The Inkwell presents: Early for Eternity

By The Inkwell

There are certain things in life we like to be early for: the big game, weddings, ticket sales, the new iPhone drop. The one thing no one wants to be early for is Death. Join us this month for nine stories that explore what happens when you're early for eternity.

Just a Little Longer - Death waits to welcome her newest soul, but then her plans change.
Dances with Death - The King of the Underworld is surprised to find someone he least expected walking his halls.
These People Aren't My Friends - Jarome heads to meet a friend at a bar and the evening does not go as planned.
To War - An unexpected guest to the underworld leaves Queen Malicious with a bad taste in her mouth and an itch for revenge.
Pink Sequin Hell (#3) - Brimstone Outfitters strikes again when Lust puts on the pink sequin bikini Kevin brought home in his initial clothing haul (#1).
Between Worlds - Cerylia, fae on a mission, ends up having an unexpected conversation beyond the veil that changes the course of her plans.
Now, and For All Eternity - A bounty hunter is sent to find someone known as Madam Death, who has been taking people before their time.
Kiss of Death - When two old friends meet for a lunch date, neither is expecting how it's all about to change.
Betting on the End - Every new year's a very special poker game happens in a very particular bar. And in this game, the stakes are deadly.

• Language: English
• Publisher: The Inkwell
• Release date: May 3, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005942076

The Inkwell

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Book preview

Just a Little Longer

Written by Danielle Ione

Death stood over the boy, spirit broken and weary, the waning sound of the machine beeping in a somber melody. She cupped his face, a whisper of cold placed upon his cheek. Though her touch wasn't enough to free him from the push and pull of life and the After, she still tried, restlessness overtaking her. 

This wasn't right, Death thought, as the seconds passed like days, the glimpses of his life coming to her in waves the closer his soul came to her.

He wasn't just a young man, a nameless creature lying helplessly in a hospital bed. His name was Miles, and his life was nothing short of unfortunate. In the places he was supposed to find love, he found hate. And in the moments he should have had safety, he discovered pain. But between the pain, hate, and broken memories in between, his soul was forgiving and loving, despite it all. Death watched as the circumstances of his life led him to their introduction. 

The longer Death looked upon him and his life, the quicker her forbearance waned. He was young, but not overly so— an entire life left to live before him. A boy amid his life halted far too soon. Though her work was intertwined with the end of existence, a sadness overtook her as she looked at him. Of all the people she escorted to the gates of After, it was souls like his that stopped her in her tracks. The sadness that came with someone passing a little too soon never quite embodied what it felt like to be the one to fully separate them from the life they could have had. Death's job was not effortless or impersonal; in fact, days like today were nearly unbearable because she felt it all.

The beeping in the room peaked, the alarm of the afterlife playing a depressing harmony as he slowly came to her. Though he didn't open his eyes, Death felt his presence flowing forward beneath her frigid touch, her hand still gently cupping his cheek. She wanted him to feel the warm welcome, the embrace of safety as he came to her. Death's reputation as a shadow figure or evil incarnate in a hooded cloak was nowhere near the reality of her; Death was empathy personified. She refused to escort a soul to the afterlife as the embodiment of fear and horror, she was the last thing they would see before they entered the After, and Death knew the vital role she played in their final moments. And so she waited with patience as his consciousness left his soul behind and came to her. 

You're early, Death said, as Miles opened his clear blue eyes, heavy with solemn exhaustion. He stared at her, his gaze not fearful nor worried, only filled with relief, as though he had longed to look upon her for an eternity. And she knew that he had, because she now knew him, his memories still fresh in her mind. Miles had spent each day picturing the day they would meet, as though it was the answer to his every prayer. You shouldn't be here, Miles. It isn't time. 

"I couldn't do it. I couldn't take it any longer. It was too much—I was too much. The thoughts, the fucking thoughts, they never stopped. And the pain, it just kept coming. I couldn't take it. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think. I couldn't live. I-I-I just couldn't hold on anymore. Miles stumbled on his words, a fast-paced assault of a lifetime's worth of secrets. The tears ran down his cheek as the relief, the regret, and everything in between took hold of him. I needed to be free. I just wanted relief." 

Shh, Miles. It's okay. I've got you from here. Death spoke quietly, a whisper compared to the intensity of his sobs. At that moment, Death was aware of the hesitance she felt to escort him any further. He should have had more; he deserved more, and yet he found his only solution was to greet Death with open arms. It wasn't right, not even in the slightest; she knew his soul was good. Tired as it may have been, it had years left of life and passion inside of it, even if he couldn't see it. 

But what if he could, she thought.

In your lifetime, you've been offered little choice in most things. The lack of love you received from your parents. The pain at the hands of your partner. The infiltration of your thoughts. None of it of your own accord, and yet, you still remained a kind soul, Miles. Your death, though justified at the insistent pain, was carried out far too soon, Death spoke softly as he dropped his hands in his lap. He couldn't make eye contact any longer, seemingly ashamed at her words. 

"You don't understand. There was nothing else for me—nothing to stick around for. I had to work so incredibly hard every day just to exist. On a good day, all I was doing was surviving, and on a bad day… Miles trailed off, moving his gaze to hers, pain lacing each syllable. It couldn't come soon enough. I tried, Death. I tried." 

I know you did. You held on as long as you could with what you knew you would face. I could see it in the flood of the memories that came to me when you died. The pain of your life was sewn into the very fabric of your soul. But I don't only see the end of life. I see the past; I see the future. I see all the avenues one could take and the ones that landed them before me. And in that, I see the life you could have had if you had held on just a little bit longer. She said, drawing closer to him as tears pooled in his eyes. His lip trembled as Miles held in a sob heavy with conflict. 

Death could see the hope he held close to his chest, pushing him forward every day. It was the same hope he still had when he decided to take his own life, quiet and overshadowed. It was the hope she could still see in the depths of his soul, a tiny speck of an ember burning inside of him. "I can show you what would have been, Miles. I can show you what you deserved. If you'd like, I can give you a glimpse of what was