The Glassy Sky

CHAPTER ONE: The Infinite Hallway

I woke up in the middle of the hallway, not knowing where I am nor what I am doing here. This place seems familiar, as if I've been here before but have never set foot on this unknown ground. What is this place? I asked myself. It looks like a Victorian era inspired hotel. The carpet where I'm lying is red like blood but soft like silk. The door has intricate design, as if it was designed just for this hotel. This place smells like fresh lemons, very inviting. The doors have angels on the edges and a deity on the middle where light is splattering on its edges. The floor is wood, but looks rather expensive. The walls are peach in color and the lights are orange. Strange hotel!

As much as I'd love to complement the fine things in this place, I figured that I don't have much time to waste. I stood up and walked along this seemingly endless hallway. "Where am I?" I asked myself again. This place feels familiar. Feels like I've been here before, but unable to recall when and where and how I ended up lying on the carpet. Minutes have passed as I continued walking, I tried to open some of the doors, but they're all locked. So, I continued walking. Minutes have passed and I saw a phone, so I picked it up in hopes that someone will answer the line. But the phone line is empty, I tried to dial, still nothing.

"Hello!" I shouted. Hours have passed and I become a bit paranoid. I kept shouting, but no one heeded my call. "Is someone there?" I shouted. Several hours have passed and I just kept walking. I became really desperate, so I ran. I ran as fast as I could. But now I'm exhausted, I stopped for a while. There is no end to this place. No people too. The worst part is that not a single sound can be heard. It drives me insane! Where am I? Really? I asked myself. I'm frightened and lost. I don't know what to do anymore.

Then suddenly, a very cold wind brushed behind me. I can't move, I feel as if there's something malignant on the wind. A cold wind, like the winter breeze, as if winter season's coming. It's so cold, I feel like my body's frozen. I can't move a single muscle. And then I heard a voice saying, "Your mine!" which sounded like there are 10 people saying the same thing on sync. I wanted to look behind and see for myself, but my body won't let me. My body's signaling me to run, but I also can't.

Finally, it took me all my courage to look behind. I saw a shadow figure devouring everything on its path. Everything that it touches burns to cinder. Now the hallway looks like hell on earth, but feels cold as Ice. As it keeps reminding me that I'm his, I'm petrified beyond comprehension. Upon seeing the shadow figure materialize from a shadow to a man with glowing red eyes locked upon me. Such nefarious creature! I never thought such a being exist. I can't move and I'm frightened. I want to talk, but my lips went dry. As if the fire drought my lips. After a few tries, I finally have the courage to speak. "What do you want?" I asked.

"You!.." The being responded.

"What do you want from me?"

"Where's the sword?" He asked.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Then I'll devour you and take it from you by force." He wanted to devour me? Am I dead? Is this the afterlife? I asked myself. I'm more confused than ever. That might be the reason why this place felt strange from the very beginning. But is this the end of the line for me? I asked again. I don't want my life to end like this. Not without a fight, but my body is stiff like rock and once again, I can't talk. I'm scared to death, but afraid to die. As the demon approaches, it has its grip on my feet. I wanted to get out, but my body won't cooperate.

Slowly it began devouring me with its shadowy tentacles. It hurts to feel your feet burn and your essence is being sucked inside him. I guess this truly is the end of the line for me! Even though this is not what I imagined my death would be. I don't even have an idea what my death would look like to begin with, but I guess we can never tell what fate gives us. I've already accepted my fate, without fighting for my life. But I'm still hoping for a miracle to happen. Even though the chances maybe slim. I hope that there's someone capable of helping me fight this creature or get as far away from here as possible. A few moments later, a flash of light burst behind me, blinding the creature in front of me and slightly losing its grip on the process. Someone touched my right hand and pulled me away and then we ran as fast as we can, as far away as possible while the demon recuperates from the sudden flash of light.

Thank goodness I'm saved! I knew that miracles happen at the very last moment. Though I don't recall ever being a believer of such things like heaven or hell or beings like gods, angels and demons – still I hoped that one day a miracle would happen, and it did. Even though this is the afterlife, this is where I met my fate. Could this be a sign, a sign that I will be saved and will I be going to heaven? I don't know. And I can't even remember how I got here in the first place. I don't know where the tides will lead me. "It's not your time, Zack!" The strange boy in a red jacket, black shorts and a grey rubber shoes said. "You need to get as far away from him as possible."

"Who are you?" I asked. "And how did you know my name?"

"It's me silly. Your brother, Sam."

"What are we doing here?"

"Now's not the right time to ask questions." He said, "We need to get you out of here."

"No kidding! But there's no end to this way."

"Yes, there is, you just have to trust me." I do trust him, though I'm not aware who he is nor his intentions are. After a few minutes of running, I'm really tired but I don't want to complain. I tripped and the demon was able to pull me back with its tentacles. "There's no escaping me!" He shouted. "I don't think so."Sam replied. He pulled something from his pocket. A flash light, and turned it on. It flashed a light so bright that it blinded the demon and lost its grip once again. We ran, until my foot bleeds, then we saw the end of this strange hallway. "There it is!" Sam said. We saw a plain black mahogany door. "We're here," Sam said. We opened the door and locked it so that the demon won't be able to catch up with us.