The Devil is in the Details
I open my eyes to a repetitive clicking sound as shadows dance across the walls animatedly. My mouth is dry, and I am tasting fabric of some sort, I try to speak, but all I hear are muted sounds coming from me.
“Ah, she’s finally awake. Take the cloth from her mouth.” Someone with a feminine voice order. I look around before an acidic smelling hand rips the fabric from my mouth, I hiss.
“Much better. So, you made it through the tunnel with just a scratch on you. Impressive to say the least.” I feel the presence circle me as I stay bound to the chair.
“Why can’t I see you?” I struggle with the chains that bound me in place. The presence continues to circle me as shadows across the walls continue to dance.
“Because, you haven’t passed the initiation, yet. Child, tell me why you are here in my realm?” The voice was just a whisper, but I felt compelled to answer.
“What? What do you mean, realm?” I am confused and scared, but the feminine voice soothes my worry.
“You’re dead, my child. Do you not know where you are?” The shadows stop dancing as my chair is forcibly turned in a certain direction. “Your chair is pointed south…” The voice trails off.
“I don’t know anything! Just let me go!” I scream into a dark void that seemed endless. The rhythmic clicking sound stops abruptly, and dead silence follows. “Hello?” I call out, still no answer. Who knew silence can be deafening? I struggled to free myself from the chains for what seemed like hours, but I needed to be free. Within seconds, I am picked up still bound to the chair and thrown against the wall, breaking the chair into pieces. I groan from the impact as I lay on the floor trying to reject the bouts of pain shooting through me.
“You. Do. Not. Get. To. Yell. In. My. Presence.” The presence circled me again, but this time I saw a faint shape of a person or something. “Do you know why you are here?” The voice was stern and dominant.
“Where is here?” I grunt out.
“Hell. Well, your Hell so to speak.” The voice was slightly lighthearted. Weird. “Careful child, I can read your surface thoughts.”
Blinking my eyes rapidly, “Hell. My Hell. Okay. I am here because of a robbery gone wrong. I was desperate for cash, and I accidentally shot the cashier.” I whisper the last bit of details. Guilt has taken over swiftly. With one move, I am lifted in midair, my feet dangling as the air in my lungs is slowing down. I grip my neck as continually gasping for air.
“Try again, my child. Lie to me again, and you won’t ever know respite!” The voice is more sinister and demanding as I just want to die. “You are already dead. Now speak!”
“I-I killed a rapist ten years ago for raping a helpless immobile person who couldn’t even fight back! He did unspeakable things, and I did worse to him. I have no regrets! None!” I scream as loud as I could with the lack of air. My eyes adjust to the presence holding me. Noir eyes, silky skin and a black halo hovering over its head. “Th-the Devil…” The presence nods. “The Devil is…a woman?” She lets me go, as I fall to the ground, hissing in pain while rubbing my throat.
The Devil blows out an irritating sigh, “The Devil is in the Details.”