Chapter Eight: Sin in a Mad World:

I opened my eyes when I felt a sharp heat stinging me in the face. My feet felt like they were being impaled by spikes. I looked around for any sign of Dr. Stonem.

“Hello?” I asked. My spine froze when I heard a loud laughter. Against my better judgment, I turned and looked behind me. I could’ve sworn that I was staring at the gates of hell before me. I shook my head as I started backing up.

“No…” I murmured, shaking my head, “No!” I felt myself back up into another body. I glanced up to see looking down at me. He smirked and shook his head at me.

“You wanted to see the truth, didn’t you?” he asked. “Here you go!” He pushed me all the way to the gates. I closed my eyes in a vain attempt to drown out the screaming. Suddenly, it all stopped.

I opened my eyes and looked around. Thoughts of Hell filled my mind. Fires filled all of the walls around me. I couldn’t feel the ground under my feet. I reached out to grab hold of anything. Heated air cut me on the palm. The moans of agony drowned out my own scream of pain. I licked the blood off of my palm. But as I began to stick out my tongue, I felt someone watching me. I moved my eyes upwards to see a woman age my age staring back at me. The first thing that could my eye about her was her black-feathered wings. I looked at her black tutu, mask, stockings, and pointed shoes. I blinked at her as walked closer for a better look.

“Hey, who are you and where is this place?” I asked. The black “fairy” stared at me before she broke into laughter and flew away. I narrowed my eyes at her.

What was that all about?, I thought. Another laugh filled the air. I jumped at the creepy sound.

“Hello?” I asked as I looked around me. The laughing and moaning rang in my ears to the point that my head started to hurt. I sank to my knees, panting.

Stop, stop!

I looked up to see many faces floating before me. They gave off the impression of moving in closer. I fought to keep up a brave face.

“Who are you?” I asked.

“They are the forsaken,” I heard someone behind me. I glanced over and saw Dr. Stonem walking over to me. I narrowed my eyes at him.

“Where is this place?” I asked.

“Hell,” he replied. I shook my head.

“No…” I murmured. The faces floated in closer to me. I reached out to swat them away. “Get away!”

“Oh yes,” the doctor replied. “These souls do not wish to be saved. They have come to call this place home.”

“No,” I said, shaking my head.

“Still don’t believe me?” William asked. He turned his attention to the spirits. “Tell me, do you want to rest in peace?”

“No!” they all replied. A black ghostly hand tried to reach out and grab my shirt. I hit it away screaming.

“That chained woman above us keeps them down here,” Dr. Stonem said, “She is no longer allowed to leave. If you set her free, these forsaken souls will come into the light and invade humankind. And when that happens, they take more lives into Hell with them.” I kicked away more hands reaching out to grab me.

“I won’t let that happen!” I declared. Dr. Stonem raised an eyebrow at me.

“No?” he asked.

“I won’t!” I barked as I pushed the souls away from me, “I’ll save them both on the inside and the out!” The doctor all but laughed at me.

“Is that so?” he asked. “Do you really think you have the ability to save them all?”

“I can try!” I yelled. Laughter ripped through the air. Dr. Stonem narrowed his glaring eyes at me.

“We’ll see about that,” he said. Then, he turned to walk away. I tried to reach out for his coat.

“Wait!” I shouted. “Come back! Where are you going?” My former love stopped and glanced over his shoulder at me.

“You want to help everyone so much,” he said, “Climb out of all of them first!” The doctor disappeared before I could even say another word. I turned when I heard the laughter again. The faces all advanced on me. I closed my eyes and tried to shoe them away.

“Get off!” I yelled. “I have to leave! Let me go!” They only piled on me faster. One even grabbed on my left wrist.

“Gag!” I yelled, “Let me go! I have to get back!”

“Grab my hand!” I heard a little girl’s voice yell above my head. I looked up to see Megan’s tiny hand reaching out for mine.

Megan…, I thought. I used my free hand to reach out and grab onto hers.

“Hang on tight!” she yelled as she started to me upwards. The hands kept grabbing on me and pulling me back down as I gripped onto the hand in a death grip. I shut my eyes and prayed for my suffering to end in the quickest way possible. I only heard the screaming and fire.

And then… there was nothing.