An All Hallows' Eve Journey (Complete)

4. Like a Dead Man

My lungs were burning by the time I reached the summit, but it was the view that left me breathless. The valley was as vast as it was verdant; its shape reminded me of an ocean liner's hull. I counted thirty-two peaks on the other side and the same number seemed to exist on this side. The forests were clustered at the bases of the slopes, leaving an immense grassy plain in the centre.

At the top of the valley stood a majestic, snow-covered mountain. From its right side poured a luminous waterfall, which fed a river of crystal-clear waters, flowing down the middle of the plain. Tributaries stretched out near every bend like tree branches, streaming into thousands of small lakes.

I took a deep breath and inhaled. A sublime aroma filled my lungs.

"The Prayers of the Church have a wonderful fragrance, don't they?" The monk knelt looking towards the marble-white mountain.

"Where is it coming from?" I asked, partially intrigued to hear his fanciful answer.

"The censers being swung by the guardian angels in the valley to aid the souls undergoing their final purification."

"Oh."

"We should continue on." The monk walked past me after standing up. "And do try to avoid any further delays," he added pointedly.

A pang of guilt struck me. "I'm sorry."

"I know." His reply was warm with compassion. "All is forgiven. Let us hurry."

Thankfully, the descent was easier than the climb, and soon we reached the forest at the mountain's base. I was puzzled when the monk walked over to a meadow nearby. He seemed to be speaking to the air. Then, he came towards me.

"I'm afraid Anastacia is no longer here," he said.

"Where is she then?" I asked.

"Her purification is complete; her chariot is now taking her to the Strongholds of Virtue, which are upwards and beyond the valley."

I shook my head, feeling my blood beginning to boil. "Why didn't you stop her?"

"That is not within my power."

"You could've tried." Rage tightened my throat. "Instead of wasting your time up there."

"It was not in vain. You can--"

"I'll find her myself," I interrupted him. "You can stay here."

I stormed off, running towards the forest. I couldn't believe he was so useless. As I neared the clearing, I had a sense that I should turn back but I brushed it off and rushed ahead. Moments later, I emerged near a lake.

A man was lying in the water. The wonderful aroma from the mountaintop was stronger here. He seemed to be crying, but the tears streaming down his face looked like candle flames. As I watched, the man seemed to be glowing brighter. It was as if light were being poured into him.

I wanted to get a better look, but something told me not to get too close. Ignoring it, I walked forwards. Chills ran down my spine as I knelt to touch the water. My vision went blurry. I stumbled backward and everything went black.

* * *

The monk was trying to help me up when I came to.

I pulled away from him. "Leave me alone."

"It is still not too late to reach her," he said calmly.

"How?" I scoffed.

"That depends on you."

"I guess this is the part where you tell me that I just need to climb one more mountain." My tone was drenched with sarcasm.

"Ask and it shall be given to you."

I shook my head, recalling the verse. "I'd sooner climb another mountain," I said under my breath.

"All of this you've seen and yet you remain blind," the monk said.

Tears burned my eyes. "What do you want me to say?" I shrugged. "I just don't..." my voice trailed off.

"That can be helped if you desire it."

Then he said my name. My full name, including the middle name I stopped mentioning to people when I was thirteen: Bede.

As I stared at him with a mix of awe and disbelief, it dawned on me. "Are you Saint Bede?" I said.

"Indeed." He nodded. "Now, if you truly want to make peace with her, pray and I will intercede for you."

I knew I should listen to him, but my hands were shaking as I tried to cross myself and fold them like I did in my childhood. I didn't even know what to say.

"Lord... have mercy." The old familiar words trickled off my lips as Saint Bede prayed beside me.

He gently touched my shoulder and pointed above with his quill. In the blink of an eye, a bronze chariot covered in angelic carvings landed next to us. It was being pulled by a horse made of light with four wings of fire on its back.

The holy man handed me the bouquet but kept the skull as we climbed into our transport. He started writing on the object with his quill.

"I will return this shortly," he said.

Soon, we were airborne, flying at a blinding speed. Saint Bede spoke while writing on the skull.

"As in life," he began, "the virtues build on one another; this is also true of the strongholds. Thus, souls must pass through one to get to the other. Anastasia has not yet passed through the first of them."

That stilled my heart, allowing me to relax. I'd soon see her again.

In the distance, I saw a structure that seemed to be made of marble mixed with stars, glinting like a diamond. Eight cylindrical towers of varying heights soared skyward; they were capped with golden domes, which rested inside their battlements. Each sphere had a cross of light on its pinnacle.

Dozens of floating islands drew my eyes away from the light shining from the castle. As I was examining one of the flying pieces of land, something grabbed me by the ankles, dragging me out of the chariot.

I felt like I was falling both fast and slow simultaneously. The air was knocked out of my lungs when I landed on a large sand mound on a desert island. While I was trying to get up, someone spoke to me.

"I am glad to have finally gotten to you," the voice said.

Everything was still spinning as I turned around. I wrinkled my brow. It couldn't be. Saint Bede was standing behind me. "Weren't you just in the chariot?"

"Please excuse my actions just now. Although my method may have seemed unpleasant to you, I am certain that you will be more than happy with the result," he smiled. "Now you are free."

"I don't understand." I pressed a hand against my head, trying to steady my vision.

"The beings you were just with are demons," he said.