It wasn’t the first time its ubiquitous eyes have appeared before me. Each time my pupils fell behind its innate shade, they’ve been there stalking, lionlike—settling for nothing less than the kill. It’s no surprise they hover above me now during this moment—the one they’ve all been waiting for. What holds these fanatical spheres is unknown to me, but I imagine scaly skin, rows of vitriolic teeth or fangs, razor sharp talons to sink into my flesh. Whatever this creature is, I’m defenseless against it now. Accepting of what is sure to come while waiting to be gorged then devoured.
The eyes edge a little closer, but strategically enough to conceal its true form. This monster is a psychological one—deeply probing with yet an inveterate pique. With only vindictive intentions, this monster abhors me. Its movements are ostensibly subtle, but in me it sees a heresy beyond reproach. There’s no banality about the beast’s purpose—it’s playing with its meal. I dare not look away from its prodigious stare refusing to give it the satisfaction of my fear, wanting it to know this isn’t the first time we’ve met. I’ve seen you before. Years before this moment. Always knowing you were there lurking. I refuse to be afraid of you. Telling him through my thoughts, hoping they seep through. And they do, as his black snout comes into view.
Its unexpected move fills me with fear, as my lifetime appears to be a moment away from its end. After trying for so long, my reward finally arrived yet the finality of it is too real for me to bear. I tried to hold on to the chimerical possibility before me, but there’s nothing imaginary here unlike love was on earth for me. Like thousands of planets crashing upon each other, he bellows a resounding roar worthy of the most venerable of contingents. Its teeth, hanging over and above the outside of its elongated mouth, as long as skyscrapers and razor sharp to the touch. As its strident cacophony continues, its eyes roll into its head, as a scorpion’s tail makes its way above me. Arching its back, rows of crimson tipped plates rise from it reminding me of its link to the dinosaurs—a fossil yet to be discovered buried too deep within the earth.
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The beast’s histrionics appear impulsive upon seeing me—reveling in a moment it worked so hard and waited so long for. Far from idyllic, this milieu of the darkest dread brought with it a concomitant understanding—to simply dispose of my soul would be an act of mercy. Even Dante couldn’t have seen the circle of hell the beast had in store for me. It blamed me for every wrong I’ve done, as its putrid thoughts infiltrated my senses. I told you a price would be paid for your insolence. For your twisted sense of self-righteous morality. You betrayed yourself and others believing in love. Love is the dance of the sinner, and no one has danced better than you. I want you to suffer and relive the turmoil you’ve caused. Every act on earth that brought you to me, I want you to relive it again before I finish what I promised you. It’s not enough for you to experience hell on earth only one time. Hell is a place to be experienced many times over.
At that moment, I heard my name, a woman’s voice—Paige. Within seconds her voice was replaced with another roar—a fiery chuckle. She had come for me, but evil had overtaken her—the results of my misgivings on Earth. As the entity’s gaze bore deeper into my soul, there was no choice but to relive all that brought me to the truth about all that surrounds us—the truth about love.