~Mark

I knew letting Jack live was probably a bad idea if I didn't want to be sent to Heaven and force this job onto someone else , but I couldn't let him die on his birthday, just after visiting my grave. Besides, he's still my friend, even though I can't talk or see him anymore. At least until I had to let him die. Whenever I snapped my fingers, I hesitated a moment longer to watch him leave before I went to my next destination. However I wasn't alone there. A girl with blond hair with the tips dyed sunset orange dressed in all black was there to. During my training, I had learned about War, but never got to meet them. I assumed the girl in front of me was her.

"Hey Mark." She turned around to face me, black glittering ring on her finger and fiery red wings burning behind her.

Suddenly I knew who the girl was.

"Amy?" I reached towards her, but she retreated back.

"No, I loved you, died for you, and you sent me to burn in Hell!" She yelled furiously, anger burning in her once gentle cobalt blue eyes.

"I had no choice-"

"You had no choice huh? Was I a bad girlfriend, is that it?!?" She snapped.

"No! I was forced to send you there. It was part of my test." I protested quietly.

"So you're Death then." She deadpanned.

"Yeah. So what happened here?" I changed the subject as I observed the carnage around me. Black scorch marks from bombs and bullets scarred the snowy mountainside we stood on, along with the scattered corpses from both sides, snow drifting through the breeze.

"Another battle between United States and Chile...not sure what the point of it was." She sighed.

"Wish I knew." I sighed as I watched some of the souls of the soldiers try to escape before I would touch them and send them to Heaven or Hell. Most stayed bravely, snapping into a salute as they waited patiently for me to claim them. "Thank you for your service." I saluted them back before they disappeared into thin air.

"You only have to take the souls of the dead....I have to start the battles and watch each side put bullet holes through each other. You have it easy." She muttered bitterly once I finished.

"You think choosing people's fates is easy?!? You think sending my fans to Hell while they cry is easy?!?" My voice grew louder as rage boiled in my veins.

"You don't know the people you watch fight. Millions of the people I take away know me, ask for one last hug as I take them away. Hell, I've had to take children who only lived for a minute before dying, had to take pets of all kinds too..." I trailed off as I sunk to the snow, resting my head in my hands. Why do I care so much now? I've been doing this for a year. I asked for this, didn't I? I thought. Only I didn't ask for this. I was promised a chance to see my friends and family again, which I did. Except I had to be the one to take them away.

"You know, they say Death doesn't discriminate between sinners and the saints, but that's not true. That's basically my whole job. Be the judge of everyone and thing when their time comes." I chuckled, but the sound was mirthless and cold.

"Amy-" When I looked up, Amy was no longer there. I brushed my hands through the snow, relishing the feeling of the cold before going to my next destination.

~Jack

"This is pointless!" I kicked a piece of stray trash in the street as I shoved my hands deeper in the pocket of my still damp blue hoodie. I've looked everywhere I could think of, including nursing homes, hospitals, funeral homes, and even rehabs. There was only last place I could think of checking. The alleys. There was one between a couple of houses I figured I could check first. Now that the rain had finally stopped, I was able to determine that it was around evening. The sun was setting over the tops of the buildings like a golden ball, the sky bright with vibrant pinks, blues, and purples. Since it was growing darker, it was hard to see down the alley, so I took a step forward. Black trash bags littered the concrete, the smell of moldy trash nearly overwhelming as I gagged. I made myself walk forward a couple more steps, the end clearer to see.

"Give me all your money." A raspy man's voice commanded from behind. I could feel the bite of the cool metal barrel of a gun being jammed into the back of my head.

"I don't have any." I held my empty hands up to prove my point.

"Sucks to be you then." He hissed close to my face, his breath smelling strongly of alcohol. Before he could pull the trigger, I smacked his gun, causing him to drop it in surprise. I quickly scrambled towards where it sat in a pile of garbage. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see him reaching for it too. Luckily I was faster. I whirled around only to receive a punch in the face. A sharp crack echoed in the empty alley as I stumbled back against the wall, cupping my bleeding nose with one hand.

"Nice try worm." He snarled, pulling a pocket knife out of his pocket before flicking it open with a twist of his wrist, standing over me with a grin.

"Thanks, you too." I grabbed the gun from where it was lying by his feet and instinctively shot him in the chest with a bang. He reeled back a step as a blot of crimson appeared on his chest, eyes wide with shock as he fell forward onto his face.

"What did I do?" I whispered as I dropped the gun, my hands shaking with fear as I ran a hand through my hair.

"Jack?"

I looked up to find Mark standing behind the man, eyes filled with surprise. "Did you..." he trailed off, gesturing towards the body.

"I was scared and he was trying to kill me I didn't know what to do-"

"Hey, it's okay, it's okay." Mark repeated soothingly as I slumped against the wall, blood still trickling down my face from my nose. Thoughts were whirling through my head like a tornado as I tried to think of what to do next. Only one thing came to mind.

"Take me already." I begged Mark.

"Jack-"

"You don't understand, I don't have anything or anyone anymore!" I shouted, not caring who heard.

"I can bring Signe back." Mark offered.

"How? She ran away from me." I growled.

"No. She died in the hospital from her injuries, and since everyone assumed you were dead too, no one told you." Mark explained.

"How do I get her back?" Shakily, I stood up and brushed the trash off of my clothes.

"I need four pure human souls to do so." Mark stated.

"I'll get them." I promised him.

"Good luck." He nodded before disappearing.