Beyond Heaven and Hell

Chapter 3 - The Sweet Sunshine Medicine

I woke up confused as hell. Wait... hell was a poor choice of words. I was hoping my scenery had changed, but it hadn't. still the same - grey walls, a sliding door to a bathroom that, from this angle, looked bare. I could see a black towel sitting on the bench next to the white sink. Very contrasting.

I did notice the guy from earlier was gone again. Wait... I pulled the blankets and tried to kick my feet. I couldn't believe I was free! I moved to climb out of the uncomfortable bed.

My feet hit the floor and I was shocked. It was tiles, I expected cold, but they were quite warm... weird. I was weak. Hearing a noise near the door, I froze (well not literally, this place was too warm for that). It was voices. Tiptoeing to the door, I pressed my ear to the solid Metal. Too muffled, but undoubtedly voices. Two ladies by the sound of it. The keyhole! I moved my head down slowly until I could hear.

''Sophie, I don't understand. You had one task. To keep them ALL away from him. THAT IS IT! How could you fail me like this?''.

I heard a whimper and a soft; ''I'm sorry master. I... I... I didn't see him come in, I... I... I know I needed to keep a closer eye on him than the others''.

'There were others like me?' I thought to myself.

''But he must have just... I'm not sure, Master, I will do better. Please don't punish me!''. Sophie sounded near fearful for her life!

"You know it is not up to me. You know your fate is in his hands. He may send you further up yet, and quite frankly, with your mistakes, I don't blame him. You fail and you fail and you fail. Maybe in the human realm you may not fail so much''. The other woman almost spat the words out.

What?... did I hear that right? Up? In the human realm?! WHERE THE HELL AM I?!!

I tried to keep my cool but once again the panic returned. I was overwhelmed so much that my vision started to blur. Water. I needed water. Stumbling, I made my way to the bathroom. The lack of windows and ventilation was suffocating.

Leaning over the sink, I brought my mouth to the running tap in desperation. I coughed at the initial taste. It was dirty tasting. No, it was foul tasting! I forced down three gulps because I needed any sort of hydration regardless of the taste. The panic lessened, but only because confusion took over. My knees buckled and I slid down the basin cabinet until I was seated with my back up against the wall. No longer was I comfortable or warm. I was cold, lost and alone. I wanted my family. Oh Rosco. My baby boy Rosco would be so hungry. I would take a day at the office over this in a heartbeat.

My eyes focused onto the cracks between the tiles. They were filed with dirt and grime. They looked... Disgusting! A horrid stench suddenly became apparent. This worsened my sense of suffocation. This place was horrendous! I crumpled into the foetal position as tears escaped my eyes trickling down my face.

BANG! The heavy solid door came flying open with an un-human force. Shaking in fear... weak, I looked up to see Sophie gallop gracefully to me from the door. This time she wore a lime green, skintight dress that stopped just below her knees. Looking equally as delicious as when I last saw her.

''Oh honey!'' she purred with concern.

''Your sweet sunshine medicine has worn out of your system''. She knelt down beside me with such grace.

Then pain shot through me like lightning as she stabbed my arm with something sharp.