[ WP ] Confronted with Death , he offers you a second chance at life upon completion of a trial . He lays in front of you three paths to choose from : blood , sweat , or tears .

`` Not what you were expecting?'' Death looked like you'd imagine he would; black robe, scythe, bony fingers. Maybe he just looked that way because I wanted him too. That way, I'd be sure to recognize him. He spoke in a steady, practiced cadence. He sounded bored. 
 
 `` You get a chance at redemption! How fortunate for you. All that stands before you and your second chance is one of these three doors.'' He held his arm out to the side like Vanna White would do on Wheel Of Fortune. Instead of touching the screen to reveal a letter, three doors appeared. Gold letters melted into place. Blood. Sweat. Tears. 
 
 `` Which will you choose? What shall be your destiny?'' Death had tucked his arms back into his cloak. I took pity on him then. Death. The greatest fear of humanity was nothing more than a game show host for God and Lucifer. Were they watching somewhere? 
 
 `` What happens if I do n't make a choice?'' I asked Death, a certain amount of confidence forming behind my words. I had a bad habit of following half thought plans. It's how I actually ended up here, in front of death. A story for another time, perhaps. I had one forming now and what did I have to lose right? 
 
 `` If you do n't choose a door you spend time in purgatory until you make a decision and then I present you the doors again and you pass through one and off you go.'' Death recited in one quick breath. 
 
 Poor bastard, I thought. He should be out stalking the night, hiding around corners, causing heart attacks in marathon runners half a kilometer from the finish line. Not here, pushing second chances on undecided souls. 
 
 `` What if I do n't want purgatory either, what if I want something more?'' I smiled and could feel Deaths cold hard stare. All of a sudden a wind gushed around me and I felt like I was being pulled toward Death. It was n't until Death exhaled that I realized the wind had come from him. 
 
 `` Your soul,'' Death said, a hint of curiosity in his voice, `` your soul taste different from the others.'' 
 
 I smiled fully then, understanding something that I had n't when I was alive. There was something special about me, something that had kept me from death so many times before. 
 
 The distance between Death and I evaporated and I grabbed hold of his scythe. He stood truly upright and finally looked the part he had played in so many nightmares before. I could n't see it then, but I knew he was smiling. 
 
 `` Maybe it's your turn for a second chance,'' I said, tightening my grip. 
 
 Our laughter roared through heaven, ripped through hell, and thundered the continents of Earth. Death was alive once more. 
 
 ***** 
 
 Hope you enjoyed the story. If you would like to read more visit my sub at /r/nick_langis. Any and all feedback is welcomed.
