Excerpt: That Which Is Death

The dark place he was in, it was hot; his skin felt like flames were inches away, threatening to burn him; the air was searing and burned his eye, making them water, and burning his throat and lungs every time he gasped for breath; his tongue burned as if hot coals were constantly in his mouth. Still, the unseen force pulled him farther in where the heat grew and flames licked the barren earth. He followed a coal black, rocky path through cliffs and uneven rocks which looked as if they had been snapped in half, until he came to a small, round plateau wherein a black, caped figure was seated on an even darker throne. The figure was about his own height when sitting (probably a foot or so taller when standing) and was staring straight at him as he approached, although his features could never be discerned as they were covered by an unnatural, infinite shadow. The boy stopped several feet in front of the figure and bowed for reasons he knew not.

“Welcome.” The figure spoke. His voice was scratchy and slick, the epitome of disgust and hatred. The figure stood and walked forward, circling the boy with a disproving air. “Stand up, boy.”

As he was told, the boy stood up and followed the abysmal figure with his eyes. The figure stopped in front of him and spoke again in that voice the scratched at his ears and made him flinch, “Speak, boy, ask me what you wish to know.”

The boy stared, “Where – where am I?”

Even through the black shadows of the figure’s face, the boy could see his sinister and wicked smile, “Did I not say before? Well let me welcome you properly then.” Somehow the aura around the figure grew heavier and darker and the boy almost regretted asking the question. “You’re in Hell.”

The boy frowned and became confused. “Hell?” he asked as the figure returned to his large stone throne.

“Indeed. You have died, boy, and God has not permitted you to enter his kingdom,” he spoke these words with some disgust, but, nonetheless continued, “and so, you will now stay in hell for the remainder of eternity.”

The boy did not argue; he merely nodded his head solemnly. Somehow, the figures words didn’t shock him as much now that he was dead, as he assumed he might have where he still alive and in a place other than this fiery land. He had never believed in God – his parents and younger sister were firm believers, but he had rejected their faith and lived the life he wanted—hanging with his friends, drinking, smoking pot, going to parties, and having his fair share of fun with girls. He had thought he didn’t need God, but now he knew for certain that he had made the wrong decision. This dim, searing land and the uneasy feeling were uncomfortable, bordering painful – he was not sure he could last another hour in the place let alone all eternity.

“However,” the voice spoke up, drawing back the boy’s attention and snapping him out of his bleak thoughts, “I am a Death Demon, one who performs the task of killing you filthy humans, and I am in charge of you. From now on you will be one of my slaves and will do my bidding. I will give you two options, however. You may stay here, serving me and waiting on my every need, or you may go back to your world and perform the task of killing those whom I request of you. The choice is yours, make it quick.”