Heaven and Hell (39 page)

She looked outward. As far as her eye could see there was fire, fire leaping from a turbulent oily sea. It spread out in all directions, lending its harsh amber illumination to the only solid object that could reflect it insidious evil glow, the dark craggy island. All around her it created bizarre inverted shadows. For here, the only light came from below, not from above. The sky overhead was inky black, free of clouds, yet with not so much as a single star to lighten the somber realm.

On the distant horizon was a bow of deepest blue, that gave witness to a red sun far beyond. Now that she was in no pain and could concentrate on such matters, Serena could more clearly understand the dynamics of this world. She recalled her astronomy professor in college, speaking of worlds which kept one face perpetually to the planet or star they circled. If a planet circled too close to its star, its rotation would slow until it rotated only once in each orbit. When that happened, one half of the world lived in perpetual daylight, while the other half dwelled in eternal night. Apparently, Hell was just such a world. Were it not for this boiling black sea, this environment might be unimaginably cold. Why should she recall this obscure fact right now? Perhaps, it was the realization that pain would soon monopolize her entire world, leaving no room for anything else.

As she had slept in the cave, her mind had focused upon Chris, taking her to those beautiful years in the rock house, years she would never see again. Now her mind wandered, spanning the length and breadth of her earthly experience, even to a college classroom eight years ago.

“Behold my world,” declared Abaddon, stretching forth one hand while maintaining a grip on Serena’s wrist with the other. “It is always the same. There are no changes of the seasons, no day and night, not even a star to guide the way. Only an occasional acid rain breaks the monotony.” Abaddon paused for a moment. “It wasn’t always this way. Satan told you that he had created this world, but that was a lie. This world and the sun it circles were here long before satan was cast into outer darkness. Perhaps, it was a final act of divine kindness on the part of God, to provide to us the solid ground and light of this world, even in our exile. It was a far kinder world then, but satan and his minions devastated it, remaking it into an image more to their liking and purpose. I despise their kind. They exist only to destroy.”

Abaddon turned Serena to view the narrow ledge that snaked its way along the steeply sloping cliff face. He pointed to the left. “Go this way, and the trail takes you down to the flats, to the bubbling acid mud pits on the other side of the island, a thoroughly nasty place. I rarely go there myself. It is my understanding that, in a former time, it was a spring of fresh water, but no longer.”

Again he turned his comely companion around. “Ah, but if you follow the trail in this direction you climb to the very pinnacle of my humble archipelago. From there you can see for miles around, an exceptional vista of true desolation. From there, you can behold this terrible sea, stretching to the horizon in every direction. Regrettably, we will not be traveling there this day; you have somewhere else to go.”

Serena swallowed hard; she wasn’t ready for this, not now. She looked down at the swirling black mass of burning fury far below. It pounded the cliff relentlessly, it wanted her back. This cruel entity, the great sea, wanted what belonged to it; it wanted her. Serena’s knees began to quiver uncontrollably. She was certain that she was on the very threshold of going mad. It had taken the events of the past several hours to bring her to this point. They had done a more effective job at bringing her to the edge of insanity than all of her months in the sea of fire.

Abaddon apparently noticed that Serena had become suddenly very shaky and took steps to steady her. “Easy, Serena, we can’t have you tumbling back into the great sea of fire, especially after you worked so hard to escape from it. Come, child, let us go back inside; I have the perfect place for you, far from the heaving sea.”

Serena was confused. Had she heard this fallen angel correctly? “Back inside?”

“Yes,” confirmed Abaddon, “it is not safe for you out here, though few of satan’s minions travel this region. That is, no doubt, why you managed to scale the flanks of my island undetected and unchallenged. As I mentioned before, the currents of the sea rarely carry your kind into this remote corner of Hell. It was an errant tide indeed that brought you to me. That is why I was particularly surprised to discover you at my doorstep. Nevertheless, I can ill afford to have a wandering demon discover you, here, on my island. It would raise questions that I would prefer not to have to answer.”

“Then you’re not going to throw me back into the sea of fire?”

Abaddon smiled, though slightly. “No, not at this time; perhaps I shall later. Right now, I need time to think, time to decide exactly what I shall do with you.”

Abaddon escorted the quivering woman back into the cave. They proceeded deeper into the roughly hewn tunnel, and as they did, one after another, the great crystals imbedded within the ceiling above their heads, ignited into cool white illumination. The air grew cooler and damper as they went.

“There are severe penalties for a fallen angel who would offer aid and assistance to one of your kind,” Abaddon said. “For this reason, I can hardly afford for you to be discovered here on my island.”

“Where are you taking me? What do you plan to do to me now?”

“So many questions,” Abaddon said. “Let’s just say that I’m taking you to a hiding place and leave it at that.”

The narrow twisting tunnel abruptly opened into a vast dark cavern room. Serena could not estimate the size of the room nor ascertain its contents, for most of it was bathed in deep shadows. Only a single crystal in the rocky ceiling illuminated her way. She proceeded along the wall; then she was directed into yet another corridor. This one was somewhat wider than the first, with a series of branching tunnels on either side. She was led into the second tunnel on the left. The tunnel led 5 feet to a partially open door composed of heavy metal bars. It was a cell door, not unlike the many she had beheld on her first day in Hell. It brought back the memories of that terrible day, the first day of her eternity. The room beyond the door brightened, illuminated by a crystal within the ceiling. A few seconds later, Serena stepped in and the cell door closed and locked behind her.

“Make yourself at home,” said Abaddon. “You may be here for some time, so you might as well become comfortable; enjoy this chamber’s limited amenities. I must apologize; you see, I was not expecting a guest so I haven’t had a chance to clean up the place. It is small and somewhat Spartan, but I think you shall find it preferable to the vastness of the sea of fire.”

Serena looked around—it was a prison cell all right but not the sort she was expecting. This cell was at least three times the size of the cell she had been imprisoned within on that first day. It has surprisingly smooth rock walls, not unlike the textured interior walls of a contemporary American home on Earth. Yet, most of its walls were hidden from sight.

From the left wall, a colorful tapestry ran from the floor to the ceiling. It bore the image of an oak tree with green leaves and twisting branches. Upon the back wall, a second brightly colored tapestry depicting a sunlit meadow, lightened the otherwise somber atmosphere of this place. Both tapestries were exceptionally intricate and were obviously the result of hundreds of hours of hard work.

Then Serena’s eyes settled on a circular stone table near the center of the room. On the table she was surprised to see a small earthen pot and within the brown earth that nearly filled the pot, sprouted a small green plant with a single yellow flower. It was alive. Tears came to Serena’s eyes at the sight of it.

“Please, sit,” bid Abaddon, pointing toward a stone bed, overlaid with some sort of thin mattress. “You look as if you need it.”

Serena sat down, surprised at how soft its surface was. She was still in somewhat of a daze.

“Yes, much better,” Abaddon said standing with his arms folded, just beyond the cell door. He motioned to a sort of stone basin, carved out of the wall, at the far corner of the cell. Abruptly, a spring of water erupted from its center, quickly filling the basin. Serena’s eyes grew wide with both surprise and joy. She stumbled to the basin, dipping her hands into the cool nectar. For over a minute, she did nothing but drink the delicious liquid, a blessed substance that she was certain she would never partake of again. She had become so accustomed to her thirst that she had forgotten how wonderful taking a sip of water really was. She shed tears of joy, as she took one handful of water after another to her mouth.

“There is a cup in the cabinet to your right,” Abaddon said, mildly amused by his guest’s actions. “In the closet beside it are some clothes left here by the former occupant of this place. They might fit you, they might not. However, I believe that you will find them preferable to that ragged garb that satan provided you. That garb is infinitely durable, capable of withstanding the worst abuse that Hell can offer. However, I suspect that you will be more than happy to part with it.” Abaddon pointed to a set of dusty blue drapes on Serena’s side of the cell door. “Pulling those across the door shall offer you a degree of privacy, should you require it.”

Serena really did not know what to say. She had so many questions, but she realized that now was not the time. She did not want to push her luck. “Thank you. Thank you for your kindness.”

Abaddon nodded, but did not directly respond to her comment. “It might be some time before I make my decision, and it might not be in your favor. So, even if the clothing within the closet does fit you, I advise you not to discard that gray tattered garment you’ve been wearing. You might need it again.” There was a pause before Abaddon continued. “I suggest that you get some rest.” With those words, Abaddon departed.

For a moment, Serena just stood there in silence. She was overwhelmed with emotion, yet she managed to keep it in. Even if Abaddon kept her locked up in this small cell forever, it would be a far kinder fate than what awaited her beyond his island realm.

Serena set about exploring the room in greater detail. She found the crude metal cup as well as a small enclave cut into the rock, covered by a pair of drapes. Within it hung several plain white dresses made from material not unlike cotton. On the floor was a pair of sandals that might have been worn in antiquity. She also found undergarments and several pieces of simple jewelry on a small shelf within this peculiar closet. Like everything else in this room, they were quite dusty; they hadn’t been worn or even moved in a very long time.

The presence of these items raised more questions than answers. Who was the woman who had occupied this room and what had become of her? Why had Abaddon imprisoned her here and for how long? Serena would not trouble herself with such issues at this moment. The clothes were here, and whoever had worn them was about Serena’s size.

Serena went to the bars of her cell and gazed out. The corridor beyond was dark, and Abaddon was nowhere in sight. Nevertheless, she pulled the drapes shut for privacy.

A horrible thought crossed her mind. She had worn these awful rags for months. They had endured fire, burning oil, and more than their share of abuse without ripping or burning. The currents of the sea had not ripped them from her. They had clung to her body through it all, appearing no different than they had on that first day. She had never tried to remove them. Suppose they wouldn’t come off. Suppose they had become a permanent part of her body. What then? It was an absurd thought; or was it? She drew a deep breath.

They slipped off with minimal effort, and she placed them on an empty shelf in the closet. She prayed that she would never have to wear them again. The other clothing within the closet turned out to be a very good fit for her. After putting on one of the long white dresses, she felt much better, less exposed. A portion of her human dignity had been restored.

Then her eyes settled on a series of scrolls that were on another shelf in the closet. She took one and carefully opened it. It was not as fragile as she had at first thought. The writing on it was totally unfamiliar. It was not Greek or Chinese, of that she was certain. Perhaps, it was not an earthly language at all. She carefully returned it to its place on the shelf—another piece to the cryptic puzzle.

There was little more to explore within her 10-by-16-foot cell. Serena brushed the dust from the bed as best she could, and spread the single brown blanket over it. She stretched out and tried to get comfortable. It wasn’t difficult. Even as she thought of how nice it would be if she could dim the crystal light over her head, its glow faded as if in response to her command. No, an eternity of imprisonment in this place would not be all that bad, especially when she considered the alternatives.

Before Serena started to slip off to sleep, she took a moment to thank God for His mercy. All that had happened today could not have been by chance. She hoped that a higher power might have been involved. Perhaps God was watching after all.

The word
hope
had become a part of her language and experience once more. With no pain to burden her, Serena faded off into a peaceful sleep.

I
NDESCRIBABLE beauty surrounded Chris as he wandered aimlessly through the busy thoroughfares of Zion. Anyone else would have been filled with wonder at the sights and sounds of this holiest of realms. Yet to Chris it had become empty, an exercise in exotic architecture. He needed to walk, to occupy his mind with some task, any task. For in its absence, he was consumed with dwelling upon the fate of his lovely Serena.