Let's get one thing clear, If I were allowed to cuss, I would be screaming several choice words at the top of my lungs. I had no idea where Life was at, and I sure as helium wasn't turning around to look. I rushed through the forest and through a creek. Water splashed around my feet; each droplet burned my skin. I stumbled, but kept going. I didn't know how long I ran.

Death's scythe grew heavy in my hand, a lead weight begging me to drop it. I wanted to. I wanted to drop it and collapse to the ground. Instead, I tightened my grip and kept running. I couldn't hear her behind me, but I kept running, even as the metal blade began to scrape on the ground. My arms ached and my legs burned. I gritted my teeth and kept running.

Where was I going, I didn't know. There wasn't a safe zone or barrier I could head to. No place to go, I knew one thing: I couldn't get caught., not until Death had the scythe in his hands. If Life got her hands on it again, if she destroyed me, the world would be plunged into the apocalypse. The thought made me pick up my pace.

I rushed into a small clearing, leaning my weight against a tree for a brief second before pressing on. Only when I reached the stone and noticed the circle of dead plants did I realize I was back where I started. The bubbles swirled through the air, moving out of the clearing on a gentle breeze. Everything went still.

Something was wrong.

Metal whirled through the air. I ducked, and I felt the weapon pass by my head. "Can you stop trying to give me a haircut?" I asked while running a hand through my hair. "I like it the way it is."

"I see my brother didn't think to teach you about how this place works," Life said. I turned in time to see her weapon return to her hand. I raised an eyebrow. "Can't you feel how much energy it's drained from you? Your soul feeds off of Death's energy. In case you weren't aware, mine is the exact opposite. That scythe is the only reason you're still standing."

"So, what you're saying is I shouldn't give it to you."

Her laugh hit the trees as a gust of wing. The branches clashed together and rung like wind chimes. Logically, it made no sense, but what did in this place? Another breeze ran through the clearing, lifting Life's hair. The cherry blossoms blooming in it blew away petal by petal, and small sunflowers quickly replaced them.

"Ardia, sweetheart, soon it won't matter if you give me the scythe or not. If you stay here much longer, this place will overwhelm you and your soul will dissolve into nothingness. If you make these easy, I'll destroy. It'll be quick and painless.

"Sorry, but fading into nothingness isn't on my to do list, so I'm going to pass. Nice talking to you though," I said, turning around. I tried to take advantage of her shock, but metal bit into my side before I could take a step. I looked over my shoulder. Life held her weapons in a way that should've left blood dripping onto the ground.

"You're not leaving." As if to punctuate her sentence, her dress shimmered. It morphed into a white tunic and tan pants. Her hair hung loose. The only issue I had with her were the words that came out of her mouth. Actually, the only issue I had were the words that came out of my mouth.

"I'd like to see you stop me." My words were infinitely braver than whatever courage I could muster. I couldn't win. There wasn't a way for me to win. She knew her home. She knew the rules governing it. I didn't. The only thing I knew about Life's dimension, the only thing I knew about the place came from Life. She didn't lie. Standing in place, leaning my weight against the scythe, took more energy than it ever should've. If we escalated into a full out fight, everything would've been for nothing. All of Death's hard work over the millenia, all of the time spent hunting the immortals, all of it would be for nothing. I couldn't afford a fight.

Life rushed me, throwing her weapons. Somehow, I reacted quick enough to deflect them. Only a momentary victory, since the weapons flew back to her hands. Her eyes scanned my tired body, searching for weaknesses. She found plenty; I was tired, blood streamed from my ankles, my hands, legs, and feet were covered with small burns, more blood poured from my side, and my spa covered, waterlogged clothes did nothing to help my mobility.

The second time her weapons flew towards me, I think I surprised us both. I dodged around them and rushed forward. I swung the scythe through the air, wishing Death would've taught me more offense than defense. Life leapt back with only a tear in her shirt. My swing carried through, the scythe heavier than I could easily handle. Life took the opportunity, and I ended up with another slash to my side.

I spent most of my time dodging attacks, with the occasional mental reminder to give Death a hug if I survived. How he did this and dealt with Life as much as he did, I couldn't figure it out. A chakram flew towards my face, I ducked, and I flung a hand towards her. I prayed to someone, not God, that it would work. Ribbons flew towards her. They wrapped around her leg and I pulled, causing her to fall onto her back. I launched myself at her like she was a turtle and I was something that ate turtles. My left hand moved back as I prepared- Sharp burning pain. That's all I felt. I kicked off of Life. I pressed my hand to long, deep bleeding gash in my stomach.

Not good. This is not good.

"Give me the scythe. You know you can't beat me," Life said, pulling her foot free from the loosened ribbons. Retracting, they coiled around arm. My eyes fixated on them before moving the the three injuries I sustained in the last four minutes. I wrapped the ribbons around my stomach. It wasn't a cure all. It only slowed the bleeding; it didn't stop it, and I couldn't use my right arm without losing the pressure keeping me from bleeding out.

I glared at her, not surprised when it didn't faze her. She didn't flinch when I rushed at her. Both of us knew I was running on fumes. My body shook, making it harder and harder to attack and dodge. Each moment I spent fighting her, each time I took another hit, her powers eroded away more and more of my energy.

I didn't have much time left. I couldn't keep fighting. So I did the logical thing, I started running. My arms pumped as hard as they could. I gasped for air, despite not needing it. At one point I had to stop and throw up, before continuing on in a stumble. No matter how slow my pace began, Life never found me. Why would she look for me? She said it herself, this place could kill me on its own with no help from her. I almost dropped the scythe, but I managed to keep it. The moment I dropped this was the moment I died. The thought of laying it down did pass through my mind. It was going to happen soon enough, why prolong the inevitable?

At the same time, I could hear a voice telling me not to be stupid. How could I sacrifice the entire world because I wanted to stop hurting. My concious could be a real masochist sometimes.

I struggled through walking, tripping on my own feet. I bumped into trees and branches I knew were there. I wanted to lay down and close my eyes. Instead, I leaned against a tree. A small break won' hurt, right?

Turns out it did.

In that brief moment when my eyes were closed, Life decided to attack again. I don't know how I managed to get away, everything was blurring together. Blood ran down my arms, my legs, my face. It trickled from my lips.

"Gotta get out of here," I mumbled. My blood slicked the handle of the scythe. I swung it, trying to hop my way back to Death's dimension. Nothing happened. I tried Heaven. Nothing happened. I tried Hell. Nothing happened. I wanted those place because I could get back without swinging the scythe again. I knew I wouldn't have the energy to.

I took a deep breath. It was going to kill me, but at least Death would get his scythe back. I swung the scythe, and I warped to Earth.

I didn't land on the ground for a few seconds. My body slammed against the pavement of an alley, sending the scythe crashing from my grip. I laid there.

I didn't move.

I had no energy to move, even so the ground felt nice. It shouldn't have, covered with dirt, grime, and trash. Maybe it felt good since I was dying? Did dying hurt? I tried to remember, but I couldn't. I doubted it would be the same anyway. Dying meant my soul got severed from my body; being destroyed meant my soul got destroyed. I almost laughed. Death would kill me for mixing those two up.

Reaching my hand out, I strained myself trying to reach the scythe. It sat just outside of my reach, and it seemed to taunt me. My hand fell. I couldn't move to reach it. My body was completely drained, I had no energy left. A shudder ran through my body. No.

Black edged my vision, closing in on my surroundings.

"No," I said, the single syllable slurring into a mess. "No."

Pair after pair of shoes passed by. The noise of the mortal world flickered in and it flickered out. Nobody stopped and nobody freaked out as my body did the same. Tears welled in my eyes, before drawing slow trails down my face. They were lost among the pool of blood beneath me. Notice me, I wanted to say. Help me, someone, please. The words refused to form, and all noise refused to leave my throat. A pair of combat boots came into focus, the focal point if my diminishing vision. They were the last thing I saw.

My vision went dark, and I felt nothing.

Chapter: 1,784

Book: 77,303

How'd you like it?

I know it was a bit shorter, but not all chapters have to be super long right?

See yah