The Battle Within the Soul

A battle before good and evil commences this day. Who will win?

 

Jack sat in his jail cell, watching the world go by outside from the narrow window. The bustling western town of Nio had decided he was better in jail than he was at the gallows, or so the judge had thought. Now here he was, watching prostitutes and hustlers ride by on their carriages. Well good for them. He didn't mean to shoot off his gun when he had. That poor b*****d, Mr. Moore had been asking for it, ever since he denied Jack his two weeks’ worth of compensation. Mr. Moore had insisted that Jack had neglected his duties or had just never shown up to help on the ranch. So, his payment was void. Jack had been desperate. He needed that money, and Moore owed him. They had made an agreement and the b*****d didn't mind his word. He didn't kill the old man, because that would have meant the gallows. He had simply asked the man very nicely to please hand over the money, or a bullet was rearranging his face.

 

Nio was a nice town, so long as it was making money. Once the mines dried up, this town would be destined to die. Jack was destined to die along with it at this rate.

 

The man in the next cell truly worried Jack though. He was a huge man with striking muscles and a long grey beard that hung down to his knees. A long battle scar ran from the top of his head to his chin, as if he had been slashed with a knife. Jack knew that his name was Gor, which was certainly a strange name. The guards had led him to his cell and quickly locked him within, signaling that a beast had been contained. They feared not what he could do, but of what he had already done. He had strangled his wife in a jealous rage, guessing that his wife must have slept with the first Negro that had visited after the Emancipation. Said Negro had only been there for a drink of water, since he had been traveling all day. Such pleasures were not afforded to the Negro during this time but those who turned away. This story was of course speculation.

 

Gor sat staring at the wall most of the time, probably pondering his suicide every second. He had tried twice to hang himself from the rafters of his cell, and nearly would have succeeded had the guards not stopped him. He seems to cling to life and cling to the idea of being alive, since he whispers about God and angels. Saying he wants to meet them seems to be a recurring theme in his speech. His babbling was only interrupted when they were fed, then he returned to it like clockwork. Jack hadn't really spoken to him very much though, since he was drawing and smoking most of the time. Cigars were provided to those who behaved. For some, it was the last pleasure they would enjoy while on this Earth.

 

After supper on a Tuesday afternoon, Jack was drawing pictures in his journal, when a face appeared in the window between the two cells. The fat face pressed itself against the steel bars but couldn't move beyond the cruel barrier. Jack was frightened but quickly regained his composure.

 

“What you looking for boss? You lose something in here?” Jack went back to his drawing and waited for a response. The big face shook back and forth and backed away from the window before returning.

 

“You got a voice? I hope God gave you one.”

 

Gor rested his head on the window. “I know very little about God.”

 

Jack smiled. “I know God, I studied and learned about him my whole life. Mama used to say he watched us all the time.”

 

Gor sniffed the dry air. “You never met him in person?”

 

Jack laughed. “Why you can't meet him in person. Not until you reach the grave that is. Then those who believe he was there the whole time will get to live forever as they say.”

 

Gor looked up with interest. “I hope that is the case. I fear I won't be alive much longer.”

 

This is of course where Jack found out about Gor's story.

 

“So, you killed a poor innocent man, just because you suspected an affair? That is not very Godlike.” Jack had stopped drawing at this point and had put his pencils away.

 

“I loved my wife. I didn't mean to hurt….”

 

“But yet you did! You killed her sir!!!” Jack interrupted so quickly that Gor was startled by it.

 

“I know. I know I did. I will never forgive myself for it. I felt a sense of guilt as soon as my hands let go of her shriveled neck.” He scratched his head and the dandruff floated to the floor like snow.

 

Jack couldn't believe any of this. He simply shook with intensity and wondered how he could ever speak to this guy without frustration. Gor wasn't done speaking, however.

 

“You know I watched the life drain from her eyes and I felt her heart stop beating. I blamed not the Negro himself for he was not the one that had caused me to kill that poor woman. That negro had only been there to quench his thirst.”

 

Jack scratched his head. “How long had that man been there? Did he stay long?”

 

“Just for a day, maybe two. He had been tired and didn't want to walk into town that night.”

 

“So why did you kill him for? Water isn’t a thing to kill a man over.” Jack reached over and touched Gor's hand, as if to offer support.

 

“My head is fuzzy. I think somebody hit me over the head when I was there.”

 

Jack patted the massive hand. “Think as hard as you can.”

 

“I think the Negro hit me! Yeah that's it! The negro hit me right behind my ears!”

 

Jack gasped. “Did he have a good reason to hit you like he did? What happened?”

 

Their conversation was interrupted when a lawman came and took the hulking man away. Jack was given his food and was given more drawing materials. Gor did not return for several hours and looked miserable when he sat down on his cot. When the supper was brought later in the evening, both men just ate in silence. Gor cherished every bite of his food, savoring the flavors and the scents. To Jack, this was odd since he had been taught that not stuffing your face with food was a sign of disrespect towards those who had prepared it. The rest of the evening was silent, and Jack had drawn so much that his hands had started to tremble.

 

“What is that damn fool up to?” There had a small scratching noise coming from Gor's cell all night and Jack had grown tired of it. It sounded like metal was being scraped. Since the sun had been starting to set, there was very little natural light to work with and Jack thought that at any moment he could have died from an ambush. A small light started to peek through the bars and Jack noticed that Gor was crouched on the floor. He was holding a lit match and he was mumbling to himself again as he always did. He seemed to be holding a bible or a type of large book and it looked as if he was nearly done reading it. His finger slid across the page as he read, leading his twisted eyes to the end of each and every line. His wretched hand turned the page and the mumbling continued. Jack’s head sank back into his pillow as he listened to the ravings, allowing himself to be taken by the deep, smooth voice of the brute. For some reason, he wanted to run away, but knew he couldn’t, and it was torture. He felt as though he was present at a demonic ceremony and he couldn’t escape the devils voice no matter how far he retreated into his own mind. When he finally fell asleep, there was a calming serenity in his mind and for a moment, he felt as though he was floating.

 

When morning came, both men received their food in a piercing silence. Gor mumbled a few prayers before eating and Jack did no such thing. Why should he pray? Prayer was a delusion, a silly method for getting what you thought you needed. Real men didn't need prayer. If you could shoot, you could get things done. God gave us guns so we could do it ourselves. Gor stuffed the food into his mouth and much of it missed its intended target. His hands trembled as he reached for the fork he was provided, as if he wanted to use that free weapon. Jack went to the window and could see the people in the street walking back and forth from shop to shop. Jack felt tempted to beg for coins, since people dropped them when they felt emotionally swayed. Jack didn't care much for rich folk. They didn't care much for him neither nor his problems. He paid them no mind. They were all jackasses and jackasses didn't care for non-jackasses.

 

As he ate, he started to feel that he was been watched again. He was. Gor's head was pressed against the iron bars again, his nose stuck out between two of those bars.

 

“What are you doing? Go on back to your side!” Jack was getting annoyed with Gor's silence.

 

“I….I think we better talk.” His hands trembled terribly.

 

“What is that? You got to talk so I can understand you!” Jack threw his hands up in defeat. This guy was hopeless. Gor watched as Jack crossed the room to the window. “You better have something important to say now. I got all this drawing to do and I'm really not interested in waiting through all this suspense.”

 

“I know……I think you out know something about me. I think I've done a lotta hurt to folks and I didn't mean to hurt no one and now I'm real sad.”

 

Jack didn't really pay much attention to this. He fiddled with his favorite pencil and tried to concentrate on his next drawing.

 

“I didn't know what I was doing Jack. My brain was all fuzzy.”

 

“My brain is getting fuzzy from all the talking you've been doing. You've hurt people, so what? We've all hurt somebody before! I certainly have.”

 

Gor's face went from worried to stern in an instant. He looked as though he was serious. “I don't remember killing nobody though. I'm a nice man.”

 

“Even the nicest man can be dangerous you brute!”

 

Gor sniffed the air and cracked his knuckles. “I never killed nothing was a was a boy. I killed ants maybe because I stepped on them, but I never thought about being no murderer.”

 

“Look at you! Full-filling dreams you never even thought of! Good for you sir! Now can I go ahead and draw or are you still going to talk anyway?”

 

Gor's head cocked to one side. “You don't want me to talk no more?”

 

“It's not that I don't like talking to you. I just want to get outta here. I'm just a minor offender. I don't have to be here forever.”

 

“You think they'll let me out with you? Maybe I'll be pardoned, and I can walk out with you!”

 

Jack held his breath for a moment and exhaled in annoyance. “I don't know what will happen. I can't tell what the future holds for us both. I know I'm heading back to a bigger town and I'm going to find me a girl. I'm done riding solo.”

 

Gor laughed and slapped his knees. “I want a girl! I want to hold my true love! You think you'll find your true love? Do you?”

 

Jack didn't think about that too much. He just wanted to close to someone for once in his life. He had always been distant from his own family and he didn't want that lifestyle anymore. He wanted to belong. Jail had only made these feelings stronger and he knew he was destined for something better. “I don't know what I'll find. Life is like that sometimes.”

 

“I want to own a house and have little kiddies running around.”

 

“With those looks, good luck.” Jack turned away and didn't see Gor's response. Gor returned to his cot and sank into the crusty blankets. He mumbled to himself and was clearly holding back tears. Jack had not meant to cause pain, but it was caused anyway. He was damned if he even spoke to this guy at all. The guards walked down the hall and entered Gor's cell quickly. They grabbed his arms and hauled him away in a flurry of curses and insults. Gor's face remained calm and collected throughout the entire struggle. He appeared to be smiling when he was put in shackles and led towards the light at the end of the hall. It was as if he felt a tiny glimmer of hope, thinking that he would at last be free. Maybe Jack would be alone in the cell block tonight. The Lord would make it happen.

 

Jack was led outside of his cell to the dining hall, which was only accessible to those who behaved well. He was fed mashed potatoes and carrots, the same damn food that he had been served since day one. He was seated in a corner with a lawman nearby to keep him company. His shackles remained on, which made eating a nightmare. The chair across from Jack slid out and Gor sat across from him, at least it appeared to be Gor. The same clothes, the same flesh, and the same soul were still there, but something was tainted. His large grin contrasted with his quiet timid persona, which made Jack uncomfortable.

 

“Hello friend, is this seat taken? I'm taking it anyway. I'm so glad I ran into you. These b******s beat you up too much? An answer would be nice.” His confidence was astounding. It was like a new soul had crawled into that hollow shell.

 

“Gor? What the hell man?” Gor laughed.

 

“You got something to say, say it now. I don't have time to be distracted. I've got plans, big plans!”

 

“You were much quieter before? What did your pharmacist give you? You really outta cut back.”

 

Gor ate his food with intensity. His eyes darted around the room as if he was scanning for intruders.

 

“I have courage! That's something I know will serve me well when I get outta this zoo! With courage you can do anything.”

 

Jack shifted in his seat and looked towards the lawman, who was getting food himself. He couldn’t hear any of this! Jack finally worked up the courage to speak.

 

“What do you want from me? Is there anyone else you could bother?”

 

Gor shook his head violently. “You're the only person that listens to me! What did I tell you in that pitiful cell?”

 

“You should know! You were there!”

 

“I wasn't. The Other was there! What did he tell you?! Tell me!” He slammed his fist against the table, which of course did not get the attention of any of the guards. Jack tried to get the words out, but he couldn't seem to talk. He could only get a faint whisper to escape.

 

“He said he caused hurt to people but didn't mean it.” Gor's face contorted into a frown and he put his head in his hands.

 

“I knew he was weak. Always running away from his problems and never becoming a man. Fortunately, I have surpassed him in terms of maturity. I will deal with him later.” 

 

“What will you do to him?” Jack tried to play along to calm down this crazed man.

 

“I will teach him a lesson. I have ways of dealing with such incompetence. He will wish he had never opened his cowardly lips.”

 

Jack noticed that a glimmer of the Other was trying to get through in that moment, but the dominant side persisted to hold it back. The eternal battle raged, and it could not be helped. This man had no notion of self, just a notion of the eternal battle, the strong and weak portions of humanity embodied. For a moment, Jack could think of nothing else but the evil fires that roared within the eyes of this convict. Jack wondered what would happen if he tried to get up and walk away, but he couldn't move. His legs were trembling in a frozen, stiff fury. His mouth dried up and he reached for his glass of water.

 

“I make you uncomfortable. How pitiful! You are in the presence of a man that will not stop until his aim is accomplished. Does that thought trouble you?”

 

“I worry about what you'll do when you get outside of these walls. What will you do when you get the chance to walk with our neighbors and their kids again? Will you leave them alone?”

 

Gor shifted in his seat and looked towards the window, squinting as the sunlight reached his eyes. “Kids don't bother me. They will be free, and they will grow into adults. I can't say the same for the adults though. They should prepare for what's coming.”

 

Jack raised an eyebrow. “What's coming to them?”

 

Gor laughed and looked towards the ceiling. “Apocalypse. They must turn towards god and they must do it soon. The sin that they carry can be lifted.”

 

Jack now knew what the religious mumbling was from the other night. “So, god tells you to kill people? He tells you to do these terrible things?”

 

 

Gor laughed very loudly again as if the idea amused him.

 

“He told me enough in his word. We must convert those who do not believe.”

 

“That does not mean that you just kill them! Have some respect you fool! I heard what you said in your cell! You worship the devil, not the god that I know!”

 

Gor smacked the tabletop and snarled in anger. “You do not truly know what he wants for you! What a shame! You could be like me and know the truth that he wants you to know! You could be free from all suffering!”

 

 

“It just seems to me that you are causing more suffering that you are preventing.” 

 

Gor looked around and noticed that others were staring at him. “The truth is, suffering is inevitable. No matter how good you try to be, no matter how hard you try to save people, they are ungrateful. They will thank me when I cleanse them from their sins.”

 

Jack had noticed that the guard had moved closer to thier table, listening to their conversation. He was munching on his food and didn't seem too concerned yet. Jack tried to make eye contact with the man, but his efforts were not given much reward. Gor had started to eat what food he had left, and Jack tried to get up while he could.

 

“Sit down, I have not finished speaking to you.”

 

Jack didn't care. He wanted to run away and hide in his cell. He wanted to leave this foul facility and never look back. He knew the guard would shoot him if he made a scene. He shook with fear and Gor noticed this with a quick smile. The crazed man noticed the guards coming to take him back to his cell.

 

They'll take me now! We will talk when I see you next. Watch out for liars. They will try to lead you astray…..”

 

Jack exhaled strongly and his entire body relaxed. He felt numb as if the buildup of stress could have burst like a volcano at any second. He picked up his tray and dumped what was left of his food into the container. Every prisoner glanced in his direction, chewing and smoking. Some even cursed under their breath. The guards came to guide his limp and shocked body towards his bare, lifeless cell.

 

Gor wasn't in his cell for the first hour. Jack didn't care. He was done interacting with such a poor soul. There was nothing he could do, nothing he could do to understand the wicked teachings of the devil. He shivered in the cold, damp box the warden called “lodgings.” This was hell and Jack could hear the wailing from the yard nearby, the wailing of the demons. There was no escape and Jack felt his lips quivering as he sat staring at the ceiling.

 

Gor had still not returned by the time the sun started to sink below the horizon. The silent cell was a welcome sound, and Jack drew in his notebook. He knew the monster next door would return eventually and he couldn't stand the thought of that cruel face looking him in the eyes again. He kept seeing the fire from Gor's eyes everywhere, even when he knew it wasn't there. Every time a guard walked by, Jack's heart skipped a beat and he felt his chest clenching up. He had tried to minimize stress, but he couldn't. Drawing didn't cause the pain to go away, only death would take that away.

 

A guard walked up to the cell door, passing out letters from family. Jack got nothing from anyone. His family could care less about his situation. Nobody offered to bail him out, nobody offered to be there when he was released. Therefore, he was in jail in part, because nobody had been there to guide him as a child. He wouldn't have to steal if he could have been taught decency, respect, and honor. His parents didn't know that either. They were all dead, from addictions.

 

“You okay kid? You look pale!” A guard noticed the draining of color from Jack's face, which truly was revolting. Jack didn't answer at first because he was too busy swatting flies.

 

“Just fine.” The guard walked away shaking his head in disbelief. The kid had looked as if he wanted to pass out, so the guard had a fleeting glimmer of hope. A hope that he could have been a hero amongst his fellow lawmen. Saving the poor kid prisoner from his ailments. The thought passed like a flash of lightning and he had resumed his duties. Jack noticed this and wished the guard hadn't talked at all. It had been a pointless exchange.

 

The rest of the night was spent pacing back and forth. Jack didn't think he would grow to like Gor at all, but he felt a sense of unease. He couldn't understand why such a crazed person could cause him to get so stressed. Maybe it was because he felt pity, it couldn't be helped, and that was it! He knew that the illness probably couldn't be helped and Gor was only acting the only way he knew how. Maybe Jack had said something that set him off! No that wasn't it! Jack had been nothing but caring towards the man and the evil had persisted. It was almost as if the Devil was resisting the goodness within himself. Mother had told him that the Devil works in ways we may not understand. All we can do is imitate Christ and his teachings.

 

For a moment, Jack thought about glancing into Gor's cell. Not to be invasive, but he thought that maybe Gor's things had been removed. Maybe he had been released. Jack couldn't take the suspense anymore. He approached the barred window slowly at first, then he broke into a brisk walk, nearly stumbling into his cot. The cell was littered with trash, and other objects of lesser importance. Books were thrown here and there, meaning that Gor was educating himself in his down time. Jack didn't know whether educating evil was a good idea. The evil clearly knew enough already. The cell door was wide open, and it swung back and forth in the draft. There were drawings in a notebook on the floor, but most of them were hard to make out. They appeared to be drawn by a child, as Jack could see scribbles and random words everywhere. The rest of the room was oddly pristine. All the shelves were well organized and well kept, and the walls appeared to not be drawn on or defaced. Yes, Gor was allowed to have shelves! Jack hated that. His drawing materials could use a home like that. Jack then noticed a detail he hadn't before. There was something etched into the wall near Gor's bed. Was it a name? Maybe it was, one letter appeared to be visible. J. The realization set in slowly. JACK. It clearly had been chiseled into the wall over the course of several nights. But why? He couldn't do anything but collapse on his cot. His mind was spinning, and he felt quite faint. He could hear Gor's booming voice again in his head. His head might as well have exploded.

 

 

Jack awoke quickly and found himself on the floor. His head was still spinning, which made him think he had fallen within the last hour. He stood up and walked to the small mirror he could own, and his head was a little swollen in some places. The throbbing would go down eventually, and his vision would de-blur with time. There was movement in the cell next door, which Jack was hesitant to check out. He could still hear the mumbling in the back of his mind. His throat has started to burn, almost as if he was coming down with something. He heard the shuffling of footsteps and the slamming of the cell door. He dared himself to peek, just a tiny glance into the cell, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. He felt the invisible hands of fright touch his shoulders restraining him. He walked to his cot and sat down to prevent himself from passing out. Shadows glided across the wall next door. Then the hand appeared. It slowly crept through the bars and waved, almost as Gor was trying to signal him. The hand disappeared for only a moment and Jack was at the window in a second. His eyes darted across the room and he was gasping for air. There was nobody there. There was only the rushing sound of the wind blowing in from the window.

 

 

Jack was only now considering the fact that HE was crazy. What had he seen in the window that had drawn him so powerfully? Was it the manifestation of the fears he was now feeling? The image of the hand was now burned into his subconscious and it burned with every single thought that flashed across his mind. Jack even swore that he had been caressed when he was completely alone. The guards had escorted him out of the cell many times, but hesitation set in.

 

 

The guards had returned Gor to his cell and Jack was desperately trying to avoid the face that constantly stared at him from the window. The ghostly presence was accompanied by a loud scraping sound that caused Jack to glare with intensity at the ghostly face, which didn't respond much to this hostile action. The scraping sound finally stopped, and no noise escaped from the bars. Jack sprang from his cot and attempted to investigate the cell but found that Gor was out of sight. He must have been close to the window because his body was completely hidden by darkness. There seemed to be nothing wrong until you looked at the wall. I CAN SEE YOU! was now scratched into the wall. Jack noticed that Gor was now walking towards him slowly with a homemade shank in his hand.

 

“I can see you! I always see you!!! I'm going to get you!!”

 

Jack tried to run from the window, but he tripped over his own feet.

 

“Hey, what are you doing Jack?? What the hell are you doing?” The guards were entering his cell. They wasted no time getting Jack to his feet, confirming that he was alright, and moving him out of his cell. Cuffs were placed on the shaking prisoner, who in turn struggled.

 

“Why do you always cause trouble? You always cause a fuss! The warden will deal with you now! I can't take this s**t anymore. Don't give me that look! You'll be ripped to shreds in there.”

 

The guards threw open a very large wooden door and Jack was made to sit in a chair facing a small wooden desk. Behind said desk was an amazing stained-glass window depicting Cain and Abel's epic struggle from the Bible. The colors from said window were almost overpowering. Jack sat for a long time without moving much. The breeze from the window felt quite good and it slowed his erratic heartbeat. He could hear muffled voices but didn't know who they belonged to. Jack noticed a crucifix on the desk and felt tempted to grab it and protect himself from the wickedness that he knew swirled around him in this moment. The image of the saint gave him peace and tranquility for only a moment, but when his eyes did not rest upon it, he felt an intense sense of anxiety. Footsteps pounded outside the door. When the door opened, there was an eerie silence that cut through the room.

 

“Well, I figured you would end up in my office eventually.” It was the warden, Jack knew that. A lecture was undoubtedly on the way and Jack cleared his throat in anticipation to deliver some sort of explanation. The warden sat down at the desk and lit a massive cigar, puffing large clouds of smoke into the air.

 

“Why do you insist on causing so much grief in this place? Are you trying to prove something to us?”

 

Jack didn't know how to respond. There were multiple guards surrounding him at this point and they all had pistols strapped to their belts. He finally worked up the courage to speak but he didn't know exactly what to say.

 

“I have been quiet. I try to avoid causing conflict. I think the man in the cell next to me is causing more harm than I.”

 

The warden took a bottle out of a drawer that was out of sight. He unscrewed the top and poured himself a glass. Jack had been craving alcohol and the sight of this refreshment drove him mad.

 

“Which person is causing those problems? There has to be a good reason to warrant a transfer.”

 

“I feel as if he is not in the right frame of mind. He said some very disturbing things to me, and I swear he watches me.”

 

The warden laughed. “You are always being watched while you are here. You gave up your right to privacy when you chose to break the law.”

 

“This man seems to be insane. He scratches things into the walls of his cell.”

 

Now the warden gave Jack a hardened stare. “If he was doing that, I would have thrown him into solitary confinement for a week and I would not have questioned my decision. What is the name of this trouble-maker?”

 

“I don't remember.” He really couldn't. The face was easy to identify in his mind, but the name escaped him at this moment.

 

The warden looked at the big, bold number that appeared on Jack's shoulder. 36. A book was produced from the desk now and Jack's name was found.

 

“Cell 36…. You're lucky to have that cell. We were tempted to put you in solitary when we received you. This strange man would be in cell 35, but if you look at this record, nobody occupies it currently.”

 

Jack couldn't believe this. “Of course, there is! I've seen him many times! I'm crazy! Mr. Warden! I really have seen this man!!”

 

The warden simply motioned for Jack to sit, which he did quickly.

 

“You don't raise your voice in this room! You will sit there, and you will wait to be allowed to speak! We are apart to determine your future and you are not going far kid! I'd watch your mouth!”

 

Jack sat in silence while the warden searched through more files to no avail. “I have nothing for you. Are you seeing things? You may be ill.”

 

“I am ill. I'm ill because of you people. Where did you take him? Where are you hiding him?”

 

The warden stood up and instantly. “Get your a*s back to your cell before I make sure you never see the light of day again!”

 

The guards grabbed Jack and forced him out the door in a hurry. “S**t.” Another cigar was lit, and the setting sun caused an orange glow to flow into the room from the stained glass.

 

The cell seemed to be shrinking over time and Jack found himself staring into the next cell constantly. There was someone there. Things were still scattered all over the room and those foul words were still carved into the wall. A figure started to move forward, and Jack covered his eyes.

 

“What did you tell them? How much do they know?” Those red eyes glared through the darkness, looking like the eyes of a leopard about to pounce on its prey.

 

“Nothing, I said nothing. There is nothing to worry about.”

 

“Good cause I'd hate to have to make things worse for you. You know how much I would hate to do that, don't you?”

 

“The warden doesn't believe me! He doesn't see that you're clearly here. You're made of flesh and blood! How could he not see you?”

 

“Some people just can't believe! You and I, we will get out of here together. We will be free of this cage.”

 

“The warden would never let us leave. There are too many guards and we would certainly die.”

 

“There is no reason to worry. I will be with you. I will take care of you. There are many other things that we must tend to before we will be free.”

 

“I don't you and I have the same idea of freedom. You might want to rethink your decisions before you get yourself into trouble.”

 

“Trouble is something that I am not worried about. It does not bother me. I cannot be hurt as you can. You must trust me.”

 

Jack turned away for a moment and scowled with anger.

 

“I do not trust you quite frankly! You have done nothing to earn my trust. You have only threatened me and tried to push your evil views on me! I will not have any more of your nonsense corrupting my mind. You will only continue to torment me after we've gone free! You know this is true! Do not protest.”

 

Gor only looked on with a nasty grin on his face. He did not appear to be upset or hurt by anything that was said, he just appeared to be passive. Jack moved away from the window and lit a cigarette. He needed a break.

 

‘''You wish to leave this place, but you won't. The warden now fears that you are not ready to leave, and I agree. You are still weak; you are not ready to face the outside world again.”

 

Jack puffed on his cigar and leaned back in his chair. He pretended to ignore the gaze of Gor for just a few moments.

 

“If we leave this place together, I can be your friend.”

 

Jack even still ignored him. He was tempted to lie down and rest his wits. He looked over to the window and saw nothing. Even then, the voice persisted.

 

“You know the truth. You committed all those crimes. You killed those people, didn't you? You're not here for just a petty theft, are you? You're here because you strangled that poor woman and that black man hit you over the head! You're trying to make light of your situation, but you can't! You'll never get away from this now!”

 

“You did it, you did!” Jack slammed his fist down so hard.

 

“I'm not even really here. I'm here because you can't deal with your problems and you can't be a man!!!!!”

 

Jack spun around and glared, but Gor just smiled.

 

“You know it's true. You couldn't even defend your manhood if you tried! You're nothing without me! You couldn't go anywhere into the real world without me protecting me, without me watching out for you!!!”

 

Jack stopped shaking and looked like a solid statue. “You only got me into trouble! You were nothing but a troublesome fool that would never learn his lesson. You were always the one that got his fair share of beatings.”

 

Gor disappeared but his voice remained strong. “You would turn your back on me? I was always there for you! I have never left your side. We will never be apart, and you'll never get rid of me. I see your every intent and you can't escape me!”

 

Jack took several deep breaths and there was silence. Complete and utter silence. Jack laid back on his cot and let the silence consume his mind. He let it draw him into a rhythmic sleep so deep that Gor's voice drowned in the fierce unconsciousness. There was no light, nor was there darkness, there was only the intimate cosmos of dreams. Time is not relative there, nor does it stop. Time simply is.

 

Jack dreamed about fields and about peaceful things. He dreamed that he was far from this miserable cell, away from the temptation of evil. There was for a short time, a dream in which singing flights of angels crowded around and sang with such beauty that Jack didn't notice his physical body had been pierced. Jack assumed that when he felt a flowing sensation over his chest, that the angels were baptizing him. It was his own blood. Jack felt hands scooping him up, taking him higher and higher into the clouds. But he bled and bled. The guards had found him then, with a shank clutched in his fingers. Jack felt their earthly fingers now and he shuddered with regret. His clothes were soaked with his life force and knew he had hit something vital. There was no Gor, there was no warden, and there was only the light. Whether he wanted to see it or not was no matter, it was and always had been. There was no escaping its grasp.

 

Jack was unconscious for many hours, though they felt like mere moments in his dreamlike state. There was a room with a small table, and a little wooden chair beside it. Their image flashed repeatedly in his mind and he couldn't shake it. It looked familiar, but he knew things were out of place. It looked like a home he had been in before, when dark things had happened. He had killed people there and he knew it. He had strangled that poor broad there and her man had beaten him over the head with a large lamp kept by the little wooden chair. That man must have been paid a handsome reward for Jack's capture. Maybe he even remarried. F them!  Jack cursed under his breath and there was an echo that blasted throughout the room he was in. A white room. It was as if he was watching portions of his life play out before him, but they were distorted and fuzzy. There was not another soul around, which was not comforting at all, and the walls appeared to be vibrating. At least he was away from Gor. That was one benefit to all this. Gor had been wrong about several things though. Jack could act like a man and own up to everything. Jack didn't need Gor to be there, causing more trouble. That was the last thing he needed right now.

 

Now he was seated on the ground, as if he was meditating. His legs were crossed and his arms with folded in an angelic way. Jack could not move his body; he was only made to watch. His body was numb, and he didn't note the sound if footsteps all around him. Time sped forward before his eyes and he could see his body on a table, blood still pouring from his wounds. People were swarming the corpse, attempting to the revive the young man. Suddenly the eyes of the course opened, and a disturbing grin spread across its crusted and distorted face. The mouth opened wide and insects began to poor from the open cavern. A terrible screeching noise erupted from the image and the people disintegrated into a thousand pieces. Jack felt a burning sensation in his wound and he stumbled to the ground, clutching his chest and holding back the tears. His head was pounding and swirling like a hurricane. Blood started to flow from his own chest, then everything stopped. There was silence. A figure appeared from the corner of the room and glided across the pale floor. It was a young man, probably in his early twenties. His hair flowed in the wind, which was confusing since no wind had been present earlier. The man flowed to a certain spot and sat down next to Jack. He did not speak at first, but merely closed his eyes and sat in thought. There was an intense peace about him, and Jack felt the pain subside for just a moment. The man was dressed in a robe, like the ones worn by monks living in the hills. His hair was well groomed, and a white glow surrounded his body, which was brighter that just about any light on Earth. In this place, it was a not a problem to those who believed in said light. Jack squinted throughout much of the conversation that follows.

 

“You don't recognize me do you, friend?” The man smiled and his teeth shone. He did not break his angelic pose as he spoke. Jack hesitated to answer.

 

“I don't know where I am just yet. Is this a dream?”

 

The man laughed and put his HAND right through his BODY! “Would I be able to do this if it were a dream?” He laughed again, tilting his head all the way back.

 

“Depends on how queer you I am suppose. That's not possible!” He pointed in astonishment at his own hand gliding through his own flesh! He was amazed, but this feeling quickly faded.

 

“Where am I? What has happened to me?”

 

“You are here because your life is in the balance. You will certainly remain here if your physical body does not survive.”

 

Jack glanced at the image and couldn't see his body. He could only see darkness.

 

“You mean I'm trapped here? I'll never escape?” Jack started to panic but a hand was placed on his shoulder to steady his nerves.

 

“This place isn't that bad! You'll be at peace!”

 

Jack smiled back nervously. “I've seen you before. I swear you were just in jail with me! Gor?”

 

“My name is not Gor. My name is Jessie. We were childhood friends. I've missed you my friend.”

 

Memories flooded back into Jack's mind. Memories of fishing from the dock, running through the tall grass, swimming in the pond, and laughing endlessly.

 

“Is that really you? My friend, my brother has been here this whole time? Why did you leave me? Why did you take your own life? You know I found you hanging from a tree in your backyard? I couldn't bare the sight of your lifeless eyes.”

 

Jessie disappeared into thin air for just a moment, then he reappeared next to a door on the far side of the room. He opened it to reveal Gor standing on the other side. The two men looked identical!  Gor's eyes were glowing red, which sent shivers down the spine of the specters. Jessie stepped forward and beckoned Jack forward, which was unsuccessful.

 

“I know you blame yourself for my death! I know this demon won't allow you to move on. I will banish him from your mind!” Jessie spun the demon towards himself and began chanting a prayer repeatedly. The demon responded by contorting and squirming in place. The flames within the eyes erupted from the sockets like a firecracker and the room shook with violent intensity. Jessie backed away from the demon and fire erupted from all portions of his evil body. The demon’s skin melted away to reveal a skeleton, which slowly made its way towards Jack. Screams erupted from the chest of said skeleton. The cries of other condemned souls trapped within.

 

“You will be with me! You will never be rid of me!”

 

Jessie stepped between the two souls raising his hand to the trembling Jack to calm him. The skeleton approached like a zombie, sliding his twisted foot on the ground, producing a horrible scratching sound.

 

“You will not touch him! You will not defile him in any way! I hereby banish you from his mind! I banish you for eternity! There will be no more pain! There will be no more suffering!” As Jessie spoke, the wind swirled around him, creating the sensation of being in a hurricane. The air became dry and bitter and there was a sense of wonder that filled Jack’s mind. The demon swore and cursed all that is good in the world before falling to his knees.

 

“Jack, get back! Get to the wall and stay there! Go, no time to argue!”

 

Jack ran to the wall, which was still vibrating at this time. The demon exploded in a fury of light and blinding agony. Jessie kept his hands firmly placed on the demon’s head, which caused his hands to burst into flames. Both pairs of screams penetrated even the lowest portions of hell, even the devil himself was shaken. Another soul was freed from his grasp. Finally, all noises stopped suddenly, and the demon was gone, flushed from our world and the land of the dead forever.

 

Jessie stood dazed for just a moment. His hands were scorched but he seemed to be standing at peace for at least this one moment. There was a breeze that floated in, cooling off the hot situation. There was a moment of eye contact between the two shaking men and it was decided that they should rest. Jack was given a room where he could lay down if he desired, while Jessie went to have his hands regenerated. Yes, his hand could be regenerated, which is something to look forward to in the afterlife. The room was comfortable, and Jack found it easy to relax once he was alone. There was a strange sense of awe to everything in this place, which was creepy. There was no escaping he scent of fruits and many other beautiful fragrances. Women walked around in clothing that was elegant and fresh, while men walked around in the robes that were mentioned earlier. There were no dining rooms, no latrines, and no places of learning. Here, you knew what was going on in the world and what had happened, so no schooling was needed.

 

Jessie was walking in a beautiful garden when Jack found him. He was pacing back and forth amongst the beautiful shrubbery and there were birds flying between the large trees that stretched far above the heads of the dead. Others were there as well, and they smoked and danced. Dancing was quite popular in this place. Jack took a seat and didn't interrupt Jessie's intense meditation at first. He merely gazed at the robed figure for a moment. Beautiful women walked here and there, glancing at Jack and giggling. He was even more interested in the majestic meadows and cliffs that could be seen out in the distance. The flowing rivers caused a sense of grandeur to fill the hearts of all who looked upon it and very few would ever see it again. Jessie's time in this realm was nearly over. He would be joining the creator soon in the “Eternal Place.” Until he leaves, he must attempt to help other souls reach salvation and eternal rest in the creator. There were many paths to eternal rest, and many people decided to stray from these paths and go their own way. Jessie's path was leading him to sainthood among the crowds of people who came to him. They tried to kiss his hands and wash his feet, but he refused these actions. There were other angels that watched him interacting with the crowd, almost as if they wanted him to make a mistake. Their eyes glowed yellow…. which seemed odd for an angel. Jessie noticed these figures but ignored them at first as they caused no harm.

 

“Watch those folks there! They watch us like vultures!” Jessie shouted and the figures reacted immediately, hissing and shrieking in ecstasy. Their leathery wings flapped back and forth, causing a large burst of wind to knock several spirits to the ground. Jessie still didn't react to this situation. He simply continued to speak to those around in a calm voice. Suddenly his arms were wrapped around Jack’s and they were moving quickly away from the gathering crowd.

 

“You must keep moving. They will temp you into joining them and you will never see the light again. You must stay with me or you will die, you understand?”

 

Jack nodded his head quickly and they turned into a long hallway. There were hundreds of spirits gliding here and there, causing a blue glow to fill the room. Jessie entered a room that contained nothing but a couch and a desk. Jessie locked the door and the flapping of the wings could be heard from outside.

 

“Sit still. Do not move no matter what! Your soul is at stake now.” The glowing of the eyes could be seen on the side of the window and Jack shuddered at the sound of the claws scraping against the wood. One of the demons spoke.

 

“Find him! The master will be pleased when we discover him! Bring back in one-piece boys!”

 

They moved on immediately after this. Jessie got up and walked to the door, trying to determine if the coast was clear. He returned to the couch and let out a sigh of relief.

“Why are they hunting me? I don’t understand.”

 

Jessie shuddered and glanced at the door every time he heard movement outside. “You have been reborn spiritually, and you are a beacon that shines brighter than the sun. It attracts both good and evil directly to you. I will have to protect you until you move on.”

 

Jack’s face showed panic instantly. “Am I really dead? I really killed myself?”

 

“You know that room that you first met me in? That room is where you stay immediately after death. If your psychical body would have survived, you would have returned to Earth and you would not have moved past that room. You have really died, but you will be just fine. I am here with you.”

 

There was suddenly a bright light that blinded both men. A demon flew into the room and stood before them both.

 

“You stay back! You will not touch him! He may be a newborn, but he is strong!” Jessie blasted the creature with a stream of light and the desk was crushed under the weight of the beast. The door was blasted with the same energy and Jack found himself running down the hallway at lightning speed. His legs came out from underneath him and he realized that the demon had caught up with him.

 

“Jack use your hands! You could get rid of him!” Jessie was shooting at the demon, but most shots missed. The demon’s hot breath burned several whiskers off Jack’s chin and from the deepest depths of the throat came a low growl that shook the foundations of the world itself.

 

“My master awaits us! You will not escape me!” Jack felt himself slipping into unconsciousness. He felt a surge of anger build up within him that was so fierce that he couldn’t shake it. His hands started to glow blue and the demon looked down and screamed as loud as he could. His leg was being burned by pure energy. Jack pushed the beast off himself and pushed it all the way up against the nearest wall. If you can imagine the hottest oven in the world, only much hotter, then you know how hot the energy radiating from Jack’s hands were. A large blinding light vaporized that demon’s body in a matter of seconds. This one blast weakened Jack for only just a moment and then he regained his strength. Jack sprinted up to him, panting and giving his praise.

 

“You did it! You stood up to the evil force!” Jack couldn’t believe what was happening.

 

“Did I shoot lightning from my fingers?”  His hands were still burning a little and they felt as though they were melting into a jelly.

 

“There are many things that you are capable of doing here, but you must remain calm. You must control your anger, or your own power will overwhelm you.”

 

“I did get pretty worked up, didn't I?” Jack shook his head in disbelief. Jessie was serious, however.

 

“You are more powerful than you realize. You must use that power for good instead of evil.”

 

“What are you talking about? Good and evil? I really hope you don't mean there will be more of those things coming after me?”

 

Jessie laughed and shook his head. “As long as you fight for the Creator, you are a target. Even standing here and speaking, we are being spied on. Do not assume that you are truly alone. I must attempt to protect you for as long as I can, or you will be lost to the evil one forever. I will never see you again if I fail.”

 

Jack and Jessie moved on as fast as they could, trying not to attract attention to themselves. They walked through multiple lavish gardens, and large dining rooms. There were hosts of angels pouring from the clouds, greeting other souls that floated here and there. There was immense joy in the air, and there seemed to be no end to the horizon. It stretched off for what seemed ages and there were millions of little homes and private gardens were scattered here and there. Jack's hands still burned, but there was a sense of relief as he was treated to a warm bath and hot food. He was dressed in robes like Jessie now and he was glowing from head to foot. Jessie said he looked angelic. There was music and dancing all throughout the night, with wine being passed between the guests that decided to stay later in the night. There were creatures hovering above the party and they swooped here and there, carrying away unfortunate victims to faraway lands. Some would come back, but many would not, serving in the enemies’ army.

 

“Why doesn't anybody do anything about those souls that are being lost? They are being carried away!”

 

Jessie led Jack away from party. “Those who listen to the temptations are lost. They give in and they are no match for the evil forces. You must believe with your heart in the creator, or the creator cannot give you the gift of life.”

 

Jack left the party and returned to his home here, which was a small little home on a small little corner. A little slice of heaven. Life was peaceful here when everyone worked together, and harmony existed. The enemy always looked for ways to bring chaos and death into the world, never stopping until those who opposed his rule were tortured for eternity. Jack receive a summons to appear before the Creator himself to answer for the crimes he had committed while on Earth. The meeting was to be observed by the several archangels and representatives of the devil would be present in case Jack was declared guilty. Guilt was not an option though. Guilt meant eternal flames and never-ending suffering. Guards came to lead Jack straight to the building without delay. Being late was not an option either. There were people from across the land there, and it looked more like a sporting event than it did a trial. Angels floated over-head and the ground rumbled from the demons below. The chair of the creator was turned around, he had not yet appeared. There was no Jesus Christ, there was no purgatory, and there was only God. There was this moment and none after if all else failed. If the Creator had wanted, Jack could have died long ago. A simple snap of the fingers could have done it. Here there was no jury of your peers, there was just the fire of your fears.

 

The crowd fell silent when Jack entered the room. Jessie stayed by his side every step of the way, even pulling out the chair so that his friend could take a seat. The chair glowed and a blinding flash rocketed through the room. Everyone bowed to the chair, so Jack had to do so, or he felt out of place.

 

The chair turned around a massive, glowing figure sat in the chair.

 

“Do not look upon him until he gives you permission. You are not worthy yet.” The light was truly blinding. It caused your eyes to instantly burn, almost as if you were looking into the sun itself. They people were still bowing all around and then they took their seats, sitting in utter silence.

 

“Would all in the house be seated?” There was a human soul looking over the crowd, sitting up in a chair that was bigger than chair Jack had even seen.

 

“We are here today to decide the fate of this young soul before us today. We must judge him fairly and do what we can to resist evil thoughts. Would Jack sit on the stand please?”

 

Jessie nudged Jack, who stood and walked before the massive crowd. He took a seat close to the glow and he felt the heat searing his flesh. He did not look directly into the light, although he was tempted to do so many times. It was so tempting, but his eyes were glued to Jessie who was beckoning his gaze. The judge walked over to Jessie, speaking briefly with him and exchanging quick glances.

 

“Jack, do you think you deserve a second chance? Should we allow you to walk with the righteous for eternity?”

 

“I've done terrible things. I've made widows of women, I've stolen and lied, and I haven't always been honest with others. If I am deserving of the pits of fire, then so be it. I will not attempt to sway your opinion if you find sufficient evidence.”

 

The judge paced back and forth and talked with a small slur. “The Lord is forgiving, but you have done things that go beyond wicked. You have demons within you that need to be exercised.”

 

“Do what you must do. I have done things with a twisted mind. A mind that was controlled by the forces of darkness since I was young. My parents were not there for me and I was not raised right.”

 

“The sins of the parents do not account for the sins of the children. You must defend yourself and yourself alone. Your friend Jessie remembers a time when you were good, when you did not do strictly evil things. You were a good kid.”

 

Jessie nodded and stood as he was told to by the judge.

 

“You were, you were always there for me back then. I know there is still some good within you and that is why I am trying to save you.”

 

Jack smiled. The judge turned back to Jack and frowned. “You must be purged of your sins and your evil intent. Prepare to be purged with the love of God. We are giving you a chance to redeem yourself in this moment.”

 

 

The floor opened, crumbling into a massive hole that stretched on and on for miles. The demons swarmed the room and Jack started to float up into the air towards the hole.  

 

“DO YOU REPENT OF YOUR SINS? DO YOU RENNOUCE SATAN? HE HAS COME TO TAKE YOU TO YOUR DEATH!” The judge screamed at the top of his lungs, as the noise was excruciating and painful. A massive serpent with a head made up of fire bit Jack’s legs and started to drag him to the hell below.

 

“TIME IS RUNNING OUT! WHAT DO YOU SAY?” Jack was screaming from the fiery pain that he was experiencing. His legs started to disappear, and everything was starting to go black. He was dying spiritually, and he knew it.  

 

“I REPENT! I REPENT OF MY SINS! I RENNOUCE SATAN AND ALL OF HIS EVIL WORKS! I RENNOUNE ALL OF MY EVIL DEEDS!”

 

The floor closed almost immediately, and things returned to normal. The roar of the Devil could be heard as he retreated to the depths. The crowd was silent, and the judge retreated to the glowing figure was slowly dissolving, transforming into a spirit of a different kind. It was a man with a crown upon his head. Everyone gasped and bowed immediately, including Jack, his eyes filled with tears.

 

“Rise, people of the court! Welcome to the house of the Lord!” This man was truly handsome. His beard was short, and he was glowing with confidence.

 

“Jack, come here before me my son.” The becoming was friendly and encouraging, as a hand was extended outward. Upon touching this outstretched hand, Jack felt a sense of peace and love flow throughout his body in an instant. All the troubles of his previous life were gone and there would be no more suffering in the future.

 

Jack and the man spoke for just a few moments, the man paced a kiss upon Jack’s forehead, and they slowly dissolved and disappeared. Jack was free. He had been saved by the love of the creator and that was all that could be done. Jessie sat in silence as the crowd left, starting at the chair with a glowing heart. He had helped his friend find spiritual awakening and that was his job here, to help those who needed it.

 

As Jessie was about to exit the building, the clanking of metal sounded from the corner. Jack had returned and he was wearing an impressive suit of armor. The Lord was with him riding a white stallion.

 

“My friend do not go too far. I need you now more than ever. The enemy is upon us!” The Lord turned his horse around to face the glowing light marching throughout the hills of Heaven. The Devil was coming to conquer Heaven and then our world. The never-ending battle between good and evil commences this day and always has raged. Let us hope our heroes will prevail, for our sake and that of the whole world.