---Eternity---
The 'Other Side'

Malcolm found himself in a very large room. It was colored completely white: the floor, walls, ceiling, props. There was a bright light, like a haze encircling the area. It was also very expansive, as if the space had no limit. He couldn't tell where it ended from where it began. He saw a golden gate near the front, where millions of people started a line to. They just stood there in line, waiting, talking amongst themselves. He muttered, "Well, this must be a real population problem. Where am I?"

The gate was guarded by a muscular man in white robes. He had black shoulder-length hair, his eyes..well, there was empty black space where the eyes were supposed to be. He looked like a very imposing figure, like someone no one would want to mess with.

Malcolm looked at the line of people. One of them looked strangely familiar to him.

The man looked to be almost nineteen years old. He was of a thin, wiry build. He wore black slacks and a blue shirt, there was a patch of white in his hair.

Malcolm stepped closer. "Excuse me. Sir..do I know you from somewhere?"

The young man turned around. "What?"

Malcom nodded in recognition. Of course, he should have remembered. "Vincent Gray. I remember you now..I failed. You were right, I DID fail you. I was blind-"

"Yes, but..what happened?"

"I met someone like you. Almost exact personality, just when you were nine also. Cole Sear. He sees ghosts."

Vincent stepped closer. This was getting interesting. "Ghosts, huh?"

"Yes, dead people who stay behind. Like..well, you saw them. Didn't you? As the one said in Spanish, 'I don't want to die'."

The other man smiled knowingly. "Ahh. You finally believe. And you saved this boy from a life of despair."

The doctor winced. "Yes, but to late to save *you*. That will always tear away at me. Failure. If only I had listened to you ten years earlier.."

"But you *did* save me."

"How?"

"For a year, I walked around your neighborhood, wandering. By helping this 'Cole', since he's like me, you helped *me*. It was then that I found myself here. Look, sorry I shot you."

"Well, you weren't totally at fault, given the circumstances. Actually..I should probably thank you for it."

Vincent was surprised. "Thank me? Why?"

"If I hadn't died, I probably would not have met Cole. Then there'd be TWO people who were afraid. And it's likely that he would have killed himself also. By making me a specter, it set off a chain of events that worked out for the best. If they hadn't, we wouldn't be having this conversation."

"Ohh..I see. That makes sense, Dr. Crowe."

Malcolm sighed, "Vincent.."

"Yes?"

"I need to know. Can you ever forgive me for not listening, for..not believing? Is it possible?"

He nodded. "Yes. It is. I can forgive you, Malcolm..and I do."

"Thanks. But there's just one question. Where--and pardon the expression--the Hell are we? This can't be Heaven."

"I'm not really sure. I mean, it's very bright. But there's no music, no harps, no feeling of bliss. It feels like something is missing."

"Yeah, that was my initial impression, too."

An old woman, who was a few feet ahead in the line, stepped out of place and walked over to Malcolm. "Yes, something is definitely missing. It feels like an emptiness of sorts."

Malcolm asked her, "Who are you, ma'am? Do I know you?"

The lady smiled, "No, we never met. I'm Sophia Richards, I couldn't help but overhear your conversation. About the boy, Cole. I'm his grandmother.. I used to visit him, but not after I got here."

Malcolm said, "Do you know what this place is?"

Grandma replied, "Maybe. Too nice to be Hell. And it doesn't quite feel like Heaven. I'm guessing it's somewhere in between. Purgatory, perhaps. That gate at the end might lead to Paradise. The man guarding it..well, he's no man. Maybe an angel, he might be there to stop people from going in."

"Why? We're good souls. We should go in to be judged, so we know if it's Heaven or Hell for us."

"I know. But no one is smart or brave enough to go up to him. He looks very tough, like one of those wrestlers on TV. Like the 'Undertaker'."

"How long has everyone been waiting?"

"I'm not too sure. Maybe a few centuries. Or a few thousand years. The line just keeps getting longer."

Malcolm had a very ticked-off expression on his face now. "We'll see about that! I don't care WHO this punk is, I'm goin to get some damn answers. Right now."

As he started to walk off, Mrs. Richards called out, "Wait! Dr. Crowe, please stop."

Vincent turned to her. "I don't think he heard you. But don't worry, I'm sure he knows what he's doing. At least, I hope so."

Malcom finally made it to the Gate. It felt like hours had passed. He saw the guard more closely now. It appeared to have no eyes. Instead, there was a black void, it was like looking into star-less space.

The creature said in a strong tone, "You wioll NOT pass, mortal. Go
back!"

Malcolm didn't have time for games. "Look, just cut the bullshit! I want some answers, *now*. Who are you?"

"I am Mahariel, Angel of Paradise. This is the first door to the Beyond. It is my purpose to guard it, until the war comes to a close."

This was new. War? "What war, what are you talking about? I never heard of a damn war."

"Nor *would* you. It began in the first century. A war between angels, fought in the heavens."

"Wait, I don't get it. I remember talk of a war in the beginning, before Creation. Right? Against Lucifer, he was cast out with a third of his followers. He became the Devil and caused the fall of man. Every kid who went to Sunday School knows about it. But why should Satan's defeat stop us from going in?"

"Fool! That was the FIRST war."

"First? You mean, there's a second one? And it's still being fought?"

"That is correct."

"Why? What's the reason.."

"Jealousy over our Creator's love for Man. The fact that Man is the only species with a soul."

"So, who's the idiot who started all this? Lucifer began the first. Did an archangel start this second one?"

"Yes. Now return to your place!"

"No! Not until I get some answers." He put his hand on the angel's shoulder. "You tell me who's the leader of this stupid skirmish, NOW, before I get rough-"

Mahariel removed the man's hand, then struck Malcolm in the chest with his palm.

Malcolm flew back ten feet, landing on his back. "What the.."

"You will return to your place..or suffer the consequences!"

He got up. "Okay. I'll go for now. But you'll regret this, you piece of *shit*." Then he started running. When he made it to Vincent and Sophia, he stopped to catch his breath.

Vincent asked Malcolm, "Well, were you successful?"

The psychologist shrugged. "Not really, it depends on what you'd consider successful. He--Mahariel--told me the reason for the long hold-up. There's a second angel war. Probably between loyal and rebel sides. That's why no one can get into Heaven, not until either side wins. That's all I know for now."

Vincent said, "What will you do?"

Malcolm replied, "I need to talk to Cole. Every ghost that he helps comes HERE, not to Heaven like we thought. I have to tell him. There's got to be a way to end this war, the boy must be warned."

Sophia told him, "I don't know how we can do that. I tried to go back to thank him and his mother. But I couldn't find an opening anywhere."

Malcolm said, "Well, there has to be a way. I must find one. I can't give up now..Cole wouldn't. I *must* go back. I must tell him the truth."