Two Choices Pt 3-- 24hours to Kill

*Thunk, Thunk* Grrrrow... *slap* The horrible sounds of bones and flesh scraping against the metal had been driving Rica mad for hours, but all she could do was sit there lost in the past. Her mind flashing between untold possibilities and what if's. *Rumble* There was nothing she could do as the walls of the base collapsed little by little, bit by bit, making it a toss up between what would get her first: the crushing of the ceiling, the lack of oxygen, or her now undead friends clawing at her from the other side of the door. If this were a video game then maybe she would have been able to find some hidden lore from their point of view. Rica however in reality was never in a position to see how the base fell.

*Rumble* Dust from the crumbling ceiling fell again, but Rica paid no mind. She had just discovered the general's tied down and rotting corpse when the earthquakes began. The lower floors of the base had been compromised long before and judging from the rumbling below it seemed that the source was something even further down. The eggheads were probably messing with a generator that needed constant maintenance before and now... well Rica could only speculate. Grrrrow... *Thunk...Thunk* Grrrrow...

The room she was in was a small lab that had become even smaller halfway through yesterday as the metal supports had begun to crinkle like aluminum foil. She had watched the guard from before die to a sneaky undead scientist and had been chased around by the living too. Her friends were made as examples for a so called cure, but the snake oil could only numb the pain of turning. She saw the bites. She saw the base crumble around them. She saw her only hope as charging back into the lower levels, but it was just a fancy tomb at this point. -The horrible screams- Rica thought. *Rumble* The sounds would summon the dead for miles, the moans and screams drowning out the pleas for mercy.

It was getting harder to breathe, be it the lack of oxygen or the smell. It was 50/50 on which was worse for poor Rica. "Poor, Poor Rica..." -Great, now she was hearing things- she thought

A voice neither male or female rang out like a tattered old church bell. "So child... How do you want to die?"

"Preferably of old age...," Rica snorted begrudgingly as she looked up. "Is that a CAT?"

"...Yes, his name is Mr. Jingles. Is that really what caught your eye first?" The voice said confused. Apparently, this reaction was a first. *Meow* The orange tabby cat trotted over to Rica for pets. His blue break away collar jingled eerily with its ghostly silver bell.

"Oh my god, this is the best hallucination EVER," Rica was tearing up as she smiled at what she could only assume was Death. Despite the shrunk ceiling, they seemed to loom and tower over the room itself. Tears began to flow, trickling down and leaving streaks on Rica's dust covered face. *Rumble* "So... *hic*... this is it then...*hic* I can't say I'm happy, but at least I won't end up like them right?" Mr. Jingles headbutts her leg. -I'm just so tired.-

"Perhaps, but you have been given a choice... or rather a chance at that old age if you so wish. The choice was made for you actually, although regrettably it was not made with your interests in mind... Come Rica, it is time to change your fate." A cold skeletal hand reached out from the cloaked figure.

"Aren't you supposed to be against people cheating Death?" Rica said. Straightening herself up, Rica picked up Mr. Jingles, surprised by the softness of his short fur. -This is real?- she thought. Reaching out her hand, she looked wide eyed at Death's face. -Holy S***-

"Yes, this is real child," Death replied, "and no, no one can cheat death forever, I'm just rather patient. Although, my patience has been running thin with these zombie apocalypses. I don't care how they die, but it they should stay dead. None of this taking it out on the living nonsense. Revenge is for the living whether they like it or not because they don't know how to stop. Only the living can stop the viscous cycle... oh speaking of which Thank You."

-What?-

"Yes, Thank You. I'm just relaying the message from your friends over there. If you notice they stopped. They were angry that you saw them like that, but they are happy that you survived... huh, I guess they still have a little humanity in them... would you like to grant them Rest before you leave? They say you are good at it." Death sighed.

"Those Snitches," Rica chuckled. -The Audacity- Death thought as Rica motioned for Death to lend her their scythe. Shaking their head softly, they relinquished their weapon to the girl and watched as the girl slowly opened the door with a cat on her shoulder.

Scythe in hand, Rica said her goodbyes and laid the group to rest. Even Death was shocked. Oblivious to the gravity of her deeds, she even arranged the bodies in the lab. This would be their tomb now that it would no longer be hers, Rica thought. Closing the door from the inside, Rica returned to Death. They left that dying world that day and the last souls were able to follow, swirling as white orbs around Rica till they got to the Realm Between.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Location: The Realm Between

Rica watched as the only world she new crumbled to dust from behind the veil. As it crumbled into the void though, she noticed something odd about the whole thing. She could swear that she was seeing a divide... dimly lit orbs which she could only assume were souls rising up like stars while others seemed to almost absorb light and fall with the dust into the void. Gradually the lighter souls flew and pierced the veil. Colors beyond the twilight haze of the Realm Between swirled like a gentle breeze around Rica.

"Thank You."

"We're Free!"

"What the Hell! Why did We have to wait so long to get Isekai'ed."

"Mommy, is that the lady that saved us?"

Tears came in waves as she heard their voices. Their Requiem*, their gratitude was all heard by this lone survivor. Because of her they were free and realizing this, Rica felt all of her emotions boil over in waves. Almost choking on her rage she screamed. The pain, the hurt, she felt it all, "Why, WHY DID YOU ABANDON US FOR SO LONG?! THEY COULD HAVE BEEN SAVED!" she lashed out.

"No, I couldn't... without souls they are beyond my grasp," Death said in a solemn tone.

"BUT YOU SAID THAT NO ONE COULD ESCAPE FROM DEATH, YOU ARE DEATH! HOW CAN THEY ESCAPE FROM YOU!!?" She cried.

"They didn't, they died when they were bitten, but their bodies were forced to move becoming their prisons. Then as they watched themselves consume man, woman, and child... friends and foe alike, they would rather tear their souls apart than hope for salvation. They chose not to fight the monsters they had become and became just another force of nature to the dying world. My scythe can only reap souls, yet you, a mortal were able to kill." Death gazed at the souls surrounding Rica. -This may just work- Death thought.

"I... just wanted to put them to rest..." - even If I never get the chance to...-

"You have done far more than that child. You have given them a clean sleight. Hold those feelings close, their requiem shall be your Aria*. A gift from those whom have challenged the gods!" -If I could smile with just my skull, this reaper would definitely be smiling- Death thought to themself as they lifted their arms in to the air. The chromatic souls began to swirl and coalesce into a shining light above them. The Sun could not shine brighter and with more coming from within the depths of the void, Death knew it was time.*Meow* Mr. Jingles swatted at some of the souls playfully.

Death's voice rang out so loud that Rica could swear that she heard it in her very soul. "I CAN REACH THEM! I CAN REACH THEM ALL NOW!! USE THEIR POWER, TAKE MY BLESSING YOUNG RICA! AND USE IT TO BRING AN END TO THE TORMENT, AN END THAT WILL JUSTIFY THE BEGINNING!!"

At last, the light could shine no brighter and it did what it wanted to. It shrunk to the size no bigger than a softball and floated down. The last orbs, those of her late friends, drifted rhythmically around Rica before ascending towards the light.

"Don't worry Rica."

"This is what we want."

"It's our turn to help You."

"Live."

The four orbs ascended into the light; and as the tears streamed down her face Rica watched as the light drifted down further and further until it stopped. Crying Rica felt the need to hold out her hands and did so. Finally, she pulled it close to her heart as if in a trance and Death watched as it merged within.

[Requiem System unlocked]

"We will Always be with you."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*Requiem- a song for mourning the dead

*Aria- a song as light as air, meant to uplift