From Hell

by Seth Barder

Just out of the city where a few trees lined the road Josh walked with Driton imagining he could smell the leaves and bark, even the smell of the dirt they grew in. In his mind it all smelled fresh like in spring when everything started to come alive again. Josh was excited. He felt like he was walking on clouds already. He was going to heaven, and Driton would be his guide just like he’d been his guide to this world. Josh couldn’t help wondering if Driton would be around after he got to heaven, probably not. Driton would most likely be assigned to someone else on the wrong path like he’d been. It’d be sad to see his friend leave. He felt sad. If he could make tears, his eyes would be moist by now. He’d grown fond of his protector, even though Driton said things Josh didn’t like. Still, there was something comforting about knowing Driton was there beside him, to help him whenever he might be in need. His chin wrinkled thinking about it.

  Josh had to keep his mind off those things. He didn’t want this to be a sad occasion. It should be a happy one. He thought of the famous people he might meet in heaven. He’d sure have a lot of questions to ask them when he found them. He began making a list in his mind of the people he’d like to meet first: Jesus (of course), the Apostles, even the thief on the cross who believed before it was too late, "Wonder what he stole to be sentenced to hang on the cross?" It would be amazing. He could easily walk up to any one of them and simply start a conversation. No bodyguards to keep him at a distance, no fences or other barriers to separate them from the “common folk”. And Jesus! What a wonderful thing to meet the Man who’s the reason why he was given this great opportunity! Hopefully He wasn’t too busy. Josh would love to have a sit down with Him under a shady tree on some green hillside and chat, but everyone who went to heaven probably wanted that, just a little alone time with Jesus to hear His voice, to actually hear an unmistakable, audible, answer to their question instead of what they’d been used to when praying. Josh hoped Jesus could find time. He was sure He could. With the way time ran here, Jesus had as much time as He needed.

  Eternity. The word sounded different now. It’s meaning far more different than what it was when Josh was alive. Before, it had been just a word. It held no real significance. His wife promised to love him “eternally”, but then she divorced him. Not the best example of what eternity is, but that was just it. People said it without any real thought about what the word really means. Like the word “love”, it’s bounced around so freely people have forgotten what true love really looks like. So it is with “eternity”. When he was alive, eternity meant nothing to Josh, something said because it sounded right. Now it told how long he’d be in heaven, enjoying his time of rest, there was absolutely no end to it. Jesus truly was a blessing for all humankind. Josh would have to thank Him personally for all He’d done, for all He’d suffered, and still loved him after the way he treated Him. Josh swallowed. That’s what love is, being able to look beyond all the evil and still love the person. Was Jesus hurt when people did evil things? Must have been. But He still remained faithful, honorable, and trustworthy. Josh would definitely have to thank Him, not just once; he’d do his best to thank Him every time he saw Him for all the suffering He’d gone through.

  When Josh came out of his meditation he saw they were in a suburban neighborhood. The trees were more abundant now, standing in a long row on either side of the paved road. They shaded the both of them nicely from the sun. Josh looked up to try and catch some of the sun’s rays through the leaves on the trees. He tried again to remember what the warm light felt like. He looked down at his feet. He watched how his toes curled upward with every step he took. He wondered if he’d always walked like that. He smiled, never had he had this much time to do the kind of self-reflection he did now, these…little fascinations of himself became amusing, and revealing. Josh rubbed his hand through his hair. It was much thicker than before. He was surprised God would allow it to grow back since it had given him such a sense of pride. There was that amazing grace again. God was willing to give His people everything they wanted. Josh knew his time on earth was tough, but all of it seemed minor now.

  Josh wished there was some way he could get a letter out to the world to tell them not to become disheartened when things get really tough. He wanted to tell everyone they should love everything God had made. He wished he could tell everyone all the things he’d gone through so they could make the right choice before it’s too late. He knew there’d be some who wouldn’t listen, fearing they’d have to give up their comfortable life, but then that would be their choice too. Josh would at least know he’d warned them, and now they had no excuse when they went before God. They could do their best to make excuses but then God could simply point out Josh’s letter and tell them they had their chance. Yes, a letter would have been worthwhile, but even that’s too late for him now.

  Josh lifted his head. It was dark out. Almost pitch black except for the few porch lights in front of the houses. This spiritual timing thing was something Josh wasn’t sure if he’d ever get used to. He glanced around. It looked like they were still in the same neighborhood, or at least one similar to it.

  “What time is it?” Josh blurted out not even thinking before he spoke.

  “In human time or our time?” Driton gave a smile.

  “Human time,” Josh said.

  “About eight o’clock.”

  Josh nodded, feeling embarrassed he said anything at all. He looked around at the neighborhood again then realized what Driton had asked.

  “So…what time is it in our time?”

  Driton burst out laughing, “Josh, you really worry about the silliest things.”

  Josh laughed, knowing how corny it must have sounded, “I’m sorry, I just caught what you said.”

  Driton was right, it didn’t make much difference what time it was. He looked around the neighborhood again, the smile still on his face, nothing looked familiar. A long walk wasn’t exactly what Josh had in mind when he said he was ready to go to heaven. There was something in the Bible about the road to heaven is long, maybe that’s what this was. But this was absurdly long. Then Driton slowed his pace until he stopped. He paused for a moment, looked to the ground, and then turned towards Josh.

  “There’s something I have to do, Josh. You can wait here if you like, but I have somewhere I have to go.”

  What? This seemed somehow out of character for Driton. What could he possibly have to do before taking Josh to heaven? And how long had he known he had to do this…thing? Did he get a message from God all the sudden? Is that how He speaks to His angels? Is it some sort of telepathic message only Driton heard? And why did he have to go? Why couldn’t some other angel be sent? It didn’t look like it was that important. When Driton said he had to go his demeanor hadn’t changed. He didn’t look like he had to hurry. He simply turned and told Josh he had to go do something. Just like someone stepping out of the living room to get something out of the refrigerator. Why would he leave Josh alone? What if some demon came by and Josh was just standing there with no one to protect him? What would Josh do? Who would he turn to?

  “Unless you want to come with me,” Driton followed up.

  Josh was relieved but didn’t want to show it. He hoped he kept his composure well.

  He shrugged coolly, “Eh, whatever. I could wait here or go with, it doesn’t really matter.” To himself he prayed Driton would offer to take him wherever he was going.

  “Come on,” Driton said with a smile. “This shouldn’t take long.”

  Josh watched Driton closely, trying to determine where it was they were going. If Driton looked tense that could mean trouble. If he remained at ease, it could be something as simple as picking up something. Maybe he was going to assist another angel on some business he couldn’t handle alone. Or maybe God directed him to pull someone else out of hell before they lost hope. Was that Driton’s job? As was common Josh’s mind moved from one subject to another without much effort. Josh never really considered what “job” God assigned Driton. Was that all he did? Cou
ld get quite boring after a few millennia. There would have to be some kind of satisfaction knowing your job saves lives…literally…and eternally. Did he have any other job? Time didn’t seem much of a factor here, which would give Driton an opportunity to do other things. Was he a protector? He had to be, the way he watched over Josh shows he’s had practice.

  Wait, where were they? Josh had been so preoccupied that he failed to notice Driton had stopped and was facing a house. Were they on the same street? Blast these cookie-cutter neighborhoods, they all look alike.

  “This is it.” Driton told Josh.

  Josh looked at the house then back at Driton. “What do you have to do here?” Driton didn’t answer. “Is it another person going to heaven?” He was guessing but wanted to be right.

  Without answering, Driton began walking up the pathway, Josh walked just behind him to the small single story house. There was no car by the street or in the gravel driveway to indicate anyone was at home. There were no children’s toys strewn around the front yard. The porch light was on but its glow barely made it past the first step of the porch. It was enough to show the gray-weathered wood behind the peeling white paint. Two bushes in front of the house stood on either side of the steps. Their small leaves were still, the only indication Josh had that the wind was calm. Driton and Josh walked up the steps and into the light. The house didn’t look particularly old, just unkempt. To their left was a run-down porch swing sitting motionless in front of a window.

  “Is there anyone here?” Josh asked whispering, “I don’t see any lights on.”

  Driton turned his head towards Josh and responded, mimicking Josh’s whisper, “Well, we’re not here to rob the place. And why are you whispering?”

  Josh smiled and shook his head. He couldn’t believe he did it again. Just to be silly he answered with a sarcastic whisper, “You don’t have to wait for someone to be out of the house to steal somethin’.”

  Driton responded with a snicker, “True,” he said in his normal voice, “but we’re more worried about their lives, not their material things.”

  “Yeah but…”

  Driton put his finger to his lips, “Let’s not discuss this now. I have business here. We can talk later, okay?”

  Josh sheepishly agreed and turned his attention to the house again. Maybe Driton had to expel some demon before the owners came home. That would be so cool! Josh could just see it now: a demon standing inside, lording over the house as though he were supreme, then Driton confidently walking in. The demon would take one look at him and hiss, not wanting to give up his domain. A fight would ensue and…and…well, Josh wasn’t sure what would happen, but he was sure it’d be cool. The only thing he could relate it to was the things he’d seen on TV. It’d be awesome and Josh would get a front row seat to the best show he’d ever seen! Josh lightly shook his head to stop it from assuming things. He was going in with Driton, he’d see for himself.

  Driton was the first to walk towards the front door, passing through as though the door wasn’t even there. It looked so cool. Still geeked up from the fight scene he’d played out in his mind he walked forward himself, hesitating only slightly.

  Josh expected to see Driton waiting for him on the other side but he was nowhere to be found. Everything was dark except the dim light coming from somewhere around a corner ahead of him that Josh guessed was a night-light, which didn’t help him see much. From what Josh could see, the interior of the house was about as well kept as the exterior. The carpet at his feet looked like it might be a dark brown color but there was no way to be sure unless he flipped on a light and that wasn’t happening. He could tell he was in some kind of small entryway with a white wall to his left and right. He walked forward a few steps until he passed the entrance to a room on his right. He looked into it hoping to make something out. He saw the outline of a floor model television in the corner to his right, the kind he remembered watching as a kid. As his eyes adjusted even more to the darkness he could see a dark colored couch--possibly brown or a dark maroon--and coffee table but no sign of Driton. He kept walking towards the night-light to investigate, still letting his eyes wander, hoping he’d be able to see Driton’s royal blue eyes shining from somewhere. Josh hadn’t considered maybe Driton expected him to stay outside while he went in to do whatever it was he’d been sent here to do, or at least stand in the entryway until he returned. They never discussed it so it wasn’t like Josh was disobeying Driton. He hoped by him coming in he wouldn’t mess anything up.

  As Josh closed in on the dim light he could see it was inside a kitchen. The light was above the sink on the far wall. Josh looked to his left. There was a longer hallway where, he assumed by the layout of the house, the bedrooms were. With no sign of Driton in the living room or kitchen Josh carefully walked down the hallway. He felt nervous. He was afraid he’d wake someone and they’d come out with a pistol in their hand ready to shoot him. Josh shook his head again. He couldn’t believe he just thought that. What would a gun do to him now?

  Down the hallway the light grew dimmer until, at the end, he saw nothing but blackness. With what limited light he had he could make out three doorways, two on his right and one on his left. Josh paused halfway down the hall to consider what he should do next. Driton was nowhere in the rest of the house, which only left one of the bedrooms. He could see the door nearest to his right was a bathroom and Driton wasn’t in there. The door to the room a little further down was open and dark, but no one appeared to be in there either. Josh looked to the door on his left, it was the only other place and it was closed. Still standing in the middle of the hall Josh craned his neck listening intently at the door. He thought he could hear something, but wasn’t too sure. He moved closer until he was next to it. He did hear something, but it was too muffled to make out. He stood back for a moment debating within himself whether he should enter or not. It didn’t sound like anything bad was going on behind it. He hadn’t heard any yelling or thrashing around. Maybe Driton had already taken care of whatever evil terrorized this house. Or he could have lost. What would Josh do if Driton was in there laid out on the floor? Driton was ten times stronger than Josh. If Driton had been beat down by something stronger than him, what help could Josh give?

  “Curious yet?” The voice startled Josh. He jumped, almost smacking into the door. It was Driton. “I’m sorry,” Driton smiled “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

  “Geez out!” Josh held his chest purely out of habit. “I ‘bout came unglued. If I weren’t dead, you’d have given me a heart-attack.”

  “I’m sorry.” Driton said again, enjoying his little prank.

  “Sheesh! I thought you were inside the room. I heard a noise in there an’ thought it was you.”

  “No, no, it’s not me. But it is what I came here for.” Driton smiled his usual comforting smile then walked through the closed door. Josh took that as an invitation to follow and he did.

  Chapter 18