The knock brought me back to my senses. I wiped my tears as I slowly made my way to the huge iron doors. My brain must have been quite muddled for it took me a few moments to realize that this was the first time in twenty years that I had ever heard something from the other side of that door.
“Who is that?” I croaked- my voice sore from the screaming and the crying.
“Open the door.”
I would have scoffed at those words. I would have laughed mirthlessly at those nonsensical words. I would have cruelly taunted the speaker for asking a prisoner to open the bars that imprisoned her. I would have done all those things, and more, if I only remembered how.
I simply walked to the door, and opened it. No creaks, no strains due to corrosion- the door slid open as if it had been oiled only hours earlier. Of course, I paid no attention to this. In front of me stood the most remarkable creature I had ever set my eyes upon. It was tall and lean with perfectly toned muscles not entirely hidden by the pitch black suit. One could have mistaken It for a human at a first glance, but I couldn’t discern Its gender. It was gorgeous-the kind of beauty I never knew could exist- the kind of beauty that belonged to angels.
“Lucifer, “ I whispered.
“One of my more preferred names, yes.” With the famous devilish grin It pushed the door further and entered my prison. “You seem to have taken quite a liking to your new home.”
I don’t know if it was because of the fact that I hadn’t had a conversation in two decades or because I was in the presence of divinity, but I was at a loss for words.
“How did you know it was me?”
“Your jailors told me that you would come for me one day.” I pointed at the dark clouds of smoke retreating into the shadows.
“Ah! My unruly demons always give it away. Spoils the whole surprise. I just love it when I visit those who don’t even know they’re in Hell. The look on their faces,” It cackled like a mischievous school kid, “Precious.”
It waited patiently as the clouds- no, demons- left the room and the two of us were alone. And then, without any further preamble, he asked, “Why did you stay? Don’t get me wrong. I personally love this place. It’s just that Hell isn’t exactly built for the pleasure of anyone except me.”
“Wha-? I don’t- Of course I don’t like it here!”
“Then why didn’t you leave?”
“Leave? This is Hell! I was sent here! This is my punishment. You think I want to be tortured all day, every single day?”
“Then why didn’t you leave?”
I took a deep breath. I did not even realise that I had been trembling. The door had been open all this time. I could have walked out any time I wanted. All those years of being cut up and burned and healed and cut up again- when I could have just walked out.
“I didn’t realise I could. “
“You never tried?”
“No.”
“What happened to your daughter wasn’t your fault.”
And there it was. All those memories came flooding back to me. The memories that I had been trying to escape from by killing myself- and when that didn’t work, signing up for an eternity of torture. Whatever it was that I had to go through- it wasn’t enough. My Nina had it worse. And it was all my fault.
“Now, the mongrels whose fault it really was? Trust me, when their time comes, I’ll take care of them real nice.” It’s voice was dangerously low and for the first time I felt afraid of It’s wrath.
“Nina- is she- “
It’s voice turned gentle again. “She has moved on. A different birth, a different life. It’s time for you to do the same.”
“I can’t-“
“Why didn’t you leave?” he asked me one last time.
“Because I deserved to stay.” I hadn’t realised the truth behind those words until I said it out loud.
Lucifer reached out and touched my forehead. I was engulfed in bright, divine light. Blissful ignorance washed over me as I lost all thoughts, intentions and recollections.
“You have suffered enough.”
– By Navyashree B, Third Year Department of Information Technology