The Gate

I had read about it. I even wondered about it but I had no idea I would be alive to see it. The creature of the future was supposed to be just that, of the future. Dear God, what have I gotten myself into? Racing toward the gate was my only way of escape. It was the only opening I could see. The heavy metal looked to be impenetrable but I had to try. There was a key in the gate lock. I touched the cold hard key in the gate which actually resembled a locket. A locket like my grandmother had worn decades ago. It was in the shape of a heart but this one no longer had a glow to it. This one was tarnished and had an aged patina just begging to be polished. Grandmother’s was so beautiful and so shiny. I remember she had said besides her wedding ring it was the only “real” piece of jewelry she had. Thinking of her made me feel real love and very safe. And with that, the gate simply opened as if it were waiting for me to get there. My eyes rushed about. Should I go on? I had no choice for I was moving to the other side merely by thinking it. What is this place, I thought, as I floated through to the other side? It was beautiful and full of life and every living thing. There were so many little children playing, laughing and dancing. They were all innocent and full of truth. Where are their parents or any adults, I wondered? One tiny child ran to me with a beautiful basket filled with luscious fruit and said, “Eat so you can see.” So, I ate. I had never tasted anything so wonderful. My eyesight became so clear. Another little one ran by and blew me a kiss that felt like genuine sweetness and love. Still another gently took my hand and said, “Come, I will show you around”. It seemed that some kind of learning and teaching was going on under the trees. They were all reading and laughing but I did not see a teacher. Next, I saw magnificent colors shooting through the air almost like shooting stars except more real and very bright. The skies were brilliant pink with no blue at all. Beautiful waters of azure flowed throughout the entire place with vivid lush plants. More rivers sprang forth appearing as running on glass and taking on colors of the rainbow as they flowed. In this gorgeous amazing place with its abundant meadows of flowers and trees, animals were running and eating and even talking with deliberate freedom. It was simple, elegant and so inviting. Why was I here?

With that one thought I was taken back. There I was on the dark side of the gate and it seemed impossible for me to move my body. Even when I urged my mind to think about the beautiful place I just visited on the other side of the gate, I could not. I was standing on the bank of great waters that looked bigger than any ocean I had ever seen but not beautiful like I remembered. Winds were roaring and blowing from all four directions as if warning me of some impending danger. The skies were growing eerily dark when suddenly that powerful huge beast came up out of the sea. There were six other smaller beasts that surrounded this huge one. The huge one was hideous with heads that morphed from ten heads to one and this happened back and forth. And the six smaller creatures were all powerful but different in their appearances. All at once the six smaller ones lifted the huge beast upright and that beast stood up like a human. This upright being then became like a dragon ablaze with vile words and the most grotesque features. On his neck was the name Labak. His bizarre features would alternate and move all over his body. I do not know where they came from but suddenly there were people everywhere. Worse, these people were all prostrate on the ground as if to worship this vulgar creature. Their moans and cries came from deep within. Although the people seemed useless, power came from them and was transferred to this beast. This creature emanated control over the people through his breath which also kept them frozen in fear and leaving them totally disabled. Could fear be this great and so controlling? Had they simply given up? Or, did they not want to fight this beast? Their inactions said it all. I knew there was no escape from the monster, and now his law.

The land transformed immediately and was made barren and dry simply by the breath of this beast. Clothing was shredded from crawling and shoes were non-existent. Vultures quickly discarded of the decaying death of animals and people. Fear had caused their death and it seemed to have taken over the vast regions. I tried to remember and think on the beauty and love from the other side of the gate. I could not. Heaviness of this darkness was too great. One could not delineate between the people. Whether they were once poor, rich, powerful, weak, or even if they were slaves or free. We simply were.

One of the six hideous creatures moved to land and quickly changed to a human as if this was a natural occurrence. Oh, this must be what we once called AI or artificial intelligence because this could not be real. He motioned for us to follow him as he began to speak with authority and yet compassion. “Please, call me Damon and I will take you to your new home.” As we obediently followed Damon, out of nowhere came what seemed to be his helpers. The helpers passed out trinkets of gold to each of us. They each had different engravings. “These are your individual unique gems. You must use these to enter the gate and to eat and drink and take your rest. You must in no way lose your gem. Guard it closely as they cannot and will not be replaced. Whenever one of my helpers of The Way approaches you, show them your gem and you will be safe. What you are about to see will probably shock you because the Great Final War decimated the earth as we once knew it. Unfortunately, greed and gluttony for power will do that and we were warned, but we know how man is” he stated almost gleefully. “You will see the aftermaths of the final battle but know this, we are safe now.” Horrific piles of rubble made up of collapsed structures and crushed buildings were as far could be seen leaving cities unrecognizable. Even those that were once waterways were now filled with debris and ruins to the point of beggaring description. We came upon a huge massive gate that looked vaguely familiar. Damon took his key opened the gate and led us through a labyrinth of tunnels and caves underground. These trails went on and on with no end in sight. As wee journeyed there were hollowed out rooms along the way. At each room a group of people, usually twelve, were left with what Damon called their new family. No one was talking or asking questions. We were just following. People were mostly emaciated and the dehydration had taken its final toll on many. But we pressed on. Where is the food? What will we do? There appears to be no labor necessary as there is no construction or work happening. Who has all the answers and how do we get the answers?

About that time we passed a huge locked gate on the east side. The rooms had all been on the west side. Boldly engraved on this gate was WARNING, FORBIDDEN AREA. NO ENTRANCE ALLOWED. Whoa, what is in there? I felt such drawing to that gate. We pressed on. There were a few more families left along the way in their rooms before I was ushered into my room. When I say room bear in mind that it is just a hollowed out cave like place but it is shaped in a square. There are no places to sit. It is just one hollowed out square cave. I sensed this was not going to turn out well for us. Dear God, what are we to do? What are they going to do with us?

Time stood still. Nothing changed. No sounds were heard and no movements were made. I stood in my spot which was about a two foot square for what seemed to be hours. They were just hours of nothing. The hours turned into days I assume because we had no distinguishing of day from night. Nothing at all was present, except for the despair and gut-wrenching void in all the people. Why did we need these gems if we are to be just stuck here in this spot? We had not eaten at all. No one ventured into the tunnel. Fear had a sinister grip on everyone. Doom was the only answer. And then, I heard it. Sweet harmonious words were flowing from somewhere. “There's a land that is fairer than day, and by faith we can see it afar; for my Father waits over the way, to prepare us a dwelling place there. In the sweet by and by, we shall meet on that beautiful shore; in the sweet by and by.” It was my Grandmother’s song. This was the song that she always sang. She could sooth away the vilest demons of the mind and body with this angelic sound. My God, this was my Grandmother’s voice. This is her voice! But it is coming up out of me! If anyone else heard this melody, they did not show it on their faces. Then, once again I felt the overwhelming sense of calm and peace that had been unattainable until this very moment.

The rattling of chains and thundering claps of whips pierced the quietness that had just been in the tunnels. Several of The Way came by our room and they were dragging what appeared to be corpses behind them. Then the smell of burning flesh permeated the air that had been harshly still and quiet until now. I did not care what Great Final War had taken place but this was no way to live. This was merely existing. No way!

I am not doing this here in this tunnel in this cave. I slapped my hands to my side and hit a hard object in my pocket. Of course, the gem I was given. It was high time I used it. I darted out of that cave toward the FORBIDDEN gate. Not knowing what I would encounter but with no other options, I refuse to be at the mercy of these things and I was finished with fear. When I reached the intimidating gate with its foreboding sign, I retrieved the gem from my pocket ready to show it to whomever or whatever was on the other side. This was the first time I looked at this gem. It was shiny and beautiful and shaped like a heart. It was the locket. I had been given my Grandmother’s locket which was now as new. I thrust the locket into the key hole on the gate. My spirited Grandmother had willed me her heart and her locket. I had let fear rob me when I had the answer with me all along? Her love was so great and so pure. It could conquer all demons and hellacious creatures. I flung open that gate to the beauty and grandeur that I first encountered. I was back to the children because of love. But this is far from over. I have to go back for the others and for Labak.