Hadagery

  Chapter 10: To Hell in a Hand basket.

  The besmirching sounds of horror railed amid the winds, harking one and all, an invariable token that the Devil will not give up so painlessly. Elysium was not beyond his horrific reach. Denoted within the means of his maniacal laughter, ratifying irrationally in the due course of the resonating current.

  Uwee howled, “Sounds like Hell is not done with us yet.”

  Hadge was quite accepting of this ill-fated challenge, and made it abundantly clear, “One way or another, it ends today.” His understanding was that this is why Yahveh had created him, as a cushion against all the worlds’ evils. Now is the time for Elysium to be liberated from the Devils deadly embrace.

  The Angel’s dulcet tones sieved inside Hadge’s mind, enlightening him to the fact, “Your journey from here is yours alone. Only Hadge can walk through the shadowy boundaries of dark and light.” Images of world after world skipped through his mind, no matter which world, or whom he may have met on his travels; in the end he was alone.

  Then her heavenly iridescent hand fondly stroked his cheek, magically extracting the golden thread from out of his pocket, and into thin air. Her words barely above a whisper, “But I will bestow you this.” The thread uncannily shifted in her palm, weaving into a golden fabric, and said, “Ember from Heaven.”

  All at once the remains of his charred clothing was gone, replaced by an extraordinary form fitting fabric that changed like a chameleon. Hadge automatically knew the cloth was sewn from the three fates, the moirai, whose properties were intangible, but no less real. The actual thought of fate wickedly played in his teeming brain, surmising, “The book is no longer useful to me.” Having misgivings, “How can I walk into Hell with this awesome divine power I know nothing about?”

  Then Ruby flittered onto his nose once more, in that teeny tiny voice of hers, saying, “Be careful Hadge.” Any and all misgivings he may have had seemed to have all melted away in her child-like face, reminding him that the adversity he fights against is for all those innocents that cannot save themselves. He gave her a weak smile, and whispered a reply, “You know I will.” She giggled and fluttered away, finding his words just as hard to believe as he did.

  Brashly Uwee established, “I’m going with you.”

  Hadge fleetingly glanced towards the Angel’s solemn expression, countering the offer, “No.” He affirmed, “Not this time.” The Angel softly whispered, “You made the right decision.” However Uwee screeched, “You can’t just leave me here!”

  Hadge ignored the grubb, as he shoved his belongings into his pocket. A pocket so astounding that when he reached inside it was large enough to store his entire room from under Grendlocke Cemetery, as he anxiously withdrew his hand fearing he may never find the belongings ever again. Then he firmly patted the outside for any feel of the objects within, nonetheless discovered even the bulk of the book nary left a trace.

  Uwee grabbed his arm, testily barking, “Will you listen to me?”

  Hadge snapped back, “There’s nothing to listen to. You’re not going.” Then looked the grubb straight in his ghostly eyes, and breathed, “That’s that.” And walked away. Uwee threw up his frigid arms arguing, “That’s it then?” There was only silence in return.

  Hadge walked in the direction where the scar of a reaver factory pot marked the ground, as a deep dark chasm was left in the middle of Bedlam, and the humanly debris around the sight was a testament onto its destructive force. Brick from buildings, cars, trees, and asphalt had all settled in the wary hole, as a reminder that evil has a price.

  Despite it all there were some scars that could never heal, deeper than a mortal wound, which echoed from the shadows of your soul, and buried deep enough that you’d hope to never see it again. Those buried scars terrifyingly plagued Hadges mind, as the horrendous images of Hell burned over and over. The suffocating smells of flesh burning of the damned, overwhelming sorrow, and the ungodly screams. He knew he’d been there before.

  Hadge feebly uttered, as he eased closer to inspect the deep dark rift, “Looks like I will need a bit of luck.” However he doubted that luck would have anything to do with it, or could even help.

  Ruby nervously flitted about Hadges head, asking, “You’re not really going to go down there are you?” Hadge sighed as he looked down into the dark hole, and responded, “I really don’t have a choice, do I?”

  The endless descending darkness burrowed deep into the facade of the land, where the reaver’s unsightly boil had ravaged its malleable crust, and the wielding stench of sulfur and burning flesh grew so horrible it unbearably took your breath away. Hadge swiftly held his hand to his nose, yet smell was not the only senses being attacked. Gravely the devastating cries and wails of millions of tormented souls transcended the very depths of Hell, each suffering unimaginable pain and agony, and begging for a merciful end. Horrifyingly he could nearly picture each and every one of them.

  Hadge warily took a step back feeling rather sick to his stomach, sick of the atrocities of life and death. Hearing each individual cry, “Help me.” Then another, “I don’t belong here.” Followed by another, “Eidolon I’m sorry.” And another, “Oh God please help me…” Every cry a punishment for their sins against humanity, sins against Yahveh, and indebted for an eternity in Hell. Hellishly damned and deservingly so, even as the heavy weight of despair burdened their sense of no hope, no escape, no way out, and the punishment is without end.

  Hadge felt wholly overcome by this great fear and emptiness, as the profound sadness welled up in his eyes, hopelessly wondering, “Why do so many have to suffer?” The Angel answered his unspoken words, “They did not believe in the word of Yahveh. Sinning freely among their kind, and their judgment has been set.” He pleaded, “Surely some have repented.” The Angel’s expression appeared bleak, and the answer not very promising, “Only those never born have a possibility to escape these evils. Time being the master of chance. You are their sole hope for such a chance. They should pray to be one of the lucky few.”

  He turned back to the intimidating darkness, as a sense of evil stared back, and the pith of all tales of horror struck uncommonly true. Yes there is a Yahveh. Yes evil exists, however fear, hate and loathing belong to the Devil. And the question remains, do you really want to hold his hand?

  A shiver inched up Hadge’s spine, as he assuredly realized how could he not fear knowing all that he knew, and how could he really stand a chance in the Devils domain. He had no book, no means of protection, and the so-called divine powers only worked sporadically. Hadge had no idea what he was going to do, as a fleeting sense of alarm for his own safety come to head, and he seriously wanted to know, “How will I make it in and out of Hell alive?”

  All at once the anguished cries reached a deafening magnitude, which disabled any selfish thoughts Hadge may have had for his own life. The cries distorted into faces, and from those faces he could make out the people that he knew, such as Uwee, Nibbs, Uma, Reybe, Zaya, Ruby, and Carrissa. He grievously weighed the sorry reality, “How can I let them down?” As he selflessly whispered Carrissa’s name, “Carrissa…” And remembered why he was here, because he made a promise so long ago.

  “Never fear…” The words whispered softly in his head, but rang powerfully through his thoughts, as the Angel’s reassuring tone was as warm as a comforting blanket, “All will tremble in the true face of your power. Never be afraid.” Hadge still had his misgivings, “That’s easier said than done.”

  Hadge could no longer delay the unavoidable, as he began to explore the dangerous debris for a way into the chasm, minus plummeting to his death. He wandered around the hole, as he kicked a few bricks, and appeared completely involved as he did so, rambling on to himself, “No… no…that wont do.” He sighed, “I need a way down the hole…not fill it up.”

  Uwee was floating nearby, curiously asking, “Like what?” Hadge rumbled at the grubb, “I don’t know until I see it.” Uwee rolled his eyes, poking fun at
Hadge, “Well…that was helpful.” Then Ruby emerged holding some of the fiber optic from Muezza’s tower, and asked, “Something like this?” Hadge briefly glanced her way, seeing the same wire that couldn’t even support him upon the tower, and all he could do is crow, “If I were a fairy…”

  “That’s it!” Hadge shouted, his feet kicking dirt up everywhere, as he’d found exactly what he’d been looking for. Numerous mucous like stringers wound athwart the waste quite similar to elastic rope, leftover from the reaver factory. Hadge tugged on one particularly long stringer, which still remained secured somewhere deep in the hellhole, as he nodded his head, “Yesssssss…” Smirking at the folly of leaving him a way inside.

  Uwee eagerly rushed up with a sharp piece of metal in his hands, a long spike he’d found in the debris, shouting, “We can use this as a weapon!” Hadge snorted debatably, “We?” Then informed the grubb one last time, “You’re not going.” Uwee smugly responded, “I don’t see how you can stop me.” He chuckled sarcastically, “I’m a ghost.” And reappeared behind Hadge, making an incredibly stupid sound, “Woooooo…I can go anywhere I please.”

  Hadge had rather enough of Uwee’s games, as he turned seizing the grubbs face between his fingers, and gave a low steady growl, “Your staying…” Instantly Uwee stopped laughing, realizing Hadge meant business.

  In the brief moments that Hadge held Uwee in place something bizarre happened, as his spine oddly began to tingle, with the sensation traveling from his arm, and out his fingertips that led to Uwee’s face. Then he realized the bothersome ghost had done more than just stop laughing, as he looked oddly at the grubb, and tried to get a response, “Uwee?” However there was no answer, Uwee was literally frozen in place.

  Hadge neurotically jerked his hand away, blaring, “What have I done!” Almost immediately the Angels soothing voice hummed in his head, “Uwee is fine.” She lulled, “He is only resting.” Hadge still unsure what happened, asked, “He’s asleep?” The Angel acknowledged, “Yessss…” Then informed him, “Your powers can be accessed by need or emotions.” Hadge asked over, “So he’s alive? I mean dead?” She tenderly settled, “At this moment in time.” He wanted to know what she’d meant by the remark, questioning, “This moment?” Then her sweet voice reminded him, “Although time doesn’t really exist, it can be devastating when it runs out.” At that moment he conceived that she was talking about the time left to seal the book, his time was running out, and nodded that he understood.

  Hadge started to ask how do I escape Hell, with his mouth in mid-action. Almost at once he received the answer, as it ringed in his head. “There are many ways out of Hell. The path will find you at the right time.” The Angel’s breathy voice enlightened, just before she and the others had vanished amid a bright white light. Hadges thoughts crossly rumbling, “How does that help?” But all he could do is stare at the spot where the Angel had been, retaining that no matter how unprepared he was at this time, he had to go to Hell.

  Hadge retrieved the lengthy strand of mucous, took a deep breath, and tensely lowered himself into the dark void. Quickly he surpassed the dirt and rock, bouncing from wall to wall, even as dirt rained down around him. Eerily the minerals in the walls began to change, as the roughened surface was now nearly smooth, and the cinereal flesh of the walls heaved and buckled around him. His feet sprung off the flexible surface, and he uneasily breathed to himself, “Oh Yahveh, what is this place?” It was no rocky surface he’d ever felt before. It was spidered with veins, and scarred much like living tissue.

  Out of the soupy blackness beneath his dangling feet something ominously stirred, one or maybe thousands it was really hard to tell. Whatever the case one or thousands he was being watched. As a shiver coursed throughout his body, and he was certain something was out there. Hadge indomitably would not turn back now, as he forged ahead, moving deeper and deeper into the pitch black.

  Again the blackness eerily rippled around him, this time mottled in the shapes of demons. The terrorizing figures agitated by his presence, all screeching out at him the deeper he advanced, and he knew without a doubt that they were malevolent beings.

  The wicked creatures all started to cackle, mischievously shoving Hadge back and forth in the course of the dark, hissing such things as, “Die!” Or taunting, “Stupid ape!” Abruptly the shoves become vicious, feeling his flesh be torn and bitten, as he fearfully struck out at the darkness, and never seeming to come in contact with the perpetrators.

  All at once his fears subsided, replaced by rage, as he exchanged blows and shouted wrathfully at the demons, “You don’t know whom your dealing with.” During which his temperature radically elevated from within, and sunlight seeped through every pore of his body. The sunlight bleached the darkened space, as the brilliant void was inundated with the demons cries of pain. Hadge wickedly felt delight in this power, moreover vengeance, yet was momentarily overshadowed by the affliction of guilt. He swiftly bottled his rage, and morally bayed, “I’m not evil...”

  Suddenly the walls and stringer were all drying out, crumbling under his grip. He frantically clawed at anything and everything within reach, all to keep from falling. His grisly screams echoed through the caverns, even as he spun into a freefall throughout the abyssal darkness. Falling deeper and deeper within the prevailing inky black pool, hastily forcing his inner sun to glow once more, but this time at a much dimmer version.

  The sallow light lit the uneven gray walls, which were chillingly embedded with those evil beings. Every demon clung to the veined surface of the walls. Nonetheless they didn’t care about his state of being, nor did they attack him again, merely hissing and growling from a distance, as he would pass.

  The gravity of his situation dire, as his physical sensitivity was off the charts. All six of Hadges senses were in overtime, seeing, hearing, smelling, feeling, an unquenchable thirst, and even taste. Evil had a flavor of putrid death and charred flesh that was beyond the point of sickening. Desperately throughout his plummet to his death he searched for anything he might cling to, with the frightening sense he was still being watched. From every which way sounds assaulted his eardrums, unbearable screams of the damned, yet still the sounds intensified the deeper he fell.

  Strangely the once vertical tunnel benignly began to angle, steadily moving one wall closer and closer. Hadge knew it was now or never, as his quick hands tried to latch onto any of the elastic membrane venules hanging along the wall. He apprehensively felt the mucous covered matter slip between his fingers endlessly, however the effort slowed his descent. Fiercely he impacted the sloping wall, which slightly gave way beneath his weight, and sprung him back into motion.

  Then he found himself being helplessly moved along its disgusting mucous surface. He slid ever so deeply, as the deafening rumble of rushing water now invaded his keen sense of hearing, but he couldn’t see any water. In fact he wasn’t sure about anything going on around him anymore. Unexpectedly the mucous filled tunnel he was in merged with a second tunnel, and third tunnel. He was now being carried along the watery canal at a high rate of speed, as he soon discovered the current was not water, but rather blood.

  Rapidly he started to put it all together, fleshy walls, veins, and blood, which all eerily comprised the characteristics of something, “Alive.”

  Hadge fought the motility absorption of the thick murky current, blindly being dragged this way and that. He had a tremendous fear he would never escape, as his so called life flashed before his eyes, seeing clips of each of his lives on this planet. Each life altering something to prepare him for this reckless passage inside the bowels of Hell, but it was obviously not enough. All he could do is inconsolably question, “How could I have let myself down?”

  Soon his misery turned to anger, as he forcefully shouted, “No!” He was not giving up so easily, just as he found the inner strength to swim, fighting the current, and debris that got in his way. Thereon he figured out it was not debris filling the blood, but rather people, e
ach and every one being transported straight into Hell.

  Suddenly the passageway abruptly ended, as blood and all rained down into a river of blood. The impact drove you straight to the bottom, as you fought through the thick red substance to break the surface, and gasp soundly for air. Hadge horrifyingly glimpsed thousands of tunnels everywhere, like a massive scarlet waterfall. The waterfall churning souls endlessly into the river, one on top of the other, each one fighting to stay afloat, as struggling hands push you under time and again.

  Hadge turned circles in the river hardly knowing which way to go, just as he caught a glimpse of a massive dark obstruction, an island. But he had to wonder why an island rested in the middle of the river. However he wasn’t one to look a gift horse in the mouth, as he headed towards the mysterious land mass.

  Urgently an unnatural sound reaped from over the waves, somewhat sounding like words, “Grab…my hand.” Hadge could sense something grasp his hand, even as people frantically screamed around him, “Help me!” They cried, “Help me…” Before he knew it he was being hauled up onto the black crusty island, coughing and choking on the vile scarlet clots.

  Hadge weakly set on all fours, attempting to say thank you, however all he could do is retch. At last he looked up at his savior, as a hideously deformed hellhound stood over him, grossly emaciated, and its feet were being slowly eaten away by disease.

  Hadge gasped and choked, as he finally stood upright, demanding to know between coughs, “What. (Hack)..Do you want?” Even as he already took a position of defense, and swiftly had his warped dagger in hand, pointing it at the beast. He impatiently shouted, “Talk!” The yielding beast held up its extraordinary hands, surprisingly it could talk, in an animalistic kind of way, as it declared, “I don’t want anything.”

  Then it unfolded an old metal picture in its hand, a picture of Hadge in another lifetime, beseeching the man before him, “Don’t you remember me?” Hadge quite confused could only concentrate on the burning sensation of his feet, unmindfully growling, “Why should I remember you?” The beast kindly brought him up to date, “Because its me, Reybe.” Shocked, Hadge could only stare in disbelief.

  Reybe rambled on, “I knew you would come.” Hadge could hardly believe this was his old friend, first of all he looked like a hellhound, and secondly he could talk. Moreover fearing it could be some kind of trick. Suspiciously Hadge said, “Reybe?” Reybe continued to ramble, “Some kid let me out of the box. I hope he’s alright.” Hadge inquired, “The box?” But he was sure he was talking about the box in old lady Egdah’s secret room, where else could he get the photo with the same strange handwriting written across it. He started to relax; certain it had to be Reybe, but wondered, “Who was the kid?” And more importantly, “How did he survive?”

  Suddenly he thought of the gorgon’s eye, remembering saving Reybe in Bedlam from dieing, as he randomly mumbled, “Gorgons eye.” Yet he seriously had to call the eye into question, “Could the gorgons eye give eternal life, or did the Devil bring him back?” Although the answer didn’t really matter one way or another for the simple reason that Reybe was Reybe.

  Aversely Hadge could no longer endure the burning of his feet, as if standing upon white-hot pins and needles. Urgently he started to howl, as he evasively danced on his toes, “Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!” Idly Reybe advised, “This Island is a cancer.” He pointed out the crusty mass, “It eats away at all who clings to it.” Reybe’s odd fingers continued to follow the land mass, as it carried on right up a grotesque tree in the center of the island, and he stated, “The cancer grows everywhere down here.” Hadge’s eyes continued to follow the crusty old tree upwards, as its cancerous branches seemed to reach topside, and in fact did seem to grow everywhere.

  At which point he noticed that vampires sullied the space beyond, even as other hideous demons strayed about the islands, most likely to keep the river running smoothly. Then strangely Hadge felt somehow taller, as he observed the spot where he stood, seeing that the cancer had fitfully grown wild, and was certain it had to be from the warmth of his body.

  Reybe anxiously looked towards the vampires, and stressed, “We have to get out of here now.” Hadge still a bit doubtful of the hellhound, wondered, “Is the Devil using Reybe?” He studied the dog before him supposing, “Maybe…” He thought, “It’s a trap.” He at last come to reason, “No…why would he offer to help?” Then Hadge too glanced towards the vampires, and uneasily replied, “I think your right.” His eyes drawn to the force of the waterfall, which made it an impossibility to escape, with only one other option to persist further into Hell.

  Hadges eyes fell to the reddened river, as heads bobbed here and there, and hands allover would push people under. He didn’t know how one could actually swim the river without being drowned, even as he made a sound of disgust, and said, “The true face of human nature.” Then he glanced back at the maddening disease beneath his feet, as a wonderfully crazy idea came to mind.

  He scooped up a handful of the crusty soil, letting the warmth of his inner sun allow it to grow, until it was the vague size of a small raft. He stopped helping the matter grow, as he told himself, “That should be enough.” Reybe leaned closer looking confused, “What?” Hadge shook his head, pushing the cancerous matter out upon the river to see how well it floated, and answered, “Oh, nothing.”

  Hadge held the raft in place, sure it was seaworthy, and ordered Reybe, “Jump on.” Reybe glanced from the raft, and how it would journey back to the center of Hell, instantly arguing, “Oh no.” He begged, “I don’t want to go back.” Hadge squabbled, “You don’t have a choice.” Pointing at the power of the waterfall, the only way in, and said, “The only way out, is the darkest depths of Hell.” Seeing that they both carefully boarded the dubious raft, setting sail upon the atrocious red river.

  They merely made it nine feet from shore, as flailing arms tipped the raft back and forth, and everywhere a multitude of voices all screamed, “Help me!” Others wheezing, “Help…me…” All frantically trying to board the tiny dinghy, as the grasping hands tore the craft apart bit by bit. Reybe gruffing, “We’re sinking!” Hadge desperately tried to keep them afloat, wildly shouting, “Don’t you think I can see that!” But the crazed behavior was more than he could handle, it was utter chaos, as the people swarmed the boat, and they only had seconds before their feet touched the bloody river.

  The ruckus alerted the demons, which patrolled the deadly river. Reybe frantically shouted, “What are we going to do?” Hadge simply said, “Pray…” His mind was a blank, and he hadn’t a clue how to fix this mess.

  At that moment a roguish notion entered Hadges mind, boring his fingers into what was left of the raft, and yelling at Reybe, “Hang on for your life!” It was not unlike the charge of a battery, as he concentrated sunlight into the cancerous matter. The raft rapidly grew, buckling and spreading athwart the river, as bodies tumbled in every direction, until the disease had completely dammed the waterway. Everything beyond the dam drained down to meager puddles, as people frantically ran in all direction within the ruddy river bottom, yet still had no chance of escaping.

  Hadge leapt to the river bottom, running as soon as his feet hit the ground, instructing all who may be listening, “Run!” Reybe quickly following his master, as a few terrified souls got to their feet around him crying, “How do we get out of here?” Hadge hadn’t the heart to explain, “Their judgment had already been set. There is no way out.” Instead he suggested, “The way you got here.”

  Nervously Hadge and Reybe both kept glancing back at the demons, as they weaved through all the bewildered people. The demons had gathered along the cancerous dam, tearing the crusty tissue asunder, as it surely couldn’t last much longer. Hadge shouted more urgently, “Run faster!” He could see the end was nearly insight, as the riverbed faded off into a pulsating black abyss, and a strange rhythmic sound grew profoundly louder. Hadge faithfully thinking, “We’re going to make it.”

  Suddenly
the sounds of screams echoed all around them, as one by one the people started to vanish. Reybe’s head twisted from side to side, growling, “What’s going on?” Hadge turned just in time to see that the vampires had advanced, and were clearing a path to their main objective, namely himself.

  Swiftly one vampire swooped up behind him, while another aimed for Reybe, as they extended their deadly claws. Hadge turning just in time to see his friend picked from the riverbed, as the vampire rumbled in a low voice, “Traitorous dog!” At once Reybe yelped, and his body was propelled through the stagnant air, while the demon dementedly cackled. At wits end, Hadge screamed like a man possessed, “Noooooooooooo!” The darkness just beneath his eyes rolled from the vampire to Reybe, as he helplessly watched his friend vanish somewhere within the pulsating black abyss, beyond the end of the river.

  Hadge wholly enraged had forgotten his own plight, as another vampire was hot on his heels. All the same he pivoted in the direction of Reybe’s attacker, yelling like a madman, “Who’s the traitor now!” A blast of sunlight discharged from his hands, striking the sinister beast. Briefly the chamber was aglow, as tiny particles of vampire dust sprinkled athwart the riverbed. The light had temporarily stopped each and every demon in their tracks, as they shielded their eyes from the excruciating brightness, and waited for it to end.

  Unanticipated the radiance had generated the cancer into a frenzy, as it wildly began to grow, and sealed the entire cavity of the river. Still the cancer kept growing, as the blood from the building river filtered through the enlarged cancerous pores, and it all headed in the direction of the black abyss.

  It was all moving headlong in Hadge’s direction, as he sprinted over the ruddy river bottom to escape the oncoming mass, and realized how foolish he had been to let anger get the better of him. He was utterly oblivious to his present surroundings, until he acknowledged the riverbed was no longer beneath his feet, and he too had arrived at the end of the river.

  He was plummeting downward into the concave of Hell, as the once unattainable bottom rapidly came into focus. Everything was imbued with blackened rock, like thousands of black craggily fingers trying to reach out and touch you, or even worse to impale its victims. A swirling red lake amassed at the heart of the deadly skewers, as the blackened rocks gradually faded from view beneath the depths of its crimson surface, but surely as life and death the dangerous rocks were still there lurking below the blood. Hadge was positive that if he didn’t die of a heart attack, the fall would definitely kill him.

  Out of the pulsating blackness something seized his leg, and the feeling of falling subsided. Hadge had an uncanny sense this could be a fate worse than death, as his heart pounded like a drum, bizarrely keeping in time with the deafening sounds of the abyssal rhythm. He wrenched and twisted his dangling body, all in an effort to see his captor.

  At last seeing the diabolical smirk of a vampire glaring back at him, its painful intentions fairly obvious, and finding the part of knowing just as unpleasant as not knowing. Hadge refused to have any part of the beast’s monstrous plan, angrily shouting, “No you don’t!” Then aimed his deadly sunlight at the fiend, and just as quickly reduced the monster to ashes.

  Abruptly he was aware of falling once more, however the thought of death didn’t seem so terrifying any longer.

  Expeditiously something had awakened in the shadows of the blackened crags, crackling and shifting in his direction, and all he could think, “Oh Yahveh, what now?” The declivitous branches of a cancerous tree reached out of the darkness, assaulting him in every way possible. It was drawn to his light. Suddenly a hand caught his arm on the way down, and an animalistic voice said, “I’ve got you!”

  He turned in time to see Reybe’s hellish face, just before the branch broke and they both fell into a grove of the malignant trees.

  Hadge knotted painfully in the undergrowth of the trees, coddled within millions of tiny saplings much like small plants. He was in and out of consciousness, listening to the steady thump of the black carrel, or maybe it was the sound of his own heart. He really couldn’t tell anymore, as he lain stiffly on his backside, staring up into the black void of Hell.

  All at once the distant rumble of the dam breaking dissipated all else, followed closely by the violent rush of the river churning over the falls. Hadge tenderly rolled onto his stomach, peering out between the crusty life forms, as the unending sights and sounds of people that were swept along the bloods vicious path. The near lifeless souls ended up swirling around and around in the bloody lake below, as some unfortunately met a dire end upon the deadly crags.

  The bloody lake by all accounts was like a colander, which sifted souls deeper into Hell. Sadly Hadge could only look away; there was no way to help them now.

  Reybe fearfully called out his name, “Hadge!” He pointed out the masses of demons all searching for them, by land and air, and exclaimed, “We have to hide.” Then promptly suggested, “The city of Xilbalba is near.” He urged, “We can hide there.” Hadge winced from the overall pain, but soundly agreed, “Yesss...”

  Reybe Helped Hadge to his feet, and just as quickly shoved him against a cancerous tree, hushing him into silence, “Shhhhhhhh…”

  Straight away the crunch of nearby saplings resounded through the grove, most assuredly a sign that something was close. Then a ghostly vision sifted from tree to tree, as its long gauzy raiment trailed eerily behind, and it appeared merely to float from one place to the next.

  Hadge was instantly awestruck by this beautiful female spirit, even more beautiful than an Angel, until its lurid name recoiled from the depths of his mind, “Vistaria…among the darkest fallen Angels.” The vistaria’s punishment had twisted them inside out, for all to see how evil they truly were, forcing them to hide behind a glimmer, which allowed them to walk among the living without being noticed. Once among people they would pass disease and plagues to those unlucky to meet them, not unlike other demons that fed on the living, other than their choice of dining were the donors various organs.

  Intensely the saplings crunched ever so closer, as the prowling demon’s glimmer had now faded, and the vile bloody bag of bones beneath was visible for all to see.

  Hastily Reybe plucked a chunk of bark from the tree, which oddly started to ooze blood. Hadge looked from the wound left on the tree to the bark in Reybe’s hand, as the foot long piece began to thrash, and squeal like a hungry young child.

  Immediately Reybe threw the black encrusted parasite a fair distance away, as the hideous creature extracted its legs, and scampered off through the crusty saplings. The deluge of sound the creature made had caught the interest of the vistaria, as the demon followed the noise of the nearly invisible parasite off into the distance.

  Without delay Reybe jerked Hadge in the opposite direction, slinking through the trees, which grew all the way up to the city. Hadge was awestricken by the wonder of Xilbalba, which was carved from the nine monolithic crags of Nonagon Mountain, the blackened heart of Hell. Reybe cited, “Xilbalba is separated into nine different cities.” Indicating, “This is South Xilbalba. Where all the newcomers arrive.” Hadge expressed, “Hopefully their helpful.” Reybe didn’t sound optimistic, “Don’t count on it.” And continued to guide them through the forest of crags and crusty trees.

  The shadowy crag lands extended further than the eye could see, gathering densely about the swirling lake in the center of Xilbalba, as each quadrant of the city was in full view of all the sinners downfall and punishments that were served.

  Eerily they walked below crags that had impaled several unfortunate souls, as the people were still screaming for help. Reybe ordered, “Ignore them.” Hadge started to object, “But…” Reybe growled, “It’s a trap.” Hadge knew he was right, no need to draw any more attention to themselves than has already been done.

  Reybe burst out, “Xilbalba, the city of the dead.” Hadge hadn’t realized they were so close, as his eyes surveyed the shiny black metropolis, like som
ething from out of Greek mythology, stretching higher than the limits of the murky brume lingering above all the cities. And even still the sounds of construction carried onward, surely making room for new souls.

  Handfuls of the citizens flogged to the edge of the city, all curiously wanting to catch a glimpse of the disturbance. They kept asking again, and again, “What’s going on?” Seeming hopeful as they asked, “Has someone escaped?” Time and again the reavers would send them back from whence they came, as they jabbed the spectators with spears. Hadge and Reybe swiftly blended into one of the crowds, inching their way unseen, and deeper into the city.

  Most of the inhabitants of Xilbalba appeared to be children. They were all dressed in dirty rags, peculiarly wearing deteriorated masks that the white paint and smiles had long since faded, making gender an impossibility to guess. The children frolicked through the long antiquated streets, some playing tag, as their haunting laughter resounded eerily in every direction. While agitated voices around them hushed, “Shhhhhhhh…” Someone saying, “Don’t let them catch you playing.”

  Then Hadge started to notice the hum of his name, which was randomly being whispered Here and there, “Hadge.” They said, “Its Hadge.” Some seemed in disbelief, “Is that really Hadge?” Still others said, “Its him.” Awkwardly his name was renowned among the damned, some condemning, “They’re looking for him.” Reybe nervously tugged at Hadge’s arm, asserting the fact, “I think we should get out of here.” Hadge agreed, “I think your right.”

  Suddenly the residents of Xilbalba began to uneasily scatter, being in his presence was similar to committing a crime. All the words had now shockingly exchanged into sounds, people gasping at his presence, others screaming in fear. The sounds escalated to the point they were no longer hiding.

  Not long in coming were the demons, which pursued the alarming screams. The demons had generated even greater discord among the citizens, thrashing their weapons this way and that. Residents panicked, running every which way, amid this utter turmoil a young girl was trampled, her mask broken in half.

  Hadge was quickly at her side offering a helping hand, and asking, “Are you alright?” The girl cowered from his touch, as her mask fell away, and revealed the real person beneath. She had large black round eyes, eyelashes and brows gone, with two oddly mismatched holes where the nose used to be, and the remainder of her dried skin and mouth stitched into place, as if it were the lasting remnants of humanity.

  Reybe interrupted, “Lets go. They don’t want our help.” The girl had quickly picked up the pieces of her mask, and dashed off into the crowds. Hadge realized Reybe was right, these people were conditioned in fear, so the only help they actually needed was for him to leave, and repeated the only sane idea, “Lets go.”

  Everywhere the din of the demons grew increasingly louder, as more and more arrived every second, and it was plainly not safe to be here. Reybe gruffed at Hadge, “This way.” Then the two briskly started to make their way through the crowds, heading back in the direction of the forest.

  A oddly familiar male voice radiated from somewhere amid the chaos, “Hadge!” Hadge momentarily stopped, and searched the faces in the crowd, but all he could see were those damnable masks.

  Suddenly a heavy hand weighed down upon his shoulder, and his thoughts instantly imagined some kind of demon. At once Reybe began to growl at the perpetrator. Hadge turned on the unknown creature, only to discover one of the masked citizens standing before him. Uneasily the masked figure notified him, “You shouldn’t be here.” The words were like a light going off in Hadge’s head, and he knew who was behind that mask. “Come…” The mask figure leads them to a nearby alley, as the shadows quickly engulfed them, and the man removed his mask. Visibility in the alley was next to nothing, but the identity of the man was clear for all to see, it was Nibbs.

  Nibbs straight away began to scold Hadge, “What are you doing here?” But nary waited for a reply, as he continued the verbal assault, “I gave up my life to save you, and you repay me by walking right into Hell!” Hadge tried to speak over the ranting little man, however he got nowhere until he screamed his name, “Nibbs!” Reybe gave Hadge a discerning look, remarking, “I think he’s crazy.” Nibbs sounded quite confused, “Huh?” He asked, “What?” Hadge chuckled, and said, “Just calm down.” Nibbs let out a sigh, saying, “Yea, your right.”

  Then Nibbs began raving about something else, “Oh, Normie is going to be looking for me.” Hadge questioned, “Normie?” Nibbs responded, “Yea, Normie is my friend. She’s been here close to fifty years.” Hadge was quite surprised, saying something on the order of, “If this is all the new arrivals, I wonder how old the rest of them are?” Reybe had thought the same thing.

  Without warning Nibbs grabs a handful of sludge from the ground, moving in Hadges direction, telling him, “Lets get you covered up.” Hadge tried to hold him back, arguing, “What are you doing?” Nibbs declaring, “You’re too bright.” He said, “Your like a light bulb.” Reybe held his hands up laughing, and settled to the same opinion, “He’s right.” Hadge started to argue once more, but ended up with a mouth full of sludge.

  Now it was two against one, as Nibbs and Reybe slung mud at Hadge. “Stop!” Hadge shouted, as he unsteadily teetered against the shiny stonewall of a building, and oddly his clothes mimicked the black shine of the rock. Reybe and Nibbs did stop, looking at the clothes as if in shock, asking each other, “Did you see that?”

  Suddenly a tall dark menacing shadow appeared from out of nowhere, one of the demons had found them. Hadge realized they were cornered, with nowhere to run. Nibbs turned around gasping at the tall dark figure, even as Reybe was instantly on all fours growling at the intruder. Hadge tried to reason with the beast, as he could sense his divine power coursing through his veins, “You know what the Hadge can do. Leave now, and I wont hurt you.”

  The shadowy figure had no intentions of leaving, as its movements were faster than the eye could see. One by one the trio was rendered unconscious, as Hadge desperately struggled to flee from the expanding darkness, until he could no longer fight the hold it had on his head. All that was left was darkness.