Beyond Heaven and Hell

Chapter 10 - Take 2?

*Nate's POV*

Opening my eyes, I could see that I was still here. In my prison cell. Blank walls surrounding my vision. Everywhere I looked, it was blank again. Just like before. Was I going mad? Was this some form of punishment for something I had done? I just don't want to be here, I want to be at home, with Liza and Rosco! What did I do to end up here?

Sighing, I pulled the covers over my face. If I was going to be stuck here, there's no way I wanted to see the same thing. Perhaps under the covers there was a relief, I could imagine I was somewhere else. But my brain was going hyper speed. The only other question on my mind was who was that boy I had seen earlier? And why did he look IDENTICAL to Rosco? Also, why was he here? He hadn't seen me staring at him, but I had noticed the blank look in his eyes. It tugged on my heart strings, and I have no idea why. But it felt as if I knew him. As in more than just glancing at him once, it felt like I was meant to help him. Was that why I was in this place? To help him?

I let my mind wander and closed my eyes.

When I opened my eyes again, I realised there was a light coming in my room. I couldn't see where it was from, but even beneath the bed sheet I had pulled over my face, I could see it. A distinct glow. I pulled the cover down slowly, peeking over the edge with slight fear. I felt a slight hint of relief when I noticed the man from earlier. He had a strange glow about him this time though. Wonder what that's about.

"You!" I said to him. "Who are you? What do you want with me?"

"Nathan" This man spoke with such authority, I had no option than to listen. "I see you've already met Edward. You're face gives away your confusion. I can't explain who he is, that is something you must figure out yourself. But you need to do it soon. This place will soon be ruins, and if you don't complete your mission before that time comes, you will suffer in the ruins just like the rest of them. I will help you where I can, but ultimately, it lies in your hands. Make your decisions carefully, keep your guard up, and most importantly, don't fall for their lies. This place is full of corruption and liars. Keep your wits about you. If something seems off, go with your gut instinct. I can't stay here but know that I will come back from time to time to guide you where I can. And final word of advice, do NOT let them know that I have been here. They will increase the security to your room, and I won't be able to revisit and assist you. Be strong, Nathan. Humanities existence depends on you."

Just before I was about to ask him what he meant by all of that, the light increased around him, and then it was gone. Like he had never existed. I sat in shock, mouth gaping wide.

What the hell happened? how can someone just vanish into thin air like that? Who was that man, and what did he mean by "humanities existence depends on you"? Me? Couldn't it just depend on someone else? Why me? I pulled the covers back and stood up, needing to pace the room to allow this information to sink in.

I wonder if that child was the "Edward" that he spoke of. If it is, then obviously I need to save him as well as saving myself from this wretched place. But did he also have something to do with saving humanities existence? I didn't know, but I sure wanted to find out. I was sick of standing by just wasting time instead of trying to get out of here. But how do I escape? I felt like I'd already failed at well... everything. I couldn't even escape successfully.

An idea began to form in my head. Walking quietly and quickly over to the door, I remembered the piece of metal from earlier. I then used it to wriggle against the locked door, hoping that it would undo. And – much to my surprise – it did. I cracked it open, and slowly I poked my head around the edge, so I could see if there was anyone in the hallway. I couldn't see, nor hear anything. Although hearing something seemed irrelevant since I couldn't hear Sophie's footsteps earlier despite her walking right beside me.

Then I remembered it.

There was a door. In the hallway. The one that had been painted over. The one that Sophie had caught me looking at and tried to distract me. There must be something in there. Perhaps a clue to getting out of this place alive.

Seeing no one around, I decided to make a quick dash over the hall to the doorway. I hoped that I could open the damn door, and that it wasn't locked. I quickly found it, and, despite its hidden appearance, it seemed to be unlocked. Quietly, I pushed down the handle, inching my way forwards into the room. I peeked around the corner of the room. On my left was a bathroom that extended into the room. I walked further in to discover a teenage girl on the bed in the middle of the room, handcuffed to the bed much like I had been.. or my feet at least. She just lay there. At first I thought she was dead, until she turned her head ominously, her eyes meeting mine and pierced straight through me. "Y..o..u..." She managed to squeeze out. "Nathan... The.. key."

Me? A key? "What do you mean?" I queried her in a demanding way. I was over not knowing anything!

"The key.. The key.. The key.. The key" she just kept repeating. Over and over "The key" is all she would say. Her eyes started to change a little darker in colour too. She began thrashing against her bed chains, repeating "The key!". Looking closely at her, she was a pale young girl, long brunette hair that just draped sadly about her face. It looked greasy, and stringy.

As she kept repeating herself, I began backing out of the room. Perhaps that was why this door was hidden.. hiding a crazy girl here makes sense.

I kept backing away until I felt the door at my back. I reached around, undid it, peered out, and, not noticing anyone, ducked out of the room. Pressing my back to the wall, I had three options. 1. I return to my room. No thank you, I thought to myself. 2. I head up to the room where the Rosco lookalike was, and try to figure out if he was Edward, and if he was Edward, why is he important in helping me? Or option 3, I head to the room that had the double doors, which was now on my right.

I guess the location where Edward is, would be the first choice Sophie would go to look for me once she found me not in the room. I decided to go with the double doors.

Keeping my back against the wall – which I noticed was even filthier than I saw earlier.. it almost looked as if the walls are bleeding between the tiles. Trying to hold in the contents of my stomach – if there were any – I made my way carefully along the wall, continuously checking my surroundings.

Peeringalong the hallway that was before the double doors, and satisfied that no onewas coming along, I rushed past it to the other side – just in front. Theyreminded me of theatre doors. I peered through the window and was shocked. Isaw Rosco's twin (I'm just going to call him Edward as I am pretty sure that'shis name.. and my gut is in agreeance) lying on a surgical table. There were"creatures" around him, all in surgical gear. These creatures looked like whatLiza had turned into in my vision, although not as big. Why were they operatingon him?!!?