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Chapter 9 DARK EDGE

It's strange to feel happiness in hell. For the first time after death, I was happy like never before. Zoe managed to come out of her coma, she has a wonderful family and a happy future. She is a mother of three children. I was very happy for my sister.

Every time I tried to learn more and more about hell. My sister's maze had a strong impact on me. Zoe fearlessly rushed towards the unknown. Under the strikes of lightning and other deadly obstacles, she sought to overcome it, risking her life. And I had eternity at my disposal. And I wasn't sure if I could die or disappear again, but it was also worth taking more risks to discover new horizons.

I flew among the islands, and one previously unknown island caught my attention. There was a lonely building on it. The sign on the facade read "Dark Edge." Many different souls flocked to it. I became curious about what was so attractive to everyone and flew closer.

After landing, I found myself in a general queue at the entrance. Less than a minute later, despite the large number of people, I was at the front door. A spindle appeared at the entrance. The man extended his hand and pricked his finger, after which the doors opened, letting him in. When the line reached me, the doors slammed shut. Another spindle appeared next to me. I didn't understand why everyone had to do this? I tried to open the door without this ritual, but the doors wouldn't budge. They gradually began to be enveloped in metal spikes that reached out to my hands. Apparently, it was impossible to get by without bloodshed. Judging by the spikes that reached my hands, it was better to obey and give voluntarily, otherwise they might take by force. I turned to my spindle, which seemed less harmless to me than the spikes, and pricked my finger. The number ninety-six appeared on my hand in blood. Only after my blood was shed did the doors open before me.

It turned out to be a theater, absolutely white outside and dark inside. Narrow corridors, stone cells without windows, and massive heavy doors. Wrought-iron frames in the shape of intertwined branches of some mysterious tree were adorned with strange symbols. Columns with moldings in the form of flowers with thorns resembled giant plants, whose branches reached to the ceiling with their thick foliage. Huge chandeliers hung from the ceiling, giving light thanks to the flames of many candles.

The corridor led to the only door behind which the theater hall was located. Above each seat in the air hung a number. Looking at my hand, I realized that I needed to find seat ninety-six. Everyone was taking their seats.

All this magnificence was truly overwhelming, even somewhat oppressive. An intriguing excitement mixed with admiration.

A black curtain concealed the stage. When the hall was completely full, the curtain burst into flames and the performance began. Nobody announced it, and besides the audience, there was no one else. The theater seemed to be living on its own.

A tree with a single red apple on a branch appeared from the flames on stage. Two rag dolls with human height, a man and a woman, also appeared. A real snake appeared on the tree.

The man turned away, but the woman was fascinated by the fruit, the branch of which was wrapped by the snake.

"Take the apple, and you will become equal to me," hissed the snake.

"I can't do that," the woman pushed away. "Otherwise, my future children will be doomed to suffer."

"But you want to try this fruit. From the very first day you came here, you have felt like an outsider. And don't tell me it's not true, I see and hear everything. Especially your fears and desires."

"They made me to become his wife. My fate is to be a faithful companion in life, to be humble. To fulfill everything for my husband, all his desires, and to produce offspring. This is my calling, this is my happiness."