U.S.A, California State, 4:39.
"What a grand ending to my story."
The droplets of rain tapped on a soft rhythm as a dying whisper uttered from a man with several gunshot wounds. Holes that leaked streams of blood creating a crimson pool that flowed down the pavement.
He had been caught finally after 5 years. A grand scheme that caused a state panic.
"Coming in from Always News channel, the man who goes by the name 'After Death Day' had been caught and apprehended, unfortunately his apprehension led to a massive shoot out, killing him in the conflict. His reign of terror had come to an end after 5 years."
A the reporter said, her voice shaking. Quite a wave in Media, both digital and non. The death of after death day (ADD) had sent a form of shock throughout the citizens.
"Did you see that on the news?"
"Yeah, they nicked that bastard before he became a huge problem."
"Damn, and he was part of police force? It's even more scary cause he was a young man of Integrity... What a waste."
"I say good riddance. That little shit had it coming to him after trying to kill the prime minister."
Rumors and theories circulated each platform, each one more nonsensical than the last ones. One couldn't blame the masses, ADD did things that would be described as impossible and a feat of miracle on a consistent basis.
"This comes as a form of celebration for the citizens as the terrorist ADD, have been eliminated. Further information will be provided after the break."
The TV went off in a bar as silence settled, only the flowing beer cutting the tense atmosphere.
"Celebrate? Give me a break. Ain't nobody cares about whatever ADD was doing the entire time. The one's who should be celebrating should be those corrupted dunce in power."
"Couldn't agree more. If anything, ADD was doing us a favor and plucking out the bad fruit. Nothing but a distinguished service."
"I'll say~!"
Even with the way news and media presented itself, the people knew the real implications.
___
St. Louis, Missouri. 4:27 PM.
A boy with slick black hair rests his head on the desk of his room. Lamp on, rock band poster and a calendar plastered on the wall and a bulky PC.
Suddenly, the alarm went off. The boy groaned as he reluctantly raised his head up but bumped his head with the lamp.
"Ow." He said flatly.
"Honey, get ready for cram school, or else you'll be late!"
"Will do mom." He said in his usual tone.
He got ready, putting on a casual wear. A black turtle neck shirt, and a some brown trousers.
He stood as he looked at his calendar as he scanned on the date.
"12th of July..." He said as he rubbed the date on the smooth paper of the calendar.
He pulled out a pen and circled on the 29th. He looked at it in wonder and placed his hands in his pocket and walked out of the room.
"Dinner? I served some meat loa--"
"I'll grab something on the way back."
"But you loved meat loaf, especially when I prepare them~"
A woman with brown hair pouted, her cheek visibly puffing. Dressed like a normal middle aged woman with an apron wrapped around her waist.
"Well, there's time for everything, and right now, I need to get to class. Entrance exam's around the corner."
"Oh..." Her tone and behavior was visibly down.
Just as he grabbed his umbrella he opened the door, "want anything while I'm out? Maybe groceries?"
"That's fine, don't worry about that. You're late, so hurry now!"
"You are right. I am late." He said in a deadpan tone and closed the door behind him.
As he walked down to the bus stop, he thought to himself.
'Ever since I've died have bizzare things happen. After 11th of July, I suddenly woke up in the body of this person'
It was no doubt that he's still in the United States, but not the exact same he remembers.
The colourful atmosphere with a constant glint of the golden rays of the sun. It couldn't be some kind of prank, the calendar was turned on the face of 2005
'I can't start ask that woman who's the mother of this boy's body the date, but even at that, my phone's date still confirmed it was 2005, and not just any phone, but a flip phone.' He thought to himself.
As he flipped his phone open, he sees 10 unread messages from two contacts of the phone, which was named Dylan and James.
'What a pain in the ass. I don't even know these two, but them being friends with this body is something I'd have to deal with. I still can't believe the whole reincarnation thing, I'm just going with the flow...'
He kept his face calm as he walked down to the bus stop.
As the bus ran smooth on the roads of Saint Louis, a small conversation caught the black haired boy attention.
"My son's coming back from the big city."
"Queens? Can't blame him, that place ain't even all of that. Paired with those corrupt dunce ruining the place."
"Couldn't agree more. Just a bunch of idiots passing who's gonna be worse by the day."
"What's even more crazy is they have lot to hide that the cupboard can't contain the bones anymore."
"Yeah, people's gone missing these day's... It's become so much of a topic it's scary."
"Human trafficking?"
"Can't say, and it couldn't be just the government, they've been several murders, we got psycho's walking around."
'Ever since I've been in this body, which is the last 17 days, they've be conversation of alarming crime rates.' He thought to himself.
The bus came to a stop, he got out and made his way to his class.
Lectures was already going on. The class was dead quiet.
Scribbles of pens against their paper echoes. The teacher talked and explained in detail, writing several formulas on the board.
The black haired boy tapped his fingers in a calm rhythm, each tap drew eyes to his desk.
Tap, tap, tap, tap...
"You... Arthur Bateman. Want to help with this problem?" The man pointed at the complex calculus.
Arthur sighed as he stood and walked up to the board and solved it within minutes.
"Great, great. Although this is differential method to solving this."
"Is that so?"
"It's fine, you can take your seat." He dismissed Arthur.
And so the dreadful world of Arthur dragged on. His dull eyes looked through the window as the night sky shimmered with stars and street lights.
'Id rather just die.'
The class came to end. Everyone arranged their books as they made their way to the exit.
Arthur sat still, his posture relaxed as his back pressed back on the seat that creaked.
"Arthur." He turned to face who called out to him to see his teacher. "You planning on staying here?"
"No... I was about to take my leave anyways." Arthur said as he picked up his bag.
"Wait!" The man retorted, "hold on. I've noticed something different. For some time now, you've been doing pretty well, your score skyrocketing suddenly!"
Arthur had his eyes glued at what's happening outside the window.
"And that should be a good thing, right? I try my best." He said with a calm tone.
"No, no! It's a good thing. I just wanted you to know how much of an improvement you're making and that you should keep up with this progress."
Arthur didn't take his eyes off the window, expression dull.
"..."
"Okay... Till Monday then." The teacher said as he walked towards the door, his expression tinted with worry.
Arthur sat still however before finally taking his bag and walking out of the empty room.
Just as he came out the building, a masked man ran passed Arthur with a purse.
'a robber?"
"Get out of my way punk!" The robber nudged Arthur to the side as he took off.
Arthur sent a death glare with a cold gaze at the robber as he ran away.
"Help, my purse!" A middle aged woman yelled in desperation.
She stopped to catch her breath. Arthur stood with his expression back to it's dull look. The woman gave him a side eye, with no words.
He knew what she wanted him to do, but he continues with his usual pace, completely ignoring her with an indifferent air.
He could hear her crying as he walked off.
__
Arthur sat at the bus stop, as he played crossword puzzle. This road was empty with few passerbys.
Like distorted beat in an orchestra, a light thud caught his attention. His hands jolted as he loosened his grip on his pen.
He lowered the paper, before him was a black note book. Engraved on it's cover was the name: Death Note.
He stared at the note, and a soft wind hit his face as it played with his hair. The note floated towards him and landed to his feet.
'Death Note? Probably some kid's notebook.'
He thought to himself. He nudged the note book to the side where a mother and her daughter came walking to take a seat close to the notebook.
Arthur paid no mind to them as he continues his word puzzle. The little girl sat close to her mother but her eye caught the notebook and she picked it up and fondled with it.
"Drop that dusty thing!" Her mother scolds her.
Her mother yanked her, the notebook falling back to the ground. And just on time the bus came pulling up to the stop.
Arthur glanced at the notebook again in front of him.
He narrowed his eyes before he knelt down and picked it up. Dusting the cover, his thumbs rubbed the sleek black cover.
Opening his bag, he throws it inside and walks into the bus.
Unknown to him, he had accepted invitations from the god of death.