The Lamb

1

It's dark. The first thing I notice when I open my eyes is that it's dark.

Why is heaven dark?

"Another lamb? Still?"

The cold, empty, echoing voice falls on me like a harsh rain, chilling me to the bone. Empty. It's empty too. There's one source of light, shining over an empty small throne. My eyes dart around as I try to get my bearings. Maybe it doesn't look how expected. Let's keep my composure. I stand, dust myself off, adjust my hair.

"It's nice to meet you. I am...I'm a Luna, I'm Luna Nina. Will the Moon Goddess be welcoming me soon?"

The voice says nothing else for a moment. I hear a large step echo. Another. A form crowds the singular throne. I can't quite make him out, even squinting.

"Do you like fire?" He asks softly, his large hand on the back of the throne. I narrow my eyes.

It's cold. So cold.

"I...I'm sorry where is this? Is this Elysium?"

He cocks his head. "Does it look like it?"
I narrow my eyes. "Then where is it?"

A crack echoes as he cocks his head further, thin and unnatural, almost hanging off bone. My stomach turns. I've got a bad feeling I'm not going to meet the Moon Goddess.

"Elysium, Elysium, Elysium, it's all anyone ever talks about," he informs me, rather bored. "Those golden fields...where the moon never sets. Yes I know. It's all anyone wants."

I look down at the ground. "So...if this isn't Elysium..." I frown. There isn't anywhere else to go. That's the only thing I was taught. I was born into my orientation as a Luna, born to be sacrificed to the Moon Goddess. Elysium is the only option it's where you go-—

"There's a chill in the air..." I whisper.

He sits in the throne, but it creaks under his weight, clearly not made for his large form. The spotlight finally reveals his face.

The scent of death finally swaddles me, burning my eyes, weakening my knees. There's death in the air here.

I'm not alive anymore am I?

I look at my hands. "What is this hell?"

"Bingo." He points at me with a smirk. "That's what human call it. Not that you'll find anything that looks human here," he shrugs. "It took me a while to get used to it, but you know...it suits me."

He spreads his hands. "I'm sitting in your seat, forgive me. But well...power vacuums are concerning. Makes for nasty work."

He stands. His movements are shaky, almost as if he breaks from place to place, each movement occupied with the sickening crack of what I can assume is his bones.

"I'm being rude," he heaves a heavy sigh. "I should know better than to be myself around women." He claps, illuminating the whole room.

It's empty except that throne.

He crosses the empty room, as I take him in. He's smaller than he was in the dark, with none of the sickening movements. Now he's smooth but empty, his eyes black. He kneels in front of me.

"Nyx," he informs me matter of factly. "I have to tell you lamb, I wish they'd stop sending you lot. You only suffer. And sure I enjoy it a bit, but at this point, I'd have to, don't ya think?"