The Devil's Mark (Book 1)

Chapter Twelve: Scale of Judgement

Lucifer

Somewhere between life and death. On a far away plane that doesn't resemble either heaven or hell. The floor I'm standing on begins to slant downward, almost like a slope. And yet, the terrain beneath my feet feels rocky, dirty, a cave? A sliver of light appears at the end as I walk toward it, it's vitality growing brighter with each step that I take. Just then, a shadowy figure appears in front of the light and then just disappears without a trace. How odd. Strange that this journey of a near-death experience should lead me here. But why? I wonder.

I nearly lose my balance as I brace myself against the cave wall, the floor getting rockier, pebbles skittering in all directions. As I steady myself, a strange material coats my fingers and palm. Ash? "What the hell is going on here?" I say to myself as I continue onward towards the light as it fills me with its signature glow. Stepping through to the other side as it were, I come face to face with a large group of people as they fall into formation like mindless drones and walk with purpose.

Smaller caves converge with the larger one as more people start to fill its space at an alarming rate. And to my surprise, a person of youth, a male with shaggy brown hair and hazel green eyes appears from the cave to my left as he moves to stand in line with the rest of the group. When I speak to him to try and figure out where the hell I'm at, I get no response. His eyes slowly drift over to meet mine, his blank expression shows that of one who has been through a lot, perhaps something traumatizing has happened and he's still trying to make sense of it all.

Getting nowhere fast, I quicken my pace and squeeze my way through the crowd as I pray for an end sight. Another opening leads out into what appears to be a massive cavern. The wall are made of rock, the ceiling set in the dead of night with millions of star blanketing it from end to end. The cavern is as wide as it is vast, while the rocks beneath my feet turn to dust and become sand as if I'm walking on the shores of a beach a million miles deep underground. And speaking of there being a beach, water laps at the shoreline as a rickety old dock gives way to a boat, a safe passage to the other side perhaps? If there is another side.

A figure wearing a long black cloak with a hood covering his face stands at the edge of the dock as people file past him. When I approach him, he doesn't make eye contact with me, nor can I see his face anyways because it is shrouded in darkness.

"What is this place?" I ask but get no reply. "You would do well to answer me," I say again.

The figure raises his hand, the sleeve falls back revealing what should be skin instead its bone. I follow his point of direction and see a sign on the back of the ship that reads: Purgatory. Purgatory? What in the name of hell, am I doing here? And these people aren't human anymore, their souls waiting to be judged. My frustration boils in my blood to the point where I feel like I'm going to snap and show everybody here my true colors. Someone grabs my hand and pulls me away from the hooded figure until we're back on the beach, surrounded by souls who have been here for centuries if not longer.

"You must be careful mister," says the little girl in Victorian era clothing. "He's a bad man."

I laugh on the inside. Kids. They do nothing for me. They're like noisey little minions running around creating havoc until they get what they want. But this little girl is an odd duck. Pink, rosey cheeks. Cute button nose. Auburn curls resting on her shoulders. Her dress is white with shoes to match and a pink bow tied around her waist. I crouch down to her level as she smiles, her cheeks blushing.

"And what's your name, M'lady?" I ask.

"Charlotte. What's your name?"

"Lucifer."

"Hi, Lucifer."

"What are you doing here, Charlotte? Where are your parents?"

"I don't know. We got separated on the way here. Will you help me find them?"