I find myself perpetually confused in this afterlife.

The annunaki showed hostility and announced my intentions regardless of the truth.

I feel the scales wrapped around my arm.

This creature has its secrets.

This is the company I keep. But, thankfully, the incident passed. And now, I hope to navigate the terrain and catch up with the main body of my expedition.

Finding the road takes some work. But, it opens before me.

I've never been a tracker. But I can see the traces of footprints.

They succeeded, I think with relief.

They likely haven't rested. So it will take some time to catch up.

As the days pass, I wonder how odd the alien base had been. Why a pyramid? It's more of a building in its floor layout than a traditional pyramid—a honeycomb of rooms and corridors.

My only companion, who seems to have clout everywhere we go, is the silent type; at least with me.

When do I clear the danger zone, I wonder. But I feel some relief when I see the remnants of a camp.

They must be close.

With more effort, I see the tail end of the challengers.

Those who see me first stare with open mouths.

"You survived!"

I note how, rather than relieved, these people are just surprised I came alive.

Still, I smile. And the march continues with me joining it.

The travel lasts for some time before we see the protective walls of the next temple.

Similar to the last temple, there is a test to show if we're human or Annunaki.

Inside the structure, and wetter for it, it looks much the same as the previous temples.

Monks pray and maintain the shrines.

I note a tall stone statue at the center of the courtyard.

The figure looks like a behemoth. A creature of myth I'd only heard of on a few occasions. The lion may be called the king of beasts. But, before this four-legged goliath that's neither dog nor cat, yet somehow both, it would be obvious who the king was.

Several monks are praying to the behemoth. And I remember the words I'd heard before. The statues are the medium by which to commune with the deity.

That meant this creature, which looked prepared to eat the moon, exists somewhere.

The routine is the same as the previous temples. Settle, then go to the god of the temple.

I wonder what the god is like. Similar to my previous experiences, I have't the foggiest idea.

My feet carry me to the threshold. The other challengers had mostly had their turns. And now, it is time for me to face the divine being.

A final breath before walking in.

As I pass the threshold, I feel a sensory perception.

That is not my perception. Rather, I can feel the god looking at me.

"What have you come to me for, human?"

I feel a dryness in my mouth.

"I'm here for your blessing?"

The voice is silent for a moment.

"For what purpose do you need such a thing?"

I shift uneasily on my feet.

Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators!

"To pass the trial."

"Your answers lack honesty, human."

The voice stops, but I fear speaking out of turn.

"Why are you here?"

The question has an obvious answer.

"I'm trying to find a man."

"Yes," the voice says before asking, "Why?"

"He's the first person I met after dying. He taught me how to hunt rats. I want to see him again."

"You lie," the voice says with venom.

"Pardon?" I say in confusion.

"The man you seek is not here," I feel the tension. "He has no place among us."

I expected such an answer before it came up.

"Take my blessing. But, heed my words, human..."

I find myself listening more attentively than I ever have before.

"Give up your quest. Free yourself of the charlatan. And, the balance will ensure peace."

I nod mechanically and turn to leave.

The same rush of energy courses through me upon receiving the blessing.

The fifth blessing and I feel a power in my body that surpasses my living form.

How many more of these temples do I need to enter?

Questions that had rested dormant in my mind rise to the surface.

I find a monk who seems free and ask him the questions.

"Yes, challenger," the man says. "You have three more temples to reach. When you have all eight blessings, you will be worthy to pass through the circle."

I nod, understanding, "Thank you, I have another question."

"Of course, challenger."

"When I was at the second temple, the god said that only three had succeeded in the trial. Is that true?"

For the first time, I hear a monk laugh.

"I assure you, many more have passed. There is a peculiarity in the god that you are referring to. That god can only count to 3.

"The trial of the gate is here to help those souls ready to see what more there is to creation."

The answer makes sense.

"Then," I continue. "What does it mean to break the gate?"

The man's eyes shake. "It is possible."

The man looks to have said all that he is willing to say. And, I bow in gratitude.

I find myself alone. The expedition needed me, and now it doesn't.

This fact does not sadden me. With Samantha left behind, I need someone that I can trust.

Whatever the trials to come, I will have to rely on myself.

I rest before traveling. But, no one notices me leave.

Relying on my wits, I defy the twilight world.

The shadows seem unusual as I pass. Like they want to be anywhere but the location I'm walking towards.

I breathe deeply and persevere.

I notice a flicker of fire in the darkness, like a torch.

As I draw near, the flame flickers, and I notice a person carrying the light.

Hesitant as I am to approach anyone on this road, I do nothing to avoid whoever awaits me.

My heart pumps faster as I draw close enough to see that the light isn't a torch but rather a flame that defies the laws of physics and floats over the figure.

My feet become uncertain as I look at the face of the individual.

A withered old face that might belong to a woman grips tight a staff decorated like a totem poll.

"You're late," she says with a gravelly voice.

My feet stop a few paces away from the conjurer.

"Who are you?" I ask cautiously.

A light cackle escapes the woman's lips.

"Come with me. There's no reason to do this out in the open. Those lizard men have eyes all over."

I feel a light compulsion to move my feet to follow the hag.

As we walk, my host chatters on.

"Michael," she says. "That old pain in the ass. Time was he'd take care of his own business. Leave the rest of us in peace.

"No, that old coot has all these schemes. But can he handle them? No, he can't.

"You understand, don't you uh..."

"Will," answers her question.

"Yes, Will. You should know better than me how he leaves the real work to others."

I'm not entirely following her reasoning. But, I realize that this meeting was by Michael's design.

"Who is Michael?" I ask in my ignorance.

She stops and looks at me momentarily before returning to walk.

"Poor little sheep. He doesn't realize that his shepherd is leading him off a cliff. Poor thing. Sad."

I feel angry at what I take as mockery.

Constantly chattering, the old woman guides me to a cottage.

By magic, flames pop up to illuminate the home.

"Come, come," she says. "Leave your shoes at the door."

I enter her domain respectfully and am bid to sit down.

She comes over to me and scrutinizes my appearance.

"Open your mouth," she says before examining my mouth, throat, and ears.

She is thorough in her examination.

"At least he did the rework properly," she mumbles.

"What?" I ask in alarm.

"When building a bomb, one must be precise in the wiring."

My heart sinks into my belly as I realize what she's saying.

She opens a tome while I start freaking out.

"What bomb?! I'm not a bomb. Explain, please."

She nods her head as she continues flipping through the pages. "Yes, yes. Well, the bomb is only superficially what I'd call you. More like the first fracture in fine crystal."

I'm finding little relief in her explanation.

"Ah," she says. "Here it is. Now, this will only hurt for a moment. So, clench your teeth so we can get over this piece."

I want to refuse, stand up, and leave the woman. But I feel myself clench my teeth. Her suggestion suppressing my own will.

And then, I know pain in every cell of my body for a few seconds.

I can't even scream out my pain.

"Good, good," I hear when the pain suddenly ends.

There is a raw thumping that I hear within my body.

As if a second heart had been planted in my chest. I hear what I can only feel like a countdown to my ears.

"What," I say through gritted teeth, "did you do to me?"

She waves her hand, and I felt the suggestion released.

"All you have to do is continue on your quest."

Her words sound like a death sentence to my ears.

"I'll turn back," I swear.

The old crone smiles sympathetically.

"Even I can't give you that destiny."

She stands and waves me to stand.

"Now then, you strapping young man, I look forward to what you achieve. Off you go."

With a wave of her hand, I take my shoes and leave her residence.

After a short walk, I'm back on the road.

I look back on my path and try to will myself to move.

But now, whether it be the hags magic or something more insidious, I can only turn to travel to the sixth temple.

I don't rest for long as my legs mechanically move, unconcerned by how tired I am.

The obstacle of this trial passed, and I move on towards my goal.