Togata enters the mysterious portal. This wasn't the world he knew. The air was thick, and an eerie sound filled the void around him, the sound of thousands of crying souls losing their breath, a creepy low hum filled the air. The ground beneath his feet was cold and unyielding. Standing before him was a figure, impossibly tall, at least ten feet, cloaked in darkness. The cloak seemed to consume the light around it, and all Togata could make out was the faint outline of the creature's head, obscured by the dark fabric of it's hood. In one long boney hand, it held a long, gleaming scythe.
Togata followed patiently. Looking around, the area was darkish, somehow he could see but after walking for a bit Togata had enough, he wasn't used to not knowing what's going to happen next. With his frustration at it's peak, he speaks out.
''Where are we?''. Togata asks.
The figure does not answer it just continues walking, slowly but steadily, Togata following behind.
''Who are you?''. Togata asks.
The figure is silent once again.
''You're not the talkative type are you? Well I wasn't too, but now I'm dead, nothing wrong with change here and there''. Togata jokes, trying to ease the tension and fear that seemed to only be within himself, the figure seemed calm, at ease, like this was normal.
''Where are we going?''. Togata asks.
The figure finally stops moving, Togata is a bit shook by it's sudden lack of movement, the creature lifts it's arm, pointing with it's boney hand towards a wall but not quite what a wall would usually be. A white veil that stretched from the ground into the air for what seemed for eternity, there was no ceiling in this place, just emptiness, Togata looked left and right but no walls, no corners, no end.
''So I'm going? Are you coming with me?''. Togata asks worried, it's been a while since he felt this, fear, the fear of the unknown.
The figure shakes it's head no. But that's all it took, Togata understood.
''Just me huh?''. Togata asks as he looks at the veil then looks at the figure's face trying to make out an expression, smile, frown, anything.
Togata stands there for a while thinking.
''This...This is it? No...It can't be, that must be...The afterlife right? Mom, Dad, they must be right there right? I'm no stranger to the great beyond, or dealing with it, I send aliens and spirits here all the time, but to be here myself, I thought it would be a while, I thought I would have found that alien, got my answers, gotten married, had some kids for Tick of course''. Togata laughs to himself.
''I just thought I would have done more, gotten to...live, really, live, not just work''. Togata says to himself.
''I can't just go, not like this, I'll meet them eventually but, not right now, I have things to do, unfinished business I guess that's the best way to call it, Tick, my new friends, I...I'm not going I'm sorry, sir...Thing. Yeah, sooooo... where's the exit?''. Togata says to the figure as he begins to walk away slowly.
The figure is unmoving but then suddenly before Togata can even fully turn around, as if reading his mind it bends, not fully but just enough to get closer to Togata's face. Even now that it's just inches from him, he still can't see into it's dark hood. Togata is shook, he has no powers, no Tick, just at the mercy of this figure.
''Hello Togata''. The figure says. It sends a chill down his spine, as if the creature's breath itself shook him.
Togata takes a breath then laughs. ''So you can talk?''.
Suddenly Togata can see something, pearly white teeth neatly in a row, a smile. The creature smiles, a twisted smile, but Togata can see nothing else, just this, no eyes, no features just this smile as though it wanted him to see it.
Togata kept calm, his expression unreadable, he's dealt with people like this before, fear, it's the best way to read someone, but Togata wouldn't budge.
''Do you not fear me?''. The figure asked, it's voice tinged with amusement. ''No fear at all?''.
Togata shakes his head no.
''Are you aware of what I am? Who I am?''. The figure asks.
''This is kinda cliche isn't it? You're death aren't you? The cloak, darkness, me being dead...And the scythe kinda gave it away''. Togata replies jokingly.
The figure tilted its head, examining Togata. ''Hmm, just like when you were a child. Death hunted you for so long. But you always managed to escape, didn't you? Now, after all these years, you've finally arrived... unfortunately you haven't brought your friends with you, they too owe me if you get what I mean''. Death explains.
''All in due time I guess, I will be seeing them soon enough''. Death says with a twisted chuckle.
''You know quite a lot, don't you?''. Togata asks.
''Well I can't pretend like I haven't been watching you for a while''. Death replies almost with a calm sigh.
Togata's eyes narrowed. His mind was piecing it together. ''Ahh, I see, yeah, guess so, when you do a job like ours you tend to cheat death a bit''. Togata says unwavering although the previous statement causes some worry in him.
''I guess so''. Death says, the tension lightening.
Togata senses it, and takes the opportunity to make a request as though the two are now friends. ''I want to go back''.
Death's grin only grew wider, stretching unnaturally across his face. ''Do you know how many times I've heard that request?''. He says, his voice dripping with a dark amusement.
''I'm sorry...Death...But I'm going back I have too''. Togata says as he continues to walk away.
Death just watches him walk away. ''That isn't your choice to make, you have two options, one, go into the afterlife and join your parents, or two...''.
Suddenly Death stretches his long scythe just in front of Togata's neck, stopping him in his tracks. ''Die, again, but this time it's a bit different, you'll disappear, like you never existed, no soul, no body, one way ticket to the void, are you familiar with it?''.
Togata sighs and turns around. ''Is there anything I can do, anything I can give you, I need to go back''.
Death laughs a deep chuckle that seems to shake the entire area. ''Oh you rich people, you think you can buy everything, even life? Tell me? What can you possibly offer me? Well, you're not the first one to ask that and you won't be the last, I refused them, all of them''.
Togata stays silent embarrassed by the offer.
''But you... you're different, you can actually give me something quite useful.'' Death says his presence became heavier, more oppressive. He closed the distance once again and leaned in closer, its black cloak brushing against Togata's face.
Death straightened up, his voice now taking on an even more ominous tone. ''I'll make a deal with you, Togata. As you are so used to them are you not? You want to come back to life? Then you'll have to become me''. Death says.
Togata thinks for a bit. ''Meaning?''.
''Exactly what I said''. Death replies.
''Ehh, no, I'd take my chances fighting you than making a dumb deal, I've played these games before, I'm not being tricked, no thanks''. Togata says.
''Oh really?''. Death says as he leans closer, Togata is still able to see nothing but that grin. ''Think of it more as mutual benefit. If I send you back do you know where you'll be?''. Death asks.
Togata remembers. ''Yeah, in an alien spaceship I guess''.
''Great, and you've relinquished your powers correct?''. Death asks.
''Yeah''. Togata replies.
''So tell me, genius, how do you plan to defeat them and escape?'' Death asks.
The words echoed in Togata's mind, sending a chill through his spine.
Togata sighs. ''Damn, and here I was thinking I would be the one doing the manipulating''. Togata jokes.
Death just smiles once again, the tension lightening once again. Togata thinks deeply
''No need to overthink it child, By become me, I mean, I will give you a part of myself, granting you use of my powers, yes, the powers of death himself, you may use them to defeat your foes, and after you have, I'll tell you what I want in return simple right?''. Death asks.
Togata doesn't respond, his mind racing with what this figure could want from him, it's obvious it's a trick.
''Once again, no need to overthink it, I mean I thought you wanted to go back? Tell me, what are you willing to do? To see your friends again, aid them in the fight''. Death says, his voice mocking Togata somehow.
''Anything''. Togata replies.
''Well then, you know the words''. Death says.
Togata sighs. ''I agree''.
At that moment, a glowing contract appeared, floating before him. Togata tried to read it, but it was in a strange language, impossible to understand. Death smiled again, a twisted glint in his grin.
''Sign, No handshake like you're used too, I'm not sure that we don't believe each other to be gentlemen''. Death jokes.
Suddenly a pen appears. Togata hesitates.
''No rush boy, just that you're about to be dissected in about 5 seconds''. Death says sensing the hesitation.
Togata sighs with a smile running a hand through his hair. ''You're never able to read the damn thing are ya?''. Togata says as he signs.
Death grins even wider.
''Done, don't look for me so soon''. Togata says as he signs the contract.
Death uses his scythe to cut into the air once again as light shines from behind him, another portal, Togata takes a breath and runs through it.