Helga (unedited)

Chapter 12: This is Hell

There we were –in Hell; the cruellest prison in the universe. It basically had no rules; it didn’t care how you got there. But once you were inside, it treated you the same.

‘This is Hell. It will eat you if you let it,’ someone said.

The prison itself was vast. Millions of barbed-steel inspired cells stretched across for kilometres in both directions from where I was. The eerie thing was that, inside those thousands of cells, the inhabitants couldn’t not be heard. It is once I got close to a cell that I could see a form emerged from the black.

‘Don’t get too close,’ said one of the demons ‘this is Hell. These people have nothing to lose.’

I drew myself and progressed with the line.

‘Not even death can get you out of Hell,’ one of the prisoners said ‘if I die, I will be buried here. I will be burnt here.’

My observations were about me. I remember a thick odour of wax and being told that there was no light except for the millions of candles that certain people used.

‘Why the candles?’  I asked.

‘Well, because there is no light!’ I was answered ‘You think you children are the only ones here? We have everyone in here and you shall meet some soon enough.’

Some of the demons held candles as they ushered us into the black ally. Looking into one of them, I saw its eyes. Its eyes were grey and spiritless. It was no wonder why they were such: they’d obviously adapted to minimum light. The demon’s skin was pale and shrivelled. Oh goodness! I began to dread looking like them in my lifetime there.

‘’What is your job exactly?’ I continued. If I were to make my way out, I had to understand my predicament.

Its large mouth of gigantic teeth opened, ‘Demonstrators are punishers. Our time is spent punishing. We hate the prisoners because they don’t have to work.’

‘Do tell me more.’

‘Our job is terminated by our death. For thousands of years we govern the prison.’

‘Why do this all in darkness?’ I continued ‘surely, the light would make it easier.’

‘Ah! The darkness is not for us. It is for the prisoners. Darkness means that you cannot see yourselves,’ it said ‘even when you lived above, in the light, you failed to see how vital the light is. Enough! Move on.’

Ngi was a few shackles ahead of mine. I wondered whether I would see her anymore. My cowardice hurt her. But she was battle-scarred and I needed her for the prison break, not only for the breakout, but her in general. In all of Hell, she was the only good thing I now knew. Looking at her gave me strength to exist for a thousand more years. I hoped that she was strong enough to forgive me and believe in me.

Hell had three stages. Stage one was called ‘The Devil’s Little Sister’, which is where we were put.

‘The Devil’s Little Sister is the sweetest most acidic sister. She can be very kind, but if you cross her, she will turn unrighteous and ruin you.’

This is where the newcomers and ‘well-behaved’ were kept. It was a mum place with little activity. Many considered it the best place to die.

Stage Two was called ‘The Elimination Chamber’.

‘The Elimination Chamber is a large chamber of metal where all the prisoners are packed. Inside the chamber, survival is key. No holds are barred. This is the first stage where the demons actually play a significant part. They come in at any time and eliminate as many prisoners as they see fit. If you don’t hide in the chamber, they will find you. There is no way out. The prostitutes and murders are found in the chamber.’

Stage Three was called ‘The Belly of the Beast’.

‘The belly is where Hell gets its reputation. It is nicknamed the ‘Layer of Liars’. Here the majority, liars, are found and tortured here. In the belly, you are woken up, whipped, and tossed to the animals; on a good day. On a bad day, you may lose your limbs and left for dead. Right now, there are people without eyeballs and fingers just lying on the floor.’

I was informed of the stages, but still I knew not enough as to how far apart they each were. I was put in my cell and given twelve candles. My cell had a brick layer separating it from my neighbours. It was very dark and lonely. Ngi had been walking a few shackles ahead and I presumed that she was close by. I pressed my face against the steel, distressing it.

‘Are you up?’ I whispered; hoping she would recognize my voice.

My voice strangely reverberated in the abyss and I waited in response.

‘No. I’m in Hell,’ she whispered in response.

 I was glad that she had humour. It meant that she had some spirit within her.

‘The rainy season is coming for the crocodile,’ I cryptically whispered. It meant that something good was on the way.

During our time together we found it good to take our relationship to new levels by developing our own communicational systems. That way, no one could infiltrate our relationship.

‘Will the crocodile be in the river by then?’ she asked. That meaning, would we have enough time to escape.

I ended the conversation by informing her that the crocodile would indeed be in the river on time.

That was it-we were in Hell. There was little time to feel sorry for myself. I certainly didn’t feel it good to waste time in a dingy hole in the abyss of Mercury. My home was kilometres above and unjustly occupied. On the ground I severely hit my toe against a large piece of what I now know to have been a rock of coal. The pain was excruciating and a sign that ought to get some rest. There were no beds, only a soiled blanket. I wrapped myself in the blanket, leaving my throbbing toe to get some air. I could feel it bleed. That was my first night in Hell. Then again...how could I tell night from day?