Delivery Teaser: On Being Ghosted (Patreon)

Some mortals who pass on with unfinished business enter into the intangible phase of existence—that is, they become ghosts. 

Despite shedding the physical limitations of their human body, ghosts become immobile, tethered to the location at which they died or a place which had significance to them back when they were still a Flesher (in Delivery, referring to ghosts as “dead” and humans as “alive” is the height of rudeness). Ghosts end up trapped in their prior residence where, unable to pay rent or the electric bill, they either become roommates to still-corporeal friends and family, or (in most cases) their home is foreclosed upon and they're doomed to live in an abandoned building since corporeal tenants and buyers aren’t keen on a housemate who can pass through walls.

Unable to move beyond their tether, most ghosts are slowly driven insane by boredom and isolation, forgetting their own names by the fifth century of their continued existence. Although many life insurance companies offer a Next-Life clause that guarantees a caretaker and companion, these addendums are notoriously cost-prohibitive and usually expire after four decades post-mortem.

Despite the unpleasantness that awaits most ghosts, many humans still consider it to be preferable to the complete unknown of Total Death. The process of being ghosted has become an employment benefit which many companies like T.H.A.B.* offer their highest-level executives in order not to lose out on their years of experience.

Being ghosted is complicated and expensive, necessitating a fairy’s pact, a witch’s curse, and a legally binding blood oath by a demon, but T.H.A.B.’s post-mortem benefits include having the ghost’s permanent abode relocated to a retirement neighborhood filled with other noncorporeal residents. . . all of whom are T.H.A.B. employees for the rest of their next-lives. Should a ghost employee choose to break their contract and stop working for the company, T.H.A.B.’s in-house exorcist is called upon to oversee contract termination.

In Delivery, you’ll work with ghosts such as your ex-mentor, Lydia (who was ghosted by chance), and also your boss, Melchior Thumm. Mr. Thumm has been an employee of T.H.A.B. for so long that H.R. no longer has his original files on record (or so they claim), and some of your gossipier coworkers whisper that he was T.H.A.B.’s original founder. Regardless of his true role in the company, the crochety old German is curiously invested in your continued employment. In fact, he’s even offered to add a Next-Life clause to your contract.

. . . Which is convenient, given the recent string of murders. You may very well die.

*T.H.A.B. – To Hell And Back Delivery Service, the company which employs the MC