Journey Through Hell

Chapter 5 - Self

If you do not conquer self, you will be conquered by self. Napoleon Hill

I entered in another place. A dark place with twisting shadows of claw like hands reaching outwards and upwards. It was attempting to escape the darkness even though It was darkness itself. I kept walking onwards, looking side to side for any signs of threats or dangers. It is too damn dark for me to see anything except for the menacing shadows with their trickery of light without a source.

"Meowww!" a voice echoed. "Meoowww!!" it is calling me from beyond. Beckoning me to move forward.

I ran fast to the voice. Somehow, I knew that it was not a cat but it was an imitation. There was a spotlight nearby in just about 50 meters by my estimate. I looked up to find the source of the spotlight but there was no tangible light in this place. Perhaps, it is another trick. Perhaps, it is another deception.

"Meow!" a figure that looked like a cat revealed himself in the center of the spotlight. I was on high alert because the mysterious shadow felt 'intimidating' and 'familiar.'

His back was turned to me. He looked at me with his sharp eyes filled with hatred and violent animosity. He got up while bones cracked and shifted to human size. I winced at the sight of the transformation. He turned around, showing off his muscles, strength and ferocity. It looked like a pale-faced ghost with a hallowed look as he had no eyes. He has sharp teeth that was reddened and darkened with grotesque and frightening imagery. His hands were claws and his bare feet was made of steel.

"Ali? Do you remember? Remember your final sin?" the thing asked me.

"Remember? Oh no! what did I do?" I replied as I was getting my weapons ready for the final battle. My tone sounded sarcastic even though it was just a bravado to hide my intense feelings of fear and profound sadness.

Before I could react, he took a mere step towards me and he was within my sweep distance in an instant. His black eyes turned blood red and crying crimson tears. He touched my forehead and a memory flashed.

I was running away from something or someone. I was gasping for air while escaping frantically. I turned around and there was a shadow with a killer intent coming after me. The mysterious assassin had a gun in his left hand.

There was an exit door close by and I tried to fumble with the door knob. The door was locked. Damn it! There were stairs going up to the roof. I heard footsteps getting louder and louder. I went upstairs as fast as I could, nearly tripping in some of the steps.

The assassin was right behind me, about to close the distance. I didn't even have a weapon to defend myself. I was scared of dying despite me killing so many others who even begged for their lives. However, I just coldheartedly killed them without a shred of remorse and guilt.

"No! you killed my brother, didn't you?" I shouted in fear and panic.

I tried to get up to run the stairs but the bastard shot me on my right leg, just near my calf.

"AAAARRRGGHH!!!" I screamed in pain but despite the agony, I continued to run to the roof.

I grasped my bullet wound and felt the shearing pain. My other hand found a USB flash drive in my left-side chest pocket. It contained incriminating files regarding the involvement of the senior colleagues and their organization. After my brother died, I decided to overthrow the syndicate since I knew their secrets and clandestine operations. I was going to use this to reveal the true image of the syndicate to the rest of the world.

My plan B is that if I died, then I must get the evidence to the authorities by getting my body out of reach and out of sight from the syndicate. Eventually, my corpse will be found along with the USB flash drive by the police. I had already contacted a trusted friend who works in the police force. I hope he got my message.