Heaven and Hell (23 page)

Then Serena discerned a movement within the terrible furnace, something at the rear of the chamber, almost lost amidst the swirling flames. Her perfect, immortal eyes focused upon it, and it became clear. It was the form of a man, shackled hand and foot to the back wall, writhing in agony, clothed in a bright shimmering garb of kaleidoscopic fire.

Unlike the damned souls in the fire pits of the plains, his body had not been reduced to a mere skeletal form, but appeared to have retained most of its muscle and sinew. That muscle was encased in a blackened layer of charred bubbling flesh that fought an eternal battle against the fires that sought to consume it. Of all the sights Serena had seen in Hell, this one was the most ghastly. Serena turned away in horror.

“I call it a furnace cell,” announced satan, a sense of prideful accomplishment in his voice. “It leaves its human victim’s body and his nervous system largely intact, allowing him, or her, to better appreciate the essence of the flames. Imagine it, little one, being clothed in a luminous colorful garment of fire for all eternity. This wretched soul made his home on Earth a living hell for his wife and children. He imagined himself to be the center of his world. Therefore, in his afterlife, I have again made him the center of his own world, small as that world might be. I have placed him in his own private crematorium, shackled him in position, at the very center of the swirling fire. Here, he shall dwell alone forever, to feel and consider the consequences of his vile deeds.”

Serena was speechless. Did the dark heart of this enemy of humanity know no limits in its depths of depravity?

“But I did not bring you here to meet Mr. Rienstadt. No, this is to be a family reunion. Come.”

Satan continued down the shadowy corridor with Serena in tow, until they came to another metal doorway. Little light emanated from the small viewing port of this door, the room beyond was quiet and only dimly lit. The prince of darkness directed Serena’s attention to the plaque on the door. It was hard to read amidst the gloom of the corridor; Serena drew closer. A surge of adrenaline swept through her whole being as she read the name engraved upon the plaque—Bedillia Farnsworth, her mother.

“No,” she cried, collapsing to her knees.

“Why, I’m surprised,” said Satan. “I thought you’d be happy to learn how I have dealt with your evil, abusive mother during these past eight years. You should be thanking me. I have avenged her cruelty to you many times over, and I have only begun.”

Satan proceeded to the large wheel mounted upon the wall and began to turn it. Amidst the sound of a dozen clacking gears and squeaking metal rollers, the ponderous door slid slowly to the side, along its metal track. It had the sound of a mechanism that was seldom used.

The next thing Serena knew, she was being pulled roughly to her feet and escorted into the small chamber. The room still bore the awful odor of burned hair, as well as the odor of cooking meat. The horrible inferences of these sensations made Serena’s mind whirl. The only light within the room was an orange glow that came from beyond the metal grates in the ceiling and floor.

Peering through the grate below her, Serena beheld the swirling kaleidoscopic flames, roaring through some sort of enormous glowing conduit, held back from the chamber by a force she didn’t understand. Maybe it was some sort of clear barrier; perhaps something more exotic. Nonetheless, it was a fearful sight. Serena felt very uneasy standing in the midst of this terrible crematorium.

There was a smile of satisfaction on satan’s face as he stretched out his hand toward the small room’s lone quivering occupant. “Normally the flames would be roaring through this chamber, as they have for the past eight years, but I had commanded that the vents be closed about half an hour ago, to give Bedillia a little bit of time to compose herself. Not too much time, mind you. I did not wish to grant her an overly long respite from her agony. That action might be regarded as an act of mercy, and I didn’t want to project that sort of image. I’m sure you understand.”

Yes, Serena understood, though she said nothing. There were tears flowing from her eyes, as she gazed into the face of her mother, for the first time in over eight years. Her mother’s arms were shackled together high over her head, and her bare feet were secured in some sort of gray metal stirrups that were riveted to the large metal grate on the floor. She was clothed in rags, even more inadequate than those Serena wore. She was covered in ash and soot from head to toe. Still, she looked younger than Serena had remembered her. She had the countenance of the Bedillia Farnsworth of Serena’s early childhood, though she seemed far more worn and sad.

“I’m so cold,” said Bedillia, in a quivering tone. She didn’t seem to comprehend what was going on around her.

“Mommy?” said Serena, in a soft voice, barely above a whisper.

Bedillia looked up with dazed eyes at her daughter. At first she didn’t seem to recognize her. Then her eyes widened. “Serena?”

“Yes, it’s me, Mommy,” replied Serena, the tears flowing from her eyes.

“Yes, Bedillia,” announced satan, his smile growing, “it is true, your daughter is indeed here. It pleases me greatly to orchestrate this impromptu family reunion. But it is you, Bedillia, who is the author of it. It is your failure as a mother that has brought this little one to us. Your years of training, of abuse, have served my purposes well. They hardened her heart and dimmed her vision. Now both mother and daughter belong to me. My victory is complete.”

“Oh, God, no!” wept Bedillia. “It’s my fault that you’re here. I belong here, but not you. Oh God, Serena, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. Please, forgive me.”

There was not a moment’s hesitation. Any malice that had dwelled within Serena’s heart these many years seemed to evaporate in the heat. Serena caressed her mother’s cheek with her hand, then wrapped her arms around her. “Please don’t cry. I love you, Mommy. I forgive you. I want you to know that. I still love you.”

Bedillia could hardly speak; she was so full of emotion. “I love you too, Serena, more than I can say.”

The devil stared at the two; he seemed stunned. Clearly, this wasn’t what he had planned at all. “You don’t understand,” interrupted the devil, growing anger in his voice. “It is Bedillia’s fault that you are here. Bedillia’s abuse hardened your heart, started you on the road to my domain. How can you forgive her for that? I brought you here so you might enjoy some measure of revenge before your own suffering begins. Do what you wish to her, you have my permission. I will provide you with whatever you need to accomplish that end. What is your pleasure, Serena? This opportunity will not present itself again. Indulge yourself.”

“No,” retorted Serena. “My mother didn’t do this to me, I did. I rejected Christ’s love. I had my chance, and I rejected Him; I admit I did.” There was a moment of hesitation. “If I could blame anyone, it would be you.”

Serena expected satan to react with rage to her comment. She was not disappointed.

“Your flattery will gain you nothing here,” he roared. “And I assure you, the fate I have planned for you is no better than that of your mother. You too will feel the touch of the fires soon enough.”

With those words, satan pulled Serena from her mother, throwing her to the floor.

“Leave her alone!” cried Bedillia. There was unexpected anger, and even defiance in her voice. Satan grabbed Bedillia by the neck, turning her toward him. She gasped, barely able to breathe.

“Know this, Bedillia Farnsworth, I will take your daughter to the great sea of fire, there to swim forever, engulfed in its scalding blackness, caressed by its flames. And as for you, wench, you will remain here, clothed in your garb of fire, for all eternity. Only know that your daughter’s suffering will be worse. And I will see to it that you have a front row seat at the festivities, her baptism in the sea of fire.” Satan’s grip grew tighter. Bedillia’s wide, terrified eyes bulged.

“Stop it!” screamed Serena, who had risen to her feet again. With little concern for the consequences of her actions, she plowed into the prince of darkness from behind. She struck him hard, wrapping her arms around his legs.

Much to Serena’s surprise, he released his grip from her mother’s neck, and stumbled to the left several steps, before regaining his balance. He swung violently about, pulling Serena upward by her throat. She tried to hang on, but he easily dislodged her.

“How dare you touch me!” he screamed in a deafening roar. He lifted Serena into the air with one hand, then tossed her violently to the far wall of Bedillia’s cell. She hit hard and slumped down to the ground. Satan moved forward then stopped. “No, I want you in one piece, conscious and fully alert; all the better to feel the hot caress of the sea of fire. I want no other pain to interfere with the experience.”

Satan roughly picked Serena up from the floor, as a portal of light appeared before him. Through the portal they, and Bedillia, could see the cliffs that towered above the sea of fire.

“I love you, Serena!” Bedillia cried, even as satan pulled her daughter through the portal. Satan would see to it that the portal would remain open until Serena’s sentence was fulfilled.

“Now,” continued satan, standing a few feet in front of the terrible cliff overlooking the sea of fire, “let us turn our attention to you. You’ve had twelve hours to watch all manners of horrors happening to others, but now it’s your turn, little one.” Satan grasped Serena’s wrist and gave it a slight twist. “You have an appointment to keep, and I don’t want you to be late. I’ve even granted your mother the privilege of watching.”

A tear trickled down Serena’s cheek. If only it were simply death she was facing. How mercifully quick it would be. But it wasn’t just death, was it? It was something far worse. What would it be like? What did she have to look forward to? Did she really want to know? “What will the sea of fire do to me?”

Satan laughed. “Why Serena, I don’t want to spoil the surprise. You shall know soon enough. In time, the eddies and currents of this great turbulent sea will carry you to distant and fascinating places, into a realm of darkness, though I doubt that you will be in a mood to truly appreciate the grand journey.”

Before her, Serena saw a narrow and treacherous peninsula of land, a ridge that jutted out about 30 feet from the sheer cliff. At its end, an almost surreal precipice overlooked a particularly turbulent stretch of the flaming frothing sea.

“Behold, your gateway to a new and terrible existence,” announced satan. “From there, you shall throw yourself into the maelstrom. It shall be the beginning of an eternal struggle, the likes of which you cannot now imagine.”

Serena struggled for control. The terrible moment had at last arrived. Now she would join the tormented souls she had encountered in their agony, no longer an observer, but a victim. Her mind was awash in emotion. She turned to see satan watching her intently, and a few feet away was the portal. Beyond it she could faintly see her mother. No, she had to be strong for her.

Satan waited. Surely this wench would break down, faced with the unimaginable fate before her. He waited, but nothing happened. Yes, she was quivering, but she didn’t cry openly. He could wait no longer.

“Enough—the time for talk is at an end. Remove the sandals from your feet, for you shall have no further need of them where you are going. For you shall never again feel the solid ground beneath your feet. The moment has come for you to immerse yourself in your element. You shall walk to the threshold from whence you shall cast yourself into a sea of pure undiluted pain. Obey me, wench, I warn you, I will not ask twice.”

Serena undid her sandals and rose onto trembling legs. Slowly, she walked out onto the narrow ridge. To either side of the treacherous pathway, she saw the burning swirling sea, a Dantesque parody of the pounding waves along the rocky coastline of Oregon. She tried to focus on the stony ground directly before her feet, yet all too soon it ended, to be replaced by empty sulfurous air. The precipice that loomed ahead gave her a frightening vista of the nightmarish sea directly below. It was a straight plunge down to the heaving turbulent inferno.

“Do you have any last words before the sea of fire engulfs you in an agony beyond your comprehension?” asked satan with a sense of satisfaction in his tone.

Serena looked back to see him waiting patiently at the edge of the cliff, watching her intently. His arms were folded across his chest, his eyes icy cold, filled with hate for humanity.

Serena said not a word to satan, but turned to the dark portal beyond. She couldn’t see her mother anymore, but she felt certain that she was watching. “I love you,” she whispered, hoping that her mother could see and understand. There was nothing more to say.

“Now, just lean forward and allow yourself to fall,” said satan. “It is just that simple. Be quick, I have other more important tasks to attend to.”

Serena turned once more to the burning shifting maelstrom below her. She could feel the intense heat. Even from here it burned. There were no other options, and no escape. She took a last deep breath and let go. There was an instant of weightlessness, of dizzying instability, as ground and feet parted company. At first she was falling headfirst toward the seething inferno. Her whole universe was encompassed by the swirling sea of fire. She felt the growing heat, saw the broiling mass hurtling toward her. She managed to swing around, to right herself, for whatever good that might do. She closed her eyes tightly. Then came the impact, the penetration. It was hot beyond comprehension, encompassing her entire body, as she plunged into the hot blackness, vanishing beneath its heaving surface.