Fear has a way of either making you fierce or weak. Fear can stiffen you or evolve you into a raging maniac. Fear makes you feel alive, even when you're dead. -SRD14

"Give me a moment," Liam said, then vanished. 

I sat on the chair, my legs crossed. I was nervous, scared, and completely over my head with the proposal I had given him. What was I thinking? Wait, I wasn't. I had this unsettling feeling that something was going to go completely wrong. I couldn't tell what it was so, I pushed it away. Besides, I was dead. That sums it all up for me at the moment.

"There are a couple of rules you need to know before this madness takes off," Liam said, appearing in front of me. "Let's take a walk, shall we?" I slid off the chair and walked nimbly beside him.

"For starters, you're my new assistant, that's if we ever get separated and you need to introduce yourself to the rest of the zoners. Understood?"

"Yes," I replied.

"Since you're so eager to know about the truth behind your death, there are four simple things you HAVE to adhere to. If you EVER break or bend them, there will be dire consequences to face. I won't be able to help you in any manner." He stopped for a second, turned to face me, and then continued walking down the long corridor.

"While on earth, you should never interfere with anyone. Secondly, k,eep a watchful eye on everything and everyone around you; those who can and can't see you. Thirdly, listen to all that's being said and not said. Lastly, this is the most important one of them all," He paused for a brief moment as we passed three black doors, "Humans must not die until it's their time."

"What do you mean by that?" I finally asked. He barely glanced my way when he said the following words that would haunt me for a long time.

"Everyone has a time they are supposed to die. As Grim Reapers and Spirit Aids, we are not allowed to take them away until their time is right. We know when the souls we are to collect are ready for us so, all we do is wait and be there when the moment comes. However, there are chances that a soul needs to be taken before their time. This is never in our control, no matter how much we'd want to keep them alive."

"Why would a Grim Reaper want to keep the soul they are collecting alive?" I asked.

"The longer your soul stays alive, based on their lifeline, you're connected to their lineage. You become the family's reaper. You get to collect the souls of their generation and so on. If they die before their time, all that is lost and your rank in the Zones as a reaper is lowered." Liam said, calmly.

"How important is a reaper's rank?" 

"It's all that keeps us alive down here," He said, sighing. "Enough questions, we are here." He took a quick turn to the left and walked through revolving doors.

"Sebastian!" Liam called out, walking towards a middle-aged man.

"To what do I owe the pleasure," he replied. "Didn't you get your suits last week?"

"I did," Liam said. "I'm here for her." He stepped aside and I came into view. 

"Well, what do we have here?" Sebastian asked, walking towards me. I took a calculated step back and moved towards Liam. "I don't bite." He said, "Much."

Haha, funny.

"Who's she?" He asked, turning to Liam.

"Her name's Lola, that's all you get to know," he answered. "I need her dressed."

"Pleasure's all mine," Sebastian said. "Right this way."

I tailed Liam and walked through the thick velvet drapes that revealed the most detailed boutique I'd ever laid my eyes on. Being dead felt somewhat ok at that moment. 

"What do you have in mind?" He asked.

"She gets to choose," Liam said, facing me. "Go crazy."

At that moment, I knew that we'd be okay. We were a work in progress, but this alone proved he cared, somehow. Even though he had no smile on his face, his eyes said it all as I walked past him, admiring the garments hanging on the walls.