Capítulo 11: Plunge into the Gates of Hell: A Leap of Faith
it looked like something was coming from the front. When I looked above me, the Harpy's where heading to the front to deal with what ever was causing the halt. We were behind so we couldn't see but luckily, we heard what was going on from the people mummering and muttering in front of us. Because if there's one thing that travels fastest in this world more than any disease its gossip. The lady in front of us was speaking with those in front of her and they told her that someone was disfigured by trying to pass through the gate
"Someone's been disfigured?!"
The old man yelled. I turned back to face him smiling nervously
"Sir the last thing we want is a panic. If you yell that out its going to cause problems and we're going to move even slower"
"But why? These people have a right to know what's going on"
This man wasn't kidding when he said some people don't grow to be wiser. Obviously, we can't yell that out because the story of the disfiguration might not be true. When a story is spread from its source through other networks the people on those networks handling this story will adjust certain parts of the truth to make it less true or exaggerate what it was that took place and before reaching the final consumer of this info the story becomes an entirely new one. Hundreds of people just received what happened in the front so no shock if that isn't exactly it. And two; The last thing we want is to cause a panic. No one is going to try to enter a hell gate willingly if they know there's a chance they'll die which means some might try to run. Meaning the harpy's will… the last thing we want is everyone here to get slaughtered so why can't this old man get that? I couldn't exactly speak my mind to the old man but I needed to get the point across to him somehow. Just then a boy with glasses and dark hair next to me called out to the man
"Hey old man. I know you're several years behind but there's something called panic control. As we are now we're all headed to god knows where. And we're all barely going willingly because we have no hope left not knowing what's even on the other side. The harpy earlier took two men over the hill and only one of them came back, the replacement for the other guy was the boy in front of you"
He points at me with his both his hands clad in iron chains
"There's no need to state the obvious cause I'm sure you already know he's dead and it's probably because he resisted. If anyone of us resists they won't hesitate to kill the lot of us. After all there are still a hundred more of us and probably more on the way. It doesn't mean we won't get caught up in the slaughter and loose our lives, now I'm decades behind you but I figured that out and I'm sure the guy next to you figured that out as well but just doesn't have the heart to tell an old man"
The old man disappointed with himself faces the ground with his head down at its lowest point
"You're right. I apologize for not being able to catch on quick enough"
"Don't apologize, next time just make sure you watch yourself before you get us all killed, dumb old man"
I had enough of him and decided to give him a piece of my mind
"Hey men what's the big idea you got your point across so that's enough! Let the old man be"
"I'm not going to let myself get killed because an old man was not smart enough to keep his mouth shut and because someone else couldn't be honest with him"
"But still he's you're elder! You should be. Huh?"
The man grabs me by the shoulder
"It's all right sunny"
"Old man? You're okay with this?"
"He's right you know, I should have been more careful. I did that without considering anyone which means I put the people in danger. You can always learn something from your juniors and aint nothing wrong with that"
He steps in front of me and bows his head apologizing
"I'm sorry about that son. Thanks for correcting me I appreciate it"
"Tsk! Whatever old man, do whatever you want. And I aint your son either"
The old man lifts his head up and bends it down to apologize again
"I'm sorry about that to"
The boy looks away and tells him
"Piss off"
At this point I'm beyond infuriated. I take a step forward so I can suck him one to the face but the old man immediately blocks me with his hand
"Its all right my boy, it's alright"
I was just about to move his arm out the way to punch the guy when a Hapy guard showed up behind me and called us out. When I looked back I saw it was Minerva. She asked me if we were causing any trouble, the boy behind me quickly responded with a loud
"No, no we're not. Absolutely nothing's going on"
She didn't seem convinced but then I thought that was the perfect opportunity to ask her about what's happening in the front. She laughed for a brief period of time before she finally answered my question
"Oh that? Well it's just what we were expecting to happen taking place a little late"
"What do you mean by that?"
"I mean those who are incapable of passing the hell gates have finally started to die. There's something about a gate that passes judgement to those who enter, there are some people even hell will reject. The requirements and all are foggy to me but if you are deemed incapable by the hell gate your soul along with your body becomes disfigured. Think of it as the ultimate joke by the devil's themselves"
She bursts into laughter
"Now this is we're the real fun begins"
The guy next to me lets these words slip his lips accidentally and that's when the real trouble started
"This isn't funny"
He said without realizing that he said it out loud, those words slipped from his lips and Minerva heard him. The air had gotten tense, Minerva's head tilted back and the feathers on her neck ruffled and straightened out. I looked towards the boy and when he finally understood he quickly covered his mouth but it was to late. He couldn't take his words back. Minerva pointed a large spear at him and asked him
"What did you say to me boy?"
I quickly answered for him
"He didn't mean it! He spoke out of line"
I bowed my head towards her and asked for forgiveness. The old man bowed his head with me, we expected the boy who committed the crime to do the same to bow his head but he didn't. He just stood there and stared Minerva dead in the eyes
"Is that so? Alright then, it seems the sinner is incapable of repenting even though he was helped and for that I'm sending you through the hell gate next"
The old man immediately began to protest begin Minerva to reconsider. We hoped Minerva would hear our plea and calm down but she only got angrier
"Still trying to help him? Fine! Then you can pass the hell gate with him"
Nibera comes down as things quickly start to escalate
"What is it Minerva?"
"Captain, this human questioned my authority and these two, wish to defend him"
Nibera turns to me
"Is this true?"
"It isn't what you think"
"I asked you a simple question. Is-this-true?"
I let out a heavy sigh. Nibera sighs with me in disappointment
"What do you want to do about this Minerva? Kill them"
"No captain, a death like that would be to easy. I wish to put them through the hell gate immediately"
"So your counting on them not making it. A fitting punishment, but. If they somehow do manage to make it through you will not chase this matter in hell. Understood"
"Yes captain"
She commands the march to stop for special people to pass through. Minerva with a smile widely spread across her face walks us to the hell gate with Nibera as our escort. On our way there, the guy we tried to help decides to pick a fight with me
"Just what the hell were you doing back there. You could have kept you're mouth shut and let me handle this mess but instead you decided to talk. Do you have some knack for placing your mouth where it isn't wanted?"
"You we're somehow stupid enough to say what you did after giving us a lecture about how to talk and yet we're the ones who got you into this?"
"I could have handled that better if you had just let me. I didn't need your help and I didn't ask for it
"Maybe he's right. There might have been a way we could have handled that better"
The old man says to me
We finally stop our walk and reach the hell gate. In front of us on the left and right lay a few people who have tried to pass through and have ended up disfigured. Minerva feeling pretty pleased with herself stands us all three together and tells us she has one last thing to say to us in case we don't survive it
"Since you all tried to fight together its only fitting that you three die together. Not that I don't admire that about you humans, defending yourselves even when you don't know much about each other in a newly transformed world. But in that case, you should have left the boy to his devices. My last piece of advice to you If you don't make it is this. Don't try to save everyone because it can lead to your own ruin. Salvation is personal and if you survive that lesson will benefit you in the future. Now… step forward and meet your possible end"
The three of us step forward and stare into the gate. We can feel the despair waiting for us at the other end as the cold wind from the portal kisses our faces. The old man says
"Well if this is truly the end for us, I at least want you to know my name. it may be the only thing we may take with us. The name is William…William Mercer"
"Edward, Edward Okhale"
We turn to our right and give a good stare down to the guy, and after a while of staring he finally talks
"I personally feel like this is stupid since were about to die, so a group therapy isn't going to help us but if it will get you to stop staring the names Cayafaz. Just Cayafaz"
"Well Cayafaz it was nice to meet you and know you for the brief time we did. I hope to see you on the other side"
"Tsk! Crazy old man"
Hurry up and jump already one of the harpy's yell
"Hahaha don't worry were on it. So, are we ready? We jump on three. 1,2,3!"
And that was the plunge we took into the gates of hell. A leap of faith.
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