Crimson Nightmares

Chapter Twenty

I was in a large room full of stained glass. Murals of gods and goddesses. A church. Rows of wood benches with a large wood pedicle in the front of the room.Tall walls that led to a cleaning. Standing against the wall were people in white robes. They had black masks over their faces. All their eyes turned to me, full of hatred. Sets of black and white doors stood next to the white figures. Were am I? I felt the leather of my Crimson Mafia Jaket. Oh, I still have my gun.

"Were am I?"

"Open a door."

"What?"

"Open a door."

"Why?"

"Open a door."

"Ok fine." I walked over to the door near the tallest figures. They stepped aside letting the door open to it's fullest. It was a family, a mother and father with they toddler.

"Reconize them?"

"No, who are they?"

"Some people you killed."

"Oh, so I see what you're trying to do." A smirk grew on my face. It was funny how obisuse they are.

"Open another door."
"Naw, I'm going to have to ask you to shut that bullshit up chief. I'm not going to open anymore doors." I puled my gun out of it's sheath.

"Violence is not the answer. We are only trying to help." Wow, the bullshit level is shocking.

"Sorry not sorry, I think if I were to kill you all I could wake up right?"

"Yes, that sounds correct." The ominous voice from the speakers filled the room.

I aimed my gun at the figures, taking a deep breath. I knew I was risking everything, but I couldn't let them continue with their manipulations. I pulled the trigger, sending a bullet through the air towards the closest figure. The masked man didn't even flinch.

"What the hell?" I shouted, my nerves fraying. "You can't just...stand there!"

The figure spoke, his voice low and sinister. "This isn't a game, Gerald. You can't shoot your way out of this."

"Then what am I supposed to do?" I demanded, frustration mounting. I was so tired of following their rules, so tired of playing their games.

"It's time for you to make a choice," the voice said. "A choice between

life and death, between the path of darkness and the path of redemption."

I stared at the masked figures, my mind racing with the implications of their words. This was my moment of truth – would I continue walking the criminal path or seek salvation? Time seemed to slow down as I weighed my options, my heart pounding in my chest. The echo of gunfire and struggle with Elizaveta and the other mafias still rang in my ears.

"I choses werever I can be with Elizaveta and the Crimson Mafia. I like were I am."

I pulled the trigger once more, this time hitting a figure's chest. It was like shooting at sand, the impact almost nonexistent. I frowned, knowing that I wasn't making much progress.

"Your time is running out, Gerald," the voice from the speakers said, its tone a mix of patience and frustration. "You can't resist the truth."

Truth? Was this some kind of trick? Some kind of punishment for my past actions? I shook my head, trying to clear the thoughts swirling in my mind. I needed to think clearly, to assess my options.

"I choose the path of darkness," I said, my voice firm. "It's the only path that makes sense. We are criminals, we operate in the shadows, and we do what we must to survive."

The figures in white robes nodded in unison, and doors began to open around the room. I tryed to rember, what was I doing to get to this. I was with Elizaveta and Thaïs. We had almost won. No we did win. I rember a pain in my back. There was darkness, now I'm here.

"Is this hell? Or am I unconshes."

"You're not in hell, Gerald," the ominous voice boomed through the speakers. "This is just a test. A way for you to face your own demons and make a choice."

I took a deep breath, trying to keep my thoughts in check. I had always been able to control my emotions and actions, even in the most challenging situations. But something about this place and these figures made me feel... vulnerable.

"What's the choice?" I asked, looking around the room. I felt the weight of the gun in my hand, the cold steel reminding me of the power I held. But was it enough to break the hold these figures seemed to have over me?

The voice responded, "You have two choices, Gerald. You can continue down the path of darkness, or you can turn your back on your past and seek redemption."

I paused, considering the words.

"Is that even a question?"

"Why yes, it is."

"Then it's stupid! I am going to continue to work in the mafia."

"I see, so be it, then. Your journey through our test has come to an end. We have seen your truth, Gerald, and it is clear that you have made your choice. Now, you must face the consequences."

With a final nod, the masked figures retreated to their places, and the doors slowly closed one by one. The room fell silent, leaving only the sound of my own ragged breathing to fill the air.

The darkness engulfed me once more, and I found myself in a white room with Elizaveta and Chuuya. The pain in my back and neck was still there, a constant reminder of the battle we had just fought.

"Gérald"

"Oh, hi Eliz." My whole body felt tired.

"Your awake!" She hugged me tightly, her tears streaking down her face, telling me everything I needed to know about the ordeal we had all been through.

"I'm glad you're okay," I said, returning the embrace. I felt a sense of relief wash over me. This was where I belonged, with my loved ones, fighting for what we believed in.

Chuuya, the calm and collected one, stepped forward. "I'm glad your awake. How is your neck?"

"It hurts, but I'll survive. We won. That's what matters."

"I'm going to go tell the doctors your awake." Chuuya walked out of the room.

"How are you Eliz." I pated her head trying to get her to stop crying.

"You were out of two weeks. I was given three missions. It was hell."

Elizaveta sniffled and wiped away her tears. "I was so scared, Gerald. I thought I was going to lose you. You were like a ghost, a shell of your former self. But you came back to us, and we won. We did it. Our enemies are defeated, and the Crimson Mafia is stronger than ever."

I smiled weakly at her. "I'm glad you never gave up on me, dorogoy."

Elizaveta's smile returned, and she hugged me again. "You never have to doubt that, Gerald. We are family, through thick and thin."

"Ow, my neck!" It burned with pain.

"Oh, sorry!" She let go of me, concerned that she had hurt me.

"It's ok."
"Oh, the doctors say that you are really lucky the guard didn't know where to hit. If they had stabbed your spinal cord then you would have been paralyzed."

"Thank goddess the guard was dumb." We both laughed, feeling the tension lift.