“That’s one thing that I remember vividly. It was a cold night in March. I was in a new settlement called New Amsterdam. I was 19 years old and I was returning from a play. The man that had escorted me wanted more than time spent with me, but I was unwilling so he made me walk home alone. I was a few blocks away from my father’s house when I was attacked by a gang of four drunken men. Despite my appearance now, I was a fair lady in my life. They wanted to have their way with me, and that’s exactly what they did. I cried for them to stop, but it just egged them on even more. When they were done with me, the first one decided to hit me in the head with a large rock. I was still conscience but not moving. They threw my body into the icy river and I drowned. You?”
“Wow! That was gruesome. My story can’t come close to that. I was at work one day and my boss let me go home early. When I got there my wife was cheating on me so I shot myself.”
“You shot yourself? Why would you do that? Why didn’t you shoot him instead?”
“I don’t know. I wasn’t thinking, I guess. I’ve been trying to figure that out myself. I’ve played the scene over and over again in my head, and it always ends the same: my wife crying over my dead body.”
“Your wife again? Why do you keep talking about her?”
“Because I love her. I want nothing more than to be with her again. I got to see her for a second when I was on Earth, and it was the happiest second I’ve had since before I died.”
“What’s so special about her?”
“What isn’t so special about her? She’s smart, funny, and the most beautiful women I’ve ever met.” When I said that, Callista shrunk back a little bit.
“If she was willing to lie with another man though, don’t you think you could do better?”
“I don’t think so. There was just something about Shannon. She was my soul mate.”
“Well, maybe you have another soul mate, someone that you might not even think of, yet.”
“Maybe, but don’t you think it’s a little late for me to find love?” I laughed, but I noticed the Callista had a strange smirk on her face, almost like disappointment. ‘Has she been flirting with me?’ I asked myself. ‘No way, Callista almost had me killed on that roof. It must be in my head.’
“I think it’s time for me to continue my journey, Jon.”
“Why? I’m sorry.”
“What are you sorry for?”
“I’m not sure, ha ha. For whatever upset you so much. Look, I’m in a new place and on top of everything, that place happens to be Hell.”
The smile came back to her face and she moved her eyes from looking down to match mine. “Okay, you convinced me. I guess I can stay for a little while longer, but you can‘t keep talking all about your wife, deal?”
“Deal.” I didn’t know why I wanted Callista to stay. I hadn’t known her for very long, and in that short time she had been nothing but rude to me. I couldn’t tell if it was loneliness or what, but I didn’t want to be alone. “So where are we going, then?”
“How about I show you my asylum in Gluttony?”
“I’m up for it.”
“Okay then, follow me.”
I did exactly that. She was leading me pretty far into this new place, but somehow I wasn’t afraid. The random passersby were just as frightening, if not more, as the people on the first level. Being with Callista was nice though. Having companionship is always worthwhile.
“It’s right off Terentu Square which is cattycorner from Mephistopheles,” she explained. “We have to take the long way there, though.”
“Why?”
“Well like I said. It’s opposite of here and I don’t want to pass by the tower. If I can avoid it, I always steer clear of the tower. You never know if Beelzebub is there or not.”
“Makes sense, but what about your guard?”
She laughed. “They are no match for an Elohim, especially one as powerful as Beelzebub. He controls one of the two second largest armies in Hell and he didn’t get there by petting kittens.”
“Ha ha, I suppose not. So is it a long walk?”
“Just keep one foot in front of the other and we’ll get there before you know it.”
I didn’t respond. I just followed her. It was pretty nice being able to just follow someone rather than trying to figure things out for myself. Sure she was hideous, but it was company. I had no idea what her intentions with me were, but for the time being I didn’t have to think too hard for myself. This time around, Callista was a little different, anyway. She was letting her humanity shine through and it was nice to think of someone else in Hell being a good person, but at the same time, it brought up a pretty good question. “Say, Callista?”
“What?”
“Why are you in Hell?”
“What do you mean?”
“You know, what sin did you commit that forced you into Hell?”
“I don’t really want to talk about that, Jon.”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s a little embarrassing for me. I don’t want to talk about it, and we are going to leave it at that. Okay?”
“Fine then.” When she refused to tell me why, it made me a little curious. ‘Is it really embarrassing, or was it something that would turn me away from her,’ I thought. ‘For that matter, can I really trust her or anything she has told me? For all I know, she could’ve been some serial killer and died in a blaze of glory.’
“So, did you ever love anyone, in life?” I asked her.
“I don’t know. I think I did, but like I said before, I can’t really remember too much about my life. I renounced my former self when I joined Asmodeus’ ranks.”
As we were walking, I noticed a man sitting on the ground propping his back against the side of a building and letting his head hang low. He was a pretty good looking guy, but there was something odd about him. He didn’t have a deformity. He was only wearing a tattered pair of pants that had worn down to being little more than shorts, so I could assume that he wasn’t just hiding it. When we started approaching him, his head raised and he made immediate eye contact with me. I tried, but I couldn’t break contact. It was like he was peering into my soul. He smiled, broke eye contact, and dropped his head back towards the ground. As we went out of earshot of the man, I leaned towards Callista and asked, “Did you see that man?”
“What man?”
“The one behind us on the ground. He didn’t have any deformities.”
“Oh, him. As far as I’ve seen, he is the only one in Hell that is that way. His name is Marcus or something like that. I don’t know much more. He doesn’t say much and I couldn’t get a word out of him. I had to find out his name from and Elohim.”
“It was weird. I was looking at him and when we made eye contact I couldn’t break free. My eyes were frozen on him.”
“That is strange, Jon. You shouldn’t make up stories, ha ha.”
‘I guess she doesn’t believe me,’ I thought. ‘I know what happened, though.’
“We’re almost there, Jon,” Callista said.
“Okay then,” I responded, “which one is it?”
“That one!” she pointed. It was a one story building standing alone. It was on the edge of the circle formation so it was shaped kind of like a triangle. There was one door and a hole that looked like it was supposed to be a window. “Come on in, Jon!” She was excited so I hurried behind her. As we entered I saw a stone bench next to the wall and a door. It looked like the building was separated into 2 rooms. The rest of the building looked empty. “Isn’t it great?”
“Yeah!” I shouted. I wasn’t impressed, but I could tell that she was proud of her humble abode and I didn’t want to offend her. After we entered we heard the handle start to move.
“Hide,” she whispered. We ducked around the corner in the other room and waited. I was nervous. I didn’t know what could possibly be waiting for me in this new level of the spiral cave known as Hell. In burst four men, luckily for me, they were Callista’s guard
.
It was good for me because at the moment, I thought Callista was alright, but I wasn’t prepared to fight for her or her home. If it really came down to it, I would probably run away and let her fend for herself. It may not be the noblest thing I could do, but I wanted to save my own skin. Asmodeus and Charlie may have been dead ends for me, but there was no doubt another way I could get home to my wife.
“What did I tell you about knocking!?” Callista scolded her cronies. They all tucked their heads down in submission.
“So this is where you stay?” I asked trying to change the subject.
“Sometimes,” she responded. “I have a home in almost every level.”
“I see. How did you manage that?”
“I worked my ass off for it. Ha ha. Someday, you might just be able to have what I have.”
“Thanks, but I already have a home.”
“You do? Where?”
“On Earth.” Her face went from inquisitive to a sad look.
“Do you really miss it that much?”
“Of course. I can’t believe that you don’t.”
“But you have so much here! You could do anything you wanted to. I see what Asmodeus saw in you. You have great potential.”
“You really think so?”
“Absolutely. You could do anything.”
I didn’t respond with words, but a great big smile came across my face and I think I was a little flushed. I can’t deny that it flattered me. I wasn’t sure why I was taking her compliments so well when just a day or so ago I was arguing with Asmodeus over the same words.
“Come on, Jon,” Callista said. “Let’s sit on that bench over there.”
“Alright,” I responded.
We sat, but I can’t remember what we were talking about. Well, I should say what she was talking about, I was busy thinking. ‘I wonder if Charlie is still going to help me after what I did. Surely he understands. After all, it was Asmodeus’ that I betrayed and not Charlie himself, but then again, I don’t think he is a very understanding person. He seems pretty cold and uninterested in my life. Even still, he is the first one to try and help me. After I leave, I should probably try to call him here. I hope that he will still reunite me with my wife. That’s my mission right now. I can’t forget that.’
“Are you listening, Jon?” Callista asked.
“Oh yeah,” I said. “Umm, what were we talking about again?”
She laughed and said, “I asked you what you were planning on doing after you leave here.”
“Oh. I think I’m going to try and contact Charlie again.”
“Why would you do that?”
“You know why.”
“Oh right…the whole wife thing. I guess I should wish you the best of luck on that.” She didn’t seem sincere, but I was willing to take any luck that I could. I knew that I needed it. I wasn’t necessarily the type that believed in luck, but if it was real, mine was always bad.
“So are you kicking me out then?”
“You are free to leave whenever you like.”
“I think I might stay for a little while longer. I have eternity after all.”
“That’s true,” she laughed.
We sat there for some time after that, not saying a word to each other. I think she was enjoying my company as much as I was hers. I think she realized that I wasn’t someone that she could just push around and she was starting to see me as an equal. I could see how it could be comforting to have someone around that isn’t waiting on you beck and call. Unfortunately, as I was sitting there without speaking or doing anything really, I started to nod off. I swore to myself after every dream that I wouldn’t again let it happen, but it did.
I found myself as a child. I was playing in the front yard of my home. I was young, but not too young to be by myself. Cars were WIZZING by on the street. My mother came out, but she seemed different. Her face was a blur to the point that I couldn’t recognize her, but I knew who she was.
“It’s time to come in, Jonny,” she said. “Dinner’s almost done.”
I was happy. I was feeling hungry and I didn’t care to keep playing. I ran towards the brightly lit door. I could see my mother sitting at the table and my father sitting next to her. As soon as my foot hit the floor on the other side of the door everything changed. The lights went out and it was snowing all of a sudden. There were holes in the roof from disrepair. My parents were gone.
“Come here, Jon,” a voice whispered from the living room.
“No!” I responded. “I won’t go!”
“Yes you will!” the voice demanded.
“NO!” I screamed. I tried to run the other way but some force started pulling me. It pulled me through the sitting room and into the living room. As my back was at the door way to the living room, it pulled harder and threw me against the wall. I looked over and on the couch was sitting Shannon.
“Jon,” she said, “I’ve been waiting for you.”
“And I you,” I said, relieved to see my wife.
“Come here, sweetie. Sit with me.” I did.
“I’ve missed you so much, Shannon.”
“I’ve missed you too, Jon. Give me a kiss.”
I leaned in as she did. Our lips locked in a sweet embrace that I hadn’t felt since the morning of which I died, but then, she started nibbling a little. It hurt, but it was worth it. I would endure it to be with her, but then her nibbles grew to bites. I pushed her off me.
“What are you doing!? That hurts!” I said.
“Come here, Jon!” she demanded, her lips covered in blood. “KISS ME!”
“No!” I stood up and started running away, but she tackled me and flipped me to my back. “Get off me! You’re not my wife!”
“Of course I am,” she said, her voice now deep and booming. “Now kiss me!” I couldn’t over power her. She held me down and began to tear at my face again. The pain was excruciating as she pulled my lips from my face. I was screaming and crying, but it seemed only to fuel her rampage. “Shut up! Stop being such a pussy!” I cried out again and again until I started to gurgle as she bit through my neck. Slowly the blood began to drain from my neck, filling my lungs and covering my body, but it didn’t finish until she had already devoured most of my face. As the lights around me went dark, I awoke to an empty building. Callista had left while I was sleeping. I hadn’t a clue where she could’ve gone, but I didn’t plan on staying in her home.
I exited the building and looked around. It was devoid of life, except for one man. It was the man that I had seen on my trip here, the one that had paralyzed me with nothing more than a glance.
“Jon,” a soft male voice said.
“Can I help you?” I responded.
“Are you Jonathon Cowley?”
“I might be. Who wants to know?”
“I do. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Marcus, Marcus Sanctus,” he said with a bow.
“Ok, Marcus Sanctus. What can I do for you?”
“There isn’t much you can do for me. However, I have a feeling that in time there is much I can do for you. For now, you benefit merely by knowing my name. Farewell, Jonathon Cowley. We shall meet again.” And then he turned and walked away.
“What a freak,” I said aloud, low enough for him not to hear me. “I guess it’s time to try and find Charlie and try to make amends. CHARLIE!”
“What do you want, you insufferable peasant?” he responded from behind me.
I turned around. He wasn’t smiling this time. “I realize that what I’ve done cannot be forgiven,” I said.
“You are finally starting to understand.”
“In any case, I’d like to resume my position with you.”
“And what makes you think that I am still willing to help you?”
“Because I have something to offer you.”
“Oh you have something for me?” he asked as the smirk returned to his face.
“As a matter of fact. I was a chosen of Asmodeus, even though I have been cast as
ide. I do still retain the talents he bestowed upon me.”
“Okay. So how does that benefit me at all?”
“Don’t you see? I am no longer under Asmodeus command. I can be under your command but still use the powers that Asmodeus gave me. I can do more than your run of the mill lackey.”
“Perhaps you can. I did not think of it that way. What sort of gifts did Asmodeus grant you?”
“Well, I can teleport with the snap of my fingers. He did grant me one other, but I can’t use that one.”
“What other?”
“He briefly allowed me to visit his home and use the triangle to view things, but I was banished from there as well.”
“Oh I see, but I think that the teleporting may come in handy after all.”
“So then are we back in business?”
“Not quite, Jon. You should know by now that there is always a catch.”
“I should’ve known.”
“Yes, you should have. I want you to do something to prove your worth.”
“Have I not proven myself time and time again!?” I forgot myself and was getting angry.
“If you prefer, you can get to your wife on your own.”
“No,” I had to calm down so that I could receive his help, “I’m sorry.”
“Very well then. The Elohim of Gluttony is in possession of a powerful artifact, one that grants the holder an unusual power.”
“Okay, where do I fit in?”
“You are going to steal it.”
“WHAT!? You want me to steal something from Beelzebub?”
“That’s correct.”
“But isn’t he one of the Elohim that all should avoid?”
“That he is, but we have the upper hand. You can teleport there. I also possess the ability of teleportation, however my gifts comes from a different Elohim and thus have different restrictions. Asmodeus’ teleportation allows you to merely think of a place and you can go there. All you have to do is picture it. I can only go to places that I have already been. While I have been in his tower, I have not been to the room that holds the artifact.”
“But not only have I never been there, I have no idea what to picture. I haven’t even seen the tower but the part jutting above the rest of the buildings.”
Hellbound: Chronicles Page 13