By X-treme X-taggano (backfire@subdimension.com)
I stared in horror at my surroundings. The so-called reality that I thought I was in was turning into that hell that I had thought was a dream.
But it wasn't just a dream. It was a real world that was somehow
taking over our world . . . making it hell on earth. I didn't know what
was going on or what would cause earth to be taken over by this reality,
but whatever it was, it was intent on the distruction of this planet.
Something horrible was going on . . . no doubt in my mind.
I looked past the decay that had just spread into the world. If the nightmare world had invaded our world, that meant Cheryl probably ended up here too . . . and she was probably out on the docks, like Cybil had said. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I didn't know if the monsters had made there way into this world as well, but with my luck, they probably did . . . thousands of them did.
I quickly started running. No use sitting around thinking about the many ways I could die. The only thing that was important was finding the ways that I could live. The metal beneath my feet felt more real this time. Every hallow footstep that echoed beneath me felt more like reality and not just a blur. This was no hallucination . . . this was hell. I knew it was. The buildings around me weren't just part of the mere shadow of a world I had thought to be a nightmare. They were real . . . too real.
I looked to my left and realized there was a street. According to my map, this lead straight to the dock . . . right were I was heading! I looked down the road made of chain links for a while, still unable to believe the bottomless void beneath me wasn't fake this time . . .
It's real . . .
I ran down the street. I saw the objects that were once lamp posts that had been turned into windmills overcasting all. I couldn't feel the breeze, but I could feel everything else. The stale air, the smell of blood through the buildings . . . even the feeling of my own heartbeat racing as I ran through hell.
Then I heard something growl.
A dog! A god damned dog! I turned around for a brief moment and saw it staring into my eyes . . . only this one was different! His skin looked as if it were made out of . . . some sort of tube like object. As if it were made out of it's own intestines! It growled at me and it seemed to be vomiting up some sort of gray substance. Perhaps it was just drooling, but I didn't want to stick around and find out.
I instantly turned around and started running. The dock wasn't far, so I flipped off my flashlight. Hopefully, the dog wouldn't be able to see me as I ran through the pitch blackness. I was soon completely lost in the dark, only knowing that the general direction I had to go was forwards. I heard the dog's footsteps behind me, but knew that it probably wasn't getting any closer. The footsteps seemed to get further and further away from me . . . until I could hear them no more.
I stopped right where I was and started to catch my breath. No more dogs . . . I was able to outsmart this one. I still wasn't sure, however, if it would be safe to turn my flashlight back on. I figured it probably wouldn't be the smartest choice to make and all I could do was fumble through the darkness. I knelt down, trying to stay low as I felt along the floor, slowly guiding myself forwards. I was bound to find the dock somewhere.
My heart stopped as I my hands fell over the edge of the pier.
My chest hit the stone floor as my hands slipped into the water. I quickly pulled them out, as where the water felt more like . . . fire. My hands burned when they were wet from the lake. More to add to the hellish nightmare. I quickly flicked the water off my hands, trying to relieve myself of the burning pains I was enduring. As soon as the water was off, I got to my feet and turned my flashlight back on. No use wandering aimlessly. Either way, it was dangerous and I was just as likely to die without my light on.
I looked to my left, realizing there was a boat on the lake. It was quite small, old and rusted, barely connected to the pier by a thick rope tied around one of the posts. A small wooden board was was laid across the deck and went out onto the pier . . . which I could probably use to board the ship. I stood up for a moment and stepped down lightly on the board, making sure it wasn't going to collapse beneath me. Fortunately, however, it seemed fairly stripy. I decided, however, it was probably a good idea to make it across as fast as I could so that the board wouldn't have the choice of falling beneath me. And so I quickly ran across the board. It wobbled a bit, but I didn't fall into the "water" and take me along for the ride. As soon as I got to the other side, I opened the door to the ship and slammed it behind me.
I was greeted by a mutilated body nailed to the bulkhead.
I screamed as I stared at it for a moment. Another crucified body! Why another one?! I didn't want to look at it . . . I didn't want to see have to see the charred, brown flesh of the human . . . I didn't want to see it's terrible expression . . . I didn't want to see it's face!
Because I realized it was my own face on the body.
I looked away from it in horror. It was me. That body that hung on the wall, dismembered and destroyed, was my own. And it wasn't the fact that it was mutilated that scared me . . . it was the message it sent. That my whole life had been a lie . . .
I started to look at the body again, examining every scar it bared . . . a deep cut in the knee. Another horrible stabbing mark lay on the stomach. It scared me because every wound on it . . . they were my wounds. All the pain and suffering I had endured was displayed on this body . . .
My body.
But it was all nailed to a cross. Either this was a sick joke, or a way of telling me I was forgiven. My sins had left me with the cross . . . that all the lies I had surrounded myself with . . . all the wrong things I had done . . . they had all been forgiven by my God . . .
And as the thought had sunken into me, I realized the face was slowly changing. I leapt backwards because the transformation startled me. But as it twisted into shape and I stared deep into it, I realized that the face was no longer mine.
I gasped as I realized who it was . . . the one who had died for my sins . . .
I smiled as I thanked God for the reassurance. This truly meant that God was on my side . . . he was watching me, helping me make it through this hell . . . and I was grateful to him. I laughed, knowing that, though I was always a firm believer in God, I had never really prayed or even gone to church. But I found that my faith in God was perhaps the only way I'd survive this hell. Just that one bit of hope.
Hope . . .
I walked passed the body on the bulkhead and up to the small set of stairs . . . three stairs, to be specific. It lead right to the door used to enter the main deck. The door was chipped and torn apart, but still worked . . . just barely. I put my hand on the knob, instantly realizing how uncomfortable the metal felt beneath my fingers. I turned the knob and the door opened.
I suddenly gasped as I saw a woman standing near the wheel . . .
"Cybil!"
The woman instantly turned around, letting me know she was indeed Cybil Bennett. She was quivering with fear . . . this much I knew. I could see the way her small body was shaking as she looked out the main window into the lake of fire before us, standing upon the almost completely destroyed wooden floor. She gasped as she stared into my face. It didn't take her long to realize it was me . . . she then ran up to me and threw herself into my arms, weeping. She was terrified. I held her tight, trying to keep her from shaking with fear.
She looked up into my eyes, her own flooded with tears. "Harry! Where the hell did you go?!" she asked.
I stroked her hair with the palm of my hand. "I don't know . . . " I explained. "I'm sorry . . . but I'm glad you're okay. I was worried about you."
Her eyes widened. "You were worried?! I looked everywhere for you!" she explained. "Harry, what the hell is this place?!" She started to cry again . . . I could feel her tears sinking into my t-shirt and onto my skin.
"This is that place I was telling you about," I explained.
She pulled herself away from me for a moment, although not forcibly. "This is worse then before! Is this . . ." she paused a moment. "Is this hell?"
I wasn't sure, but I didn't want to think so. "I hope not," I said softly. "This is that other place . . . " I paused and cleared my throat. "Listen to me Cybil. I haven't gone crazy, and I know what this is."
Cybil nodded. "Yeah . . . go on," she said.
"It's not me . . . it's the whole town. I thought I was going crazy, but now I know I'm not . . ." I explained. "This town is being invaded by the Otherworld."
Cybil gasped. "T-the Otherworld? What do yo mean?" she asked.
"I don't know what it is. It's a world where someone's nightmarish delusions come to life," I explained. "The invasion is spreading into the real world now. At first, I was the only one who could see the infection. But now it's made it's way through . . ." I paused. "All I know is that Cheryl is there."
Cybil glanced curiously at me. "There?" she asked.
I shook my head. "Under whoever created this hell. She's trapped and needs my help," I explained.
"Well, who did create this hell?" Cybil asked.
"I don't know," I answered.
"And how are we going to stop whatever it is anyways?" she asked.
"I don't know that either . . . but I think I finally figured out what that lady was talking about," I said in calm realization.
Cybil shook her head. "Harry, this whole trip has become a major blow to you," she started. "You need to rest! You're probably too tired to think things through logically right now."
I looked up. "Cybil, I . . ."
The sound of doors slamming interrupted my speech. I turned around, staring right into the face of Dahlia Gallespie.
"The demon is awakening!" she explained. "Spreading those wings!"
Cybil stared at her. "Who the hell is that?!" she asked.
I raised my hand up. "It's okay, Cybil . . . this is Dahlia Galespie," I said. I looked back at Dahlia. "Go on."
"The task is almost completed!" Dahlia said, raising her hands. "Once the abyss . . . the mark of Samael is completed, everything well perrish! Even in daytime, darkness will cover the sun! The righteous will all be killed and martyrs will burn in the deepest depths of hell!"
I interrupted her speech, raising my hand. "Wait, what am I supposed to do?!" I asked. "How do I stop it?"
She looked out the window to the boat. "You must go to the lighthouse and then to the amusement park. Then you will be able to stop!"
Cybil looked at me. "Look, Harry . . ." she explained. "I don't know what's going on . . . but if there's a chance we can save you're daughter, then I'm in. I'll go to the amusement park and check it out."
I smiled. "Cybil . . . thanks," I explained.
She started to walk towards the door, looking back at me for a moment. "I'll be back as quick as I can . . ." she explained. She then opened the door and walked into the hallway, slamming it behind her.
Dahlia looked back at me, her gray skin seeming to wrinkle. "You will have to use it . . ." she explained.
I raised an eyebrow. "Use what?" I asked.
"The Flauros . . . only then will this madness end," she said
calmly.
I looked back at the door to the hallway that lead to the rear exit of the boat. "What about Cybil?" I asked. "I have to help her!"
I heard a door slam and realized a second later as I turned my head back in Dahlia's direction that she was gone.
By myself again. I hated not having anyone to rely on. My only friend was my pistol . . . and that was a scary thought. I didn't want to have to constantly run to each end of town to find nothing . . . I wanted this to end. And I realized the Flauros she had given me all that time ago was probably the key to the happy ending for me.
I walked across the dirty floor of the boat. Like it or not, I was the only one who could stop this. I sighed as I opened the door in front of me and stepped outside. From the front of the ship, I couldn't even see the lighthouse. I just knew it was out there . . . somewhere. And I needed to get there fast.
I pulled my self up onto the other side of the long, stone dock. I dusted my knees off as I looked out into the darkness. The lighthouse wasn't that far away . . . at least, that's what I wanted to believe. But in reality, I knew it was a long was down this dock.
I started to run down it, finding it was hard to keep my balance with so much dust. My shoes didn't have the proper traction for something like this. My feet were skidding along the beads of thick dust as I increased my pace forwards.
I wasn't sure, though, but I could see things in corner of my eyes. Whenever I turned my head, however, they were gone. The images that passed me didn't seem real . . . although the rest of the world did. But I could swear I saw something almost every second.
I noticed a large chain link fence blocking my way out, blood dripping down it like water from a rain gutter. I growled as I looked to my right. I the noticed a stairway that lead down to the side of the dock. I quickly ran to it and descended it. Down at the bottom, I was able to go around the chain link fence. Hopefully, there wouldn't be any more obstacles.
I gasped as I noticed a dog ran past me.
I turned around, stopping in place. I blinked noticing the dog was gone. I slowly reached for my gun, quivering uncontrollably. This was a sick joke . . . none of the creatures I was seeing was real . . . just a projection of the nightmare world.
But wasn't this the nightmare world now? I thought reality had become a nightmare now. So why weren't the images of the creatures I was seeing real? The dog I saw near the boat had seemed real, that was for sure . . but everything around here didn't.
I shook my head as I moved on. No use worrying. These things couldn't hurt me . . . and whoever was creating the images wasn't harming me . . . just scarring the shit out of me.
I saw another dog running at me.
I gasped as I suddenly stopped. I aimed my gun as quickly as I could and fired. But the bullet seemed to pass right through him. I screamed as the dog leapt at me and bared it's teeth . . . ready to attack.
But to my surprise, the dog passed right through me . . .
It was like a ghost. That's the best way I could describe it . . . like those old movies where they passed through walls and people. I fell backwards as he did so, landing on my back. I turned around, rolling onto my stomach. I then pulled the flashlight out of my coat pocket and shined it forwards. Nothing . . .
I tried to hold back my fear, but I couldn't. I felt a tear slide down my cheek as I looked back at the floor, burying my face in my arms. Now was not the best time to have a nervous breakdown, but I was so incredibly scared, my fear had completely taken me over. The smell of the stale floor and my hot tears mixed together to create an atmosphere like no other. I had almost died . . . more than once. I couldn't bear to imagine what Cheryl was going through in the hell.
As soon as I was done crying, I got to my feet, wiping away the wetness in my eyes. I knew I had no more tears to shed. This was it. I was going to save Cheryl no matter what . . . even if I died trying.
I looked up ahead, noticing something in the distance. I started to run towards it. It become more visible as I approached it. I looked up, realizing it was much taller than I had thought. I gasped, realizing this building was the lighthouse! I stopped suddenly, noticing a set of rusted old stairs.
Compared the rest of the town, the lighthouse was brightly colored. The white paint was still intact all the way to the top, it seemed. The door frame was still painted red and the door wasn't made of rusted steel either. Perhaps this was something that survived the invasion from the Otherworld . . . I shrugged as I climbed the stairs and opened the door, stepping inside.
The interior was, however, still made of rusted metal.
I looked at the dirty walls and stairs that lead to the top. It was a long ways up . . . but Dahlia said this was where I would find the answer to what was happening here. I pulled out my gun, realizing this could very well be the end of my journey.
I started to climb up the stairs. They lead in a circular pattern all the way to the top, and were certain not any type of pleasure to climb. I tried to ignore my fear of heights as I continued to climb, still being careful not to look down. I noticed the way the the stairs wrapped around a poll in the center, keeping them aligned all the way to the top.
I finally saw the hole that lead to the roof. I started to run up the stairs, noticing some light shined through it. Any type of light was unusual in this town . . . and there was quite a bit of it coming from the roof. What was it?
I gasped as I stepped onto the top of the lighthouse, noticing beams of light tracing something on the roof . . . whatever it traced covered the whole damn topside of the lighthouse! It was huge. I looked around and then gasped, suddenly realizing what it was . . .
The mark of Samael.
I looked up into the darkness after staring at the light. There was a girl standing in the darkness! It wasn't Cheryl, but . . . Alessa! I help up my hand to speak, but she slowly started to disappear.
"Wait!" I called.
She didn't wait . . . she just vanished right before me eyes. I lowered my hand. I was too late. Whatever the reason was for me being here, it didn't matter anymore. I missed my chance . . .
But maybe Cybil didn't.
I needed to get back to the boathouse! Cybil would probably be there by now . . . and maybe she had found something! Thank God she had gone to the carnival for me or else we would be lost here . . . stuck in hell forever.
I slowly walked back to the stairs. There was no use being here anymore. The mark of Samael had already infect this place . . . and I had to stop the invasion from spreading. I started to descend the staircase quickly.
By the time I had reached the bottom, I had forgotten about Alessa . . . almost. All I could think about was Cybil. I prayed she was safe. She was the only friend I had here . . . and I had to see if she had found anything. I opened the door to the lighthouse and stepped back into the street of burnt steel. I looked off into the distance, realizing my journey wasn't over yet.
It wasn't over yet . . .
