather. Inked in the ashes of expired contracts."
Lucas's jaw dropped. "You're serious?"
"As a heart attack in a horror movie."
"And… where exactly is this book?"
Kade smiled brightly. "With Death."
Lucas blinked again. "With who now?"
"Death."
"…You mean death, death?"
Kade nodded. "The big guy. The scythe daddy. Mr. Bone Cloak himself."
Lucas stared at him, frozen. "Grim freaking Reaper?"
"Correctamundo."
Lucas jumped to his feet. "Okay. Change of plan. We leave the ghost. We leave the system. We definitely leave the bird."
"Lucas—"
"No, no, no," Lucas ranted, hands waving. "You want me to rob Death? Like—actual Death?! That's top of the cosmic food chain! You don't steal from the guy who punches expiration dates into souls like he's checking receipts!"
Kade floated closer, softer now. "I know it sounds insane."
"Sounds?" Lucas snapped. "It is!"
"But it's the only way," Kade said, eyes dead serious for once. "That ghost? It can jump bodies. Any body. Anyone on your street, in your school—your mom. If we wait too long and it leaves Mr. James, we lose the trail forever."
Lucas went pale. "It can do that?"
Kade nodded. "And if it jumps, its hunger grows. More power. More corruption. Eventually, it won't just kill people. It'll open a gate."
Lucas stepped back, mind racing. "So if we don't stop it… hell breaks loose."
"Bingo."
Lucas swallowed. "So… the book will help us stop it?"
Kade hesitated. "Yes and it's said to grant the owner a wish. That's what the demons whisper about it. You find it, you write your name in it, you get one shot at fixing everything."
Lucas looked down, quiet now.
Everything.
His life.
His family.
No more stress. No more panic attacks at night. No more wishing someone would see how broken he was under the smile.
"…You think it could really fix my life?" he asked, voice low.
Kade floated gently beside him. "I know it can. And me? I get peace. Paradise. No more running. No more debt."
Lucas sighed. "I'm still not sure this is a great idea."
"No one ever is, kid. That's what makes it brave."
Suddenly—
CAW!
The raven squawked from the fence. Its crimson eyes glowed, and the holographic system pulsed again in front of Lucas's face.
A new image flickered to life:
A church.
An old, stone-faced church with rusted gates and a crooked sign that read ST. AUGUSTINE'S SANCTUARY.
Lucas squinted. "That's… down two streets from here."
Kade's eyes lit up. "Of course! Funerals. Death visits when a body's about to be buried. He comes to collect."
Lucas frowned. "Wait. You're saying we're gonna steal from Death… during someone's funeral?"
Kade grinned. "Look, timing's everything."
The system pinged again.
[MISSION: STEAL THE BOOK FROM DEATH]
REWARD: 🎁 (Surprise Gift).
FAILURE: ☠️ DEATH
Lucas gawked at it. "It literally says death as the penalty."
Kade peered over his shoulder. "Well, technically it means Death'll be pissed. Like… 'reap-your-soul-and-wear-your-skin-as-a-tie' kind of pissed."
Lucas blinked hard. "Why does everything in this mission sound like the last chapter of a horror novel?!"
"Because it probably is," Kade said cheerfully.
Lucas clutched his head. "I don't wanna die, man."
Kade hovered behind him and put a cold hand on his shoulder.
"I know. That's why we win."
Lucas looked up slowly. "But how do we even see Death?"
Kade smiled darkly. "Oh, you'll see him. If that funeral's really happening today… then he's already on the way."
Lucas didn't respond.
The church bell rang faintly in the distance—dong… dong…
Kade and Lucas both turned toward the street.
"Let's go steal from the scariest being in existence," Kade whispered.
Lucas groaned. "You're the worst tutor ever."
"Aw," Kade grinned. "You're starting to sound like me."
They moved toward the street.
And behind them—
The raven followed.
DING-DONG.
The church bell tolled again—this time louder. Closer. As if each chime cracked open the night a little more.
Lucas stood in front of the rusted gates of St. Augustine's Sanctuary, arms crossed tightly over his chest. His eyes kept darting to the sky, where ravens countless of them circled in slow, tight spirals, like a silent black storm was forming above them.
"Okay," Lucas said, voice cracking. "Hear me out. Maybe we come back tomorrow. Like, during daylight. With a priest. And holy water. And a plan"
Kade hovered beside him, staring straight at the massive, wooden doors ahead. His translucent form shimmered with unease. "Too late."
CREAKKKK…
The gates groaned open on their own.
Lucas gulped. "Cool. Yeah. Totally not creepy. Definitely not a red flag."
Kade floated forward.
Lucas stayed still for a beat. Then sighed. "God, if you're up there… I'm not trying to die dumb."
He stepped in.
Inside the church, a funeral was already underway. The flicker of candles cast long, shadows across the walls. Only a few people sat in the pews silent, heads bowed.
A priest stood beside a closed casket, voice calm, reciting verses that barely echoed through the heavy air.
Lucas clutched his arms. "So… uh… where is he?"
Kade scanned the chapel with narrowed eyes. His gaze landed at the very last row—where a figure sat alone, unmoving. An old man in a black suit, hunched slightly, resting both hands on the top of a bone-white cane.
"Gotcha," Kade muttered.
He floated down the aisle like he belonged there.
Lucas hesitated.
Then followed.
But sat several seats away.
Kade eased down beside the old man.
The man didn't look at him.
But he spoke.
"Kade Voss."
Kade stiffened.
"You look better," the man continued, voice low and smooth, like wind through a crypt. "I remember when I reaped you. You were all fear and flailing fists. No words. No courage. Hell must've been good to you."
Kade kept silent.
The old man turned.
His face was gaunt, bald head shining under the faint candlelight. His eyes—completely white. Empty, yet all-seeing.
Kade took a slow breath. "You're Death."
"I am."
Lucas froze.
Even breathing felt like a mistake now.
Death leaned forward slightly on his cane. "I see you've brought a human accomplice. Why are you here, Wraith? I don't have time. Every nanosecond, a soul is plucked. I'm behind schedule already."
Kade forced a grin. "Well, don't want to keep you, but… I'm here for the Book"
Death blinked. "The Book of Death?"
Kade nodded. "I need it to stop a ghost. One that escaped judgment. It's already possessed a man. We only have three days."
Silence.
Then
Death chuckled.
"Because you've been to Hell," he said, "you think you comprehend the layers beyond layers that govern the balance? You think that tiny, scorched peanut in your skull can grasp the language carved into that book? Even the demons even Xorth cannot read it."
Kade's brow twitched. "Wait. You know about Xorth?"
"I know everything," Death said simply. "And Xorth lied. Your answers aren't in the Book. They never were."
Kade's voice faltered. "Please. I'll return it when I'm done. I swear."
Death finally turned fully, facing Kade with that hollow gaze.
"That's not how it works."
"Why not?"
"Because the Book isn't a tool," Death said. "It's a sentence. A cosmic truth so heavy it breaks mortals. You want to read it?" His voice lowered. "Then let it write you."
Kade stood, fists clenching. "You're just being difficult."
Death didn't flinch. "I'm being final. Now leave, before you piss me off."
A low wind howled through the church.
The bell above rang again , clang… clang… clang.
Lucas stood up, hands raised. "Okay! Okay. We're leaving. Sir. Mr. Death. Reaper man. Really sorry to bother you—"
But Death's head turned sharply.
"Lucas Gray."
Lucas froze. "What?"
"I remember reaping you."
Lucas blinked. "I've never met you before."
"I have," Death said. "Not yet. But I will. You were… difficult. You fought harder than gods. Ran farther than spirits. You stalled me for seven days. That's a record."
Lucas's lips parted in shock. "That… can't be right."
Kade's eyes widened.
Then narrowed in realization.
He leaned in, voice whispering with awe. "Xorth told me once… Death doesn't just see now. He sees all of it. Past. Present. Future. You're gonna die someday, Lucas. And you're gonna make it hard for him."
Death tilted his head slightly. "You were a curious soul. Still are."
Kade suddenly smiled.
"Then reap him now," he said.
Lucas gasped. "WHAT—"
Kade kept going. "If he's gonna be such a headache, why not get it over with? You've reaped gods, right? Celestials? Should be nothing for you."
Death didn't smile.
But he didn't speak either.
Kade stepped forward. "But here's the thing… You didn't . You are going to reap him. And you hated it. That means this kid—this random human—managed to throw you off your rhythm. And that bugs you."
Lucas blinked between them. "What are you doing?"