Hey there folks! Still no Zootopia yet, but expect it to be in the next chapter! Another character is introduced. I hope you enjoy this follow-up!


Time had seemed to stop. At least, that's what I thought before a car rammed right into me. My vision immediately blurred and an unthinkable pain escaped my mind and body. And before I knew it, I was already on the other side of the road. I wanted to scream, but no voice came out of my mouth. I just laid there with the pain spreading everywhere through my body. Leina only stared at me with a horrified expression. I swear that I smiled before this happened, and the smile was still attached to my face. It seemed that Leina had come running towards me. Damn, I must've looked horrible for him.

"Ken, stay with me! I'll get help!"

"No, Leina, find the person who drove that car. I can't be helped at this point."

I wanted to say that to him, but I couldn't even let my voice out. Dammit, I should've been more careful!

At this point my breathing had become irregular. I don't know if it's because of my broken ribcage, or if it's something worse. And frankly, I don't want to know either. Leina seemed to have taken his phone out.

"Is he calling the emergency number? No! You need to find the person who rammed me and bring him to justice! I'm beyond help, Leina!"

That's what I wanted to say, but still, I couldn't even say a single word.

"Fuck!"

Well, that's the first time I heard him swear. Not that it matters now, anyway.

"I…I…"

"No, don't think too hard on this, Leina. I don't want to burden you anymore. Just…look for the driver…"

My mind had reached its peak at this point. I couldn't even think right. It seemed that Leina's phone had lost its battery power, and he's looking more frantic by the second. Until he stood up.

"No, don't go!"

I mustered all my strength to move my arm and grabbed him by his leg. He seemed to be surprised. He then turned back.

"Ken!?"

"Lei…na…stay…with me…"

I tried to ask him to stay with me, but the result wasn't all that satisfying. All of a sudden he started crying.

Crying? Well, that's a thing he hadn't done since he's in seventh grade. And for some reason, my eyes began to wet as well. And then I realized something. I was going to die. Suddenly chills sent down on my entire body. It was cold. So cold.

"Ken! Hang in there, I'll just get my parents to help you! It'll be fine, okay!? It'll be fine!"

"No….don't leave me here…Leina…"

I tried to raise my voice, but all that came out was a whimper. I was scared of dying. I never thought I'd get into this situation. Just thinking about it made my bones freeze. Leina started running to his house. I think that's for the better. I don't want to him to see me like this. I just don't.

"I…don't wanna die…"

"Leina…"

That was my last thought before darkness fills my vision.


"Nothing matters anymore."

"No one will miss me."

"I'm a coward."

Those words kept swirling in my head, over and over. And then…a voice echoed in my head.

"Do you wish to live?"

"Do I…what? Wait, if that's true, then…"

Memories flooded back into my mind. I really am dead. But…why can I collect my thoughts like this if I am?

"Do you wish to live?"

The voice echoed louder this time. Do I want to live? Of course I do…but, aren't I dead? To be honest, I don't even think all of this is real. Is this some sort of a cruel joke?

"Do you wish to live"

The voice rang even louder than before. I guess it needs an answer. I mean, what's the worst thing that can happen?

"…yes."

A pause. A frickin' pause. Is this really some joke? I don't want to be in this situation anymore! I wanna-

"Then live you shall."

"Wait, wha-"

My thoughts cut off. Not because of the confusion that had been poured on me, but because I can feel. I can feel my body. I felt like I'm lying on some cold but familiar material.

Glass.

Without pausing a moment, I opened my eyes. Darkness. That was the first thing I thought. I can't see the ceiling of the place I'm on. Darkness overlaps everything above. Then I tried to sit. The view I saw was unlike anything I've seen before. It seemed like was on a stained glass. A huge round stained glass, with foreign motif over it. I stood up, noticing my surroundings. There's a…door? It's definitely a door. Why is a door here? And most of all, why am I here? I shrugged, figuring that this is just a dream.

Or is it?

I walked on one of the edges of the circular pedestal I'm on, carefully adjusting my footing so I don't fall down to the bottomless abyss below. It would be silly to die twice, right? I looked down and noticed that what I'm standing on is actually a pillar. A pillar with a stained glass placed on top of it. Right, more unthinkable things to add to the list.

I finally walked to the only place of interest in the room. The door. Let's just hope this door isn't just for a decoration.

"Well, here goes nothing."

I opened the door. At the other side of the door…was light? This is getting downright mind-boggling. I'm not sure if I'm supposed to stay here or to go through the light. As if on cue to answer my question, the voice began to echo in my head again.

"Proceed to the light, and your life shall begin anew."

I have some serious question to ask this guy. Is this even a guy? Is it…God? No, it can't be. But better try than doing nothing, right?

"Who are you?"

I didn't expect an answer, but the voice rang in my head again, much to my surprise.

"I am not someone you'd speak of every day. I am…Death. I was the one who brought you here.

I blinked. Death? That's a mouthful. And apparently he's the one who took me to this…bizarre place. I sighed, then asked another question.

"I thought Reapers are supposed to take life, not bring life. Was all I heard about you wrong? Or is this just a gateway to hell, where supposedly my new "life" will begin?"

I think I may have gone a bit too far with that. Still, if he's willing to answer my question, I don't give a shit.

"I only bring people with unfair deaths here. You died protecting someone, and that counts as well."

As "Death" said that, the image of my friend crossed my mind. Leina…I died protecting Leina. If that isn't considered noble, I don't know what to think anymore. At least…Leina should know that I'm fine.

"Hey…Death? Can you tell my friend that I saved…that I'm okay?"

Yeah, I don't think it'll be that easy. I just want to say a proper goodbye to him…but I don't think that's gonna happen.

"Are you certain?"

"What do you mean? Of course I'm certain!"

"Telling him will cause…something else to happen. It's like a chain reaction. When you tell someone something that they're not supposed to know, bad things will happen."

"I don't care what happens! I just need Leina to know that I'm fine, or else..." I tried to hold back my tears, "he will fall into despair. So…if you can do that…then please…" I'm on the verge of crying.

"As you wish. But note that I will not be responsible for any cause of…'interruptions'."

I sighed in relief. Then replied to him.

"…thanks."

Why am I thanking the reaper? I don't really know. But I do know that I'm going to start a new life. And a better one than before, I hope.

"Well, I better get going. Nice knowing you."

I bid the being that may or may not be there goodbye, and proceeded to walk into the light in front of me. My vision starts to blur again, and then I was gone.


Writing this is much more difficult than I thought. But it's surprisingly fun as well! Feedbacks are always welcome! See you in the next chapter!