36. Level Seven- I Belong in Hell
CHAPTER 36
Level Seven- I Belong in Hell
Levi
I don’t know how long I’ve been in deep thought when a howl breaks through, and I find Fluffers trying to rip through the film that’s blocking us from the barren landscape we were just in. Reaper trots over and sits next to Fluffers, his long tail wrapping around the wolf as he howls along with him, their howls of mourning. JP and Zeke are holding each other by the fireplace, which someone lit while I was having my inner musing. Moni has taken Lynx into her mourning group with her and Chester. He’s back into his Lynx form and curled up into a ball that Moni is petting as she’s snuggled into Chester’s lap. Knots and Ryker sit next to each other in silence, occasionally whispering with faint smiles and watery eyes.
My watch states we have less than forty-five minutes before we need to pack up and go, yet we haven’t even discussed what is next. My stomach churns at the thought of what I have to do and what my family will think of me. Robot, monster, heartless, and worst of all, they will feel as if I never truly loved Rez. I love her more than the breath I breathe. That’s why I know we must move on. Because I refuse to believe she’s trapped here. If we open the portals, then L.A.M.B., Lilith, and the Leaders of Nova can come and help us find a way to free her. I refuse to believe she’s dead or lost to this world. Hell, if she’s dead, then I will forfeit my life as well and stay here with her. That’s probably why that film is even on the door, not to keep anything from coming in but to keep us from leaving. But I wonder why…wouldn’t Beleth love to have us all as his toys?
Enough of this. I need to get us ready.
“Guys, we have forty-five minutes before the next trial, and we need an action plan,” I announce. As I predicted, the room goes silent as all eyes focus on me with cold and calculating stares.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Knots stands up and approaches me, getting right in my face. “We just lost Nerezza, and you want to continue?” His wings flare at his back, reminding me of his power, but I, too, have power of my own.
“Did you forget the reason why we are here?” I keep my emotions out of my reply and look around at my family. “We need to open the portal to save not just Hell but the rest of Purgatory. If Hell falls and Asmodeus takes over, nothing will stop him from going for Purgatory,” I explain.
“So the only thing you care about is your ‘duty’ once again,” Zeke spits out. The contempt in his glare would be enough to make a lesser man regret every life choice they’ve ever made, but I’m right, and I’m not a lesser man.
His words do sting at the wound I’ve been carrying since I was a young boy, but I don’t blame him. It’s been my persona for most of my life, but that’s not who I am anymore.
“I know that’s what you must think of me, and I understand and will never take away that right for you to have it. But you are wrong,” I say confidently, meeting Zeke’s stare. “With the portal open, the power can be restored to L.A.M.B. before we can get their help to come back here and rescue Rez. It’s obvious. We can’t do it now, but nothing says we can’t find another way. So, we stay the course, save Hell so they, in return, can save our girl.”
Zeke continues to stare at me without blinking or offering any words. And here I thought we were making strides.
“I’m with you, Levi,” Moni calls out as she stands, wiping away her tears. “Rez would be so disappointed if we gave up and didn’t do the right thing.” Her bark flashes between blue, pale white, and her natural greenish brown, giving away her confused emotions, but she’s made her stand.
“I’m also with ya,” Chester agrees.
“We made a promise to help, and therefore, we need to keep it,” Knots says, tucking his wings behind him. I give him a grateful nod and look over the rest of the group, where they continue to sit in silence.
“I’ll give you a few more minutes to think it over,” I tell them before pulling Knots, Moni, and Chester over by the kitchen and begin reviewing the information that I saved about Seir.
“So we really don’t know what to expect?” Moni asks, pulling on her tail.
“No, but I doubt it will be an easy level, given everything we’ve been through already,” I admit.
“What are you going to do about them?” Chester nods in the direction of the others with his chin before he pushes up his glasses. I look at the group one last time. Sucking on my teeth, I let out a sigh before explaining my last resort.
“There’s not much magic in the land right here, but I can suck it dry to give me enough to completely numb their emotions where Rez is concerned so we can make it through,” I state as my stomach churns with the idea. It’s a double punch for me as I hate the idea of draining what little life is left here to use on us. And taking away my family’s emotions is the equivalent of rape in my eyes. To mute and lessen their pain, yes…that I can justify. But to completely numb them so they are more pliable? It will make me worse than Asmodeus and him trying to destroy Hell. How can I live with myself if I go that route?
Moni lets out a small gasp, causing everyone to focus on us, and I fight back a wince.
“I understand your apprehension, but it might be the only way,” Knots agrees.
“Maybe you won’t need it,” Chester says hopefully with a shrug but winces at his injured shoulder. I’m hoping he’s right because that’s a guilt I don’t want to live with.
Leaning against the countertop, and without any other options, I address my family with ten minutes left on the clock.
“What’s the verdict?” I ask, looking over my defeated family members. Just by the looks of them, I already know the answer. They’ve given up. Rez was their shining light, and they have nothing without her. Without waiting for their answer, I tap into the already depleted earth below my feet and start to draw on its power. The energy comes easily to the point that I’m amazed at my capabilities. It’s almost scary how easy it is, yet I feel sick at pulling all the power out of the earth. Maybe if I leave a little, it will ease the sickness in my soul and gut, and even though it won’t fill me up, it should be enough to do this evil I’m about to perform. Hopefully, I’ve done enough good in the world that this doesn’t permanently blacken my soul as I tip the balance of this land. I wish the fact that this was Hell wouldn’t matter, but something deep within me knows…that’s not how this works.
Zeke stands up and takes a step forward.
“Sorry, Levi, but I think we’ve all come to the same conclusion. When this building ultimately kicks us out, we’re turning around and finding a way back to save Rez. You’ll have to go on without us for now and then meet us once everything is done for Hell,” Zeke says remorsefully. His eyes plead for understanding. “I can’t go on without her.”
I purse my lips but stand before him and give a nod before pulling him into a hug. “I understand, Ezekiel. I only ask that one day you’ll try and forgive me,” I whisper to him as I feel the effects of my magic work against his resolve. He jerks at my words but can’t escape my tight embrace. It’s too late for him and the rest. My magic is already seeping into the others, lowering their resolve to stay behind as I warp their feelings against their choice.
Tears burn in my eyes at the fact I’m stripping my family of their free will. I’m taking away their consent, voice, choice to stay behind, and their right to make this mistake. I am the worst type of person. When Zeke stops struggling and pats me on the back, I slowly release my hold on him and meet his gaze.
“How are you feeling?” I ask, swallowing around the knot in my throat.
He lets out a long sigh that has the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end. I don’t know if I’m hoping my magic worked or not.
“Let’s go and get this level done so we can come back here faster and save Rez,” he says, giving me a flat smile and beckoning the rest of the group to follow him out the back.
I stand there and watch everyone follow him out as my heart sinks and a tear tracks down my cheek.
“It’s okay, Levi. You had to do what you needed to save us all,” Moni whispers before hugging me.
“Thanks, sis. Let’s go,” I tell her, quickly hugging her back and walking out. I grab Reaper and join the others collected in front of a wall that’s too high to climb and has no way to go around.
“Where’s that enthusiasm now?” JP chuckles and elbows Zeke. It’s heartbreaking to see them go through the motions, but their feelings aren’t there, and that’s because of me. Dampening their emotions has practically made them walking zombies.
They act, talk, and move the same, but they don’t have any emotions that make them different from each other.
“Well, that was before we had an impossible wall before us,” Zeke replies.
“Welcome to Hidden Truths,” a voice rings out without a visible source. “Here, I don’t care about time but only what truths lie within you. If you can find the truth, then you might find your way out. Good luck.”
No time limit for the level that will eat up the most time? That’s not good. And I don’t know how well that bodes for us that a prince is wishing us luck and talking about truth, but what choice do we have?
A forest mural appears on the first wall, with two empty golden picture frames that lay overtop. The lush vegetation looks wet and alive. Wait…the mural is moving—a living mural.
The two frames slowly come alive, and in the pictures are two very different views of the same scene.
“No,” Moni screams, her bark turning a bright red. “What a sick joke. This is supposed to be a Hidden Truth? More like a joke,” she scoffs, curling under Chester’s arm.
JP walks up closer to the pictures, and I join him in looking at the details. In both pictures, Ms. Teal abandons Moni in the forest. Moni looks the same in both pictures; her clothes are pristine, and she’s looking up at her mother with love. There are slight differences between Ms. Teal with each picture though. One has a sinister look on her face as she lays Moni on the ground and walks away. In the other picture, Ms. Teal’s face slightly changes to a pained expression for a mere second before she turns from Moni and walks away.
“Moni,” I start, pulling her attention to me. “This one seems to be yours. You’ll have to pick, which means you’ll have to really look back and deep into your heart with no emotions. Look at this logically. Which one is the truth about your mother?” I point out.
“You might as well ask me to give up coffee, you heathen.” Moni pouts and grabs Chester’s hand to walk over to me.
Her expression turns dark, along with her bark, as she takes in the picture frames one at a time.
“No emotions, just facts,” she repeats under her breath. “She didn’t treat me badly when I was small. I don’t remember going hungry until she left. She must have cared for me at some point until the Rebels got to her,” Moni mumbles while using her free hand to play with her tail. She turns to Chester and nods, letting go of his hand and giving him a strained smile.
Flying over to the picture of her mother with a pained expression, she puts her hand on it and says, “This is my truth.” The picture glows with a green light before disappearing, and an opening reveals itself. In the distance is another wall.
“I guess we passed. Congratulations, Moni,” I tell her, patting her back as we press forward.
It looks like I was right. This trial is hard. We’re all going to have to keep our emotions out of this and think logically. Maybe being a robot isn’t so bad after all.