We stayed overnight at the Golden Empire. They're such a welcoming host. They gave us good food and rooms. I don't know if its because I have a golden feather or maybe because they'll be serving Damon. But either way, It made me think Level 1 is not a bad level.
Thryve accompanied us until the burnt arch. He keeps on insisting that he'll walk with us until the gate but Damon glared at him. He got scared and decided to back down.
While we're walking, Damon is still not talkative as ever but I noticed him being uneasy. Whatever he talked about the angels must've affected him.
He stopped and let out a sigh.
"This could cause war with the other empires." Damon is about to reach for my hair clip but I covered it. "Eugene, if the empires see you wearing a certain color they might see you as an enemy."
"I would like to keep it. It's from a friend." Damon raised one of his eyebrow. He looks annoyed. " He might just be using you. Or even worse marking you. Souls at Level 1 loves marking other souls. It feeds their pride."
"Thryve isn't like that. I'm pretty sure he's different."
Realizing I'm not giving up the hair clip. Damon let out a deep sigh and pulled something out of his pocket. It's a black feather. He brushed my hair and put the feather on the other side of my hair. It's also a hair clip. I now have two hair clips and my hair is not covering my face anymore.
" Wear this too. With this, even if you possess an empire color, they won't touch you. They'll know you're with me. "
I didn't saw any black feathers earlier. Do the angels have them? I might've just missed it.
We have arrived. The final gate. It's the biggest one compared to the other levels. The guards are numerous and the gate is closed. Travelers were not allowed to pass through without permission.
Damon approached the lead guard.
"I'm accompanying a soul for his Journey. The Supreme Ruler invited him himself."
"And so we'v been told."
They opened the gate. A humid air escaped and the sound of screeching can be heard. The air smells like the combination of the 7 levels.
The gate closed immediately as soon as we entered. No souls were walking along side us. They're stuck infront of the gate waiting for their turn to enter.
The Limbus' sky is a deep red marroon with black clouds. The path we are taking is dark yet bright from the illumination of fire. There are occasional passing of wind that carries scream.
We are approaching a very tall castle similar to the medieval period. It is in a middle of a moat. The gates lowered for us to use as a bridge.
The moat is bright red and hot. I can hear the crackling sounds of fire accompanied by screams. I think the ditch is about 5 meters wide. As for the depth, it's hard to tell.
While walking, I saw something falling in my field of vision. It's falling in a high speed into the ditch. Everytime it went to the fire pit, the fire grew taller as if it had eaten. I looked up and it looks like there are souls throwing something to the fire pit. Then something was thrown near us and that something was screaming while falling.
I stopped walking as soon as I realized what was happening. The souls were feeding the fire with other souls. The screams were endless. One body was being thrown after the other.
My feet wants to go back. I want to go back. Once I've entered this doorway, what will happen to me? Am I the next soul to be thrown into the fire pit? Did Damon bring me here knowing what could happen? Of course he does.
Damon realized I'm not following him anymore and I'm frozen at my spot. He hurriedly walked towards me and grabbed my hand. "Let's hurry up Eugene." He tried pulling me but my feet are anchored. "The longer we stay at the bridge, the more dangerous it is."
And as he was saying that, a body crashed just few feet beside us. It's barely alive. My eyes widened in fear looking at it.
"He...lp... me..." It asked for help. Damon just ignored it. They were throwing souls that are still alive. My eyes are locked at the body beside us.
It should be hot since we're surrounded by fire but I'm feeling cold. The sweat dripping on my neck is cold making me shiver. My knees gave out making me sit on the bridge.
Since I'm focused at the body, Damon let go of my hand. He walked towards the body and grabbed it by its hair. He pulled the body into the edge of the bridge and pushed it. Making the fire tall once again.
My jaw dropped. I thought the Damon I knew is caring and kind but I was wrong. He's heartless. He came back to me and was about to touch me again but I can feel my self cower in fear.
"I've seen enough!" A thundering voice came from inside of the castle can be heard. "Raise the bridge!" The bridge where we are at started tilting. Damon embraced me as we started rolling down to the doorway.
Once the door shut, we are now at the floor in front of a throne. A big dark silhouette is sitting at top of the throne. I can't make myself look. I know how my fear will only increase if I faced the Supreme Ruler of the Purgatory.
I can no longer hear the crackling of fire and screams of the soul. The surrounding is enveloped with silence. No one's talking as if they are waiting for me to compose myself.
There's no point cowering in fear. If I stayed like this, the higher the chance they'll just throw me. I took a deep breath and stood up. I bowed to the figure in front of me. I saw Damon's feet leaving my side.
"Gum, prepare the soul for dinner." Without raising my head, I can hear the familiar sounds of heels approaching me.