Hell'O'Seers - Revamped

3: Desolate and Frigid Solitude

Upon entering the claustrophobic space of the lift, Eko's eyes were drawn to a strange white glow emanating from the floor, walls, and the endless ceiling above. The light was soft but eerie, casting an otherworldly gleam across the sigil etched into the wall in front of her, the inverted cross of Satan. As Eko glanced onto the symbol the elevator seemed to stretch and open a secret pathway to a room. As she stepped inside, the entrance closed behind her, a wall of clear blue bricks slowly becoming opaque, sealing her within.

With a tired sigh, Eko began unwrapping the bandages from her left hand, stuffing the strips of fabric into her jacket pocket. Her right hand moved to her back, retrieving a small tanto knife made from a single piece of Damascus steel, its blade stained with old, dried blood. Kneeling, she brought the knife to her palm, reopening a freshly healed wound. Blood welled up from the cut, dripping onto the blade and the floor. Without hesitation, she used her blood to redraw the cross symbol on the walls surrounding her, each stroke meticulous and deliberate. As the entire room was filled with red, bloody symbols, they began to emit a dim, ominous glow. The room trembled beneath her feet, slowly descending.

Eko quickly stowed the knife and rewrapped her wounded hand, her expression unreadable. Leaning against the cold wall, she gazed upward, a solitary tear slipping down her cheek. The temperature began to drop. Frost crept across the room as her breath became visible in the chilled air. The hellevator's descent slowed and when it dtopped fully the brick wall that has sealed Eko began to "open" brick by brick. She could finally see the elevators verstibule with its door open, a bitter winter wind rushed in, carrying with it a cascade of snow.

She stepped out into the freezing landscape, the doors slamming shut behind her. Her eyes took a moment to adjust to the desolate scene ahead an endless ring shaped graveyard formed around the hellevator. Countless demons, all frozen solid. Their faces were twisted in expressions of agony, their bodies locked in grotesque poses as if running or pleading. Many were missing limbs, heads shattered next to their bodies, a grim reminder of their failed escape.

Before her, a narrow path of crushed remains led toward a distant castle, a looming fortress of ice. Eko took a deep breath, her discomfort palpable, but she pressed forward, each step on the broken bodies sending a shiver of unease through her. Step after step, she moved closer to the castle. Its walls, constructed from ice, were reinforced with the remains of countless demons, their faces contorted in pain and terror, trapped forever in the frozen structure.

Leaving behind the ring of frozen corpses, Eko stepped onto a snow-padded path that led to the castle's entrance. As she crossed the threshold, an eerie hum began to fill the air, growing louder with each step she took. The courtyard was vast and empty, save for the rising sound that seemed to emanate from deep within the heart of the fortress. It was a quiet, unsettling noise, a presence that seemed to watch her every move.

Reaching the large doors of the throne hall, Eko paused, a chill running down her spine before she pushed them open. The hall inside was vast, its grandeur cold and foreboding. Rows of icy columns stood tall, each adorned with white caskets resting between them. The ceiling resembled a cavern's roof, with jagged stalactites hanging down, and chandeliers of ice glittered dimly, casting an ethereal glow akin to the aurora borealis, despite the lack of any visible light source.

At the far end of the hall, instead of a throne, there was an enormous block of ice. Smoke swirled inside, obscuring whatever lay within, and strange glowing red runes were carved into its surface. In front of the ice block stood a simple pedestal carves out of ice, upon which rested a stack of office folders sealed with red wax.

Eko approached cautiously, her fingers brushing the cold surface of the pillars as she passed. Just as she reached for the folders, a voice echoed in her mind.