My mind raced.
I didn’t know what to do.
It had seemed like only moments ago that I had awoken in Limbo and now I was being cornered in a small hallway by some afterlife monstrosity.
The creature had moved to block off my only escape. I didn’t have a clue what this thing was or what it could want with me. Adathan told me that I was wisp. A very rare type of spirit in the afterlife. Perhaps I had attracted it here - somehow.
The kerberus bellowed at me and its phlegm flew all directions.
All I could do was huddle in fear in the far corner, but I knew I needed to do something to escape. I looked everywhere, for anything that could help me.
The book that Adathan had given me was on the floor. Again, I saw the open page:
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Monster Name: Kerberus
Weakness: Fire
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It dawned on me that the book was highlighting the beast’s weakness. Fire! Where could I get fire?
I remembered seeing lighters at the front of the store, but it was impossible to get there. There was no way I would be able to get past the kerberus, it was blocking my way forward. If the book was right then I needed to get access to fire.
I stared at the kerberus. Its front claws were intimidating and its body was riddled with open sores. Slime dripped from its lesions and the creature smelled of rotting eggs. Its grotesque features were more evident the closer it got. I felt like a trapped animal in a hole.
The creature reached out to grab me. It knocked over several large crates of soda pop bottles and they scattered across the floor. Defensively, I reached down and grabbed a bottle, hurled it at the monster, and caught it in the eye. The beast winced from the blow and it lurched backwards. Its eye closed shut and it hissed at me.
Angered, the creature shot out its claw at me.
Quickly, I dodged out of the way and rolled across the floor.
Missing me the Kerberus' fist pounded into the wall. Dust and debris sprinkled down from the ceiling. I grabbed a second bottle and hurled it. This time my aim was poor and the soda went skidding past.
Its huge claw opened up to reach for me, but Adathan came out of nowhere to rescue me.
He pierced the monster with his golden sword. The big man straddled his blade as it sunk into the fur on the kerberus' back. Lurching upwards the creature crashed into the ceiling and it let out another inhuman screech. Adathan held onto his blade as he swung around like a rag doll. The two combatants continued their battle and moved further away into the center of the Mega Mart.
At least for that moment I was safe. I knew that was my chance to do something.
I sprang into action.
Reaching down, I grabbed the book and exited the hallway. I crawled across the wrecked store, but the floor was slippery with water and debris. There was also a myriad of food and household items strewn everywhere. I pushed past the mess and tried to get to the front counter. It was there that I'd seen lighters previously.
As I moved I spotted something out of the corner of my eye. It was a small bottle of BBQ lighter fluid laying in the debris.
Perfect!
I grabbed the liquid and continued towards the front counter.
Adathan and the kerberus continued fighting. The creature clawed at him and tore into his side. The big man grimaced from the attack, but still managed to hang onto his weapon. Not satisfied, the grotesque abomination bashed the two of them against the ceiling as it tried to knock Adathan free. The ceiling came crashing down around them in huge chunks and a large dust cloud formed. Sparks sprayed across the Mega Mart in all directions from severed wiring in the roof. The lights went out completely and smoke started billowing throughout the store. I could barely see them through all the particles in the air.
I continued to crawl across the floor. Reaching the front counter I jumped up onto my feet and started scanning the area. The front of the store was half in ruins, but I could see a tray of butane lighters on the watery floor behind the cashier.
I jumped over the desk and grabbed one.
Fiddling with the BBQ fluid I managed to pop open the stopper. When I looked up I could only see the shadowed outline of the two combatants. The battle raged for what seemed like an eternity, but time passed so slowly for me in that instant. I heard a yell and knew it was Adathan’s voice. There was a loud crash and then the sounds of fighting went quiet.
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Was Adathan defeated?
My lungs filled with smoke as I peered through the darkness. Choking on the fumes I couldn’t stop the effect on my lungs and I muffled a cough as quietly as possible.
That wasn’t good enough. The creature heard me.
An emergency flood light flickered on and I could see the outline of the beast through the haze. It approached and rose up to tower over me. The hideous eyes of the kerberus locked on me again. Its sickening gaze would be enough to give anyone nightmares for the rest of their life. The creature was a mindless entity and somehow I knew it had no soul.
“Do something Hannah!” I whispered.
I flicked the lighter, but no flame took. It was drenched with water from being on the floor .
I flicked it again. Nothing.
The kerberus lunged for me and grabbed me around my hips. I struggled to get free as it lifted me off the floor. I almost dropped the BBQ fluid bottle and I accidentally sprayed some on the creature’s arm. A thought flashed through my mind and I clicked the lighter again.
This time it lit.
Aiming the flame at the monster I ignited the fluid on its arm. The kerberus shrieked in terror as it realized it was on fire. It dropped me and I landed with a thud off the edge of a store shelf. My dress tore and the side of my thigh was gouged. I screamed in pain as I landed on the watery floor. I lost the grip on my lighter and it tumbled off into darkness. I was left holding only the BBQ starter fluid.
“Roar!” bellowed the kerberus.
The beast twisted and turned with an unnatural fury as it tried to dash the fire. The book was definitely correct - the kerberus was susceptible to fire. The creature swatted at the flames, but the fire continued to spread further up its arm. The fur on the creature seemed to catch fire easily and the smell of burning flesh wafted through the Mega Mart.
Quickly, I aimed the lighter fluid and sprayed more of it all over the creature. The flames spread with the additional fire starter. Its head caught in flames and the kerberus shrieked in terror. It dropped down and began rolling around. I instantly knew that it was trying to put out the flames with the water on the floor. So I approached the beast and sprayed the remaining lighter fluid all over it. The flames engulfed the kerberus and in its defense it shot out its clawed arm towards me. I was bashed and sent flying across the store into the fountain drink dispenser.
My head took a heavy blow and I soon fell into unconsciousness.
I awoke some time later. I wasn’t sure how much time had passed, but knew it wasn’t too long. My head hurt and I felt blood trickling down my forehead. I was sure that I had a mild concussion.
As I lay on the floor I could hear the sounds of gushing water. A burst pipe was spraying cold water near my feet. I stayed quiet and looked around the store. There were no signs of the kerberus in the darkness. The smell of burnt flesh pervaded my senses, so I knew the creature was still nearby.
As I moved I realized that my left arm was broken. It hurt like hell! At least I knew that I wasn’t immune to injuries in the afterlife.
Was I capable of dying in Limbo?
Remembering that I had a lug wrench in the car I decided to try moving outside to get it. The wrench was my only sure means of defense. I could also get inside my car and drive away, but was sure that I’d end up back here at the gas station again. I could have found something else flammable inside the wrecked Mega Mart, but I had no lighter. The wrench was closer and I also realized that the entire store could collapse at any moment. Adathan and the kerberus had destroyed the building.
Using my full body I struggled to slide myself across the floor. My leg was bleeding, my arm was broken, and I knew I was suffering head trauma. I had only recently arrived in Limbo and was already a complete mess. I had never suffered any major injuries in my life. I was lucky. As a hospital volunteer I remembered seeing crash victims who were transported to emergency. Many had life altering injuries. Looking at myself I felt like one of those people.
Slowly, I was able to cross the Mega Mart. Getting close to the shattered storefront I lifted myself up off the floor. I needed to walk over the broken glass that was littered across the ground so I didn’t cut myself. When I stood up I noticed the kerberus resting outside. It was curled up in the fetal position as smoke wafted from its burnt body.
It was still breathing.
Damn! What was I going to do?
I looked past the creature and my car was still parked where I had left it.
Looking back inside the darkness of the store I wondered if Adathan was okay. He protected me twice before, but I didn’t know if he was dead, alive, or whatever the Limbo alternative was. I couldn’t see anything inside the smokey darkness of the Mega Mart. With the creature blocking my way outside I knew I couldn’t proceed any further. I could only assume that the beast was even more dangerous when it was wounded.
I heard a noise and turned back towards the kerberus and had it risen.
The beast stood menacingly before me. Teeth showing and its claws bared. It was ready to attack and there was nothing I could do to prevent it. Being barely able to stand and with no weapons I was left little recourse. How could I defend against an afterlife beast of that size. I bit my lip, braced for the attack, and conceded to my fate.
Suddenly, a bright light appeared over my shoulder. When I looked I saw Adathan shining with an angelic brightness. He was holding his golden sword in both hands - bare chested after having lost his Hawaiian shirt. He was hairy and muscular, but also sported a belly. The big man also had a huge set of claw marks across his chest. The marks looked cauterized and several days old. Unlike a normal bright light, the light coming from Adathan didn’t hurt my eyes. He glowed so strongly that the entire gas station was lit up like a full sunny day. I was awed by his appearance and wondered if Adathan was an angel.
He stepped forward to stand beside me.
“Well, that’s enough fooling around - don’t you think my dear!”
The kerberus lurched forward and Adathan met him with his sword. I backed away to safety and huddled down beside an outdoor ice vending freezer. As the two combatants clashed it was obvious that Adathan was much stronger this time. He held out his left hand, palm open, and pushed the creature back with some kind of telekinetic power. The beast flailed away at the air trying to reach him.
Adathan swung his blade and lopped off its left arm. The monster howled horrifically and I was forced to cover my ears again.
Shining even brighter, my protector moved closer to the beast and sunk his blade into its chest. Spinning quickly he swung his sword in a full arc and severed the kerberus’ head from its body. The head dropped to the ground, but the creature continued moving. Its body stood and continued trying to lash out with its only remaining arm. The head also kept screeching as it rolled around.
Adathan walked over to the kerberus head, sunk his golden blade into it, and killed the beast.