The Eye of Madness (49 page)

The Impals, even though they numbered in the millions, were alone now. They could not go back and the physical world could not help them. The only thing they had left was prayer and they offered it up continuously onto what seemed deaf ears. The dark souls began to grow more bold, charging at groups of Impals with a hideous shriek. These Impals were either knocked backwards or retreated deeper into the dark space opposite the doors. It seemed they were trying to drive the Impals somewhere. Possibly into their dark void where the Impals would be imprisoned for eternity. However, they never fully committed to this task. They seemed more focused on blocking the way to the doors.

Abbs and Steff had seen their grandfather on more than one occasion. He was not taunting, but instead reprimanded them for being the demons impersonating his granddaughters. He seemed to be under the impression he was guarding the doors to Hell, preventing the demons return. Even after everything, his arrogance would not let him see the truth. If he held a mirror, he could see much more. He now more resembled a devil than any Impal ever did. It was terrifying for Abbs and Steff to see their grandfather. Even so, they still pitied him.

There was one Impal who did not show much fear. Perhaps it was the naivety of the young. Maybe it was a strong love for his Mom and Dad. He hated seeing his father frightened. It bothered him worse than anything. His dad was supposed to be strong and invincible …
rough and tough and not afraid of nothin'
, as his dad used to say about him when they would wrestle on the floor. He loved his dad and wanted to do anything he could to protect him, to keep him strong, and to make him happy.

His love for his father was compelling beyond words, but it was not the final catalyst of his actions. He loved his Mom every bit as much and he knew she waited behind the door across from them. He knew because he believed he could hear her calling to him. All the Impals knew which door belonged to them. Nothing would make him happier than opening the door and seeing his mother again. He also knew it would make his father happy as well.

Seth waited until his father was distracted in a conversation with another Impal. He paused and listened to the hiss and clicks of the dark. It echoed about the vast ethereal plane like a thousand rattlesnakes trapped inside a well. Underneath the clicking he could hear voices, hateful voices full of malice and rage. A few were directed at him, threatening things he could not even fathom in his brief existence. Seth did not consider the dark threats frightening, he found them disgusting. Over the malicious taunts, he began to hear something else … another voice. He listened for a moment then elation spread across him in a warm wave. It was his mother's voice. Seth glanced up at his father to see if he heard it too. Thomas continued his conversation with the tall Impal man, completely oblivious.

Seth turned back toward the doors, ignoring the thrumming mob holding them back. He cocked his head to the side and listened. Soon the voice came again, this time it was unmistakable in both sound and meaning. It was Seth's mother, Thomas's beloved Annabelle, and she was calling out in a strong and unafraid voice.

“Seth, come to me baby. You know the door.” She said like the distant call of an angel.

Seth looked up at his father one last time, held out his chest, and then began making his way toward the doors.

CHAPTER 53

SUFFER THE LITTLE CHILDREN

“Courage is found in unlikely places.”

~J. R. R. Tolkien

Thomas did not see Seth until it was too late. The boy was a few yards away from the dark wall when the man talking to Thomas cried out. “That's your boy!”

All the Impals in the immediate area turned and gasped in unison. A few men, who were much closer to Seth than Thomas, bolted after him. Before they could get close enough, they shrank back in fear. Seth did not. He continued to trudge forward with his chest puffed out. He intended to get to his door somehow even if he must go through all the dark souls to do it.

When Seth approached the line, he cried out in pain as a few of the dark souls lashed out at him. He was not hurt, at least his ethereal body wasn't, but the impact caused him a great deal of pain. He wanted to cry, wanted to drop to his knees and beg for his mother, but he knew it would do no good. He also knew the dark abominations would feed off of any fear or weakness he showed. He must be strong; he must be strong for his Mom and Dad. He forced his pain and fear down deep and turned to face the darkness again. Seth was determined to put an end to his misery, not just for him but for his parents. He could still hear her calling to him from somewhere behind the door. It did not occur to the boy that he might not be hearing the voice of his mother. Nor did he consider he might not be able to reach the door. He was heaved in the air by several dark souls and spun about. Every touch of their foul hands was like flames lapping at his body. He howled in pain, but he twisted and jerked, determined to somehow break free and make a run for the door.

Thomas charged, but before he could reach his shrieking son, he was engulfed by a wave of dark souls. He tried to contain the screams, but the pain was too great. He felt as if he were being impaled over and over by several daggers. He shrieked, but he forced each cry into a singular word. “Seth—Run—Away!” This he repeated over and over with each wave of pain. But Seth could not run, he could not escape the grip of his tormentors. He continued to spin in agony as the dark souls delighted in their sport.

Seth could no longer hear his mother above the hissing, clicking and ear splitting howls of delight from the dark souls. He was alone in his torment and, as much as he continued to fight, he was beginning to lose hope. Neither he nor Thomas was harmed, but their anguish was as real as if they still occupied a flesh and blood body. Was it possible for a soul to go insane?

Seth felt a strong lurch and then tumbled through the air. He landed on the ‘ground' of the ethereal plane without a sound. It was soft and as warm as he remembered his bed at home … back in Conway … when his mother was still there. He heard his mother's voice again. He stared at his door and thought he could see movement in the thin line of light permeating the edges. He turned to find his father and saw his rescuer instead.

Musial and a man he did not know were fighting with the dark souls. The other man reminded him of several he had seen in pictures at Sunday school. He did not know Gestas. He recognized Musial from the day at the hangar when the Impals returned. These men seemed to have a special fight in them, one beyond the ability of most Impals when it came to dealing with dark souls. The crowd of Impals behind them seemed encouraged by Seth's bravery and the courage shown by these two Impals. They raced to Thomas's aid and knocked him loose, but it was all they could do as the darkness overwhelmed them.

“Go, boy!” Musial shouted as he tussled with a nasty dark soul. “Go to your door!”

Seth glanced at his father who nodded with encouragement as he crawled towards him. Seth smiled, but only for a moment.

“Daddy!” he shrieked as a dark soul grabbed his father by the ankle and pulled him back.

Seth was about to turn back to help his father when he heard his mother's voice calling once again. This time it was much louder. “Seth, baby … come to me!” she called.

He considered returning to his father for a moment. Thomas was screaming in agony as a wall of dark souls closed on him. Seth then got to his feet and ran for the door. A couple of dark souls spotted his bold act and made a dash for him, but they were too late.

A minute later, he touched the surface of the door and pushed it inward. Seth's door swung open and a brilliant light flooded out, as dazzling as a thousand suns. Before he could peer inside, something incredible happened. All the doors flew open at once. The full eternity of doors radiated blinding light. A great bang issued through the ethereal plane as it filled with light beyond light. Not an inch of shadow or darkness remained anywhere, except for the dark souls. They did not remain for long. With angry hisses and shrieks they were all driven away, fleeing like a massive thunderhead. A few moments later, they were gone, followed by an enormous distant explosion. No one knew what the noise was and nobody cared. They turned their attention back to their open doors.

The Impals approached with caution at first, but the closer they got to their door the stronger they were drawn to it. Seth waited for his father to get up and come to him. They smiled at each other with loving gratitude, happy they were both okay. Seth reached up and took his father's hand and they both turned to face their door. The light would have been blinding to the flesh and blood eye. To them, they found it warm and inviting.

They began to walk forward, giddy with anticipation, but still lethargic after the shock of their torment. The closer they got to the door, the more the lethargy disappeared. They soon stood in the doorway hand in hand. Thomas and Seth exchanged smiles, and then they stepped inside.

The light inside the door was akin to wrapping oneself in a tangible blanket of pure joy. They never felt so relaxed, happy, or at peace in their lives. The feeling only lasted a moment at the top of their list. As they took a few steps further in, both cried out with joy to see Annabelle standing before them, smiling her radiant smile. Seth ran to her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

“Mommy!” he cried. “I missed you!”

“I missed you too, baby,” she said, leaning down and kissing him on the forehead.

Thomas stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. He felt like crying for joy, but no tears came. This was not a place for tears. Instead, his joy seemed to flow through Annabelle and Seth, then back to him in an infinite current.

“I love you, sweetheart,” Thomas said

“I love you too, honey,” she said and kissed him. There was the electrical charge again. It was pure flowing happiness.

Indeed, he would have it forever. Annabelle led them further in, putting all worries of the world behind them. They entered the joy all souls crave.

All the Impals entered their door in a short time, each finding their fondest hope. Abbs and Steff were greeted by their grandmothers. The girls adored both of them in life and now the joy of being with them again was indescribable. They indeed found happiness

Cecil and Barbara did not instantly heal from the loss of their daughters nor were they suddenly joyous. Their transition was much more subtle. The feeling of desperation passed and they were finally able to reminisce about their daughters. They still shed tears for their loss, but they knew they would see them again. They knew it without a doubt.

So it was with the rest of the world. After the last stranded Impal entered their door and it closed behind them, the world finally began to heal.

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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2016 by John D. Mimms

Cover design by Michael J. Canales

ISBN: 978-1-5040-3550-7

Distributed in 2016 by Open Road Distribution

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