|
Order this writing in the collection book Writings to Honour & Cherish available for only: $1591 |
 |
| |
|
Order this writing in the collection book Distinguished Writings available for only $1772 |
 |
|
| |
Damon woke on an unfamiliar surface. His clothes clung snugly to his hefty frame as the humidity dampened his skin. The dead quiet caused him to shudder. He wiped the sleep from his dull gray eyes and lifted himself from his resting place.
Where the hell am I? he wondered. He glanced around the darkness that surrounded him like a suffocating void. He could barely see his hands in front of his face. He felt around for a wall, anything to notify him of his location. Without warning a bright flash of light illuminated the abyss. A hooded figure appeared before him, floating slightly above the ground. The figured was dressed in a long cranberry colored robe that dragged along the floor, covering everything except for his hands and feet which were pale and gaunt. He was encircled by an eerie glow that gave him a holy appearance.
“Who are you?” Damon asked, cowering in fear. He shielded his head with his arms. The figure moved in closer, gently placing his hand on Damon’s shoulder. Damon flinched at his touch.
“Do not fear, Damon,” the figure spoke with a powerful voice. “I am your angel.” The mysterious glow that surrounded him grew brighter by the minute.
Damon’s mouth dropped. “I must be dreaming,” he replied sarcastically. He squinted his eyes to block out the light then rubbed them with clammy hands.
The figured nodded. “No, Damon.” He took a step back giving Damon a chance to adjust.
“Then what’s going on?” he questioned, focusing on the holy figure. He wiped his sweaty palms on the leg of his jeans.
The angel tapped his foot in frustration touching nothing but air. “You’re dead,” he answered bluntly. “And I’ll leave you to figure out where you are.”
Damon was baffled. “How can I be dead? I don’t remember anything.” He paced back and forth. “I mean, wouldn’t I remember if I died?”
The angel sighed. “When you die, your short-term memories are lost,” he explained. “But you’ll remember in due time. Follow me.”
Damon hesitated. I must be in heaven, he thought. I just wish I could see Jess one more time.
The angel studied Damon’s expression. “Is something wrong?”
Damon nodded. “Could I see my fiancée Jessica?” He lowered his eyes, focusing on his worn-out tennis shoes.
“That’s where I’m taking you right now. To the precise moment of your death.” He stretched out his hand to Damon. “Take my hand.”
Damon did as he was told. Waves of light flickered before his eyes at unimaginable speed. The waves quickly turned into images. All thirty-three years of his life flashed before him in a matter of seconds until it reached the last scene of his life. The images slowed down to allow Damon to absorb them. He watched carefully as the events replayed.
Damon stood in his living room, pistol in hand. He made his way to his bedroom and slowly cracked open the door. Jessica was inside of the room, quietly packing her belongings into a suitcase. Damon watched in silence as she packed the last of her things then closed the suitcase. He coughed loudly, startling her. She quickly turned around and met his gaze.
“Honey, what are you doing home so early?” she asked innocently. She quickly hid the suitcase behind her back.
“Bitch, don’t play with me. What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
She fidgeted like a restless child. “Nothing, sweetheart.” Her tone was rushed and uneasy.
“Then what’s with the suitcase?” He moved closer to get a better look.
She acted surprised. “Oh, I was just packing some things for a visit to my mother’s house for the weekend.” She tried to shrug it off. “No big deal.” She threw the suitcase onto the bed.
“You’re lying again. I can tell.” He used the gun to scratch his temple. “Probably going to see that boyfriend of yours. You know, the one you’ve been fucking behind my back!”
Her eyes widened. “No baby, I wouldn’t!”
“Don’t give me that bull shit.” Damon lowered his head and nodded. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a neatly folded letter. “I found this in the bathroom garbage can.” He chuckled loudly. “You really should invest in a shredder,” he added matter-of-factly. He held up the letter for her to see. “Says here that Ruiz, the guy you’ve been seeing, has invited you to stay with him.” He cleared his throat. “He claims that you deserve better than that abusive asshole that you’re engaged to.” He looked deep into her eyes. “What kind of shit have you been feeding this guy?” He crumbled up the letter with one hand and threw it at her. “Well, that really doesn’t matter now. I just know that you’re not getting away from me that easily!” He raised the gun and aimed right between her eyes.
“Damon, please don’t do this,” she begged.
“Fuck you! I’ve told you before that if I can’t have you, no one can. Now you have to learn the hard way.” He let out a sadistic laugh.
She walked towards him. “We can get through this. Let’s just talk about it.”
Sweat formed on his brow. “Bullshit!” He kept the gun aimed, never budging.
She held out her arms as she moved closer. “You have to trust me. I’m not seeing that guy, he’s just a friend.”
He backed away from her. “And more bullshit! I’ve heard this from you before.” His grip tightened around the pistol.
“Please, put the gun down! I love—,” but before she could finish, he pulled the trigger.
He wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. “See you in hell, bitch.” He shoved the silver gun into his mouth and pulled the trigger.
Damon fell to the ground. The bitter taste of the cold metal returned to his memory. “I...killed her?” He put his head into his hands and wept. “How could I do such a thing? Death is too good for me!” His sobs became louder as he continued to babble.
The angel smacked him across the face. “Pull yourself together.” Damon rubbed his face in pain. “It’s too late for crying! The deed has been done.” He grabbed him roughly by his coat jacket, lifting him from the ground. “Pick yourself up. You must accept your consequences.”
Damon ignored his statement. “But if Jess is dead, why isn’t she with me? Didn’t she make it to heaven?” The angel nodded. “Well, if she’s in heaven, where am I?” He paused. “This can’t be...hell?” The angel nodded once again. A look of confusion appeared on Damon’s face. “But I thought you were my angel?”
The angel snickered. “Didn’t you ever read the bible?”
Damon shook his head. “I was never big on religion.”
“You should’ve been. Look where it has gotten you. A homicide and a suicide.” He waved his finger to show his disapproval. “Not a very good record to have.”
Damon thought it over. “But I don’t understand. You said you were my angel!” He clenched his fists tightly, trying to suppress his anger.
The angel removed his hood, revealing a demonic creature. His eyes were pale- white with no pupil. The rest of his face was sunken and scaly, similar to a snake. He snapped his fingers, revealing the underworld. The darkness that once engulfed the area was lifted and a world of horror was revealed. Damon fell to his knees in fear. Tears trickled from his eyes onto hell’s surface, instantly bursting into flames.
The angel was enjoying the spectacle of panic that Damon performed. Raucous laughter escaped his ghastly lips as he drew Damon nearer using an unseen force. “I am your angel,” he spat. “But the devil has angels, too.”
