Death Cast

00.12 | The Penultimate

In front of a tall, modern-looking skyscraper that touched the heavens, Jaerim Ashford stood with golden handcuffs around his wrists, waiting for his fate. Because of its unusually wavy complexity of increasing surface area, it was unusually shaped, unlike the usual square tall towers with black or blue tinted glass.

It was shaped like an inverted pine tree, with the lower half looking like a standard office building, even matching the other large-bodied structures that were cramped against its sides. If no one looked up to view the sky, the peculiar structure would go unnoticed.

It's a little surprising that Jaerim has never seen this structure before.

As if it had been built in the old capital, the structure appeared to be of poor quality and lacking in amenities. Although it appeared cleaner due to the fresh paint, elegant-looking glass doors, and landscaping, it wasn't particularly attractive. 

There is no way that he would have noticed this section of the city center. 

It was probably intended to have this effect - to appear shabby and unsightly, so people wouldn't notice it existed. No one can miss such a well-designed tower. Jaerim couldn't help but be captivated by what he was seeing again and again.

The deformity only started on the tenth floor, where a floor was placed askew. There was a noticeable point difference between subsequent floors until it formed a screw-like structure but with growing size and erratic protrusions. It somehow created an "extra-terrestrial" approach since it looked like an alien abode.

It had a silver sheen that made it appear frosty. Mirrored reflections from the sky were cast out through the windows. Jaerim felt as if time had slowed down as he stood there. The stillness of the air gave the impression that everything was frozen in time.

A shadow was cast by the structure all the way to the ground. The gathering clouds obscured the top of the skyscraper, so no one could see it. However, the bold capitalized letters "WIC" can be seen distinctly with its silver lining coating.

Jaerim suddenly felt his heart aching. Calculating the building's structure must have tortured the engineers. It seems like even in this situation, the supernatural still causes torment. 

"Nice scenery, isn't it?" 

He was startled by a soft, gentle voice. The moment Jaerim lifted his gaze, he saw Barron standing there, his eyes gleaming. Under the dim light, the golden halo in his eyes becomes more visible, giving him an otherworldly appearance. This indescribable sense of beauty that could not be described by human language made it evident that he was different.

Ah, grim reaper. That's what he called himself. 

Jaerim lowered his chin and focused his gaze forward. Barron seemed unfazed by the silence as he made his way forward. A tiny clanking sound could be heard as Jaerim was being dragged towards the man by the chains that connected his handcuffs. They entered the building without incident.

The building's entry is straightforward: a double-leaf glass door with French frames. There are no guards visible patrolling the area; instead, a massive marble statue of a head with two faces can be seen. One side is facing the right direction, and the other is looking at the opposite side.

Barron just gave it a passing glance before guiding them along the only passageway that led anywhere. As Jaerim followed, his doubts began to grow.

The building's interior is drab and uninspiring. The walls are devoid of ornaments, merely a smooth-surfaced wall painted in white and grey, producing an ascetic impression. There is also no evidence of human presence, resulting in an eerie sense of desolation throughout the entire area.

Occasionally, brightly colored square abstract art can be found adorning the wall. Despite his best efforts, Jaerim could not make heads or tails of the schemes painted on them. A plethora of colors can be seen in certain pieces, whereas simply a dot can be found in others.

However, he was able to discern that the paintings had a common subject because the majority of them featured an eye-like shape lingering somewhere on the canvas.

It's as if they're telling you that they're watching you.

Jaerim shuddered at the thought. 

In addition to the artworks, there were potted plants on display on pillars in a grey color scheme. The paintings are illuminated by a square museum light, as though to emphasize their existence. The setup is the same in every painting he encounters along the way, giving the impression that he has been walking in the same spot.

If it weren't for the distinct differences in each painting, he would have thought he had entered a loop. 

The dull environment made him aware of small gossipy voices that sounded as though they were speaking directly to his thoughts. It seemed like nonsense, unintelligible, but he could discern what the speakers were conveying. 

It is an epiphany about how humans are supposed to die, and that his death would be nothing more than a one-time occurrence that no one would remember.

The further he walked through the building, the more uncomfortable he felt. An acidic taste surged up into his nostrils, making it difficult for him to breathe. His head has been inundated with utter nonsense, illuminating him with notions that may easily cause him to question his beliefs.

An unexplained force has begun to restrain him. Somebody is watching him, and he has the unsettling impression that they can see right through him to his soul. His eyes wandered to the paintings on the wall, and he felt like they were watching him, like they were following him. 

They are watching him.

They had always been watching him.

The brilliant colors that have no definite shape became more vivid in his eyes. He instantly saw a story, a type of enthusiasm that brought with it a certain lunacy because of the uncertainty. One could say that the painting made a lasting impression on him, filling his imagination with sinister thoughts.

A strong desire to stab someone, as well as a strong desire to flee from the shackles that are wrapped around his wrist. His heart's deepest desires were beckoning him, and he could not resist the temptation.

They are whispering in his ears: kill that man, and you will be free. You will be free. Kill that man. Freedom can only be attained once they are dead. Kill them.

Kill. kill. kill them. KILL.kkkkKKK-

A sudden knock on the head jolted him out of his trance.

"Stop looking," Barron's gentle voice reverberated. "Just look ahead."

Jaerim c****d his head to examine the individual in front of him. His eyes, which had been muddied by desires, were met by dazzling golden ones. He was quickly captivated by the awe-inspiring beauty, and he was unable to think of anything else.

It was really beautiful, ah. He almost wanted to touch them.

With a low chuckle, Barron flicked Jaerim's forehead once more after realizing the boy had broken free of the influence. Jaerim completely woke up due to the pain.

"Stop feeding them with your thoughts. Once they grow greedy, they'll eat you."

Barron started walking again before Jaerim had a chance to ask who they were. It wasn't until Jaerim saw a nearby painting that he realized what he meant.

He heeded Barron's advice and kept his eyes fixed on the path ahead. It was true that turning his gaze away from the paintings made him feel lighter, but he didn't want to look at the never-ending corridor that seemed to extend on forever. 

The reason for the building's long hallway with no windows or doors is a mystery to him, but his sixth sense tells him that he is no longer on Earth.

Or whatever the mortal world where the living exist. 

His gaze has been pulled to the person in front of him, who has his grey-white hair tied back. The length is estimated to be up to the hip if it was freely draped on his back. It swayed gently in response to Barron's movements. 

His image captured a striking impression. The clothing he was wearing, which was clearly from a past era, did not do justice to the place's abstinent vibe.

Though, it did not look bad. 

The little distraction made the illusion of seeing an overstretched dimension go away, smoothing the journey. 

Their pace was neither leisurely nor hurried. Barron didn't appear bothered by the brief interlude. He kept walking as if he were on vacation, even attempting to hum a little tune. His time and the world are all his. Nobody dared to make trouble with it.

They'd been strolling for quite some time when I finally caught up with them. They never saw anyone or heard anything to suggest that anyone else was here. They could only hear their footsteps and the clanking of the golden chains tied to the handcuffs.

The silence was torturing Jaerim, so he made the effort to move his hand. There were no visible traces of human activity in the area. The place resembled a massive coffin.

Jaerim was getting bored as he kept following Barron around. His thoughts began to wander, and he began to wonder where the grim reaper would take him or whether Felix had been cleared of all charges. When his thoughts turned to his empty stomach, he recalled that he hadn't had any food for breakfast.

After thinking of all the stuff he could think of, he then went to count his steps: one hundred... two hundred and thirty-six... six hundred and forty-seven... one thousa-

"Sir Barron," a new voice suddenly called out. 

Jaerim's eyebrows rose at the appearance of the unexpected newcomer. Standing only a few paces ahead of him was a composed young man dressed in a light-colored shirt and dark trousers. On his childlike face, he had a tinge of immaturity, which was offset by his gold-rimmed glasses.

He looked very young, probably just a few years older than Jaerim. 

The person made a shallow bow to express his polite greeting. Barron hummed in response, prompting the younger man to continue. 

"The higher-ups immediately approved the request. The terms and conditions had been drafted and have been sent to your table," the young man reported. 

"So fast?"

Silvester pushed the eyeglasses up to the bridge of his nose. "The management understands the conditions of the Autumn so they have already prepared a general draft. It only needed your signature and the Autumn's mark to complete the process."

"That's reasonable." Barron hummed in satisfaction. 

He had only spoken to Silvester an hour before, yet the lad had already fulfilled the request. Barron became aware of Silvester's gaze behind him. When he looked around, he saw Jaerim staring at them with a puzzled expression.

His eyes shone with a glimmer of interest. Barron could feel the overwhelming sensation of being stared at, and he couldn't help but chuckle at himself. He approached Jaerim and wrapped his arms around Jaerim's shoulders, as if they were long-time acquaintances. He naughtily poked Jaerim's cheek, the one without the wound, on the right side of his face.

"Are you interested?" he asked. 

Jaerim fixed his gaze squarely on him. The golden haloed eyes confront the murky blackness of the dark sky. He sensed the young man's resentment and ceased prodding his cheeks. But that didn't stop him from noticing the young man's eyes swelling with curiosity.

"I changed my mind," Barron chuckled. "You are the one who is interesting."

Jaerim showed confusion. His voice cracked when he spoke for the first time. "What do you mean?"

"At this moment, shouldn't you worry about your life? Did you forget you're about to die?"

The youth look so calm. If Barron isn't a grim reaper, he won't know that this individual is nearing death. It's no surprise that Trivett didn't notice his disguise. Such a kind of calmness could really mislead people.

"But didn't you say something about a deal?" Jaerim looked at Barron incredulously, as if the grim reaper had said something stupid. The expression did not escape the grim reaper's eyes, who grimaced after hearing his thoughts.

"Are you not afraid that I am lying to you? Maybe I am just pretending to help you?"

Jaerim raised his brows, which made his attractive eyes appear bigger. "I believe you weren't the type to joke around like that."

Barron did not expect to hear such an answer. He gave Jaerim a meaningful look and laughed heartily. There were even tears coming from his eyes. He stopped laughing after a while, and a solemn expression replaced the playful look. 

He let go of his hold on Jaerim's shoulders, while stating, "You are indeed interesting." 

Silvester stood there watching Barron play without saying anything. He shuddered, though, as he noticed that the elderly gentleman was wearing a serious expression. Barron's deceptive appearance is well-known throughout the division. And it looks like Jaerim isn't going to fall off of it either.

"Alright, let's not idle around. Let's save the introductions for later. We need to settle your situation first."