The Raven

Showdown

As I followed the horrendous beasts, they separated. Not sure what to do, I started following the one with humans in tow. 

It was the reptile-like monster, which was bad news for me since I've always had a paralyzing fear of snakes. I assumed that the situation would be much worse when talking about the reptile-looking demon. Unfortunately, once it wasn't otherwise occupied by gossiping with the other monster, it seemed more alert. It was more aware of its surroundings and it seemed to be able to sense my presence. 

At least, it sensed that something wasn't as it should be. I had a firm grip on my sword, but I didn't want to pull it out fearing the sound of the sword being pulled out of its sheath might get the monster's attention. I had no idea if the sword would even hurt it, but I was ready to fight if I had to.

Although it seemed a bit restless and cautious, the monster carried on. It led the humans to a huge gate which was made of skulls. It took me some time to realize that those were human skulls; the enormous gate was made of human skulls. There were so many of them that I felt like throwing up, but I had to control my urges so as not to draw the monster's attention. 

Some skulls very old, weathered with time, while others were startlingly fresh. Some of them still had flash left on them. For some reason, the thing that made me feel queasy was a strand of hair that was left on one of the skulls. Somehow that made it look more real, more gruesome. I could see the details because the gate was lit by a few torches, and, at first, I thought it was to better terrify the new arrivals. 

The play of shadows on the already petrifying skulls was grisly, but I had to get used to such sights since it was probably even more horrifying the deeper one went into Hell. Finally, I realized that the gate was there just for the demons' and monsters' enjoyment. As far as I could see, other souls were neutral and uninterested in anything that happened to them or around them. 

Being an exception to that rule was surprising to me, but I assumed it had something to do with my earthly life, with the fact that when I was alive I was more aware than other humans. My third eye allowed me to be more in tune with the other world, so some of that transferred to the afterlife as well, and I was me, while all the other people were perpetually lost.

I was so transfixed by the skull gate, that for a few moments I wasn't as cautious as I should have been. Unconsciously, I wandered closer to the torches' light and the monster noticed me; for that split-second in which I lost myself in the horrors of Hell, he ushered the people in and came back to get rid of me, of something that shouldn't exist. As the light revealed the details of the demon's face I could see that I was right, it was a reptile-like demon.

It was covered in green scales and it had huge red eyes that enjoyed my fear and general weakness, my soul bare to the demon. I felt more exposed than ever before and more determined to fight. The crest-like appendix on the demon's head trembled, sensing my fear. 

"You are not from my group, you are not even alive! Thissss isss so interessssting" hissed the demon excitedly, flicking its forked tongue. 

It seemed that the more excited it got the more it sounded like a reptile. Since it realized it couldn't actually drink my blood or eat my flesh, it started talking about devouring my soul and satisfying its voracious appetite in that way.

As the monster approached me, I pulled the heavy sword from its sheath and used all my will and power, whatever was left in me, to make the sword into a type of weapon that could hurt the demon. 

As it was getting closer I could see that it had a huge scorpion tale behind it, which I had a feeling contained poison that could obliterate even my spirit. I bid my time so that if the sword did work I could kill the monster efficiently. The downside of that plan was that if it didn't work I would have no other option left. I focused and looked the demon straight in those blood-red eyes. I could see that it thought I had surrendered. 

That was good, it meant I could surprise it. Its forked tongue was so close that I could smell the monster's foul breath. It was a terrible combination of sulfur and rot, but I held my ground. The demon was so close that I could see myself reflected in its eyes, and that is when I decided to strike.