Hidden from the eyes of the world, a long and brutal gang war was finally drawing to a close. Somewhere in a gloomy warehouse, the war was about to claim it's last innocent life. A dark man of sinister intent strode forward. He wore a black hat and long coat, and carried a brief case of uncertain content. Small circular reflective specs eclipsed cold eyes. He looked to his captive, and spoke.
"Sorry princess, nothing personal. Your daddy has been a very bad man, and see, the boss ain't too happy. It's too bad you getting caught up in this shit, but the boss's instructions were very specific. We've gotta scatter your family's bones all over the world. Every little one, and not two together. Don't start cryin now, its jus business miss. So if you'd politely hold still and let me have those dainty bones o yours... I can do my job, and you, can be off to a better place."
A large knife is drawn and slowly brought forward. Panic and terror turn to pain, and then to darkness...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The girl awoke, already standing. Looking round she found herself in an unfamiliar woodland surrounding. Sunlight shone in beams through the trees. She was wearing the same nightdress as when she was, snatched from her home. Suddenly terrible and painful memories rushed back to her. She fell to her knees as the feeling of cold sinking steel replayed in her mind. How could she be here!? When the last thing she remembered was...
“Do you know where you are?”
A gentle male voice called out. The girl looked up to see a tall silver haired man standing before her. He had appeared silently, out of thin air. His features were youthful, yet mature. He wore a plain white shirt, simple grey trousers, and black shoes. Only one answer came to the girl.
“I... I'm dead, aren't I?”
“Yes, that's correct. You needn't be afraid any more. No one can hurt you now.”
“I see.” The girl replies meekly carefully standing up. It is only now that she notices the mysterious door floating just off the ground a small distance behind the man. The door was white with a black frame but no handle. Currently closed shut.
“Is that...” the girl asks motioning to the door, “where I need to go?”
“Clever girl. Indeed it is. It is my duty to come and escort you to the next world. And I'm very glad that you have been able to stay calm and accept the situation before you. Not everyone handles this so well.”
“I think I might just be too shaken right now to panic.” The girl jokes nervously looking down at herself again.
“Well, while I would be delighted to open this door and allow you on your way, this is where we regrettably encounter a problem.” The man says crossing his arms and taking on a slightly dismayed expression. The girl looks up again in concern and waits to hear the issue. "I'm so very sorry, but you can't come through yet. You have something with you."
“Something, with me?” She asks quizzically.
“Look behind you.”
Turning round, her eyes widen in shock then terror as they witness the most horrific beast she has ever seen. Larger than a double decker bus, an alien creature sat on the forest floor where a moment ago there was nothing. There is no identifiable head or neck, no limbs to speak of, no normal human or animal features. Rough pinkish red stone like skin wraps round an irregular wedge shaped body. Over half its length is composed of the colossal mouth, lined with scores of huge, wicked teeth. Towards the rear it erupts into a mess of large pointed protrusions, vaguely resembling a fleshy spiked pine cone. A single eye measuring perhaps two metres across stares piercingly at the girl. She can see her own reflection in the eye as flame like wisps of colour dance on the beasts iris. As it breathes out a gust of hot, foul air blow across the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust and nearly knocking the girl of her feet.
Having now retreated a little way behind the guide, the girl looks to him again, face full of fear and confusion, “W... what is that thing!?”
“It is a lost soul, a demon, and it’s following you. As long as you have that demon with you, I cannot let you pass.” The man replies standing straight and calmly
“What, I don’t want it. Can’t I get rid of it?”
“I’m afraid that won’t be easy. You seem to have made quite an impression on it. I’m sorry to say, but that demon is in love with you.”
“I’ve what? Love!? What have I done to attract the attention of a demon!?”
“In the way a demon does anyway. It is obsessed with the suffering you have experienced. You remind it of its own life, and I warn you, it will want to share it’s pain with you.” Even as the man said this, the demon continued to stare into the girls eyes with an intensity that felt like it was looking right inside her mind.
“What do I do then, can’t you help me!?” She asks with an air of panic in her voice.
“Please. Calm. You must stay calm. You will have to fight it. Unfortunately there is not much I can do for you. This is your demon, and only you can face it. It seeks to consume you, and you will have to be strong. But remember, you cannot be harmed, you are already dead. In the spiritual world the perceived body means nothing. Those teeth are meaningless. It is your fear that will finish you, but only if you let it.”
Taking a few deep breaths the girl listens to what the guide has to say, keeping a close eye on the impossible fiend ahead of her, she begins to appraise it a little more calmly. It hasn't moved an inch. There aren't even any legs.
“But you said this evil thing wants to eat me? I don't understand.”
“Not eat. It wants to consume your mind with it's own agony, to see you suffer the same way it has, trapped on earth. Considering everything you have gone through in life this is a cruel way for things to play out, but I'm afraid I have no control over that. It has latched onto your soul, and I cannot permit it to pass on as it is. Again, only you can remove it.”
“You know about my...”
“Try not to think about the past. It's the very reason the creature is following you.”
“Oh. So how the hell do I fight it?”
"Firstly. Do not hate it. That will only feed it. It's goal is to bring you down to its level. Long ago it suffered a gruesome fate similar to your own. It never overcome the pain. Unable to accept death, it has lingered here between worlds reliving it's last moments, only twisting it's mind further every day. Now it has found you, and is attempting to prevent you from passing also."
"Wait, so are you saying this monster used to be human?"
"Indeed. I remember when she first came to me, lost and confused. When she learnt what had happened she ran. I saw her slowly lose her humanity as she roamed the Earth in anguish. I cannot force anyone to pass, only open the door."
"She?"
"Not any more. I doubt there is anything left by now."
"So are there more lost souls like this? Are they lost forever?"
"Thousands. This one is an unusually troublesome one that has been harassing passers for years. Though I'm not sure why it seems to have an extra interest in you. But no, not forever. Eventually they break themselves apart and rejoin the Earth. But you don't want to try waiting for that to happen. You'd probably be here a long time. As daunting as this demon may seem, try not to worry. You are not the first that this one has tried to hold back, others have faced it before and been rid of it. It will just take bravery and some willpower. You fight it by refusing to fall to its bait. And enduring the illusions it will attempt to trap you in. As long as you can keep your mind separate from it's own, you'll be ok. Eventually it will be forced to leave you alone as it has always done before.”
“Not the first huh. Well that's a little bit relieving at least, I think, maybe. Keep my mind separate?”
"Yes. Put simply, do not forget who you are. This is the most important thing of all. You have no body any more, you are a loose spirit, and thus the only thing that defines you as an individual is your own self awareness. If you lose touch with yourself, you risk becoming a lost soul. You only need look to your new companion again to understand why this is something you must avoid. Tell me little one, what is your name?"
"Huh? I thought you already knew all that?"
“I do. But say it anyway.”
“Oh, um, ~~~~.”
"Good, remember that. It may still be some time before you are able to pass. Time is a fickle thing for a spirit, so again, take care not to forget yourself.”
“I'll do my best.”
“Very good. Life's not been at all fair on you, but you have a strong spirit. I'm sure you'll be fine. That said, it is time for me to leave. Remember what we've talked about and I will hopefully see you again soon.”
