Journey To The OtherWorld

The Other World.

Darkness. It was the only thing that my mind could comprehend as the elevator closed behind me. For a moment I lost all presence of mind, all my motives, all directions. Lara and Tina sounded alien to me.I didn't remember that I was on a mission to the Other World, that I was on a shitty job that supposed it was just to make me gruel for 8 hours a day in return of a mere half lakh at the 5th of the month. Hell, I had even forgotten that terrible woman.

The last question she had asked me was no longer of a Barbie's neither it was of my sister's. It was a pure evil cackle. If Martians could speak English, it would probably sound like her. It seemed to be of an extremely high pitch, maybe C#9, which doesn't even exist on a piano. I turned around to face her and saw myself standing in the elevator.

It didn't even frighten or shock me. I just stood there staring at myself, the light from the lift almost blinding me. It was alike to me in all aspects save one. Those eyes. They can never be mine. I doubt if they would seem so far-fetched even if I was dead. It wasn't the color of the eye or the eyebrows that hovered over it. It was the expression. It could never be found among the living. I shuddered as the malveolent being smiled once more.

"What do you want?", I asked.

All I got in reply was a guttreal scream echoing in my ears.

Well that was all I saw before the doors closed and she was out of my sight.

Soon enough, I got accomadated to the darkness and started crawling about. I could feel nothing out of the odd, just that the room seemed to be heavy, like it was filled with preservatives. It was dark and suffocating and my limbs felt as if attached to stones. I wondered if this all was all bullshit and Tina had probably sent someone to cut off the power supply. Maybe that woman was also another of her nasty friend. Maybe this was nothing other than a gimmick to make me appear as a fool. But what about the sensitive information the woman knew about me? And the elevator ascending instead of descending? And when the woman started looking like me? I suddenly felt as if this was a really atrocious idea.

I saw a window in the distance. It was dark outside. Sure enough, it's 2 am in the morning for God's Sake. But what was that outside of the window. A red cross hung freely in mid air. Was I seeing things? I walked towards it. It became more clear, yes it was a red cross. I started to run towards it. No matter how fast I ran, it seemed to edge away from me. The red cross against the black backdrop became clearer in resolution with the passing second, until I could make out smoke emerging from it.

This didn't seem right. I took one step ahead. Was that a limb I saw, hanging at the end of the cross? One more step and the red cross lightened up. God. It was not simply a red cross. It was fabricated of human remains. The entire thing was smoldering hot as if in a pot of lava. Unwillingly, I took another step.

This was Hell. Broken and burned human hands and legs. Screams of agony echoed through the air, begging for mercy. I saw the demons sitting on top the Cross, laughing as they heated up the Cross even more. Literal Demons. Complete with black, hideous wings and long ,deadly horns. Then, suddenly one of them met my gaze. It stared at me for a good 10 seconds, it's dark eyes burning ,mine.It screamed at the top of it's voice. Soon, the other demons joined him, staring and screaming at me. At this point, I felt as if I would faint.

I lost control over my own limbs as they carried me towards the Red Cross. I pleaded to the high heavens above, tried to drift to stop my sudden sprint. Nothing worked. The Red Cross was pulling me towards me, the Demons waiting for my arrival.Their smiles could tell it all. A huge demon stood up, it's eyes filled with lust and desire for my flesh.I was being dragged to hell.

"She must pay for her deeds!", a high pitched voice whispered.

Tears started welling up. I was only 25. How stupid of me to take up on a dare, risking my life! I realized I had not even said Good Bye to Mom. Is this the end?, I thought. Will I be no longer heard of?

My speed hastened. The Red Cross out of the window was approaching me, wickedly waiting for me to perish in it's grip. My mind grew disoriented. The lobby started spinning about. Everything. The graffiti on the walls, the doors, the Red Cross. They spun closer and closer to me until they enveloped me in their grip.

I woke up to the smell of fried chicken. The room was familiar. It was the master bedroom of my 1BHK flat. Nostalgia filled me. I was at home, safe and sound!. In one piece! I checked for any missing limb or something and on finding nothing wrong, I jumped for joy. I was back at home. I drew the curtains up, expecting a sunny breeze to greet me.

Instead, dark clouds angrily tossed about.

"What a Day", I thought to myself.

I was glad, glad that I was back in my house. The horrors of the previous night seemed oblivious right now. The Red Cross, The Demons: what nonsense! Maybe I am on drugs or something?Tina had said that if I faint during the ritual, I was bound to be back home. And here I was.I was in my quaint, little home but something seemed odd. A question speared through my mind.

Was I really back home?