INFERNO

CHAPTER FIVE: CHOSEN.

Tamarys grabbed tightly to the flamy hand she was offered, In turn, she was pulled up, together, they walked to the center of the room where the light burned brighter once more. Sensing Tamarys’ apprehension the spirit coaxed her.

“Fear not, I shall not consume in malice one who is me.” Together they walked into the light.

 They both stood on the roof of a tall building “Where is this place?” she clung to the goddess beside her as another world took form in front of her eyes. This place didn’t seem unlike the world she knows, just a lot different. The whole city was in disarray as people ran helter-skelter. Vehicles collided with other vehicles and humans. Some people in the cars were unconscious, the ones awake try to crawl out of their flaming, damaged vehicles.  Children cried loudly for parents who are either unconscious or dead from the collision. Bodies of humans and domestic animals alike, strewn haphazardly all over the place, their innards and life fluids decorating the streets. People wailed beside loved ones while others scream and ran for dear life.

Just when Tamarys was about to ask what these people were running from, she found the source of the problems. A group of horrid creatures, humanoid but not human, covered in blood and grime furiously chased after these people, growling after them, seeking their flesh and their life. The ones who cannot run fast enough were pushed to the ground and feasted on by groups of these creatures. This brought on a sense of déjà vu.

. The lazy zombies, who didn’t want to have to chase after their food, went after the people in the vehicles and buildings around. As long as there is noise, they would come. These unfortunate souls were overwhelmed by hordes of these creatures that tore their limbs from their bodies and feasted on their innards. The screams of the dying could be heard all over the place. Dead victims also stood up and joined their new kin after some seconds, hunting their previous allies. It is an unending circle. In one place, a girl yelled for her dead parents as she was dragged out of a car by a zombie. In the back of a car, a zombie mother greedily slurped on the intestines of her dead child while her husband's corpse sat in the driver’s seat oblivious. A pregnant woman’s stomach was torn open, her baby torn from her womb and devoured by zombies as she screamed and died. A man sacrificed himself to protect his child and wife, wielding a club and vowing to die with the undead. All around were death and c*****e. Tamarys clung wide-eyed to the calm person beside her. She wept along with the dead and the dying. Anguish and fright squeezed the life out of her heart and devoured her soul.

“What is this?!” She screamed. “ have you brought me here to die.” She had stupidly put her trust in this person against all reason, believing she will be protected but this person has brought her here to become food for the undead.

“quiet… child,” the spirit said. “watch!”

“observe, and put this to mind for This is what life shall become. Difficult and yet wanted.” She shook her head in great sorrow.

Tamarys didn’t know what to think.

 Does this mean she is not going to be thrown to the devourers?

 She didn’t know, so she went to do what she was told. Even the i***t knows not to wash his mouth with the venom of the viper. If the goddess promises her safety against the hordes of devourers, she’d rather observe and become useful than run and become prey. she watched diligently, the deaths as they continued. She watched, even as her stomach turned over from the gruesome details she saw and her leg became weak. She watched, as stomach acids rose into her throat and her eyes became blurry from her sufferings. She watched… even as she threw up the content of the said stomach. People screamed and ran and… died. Time went on, survivors came from their hiding places to scavenge for food. Some were unlucky and became meals to the hordes of devourers in the streets, others survived to die another day. Fear, hunger, and the elements killed even faster. People tried to find safety in numbers, some lost, the rest were lucky. Survivors set up camps, some camps were later overrun by zombies, while other camps grew taking in more survivors until there were no more vacancies. People died in their numbers from starvation and malnutrition for even the crops have mutated into poisonous or carnivorous plants. Some base leaders began to sanction the killings of people who they consider lase important to supplement their meals, and even more, died. People who abhor these edicts began to gather resistance. War and strife dwelt amongst men and people were in disunity. Tamarys watched as the last man died from the blow of another who then died at the hands of the undead.

Only the dead remained.

“ Why did you bring me here?” She wept in great sorrow “why do you put me through so much pain, what does this have to do with me?”

“everything…,” she replied harshly “ it has everything to do with you for you have been chosen.” Tamarys was struck dumb. Truly, whatever has she done to be 'chosen', and by who? These matters were puzzling but she will wait. She will wait and learn the cause after the effect.

“ Follow me.” Tamarys looked away from the desolation and they walked side by side into the light. They appeared in another place, this time, it is a place she has lived in ever since she could be counted as a person. Her father’s house.

“Open your eyes, and you shall see. Lay down your ears, and you shall hear. Embrace with your mind, and you shall perceive. A man called to the feast of the gods must wash his hands carefully under the moon, and present himself to his *chi ( personal deity).” She turned and placed her hands on both sides of Tamarys' head, staring deeply into her eyes. Tamarys shuddered for the eyes of her goddess has become two huge shinning scarlet orbs, but she was enchanted by what she has seen and could not stop herself from staring. Unknowingly to Tamarys, the longer she stared into those eyes, the more her eyes changed to match the ones she stared into. The sky darkened as they stared at each other, and the moon rose to watch.

 “ let the heavens unveil that which has been. Let the earth speak of that which was hidden.”