18:20 - GERALD SILVERMAN - THE ENGINE ROOM

[◊◊BLOODBEASTER◊◊]

A whiteness fell over you, perhaps whatever that idea of the light at the end of the tunnel was. Your awareness slowly trickled back but it was impossible to tell how long had passed. When you woke, you were still buckled into your seat in a world of grey fog and mists. The street was gone; you were now in a grassy field. A stone path wound around some spiral shaped topiary. William was a few yards ahead, walking through the mist in his bare feet. He'd left the passenger door hanging open.

[Kristi is prescribed skeletons]

I got out of the car to take the path with William.

[◊◊BLOODBEASTER◊◊]

The glass is a little bit crispy with frost, glittering in the unseen sun. The cobblestones form a winding path, do you walk along it or just make a beeline for the little boy? He's wandering forward like he sees something interesting in the distance.

[Kristi is prescribed skeletons]

I went to where William was. He shouldn't have to be alone.

[◊◊BLOODBEASTER◊◊]

It's easy to catch up to the little boy with your much longer legs. He turned and seemed surprised by your approach. The mist behind him was nearly opaque, you could only make out the vaguest traces of landscape beyond. Looked like some kind of hills, maybe.

[Kristi is prescribed skeletons]

I considered the mist before the landscape. Isn't it what harmed us?

Gerald -
"Sorry. 'Didn't mean to surprise you."

[◊◊BLOODBEASTER◊◊]

William-
"Is this heaven? Where is everyone?"

[Kristi is prescribed skeletons]

I placed my hand over my heart. Did it still beat?

[◊◊BLOODBEASTER◊◊]

It didn't.

[Kristi is prescribed skeletons]

Gerald -
"Whatever this mist is, it's what..."

...killed us.

Gerald -
"Right... This place reminds me of a country club. 'Not really how I picture heaven."

I felt a heavy burden, leading William away from a good life. I said a hushed prayer.

Gerald -
"Dead Lord as our Shepard. Be kind to young William's soul and lead him down a better road."

[◊◊BLOODBEASTER◊◊]

Heaven was sprawling and empty, maybe you'd both taken the shortcut and would have to wait for the rest to be raptured up, or be lifted from their coffins. But past the mists there were patches of sunlight. Great ruins stood in the distance, crumbling statuary and marble pillars. Sometimes you thought you saw figures peering out of windows or walking on distant paths, but they were always gone by the time you reached them. But you had William, and he looked up to you. He would never get to grow up, but maybe he could forget the trauma of the past. Who knew how much time had passed, would pass, was passing. You encountered interesting creatures in time, winged lions and flocks of golden pheasants. Were they real though? Were you real? There was no hunger, no suffering, no need for anything but occasional dreamless rest. You never wanted for anything. Here and there were cracks in the earth, you could peer down and see clouds rolling by. Was this really heaven? What lay below the clouds? But if you were to fall, you knew there would be no coming back.

What did you do with eternity?


((I think we can do one last post here and then tie this bow! ))

[Kristi is prescribed skeletons]

I thought of the world below, never forgetting the faces of my family both living and deceased. William and I reminisced often, us deciding it was better to remember who we were on earth.

Parts of us longed to make the jump down. It was a desire felt strongest when we arrived, eventually lessened, but never fully left us. We traveled great distances on foot and grew restless when still. We were never certain what answers we were searching for amongst the great temple ruins and vast forests, but that didn't stop us.

[◊◊BLOODBEASTER◊◊]

((Fantastic work, Kristi! Thanks so much for playing, I hope you had a good time. ))

[Kristi is prescribed skeletons]

((Thank you for GMing. It's good to play with you all again!))