Bright Road: Purgatory - Chapter Five

The Bright Road: Purgatory

Chapter Five

By: Roger Alderman

Across the great blasted landscape of Purgatory beyond the ruined structures of the livings memories lays the massive necropolis of Shadow City. This great monolithic hubris of the dead has stood for countless millennia built from the repurposed memories that arrive, as is everything else. Shadow City’s massive oppressive structures are a constant reminder that it is no doubt a place of loss and sorrow. 

Great pillars of smoke rise high into the sky from the massive industrial furnaces stoked by the dead builders used to forge the empire of the dead. The gigantic columns of smoke nearly blot out the great fiery ball of the dead’s memory of the Sun. Casting long shadows across the vile skyline.  

As one approaches the necropolis the lingering aroma of the fallen assaults one’s senses. In purgatory, you arrive in the state and shape that you left the world of the living. Odors created by the city’s inhabitant’s various states and methods of decomposition before arrival. There are those who passed swiftly and easily into Purgatory. 

A great many inhabitants of the vile city bare their death scars and wounds. Therefore, burn victims are still charred corpses, a decapitated being remains headless, and then there are mounds of dead flesh just outside the city gathered from those who were scattered into pieces through chance or happenstance. 

The moans and wails of ten thousand souls echo through the city. There are places where the wails become an endless cacophony blood-curdling screams of agony and torment.  Silence in the necropolis is a sign of impending doom and the hunted should flee, as the Phantom’s are close.

Near the center of the massive necropolis stands the Black Citadel. A nightmarish thorn like structure that dominates the skyline of Shadow City. It has been the primary stronghold of the Legion of the Dead in the realm of the afterlife of the territory of the continental United States. 

The throne room of the Black Citadel is home to a long-dead misplaced soul from long gone Imperial Rome called “Russell.” The obese dark-haired man commands the Legion of the Dead and maintains order in the United States territory of the dead. He is easily the oldest soul of the territory. He prefers his throne room to represent the oppressive nature and power associated with his time among the living and resemble a great roman banquet hall made of highly polished black stones.

The great obese and arrogant Russell glares at a man standing in front of him, “Where were you?” Russell stood and straightened his roman senatorial tunic.  Sargent Day groveled before Russell on his knees in his World War Two United States Naval Officer Uniform, “We could not find her. She must have taken on a different shape or form.” 

A vile chorus of animalistic growls echoes above Russell and Sargent Day. Russell’s face shows his growing contempt for Sargent Day, “You were to escort her! We need the boy!” Sargent Day cringes and looks at the ceiling above and seeing a mob of Phantoms slowly descending.  

Russell motions and a group of his highly trained Legionnaires surround the Sargent. They level long ghostly spear tips at him creating a half circle behind him. “But Sir…,” Sargent Day pleads for forgiveness. 

Russell rushes at Sargent day and delivers a hellish backhand. the Sargent. Russell frowns at him as he lands hard on the ground behind the phantoms, “Don’t Lie To Me!” The phantoms watch the sergeant’s crumpled and broken body like hungry, but still obedient dogs.

 “I never...,” Sargent Day scrambles to his knees. His jaw hangs seemingly broken at an odd angle. “Get rid of this trash,” Russell straightens his tunic and turns from the mob, “and send the legion to find her, NOW!

The legionnaires step aside allowing the Phantoms to drag the Sargent from the throne room. The soldiers present bow to him and rush out of the throne room. The great basalt doors to the throne room slam behind the men. 

Russell settles back on his throne, “This is the last thing I need. She will ruin everything!” A creeping darkness slowly envelops the room. Russell stands and frowns, “what do you want, Now?” 

The shadows coalesce into the silhouette of a tall man sitting on Russell’s throne, “Problem?” Russell’s contempt for the new arrival is easy to spot, “No, I sent her to collect the boy.” “But?” The Shadow Demon leans to one side of the throne.

Russell grinds his teeth, “She disappeared... again.” The Shadow Demon grins ghoulishly, “I will never understand why you saved her in the first place.” Russell furrows his brow and growls at the demon’s response, “You know she would lead us to the Key of Charon.”

Shadow Demon relaxes on the throne and smiles, “The demonic essence should’ve made her more compliant.” Russell shakes his head, “Instead she became more erratic.” Shadow Demon wags one of its long fingers at Russell, “Get control of her or…” Russell stomps towards and points at Shadow Demon, “We lose her Key of Charon? Then what?”

Russell turns away from Shadow Demon. The Shadow Demon appears in front of Russell, “I will merge her essence with a soldier demon. It will strengthen both her and my control of her.” Russell’s attention snaps to Shadow Demon with a look of confusion on his face, “I will not be in control of her?”

Shadow Demon smiles, “No, but we can finally force her to carry out orders. You can take this up with Lord Achelion if you like.” Russell shakes his head in disagreement, “No, I’ll collect her before she can cause any more damage.” The demon fades out of existence as a cloud of smoke, “I will inform Lord Achelion of your decision.” Russell exits the room slamming the heavy door to his throne room with a thunderous BOOM, “Damn it!”

Meanwhile across the blasted landscape back at the spiritual safe house of the resistance. On the docks overlooking the great black river, Jesse stares mouth agape at Daniel, “She feeds on other spirit’s essence?” Daniel twirls a charred stick in the black river. Numerous tiny black tendrils grasp at the stick.

Daniel sighs and nods, “Yes, but only after Russell merged her soul with a demonic essence.” Jesse’s look changes to anger after Daniel statement, “and She killed grandma?” Daniel’s brow furrows as he looks away from Jesse, “No, she drained her and turned her into one of the hungry dead.”

Jesse shakes his head and looks to Daniel with confusion, “Why would she do that?” Daniel lowers his head and looks at the black river, “I was following her that day, but she thought I wanted to hurt her. She attacked grandma before I could stop her.” Jesse’s look of concern grows, “How I can stop her?” Daniel nods, “With training, I believe so.”

Jesse understands, but can’t help asking the obvious, “You’re going to train me.” Daniel waffles a bit, “Well I can start your training, but Alicia is better suited. She trained all of River Men including me.” Brenda approaches Daniel and Jesse, “Whatever you choose to do. The two of you need to get moving before the legion hunts you down.” Daniel motions for Brenda and Jesse to follow him.

Daniel leads Brenda and Jesse around the exterior of the safe house. He stops at a large pile of charred debris. “If you get caught you know what will happen to you both,” Brenda reminds Daniel of their importance. Daniel effortlessly hoists the massive pile above his head and tosses it several yards away, “Ah, there it is. Hello, old friend.”

Daniel puffs his chest as he plucks a wooden raft from a debris pile. A smile fills the old man's weathered face. Brenda smirks at Daniel’s response, “You still have that thing? It should’ve rotted away by now.” Jesse joins her in the judgment of Daniel’s trash pile. 

Brenda looks concerned, “are you sure about this the last time you were barely able to separate yourself from the River.” Daniel blurts out, “I was strong enough to separate myself last time. I will be able to do it again.” Brenda pokes her finger to his chest, “You only want to remember the glory days! Did you forget, how the legion blasted every one of you from the river?”

Daniel becomes angrier with each poke and steps away from Brenda, “That’s one of the reasons we formed the resistance…” Brenda’s told you so attitude angers Daniel, “They hunted most of you into extinction.” Jesse remains a silent observer to the conversation. Daniel turns from Brenda, “You think I forgot. They were my brothers and sisters.”

Jesse walks to his side, “We can do this? Right?” Daniel walks with determination to the far side of the raft. He pulls a long-charred rod out of the debris and raises above his head, “Stand back, I have not done this in a long time.” Jesse takes several steps away from Daniel. 

Daniel swings the rod in a furious arch. The rod strikes the ground with a thunderous BOOM. Daniel screams out in pain, as darkness rips its way out of Daniel’s body through fissures that open across his body. 

Jesse and Brenda watch the transformation in fear. 
Brenda lowers her head and glares at the Black River. She whispers, “It has what it always wanted.” Daniel stands in long robes of animated darkness wielding a wicked oversized scythe that stands a foot taller than Daniel, “Let the legion try to stop me now!”

The Brenda, Jesse, and spiritual resistance fighters point and gawk at his new appearance. Brenda stares at Daniel in concern, “You are still hurt. At least, wait until your wounds heal.” Daniel reaches out to caress her face, “I have to do this.”

Brenda pulls to one side in pain as he touches her face. Parts of her face flake away as green ash under his touch. Daniel looks at his hands shocked, “It has been so long. I’m sorry I forgot.” Brenda holds her face as the ash falls. She withdraws from his touch and keeps her distance from Daniel, “Just remember I warned you.”

The spirits of the lost move away from Daniel and Jesse. 
Brenda looks at Jesse with worry hanging heavy, “Take care of him.” Jesse nods in understanding and offers a disarming smile. 

Daniel points to the raft then to the River.  The raft crawls into the river using the debris like the many-segmented legs of a centipede. Daniel turns to Jesse, his face, and expression concealed by the great hood of darkness, “Time to go.”