“Yeah, don’t worry about it,” I said. “I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“Great!” she said with a big smile. “So, what were you and Phillip talking about?”
“Oh not much, just you know.”
“Nope, I don’t. Or I wouldn’t have asked.”
I chuckled. “Yeah I guess not. He was basically just telling me that I can trust you and what not.”
“That sounds about like Phillip.”
“How do you know him anyway?”
“It’s a long story, but basically he’s like my dad.”
“He’s like your dad?”
“Yeah. Well I forgot most of my life, and Phillip helped me one day. An Elohim was trying to catch me and Phillip grabbed me as I ran by and shielded me from the Elohim’s sight. I couldn’t thank him enough, and after a while, he just sort of became my father figure. I couldn’t ask for a better one either.”
“I didn’t know that. I guess there’s a lot about you that I don’t know.”
“Bunches and bunches, Jon.” She laughed.
I smiled and laid back on the stone bed.
“You aren’t going to bed this early, are you?”
“No, I’m just resting. I’ve had a pretty eventful time lately.”
“I would say so. What do you think you’re going to do?”
“What do you mean? I already told you what I’m going to do.”
“Yes, you did, but I overheard your conversation with Phillip. What are you going to do about the wall?”
“You were listening to us?”
She blushed a little bit and said, “Maybe.”
“Well then why did you ask what we talked about? I mean you heard everything, right?” I wasn’t really mad about it. It’s not like I was trying to keep what I was talking about a secret. Callista had brought me to the place and it would be wrong of me to keep secrets from her.
“Not everything, just a little bit here and there. I was actually talking to my guards about something.”
“Oh really? What were you talking to them about?”
“Just stuff.”
“You were totally listening to my conversation!”
“No I wasn’t! Just a little bit!”
I laughed. “It’s okay, Callista. I don’t mind.”
“Okay then. So what are you going to do?”
“I’m not sure. I guess I’m going to have to go to the wall and find a way around or over it.”
“You think you can do that?”
“I don’t see why not. Then again, I haven’t seen this wall. I don’t know how big it is. I’m going to have to figure it out though. I can’t get to Sloth unless I do.”
“You know I’ll be right behind you, no matter what you decide!”
“Thanks, Callista.”
“What are friends for?”
I smiled at her. “Got any ideas?”
“Not a one.”
“Me neither. So where does Mammon take those women?”
“To the palace.”
“I know that, but what does he do with them? I mean after they get to the palace, where do they go? They’re never seen again, right?”
“That’s right. I’m not sure what he does with them. Why don’t you ask Phillip about it? He knows a lot about how things work here. He’s been here for a while now.”
“Maybe I will.” As experienced as I was quickly becoming, I was still new to everything and Hell was a completely different world for me. Everyone seemed to have their own objectives and didn’t care who or what got in their way. They were determined. Phillip seemed a little different. He seemed to not be concerned with the way things were going. I could tell that they bothered him, but he wasn’t trying to change things. Sometimes it’s best to just go with the flow instead of becoming the pebble that tries to dam a river.
“What are you thinking about?” Callista asked, looking deep into my eyes.
“Nothing,” I responded with a sigh.
“Oh, come on, Jon. You can tell me.”
“I don’t know. It’s just all this shit.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s everything. So much stuff is just standing in my way. I don’t know what to do sometimes. I feel like I need to keep going, but why does all this stuff keep popping up in my way?”
“I know what you mean. It’s hard when it seems like the entire world is against you.”
“You got that right.”
“But you don’t have anything to worry about, Jon.”
“How do you figure?”
“Because you got me standing by your side. I’ll help you, and as long as you aren’t working alone, then there is nothing that can stop you from taking what you want. You could have the world if you worked hard enough and believe in yourself.”
“Maybe you’re right.”
“I am. Now stop worrying about all this. We’ll find a way to get past that wall and pretty soon you are going to be in Sloth and you are going to do everything that you need to do.”
“Are you coming with me?”
“I wouldn’t miss it. You’re pretty entertaining, you know.”
“Oh am I?” I smiled.
“You got that right. Life was pretty boring before I ran into you. Now I’ve got enough adventure and excitement for three lives!”
We both laughed.
“I think I’m going to go talk to Phillip about those things.”
“Okay, I’ll be here.”
I got up and walked downstairs. Phillip was sitting on the bench and gazing out the window.
“Hey Phillip?” I began.
He didn’t respond. He just kept staring out the window. My first thought was that he was dead. I quickly ran into the room.
“Phillip!?” I yelled.
“Oh sorry, Jon,” Phillip said as he turned his head towards me. “I was just thinking about something.”
“Anything you want to talk about?”
“It’s nothing for you to trouble yourself about.”
“All right then, if you’re sure.”
“I am. So what can I help you with, my boy?”
“I just had a question. What happens to the women that Mammon takes to the palace?”
He had a solemn look on his face. “That’s what I was just thinking about, actually.”
“Then I guess you can share it with me, after all.”
“I’m not so sure. What I’ve been thinking about isn’t exactly legal in Greed.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, I don’t think that Mammon kills the women as soon as he gets them to his Palace. That wouldn’t make sense because he could just as easily kill them in the streets like I’ve seen him do on countless occasions.”
“So what do you think happens?”
“I’m not sure, but I’ve been thinking about finding out.”
“For some reason I don’t think you are talking about walking up and asking Mammon.”
“You’d be right in that assumption. I’ve been thinking about breaking into the Palace of Greed.”
“Are you serious?”
“I wish I weren’t. Tell me Jon, have you ever loved before?”
My thoughts raced to the face of my wife. “Only once.”
“Then you know what I’m talking about. You can understand and appreciate me wanting to be reunited with my wife.”
“Absolutely.”
“That’s what I’m proposing. The only thing I want now is to be with her again. If I could just see her and tell that she’s okay. I just have to know. I can’t settle for her being gone forever. I can’t take the idea of her being slaughtered in the palace. I have to know.”
“So are you going to go through with it?”
“I can’t.”
“Fear is a powerful tool.”
“It isn’t fear.”
“Then what is it?”
“It’s me. I’ve lived for a long time and you can tell just by looking at me that I’m n
ot the freshest chicken out of the henhouse. I don’t think I’d make it to the door.”
“I see. I’m sorry, Phillip. I truly do feel for you. I miss my wife more than anything and that’s the reason I have to get to Sloth. I love her.”
“Then help me.”
“What?”
“You seem like a pretty tough cookie. You could get in there and out in no time. Please, Jon.”
“I don’t know about that. You’re asking something pretty great of me, and I don’t know that I even have time for it.”
“How can you say that?” Tears started to well in the old man’s eyes. “How can you accept all of my good tidings, then empathize with me, and then reject me? You’re no better than anyone else in this godforsaken plane.”
“That’s not true. Look I really do feel for you, but I have been through so much lately, and I don’t know that I can handle an extra task.”
“Why? Is it because it doesn’t benefit you directly? Is it because you stand to gain nothing?”
“No its not….” That was it. I was being selfish. I didn’t want to help this man that was in a similar situation as me, because it wasn’t helping me get to my goals. I felt like I really was becoming another mortal lost in the pits of Hell.
“You’re right, Phillip.”
“Will you help me, then?”
“I will help you. You’ve been nothing but a gracious host, and I owe you little more than the assistance. Besides, I can’t get to Sloth right now, anyway.”
A smile broke the tears from his face and he jumped to his feet and grabbed my hand. Shaking the hell out of it, he said, “Thank you, Jon! You’re a saint in the sinner’s world!”
“It’s nothing, Phillip. I’m sure you would help me in the same situation.”
“I sure would. I’ll start thinking up a plan, you get some rest. You’re going to need it.”
I really didn’t want to do it, but there was no way I could let myself become just like everyone else. I was surrounded by people that cared nothing about others and since the beginning I knew I was different, but I was starting to not be so sure. I couldn’t be a hypocrite about it; even though I didn’t know or trust Phillip. Besides, I didn’t have anything better to do.
I walked up the stairs with my head held low. Callista was right where she said she would be: lying on the bed. She was on her side staring at the wall. When I went up the steps, she turned and smiled at me.
“What’s wrong?” Callista asked.
“I have to do something,” I told her.
“What’s that?”
“I have to break into the palace and try to get Phillip’s wife back.”
“WHAT!? Are you insane!?”
“Probably…but I have to.”
“How do you figure? You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do, Jon.”
“I’m not going to be a hypocrite. Phillip is letting me stay with him without knowing me and he’s in the same situation as me. I have to help him. I haven’t had any help along my path and I would kill for some.”
Her smile dissolved into a scowl. “Oh you haven’t had any help? What about me!?”
“Callista, that’s not what I meant.”
“Then say what you mean! You always speak in these half-truths and riddles. I’m always open and honest with you! If you don’t want my help then fine!”
“Callista, please just listen to me.”
“I have listened to you! Look I loved Jennette like a mother, but you don’t see me rushing in like some fool hearted warrior trying to get her back. I’m done listening to you. You’re a fool! You don’t want my help and you know what? You’re not going to get it either!”
She jumped from the bed and started storming to the stairs. I grabbed her arm as she passed.
“Stop this!” I said. “You’re acting like a child.”
“Oh so now I’m a child, am I?” she asked.
“Just cut it out. That’s not what I meant and you know it.”
“Do I? I thought I knew a lot of things but you just made everything very clear to me. Now let go of me before my men remove you from my arm.”
I released her and she flew down the stairs. I followed behind her, but she was already out the door when I landed on the first floor.
“What was that about?” Phillip asked.
“I’m not sure,” I said. “I was telling her about how I was going to help you and she got pissed and ran off.”
“Women are like that, Jon. Just let her cool off and I’m sure that she’ll turn back up before you know it.”
“You think so?”
“I know so. I’ve known Callista for a long time and that’s just her way. She is attracted to a fight like a fly to a pile of dung. Don’t worry about her. You need to get your rest for the big day.”
“I don’t know if I can rest now. Callista helped me and I don’t like that she’s mad.”
“My boy, she will be back. She has her eye on you and she isn’t going to go far enough to let it off. Look, we all have our own paths and right now yours and hers are not in line, but I have a feeling they will meet up again. Just give it some time and she’ll come back before you know it.”
“I hope so. I don’t like what’s going on any more than she does, but I don’t have a choice. I have to help you and I can’t get to Sloth right now anyway.”
“That’s very true. Perhaps when we are done with the palace I can try to help you figure a way out of Greed.”
“I would appreciate that, Phillip. You don’t have to, you know.”
“My honor begs to differ.”
I smiled at him. “Thanks, Phillip. I’m going to head up stairs.”
“Okay then. I’ll be down here if you need anything.”
I walked up the stairs and laid down on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
‘What am I going to do?’ I thought. ‘Now Callista is gone and I have to go take on another demon. How do you keep getting yourself into these situations, Jon? Why can’t I just have something given to me? Why can’t fortune favor me for a change? Am I not bold enough? Do I not do the right thing? I just want things to go my way. I want to just go outside and see Charlie standing there, but instead he is frowning. Then he’ll walk up to me and explain that it’s time for me to go back and I can be with Callista again. Wait, I mean Shannon. Why did I say Callista? He’ll come and take me back to my wife. I really shouldn’t be wasting time. Then again, Phillip needs time to plan. I think I should just lay here and wait for him. It’ll be nice to relax for a moment.’
My grief faded from my mind and I began to relax, but I relaxed more than I would’ve liked to. I fell asleep.
I was in a meadow during what looked like spring. There were tall, green trees surrounding the place like a wall. There was a small stream trickling its way through the earth. The grass was long and danced as the wind blew over it. A few flowers speckled the ground in places that the grass had not consumed. I was standing on a narrow dirt path that cut through the meadow like a scar on someone’s face. It went all the way into the tree line.
I started down the path with a smile on my face. There was a cool breeze that came from behind me pushing me forward. I was moving at a fast pace enjoying the scenery. It was a beautiful dream.
I finally reached the trees. The path entered and wound its way deeper into the woods. I paused at the tree line. I looked around but I couldn’t see anything wrong. I continued on.
As I walked through the woods, I started hearing a noise in the distance. I couldn’t make it out. It sounded small and soft. I went further into the woods and the noise started to get louder, yet it was still a whisper. It was a voice. I could hear Shannon’s voice in the distance.
“Come to me,” she said. Her voice soft and alluring and I did as she instructed.
I started running. I wanted to get to her. I wanted to see her. I had to have her, even if it was only for a moment. I saw a glimpse of a white gown pass by a tree in front of me. I tu
rned from the path and followed it into the woods. I was never fast enough to glimpse anything but the tail of her gown or maybe a hand compelling me to move faster.
I was sprinting through the woods with no guidance except for Shannon leading me. Every time I moved faster, however, it seemed like Shannon was one step ahead of me. I couldn’t catch her, but I was determined.
I turned again following my wife through the woods. There was a clearing in the distance and I could see her standing on a hill. Her head was cocked to the side and she was looking me straight in the eyes, even from that far away. She was smiling at me. It was driving me insane. I had to get her. Her robe was completely white and the sun was shining from the back of her giving her the appearance of an angel standing high above me wanting me to come to her. Wanting to protect and love me. I had to get there.
I ran to her. My heart was beating out of my chest. I was exhausted but satisfied with the reward of my hard and long journey. I walked to her and she smiled at me.
“Come to me, Jon,” she said.
“I am, my wife,” I responded.
“Jon. My sweet, sweet Jon. How I have missed you. Come to me.”
I finally approached her and looked deeply and lovingly into her eyes. I reached for her arm and in a flash her hand grasped my wrist and her eyes turned to fire. Her grip burned my flesh and I couldn’t muster the strength to free myself.
The entire scene spun. The surrounding woods turned into a dark cave, the sky turned to black night, the grass turned to flames licking high into the air all around us, and Shannon turned into something I had never witnessed before. Her face and body were flashing between visages of a thousand different people. She never remained the same for more than a second.
“Shannon!” I screamed. “Let go of me! What are you doing!?”
“Shannon is no longer with us,” her voiced turned deep and dark.
“What? What are you talking about!? Let go of me!”
“I think not. Your soul belongs to me, and so it shall remain!” By my arm, the creature flung me into the flames. The fire consumed everything of me.
“Wake up, Jon!” Phillip said.
I jolted from my sleep.
“Sorry,” I said with a groggy voice. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”
“I imagine that you didn’t,” he said.
“So are you ready?”
Hellbound: Chronicles Page 22
