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Description
                                                The Devil’s Dance

                                                       By Alias

Rinah Watterson’s long auburn hair, pulled up in a ponytail, streamed behind her as she ran down the street. Her companion and fiancé, Havok Nyland, ran beside her, keeping pace, breathing heavily. Their feet pounded on the pavement, and cars rushed by on the street.
Havok brushed his tousled blonde hair out of his emerald green eyes. “Rinah, darling, don’t you think we should take a break?”
Rinah laughed. “If you like, honey.”
They stopped and sat down next to each other, Havok’s arm comfortably around Rinah’s waist. The slight summer breeze whispered through the treetops, and cooled their faces, which were hot and sweaty after their run.
“Havok? What do you suppose the afterlife is like?” Rinah asked, her grey eyes thoughtful.
“I’m not entirely sure,” Havok answered. “I guess we’ll just have to find out for ourselves. But one thing is sure, whatever happens after we die, we’ll be together.” He planted a kiss lightly on her cheek for good measure, getting a smile from her.
“Ready?” Rinah asked.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.” They both rose, and fell into a brisk walk, then a jog. Her diminutive size was contrasted to his towering form.
Suddenly, flames appeared around their feet and started creeping up their legs. Wherever the flames touched, that part of the body started to smoke. Rinah looked over at Havok, and saw the same thing was happening to him too. Havok looked down at his legs, then at Rinah. All around them, the same thing was happening to all the people, even the animals.  Soon the flames made their way up their bodies and engulfed them entirely. Then, they all blinked out of existence.

The last thing Rinah saw before smoke and fire obscured her vision was Havok’s puzzled face. Then, she blinked and when she opened her eyes, she was somewhere else. Gone was the city street she had been running on. Instead there was a sea of clouds. She looked to her right and saw an ornate, golden gate, with the words “Enter here ye who believe” inscribed on it. She looked to her left and saw an imposing, ominous black gate with “Enter here ye who be damned” inscribed on it. In front of her was the most breathtaking sight of all. A plain stone wall stretched on forever, it seemed. And in the wall was set, in orderly rows, gems upon gems. She squinted to look closer and saw that a name was inscribed under each precious gem. She jumped nearly ten feet in the air as something grabbed her hand. But no, it was only Havok, reassuring her. All of a sudden, they were in a great crowd of people. There were millions upon millions of them! The air was filled with a great chattering as every single person in the crowd turned to his or her neighbor and started talking.
“Havok?” Rinah asked in a quavering voice, “Where are we?”
“I don’t know,” he answered. “But this can’t be real…”
Rinah pinched his arm. “OW!” he cried. “OK, this has to be real now… And using our surroundings, we can figure out where we are.” He looked to his left, and pointed at the golden gate. “Judging by the stories I’ve read, that must be the gate to…” He inhaled sharply. “It must be the gate to Heaven.”
Rinah’s eyes widened. “And if that’s the gate to Heaven, the other gate must be to Hell…” she whispered. “Havok! This is Judgment Day, and we’re in between Heaven and Hell ready to be sorted, just like in the Bible!”
Suddenly, there was a great puff of smoke and flames shot up into the air from a point right in front of the wall. The people closest to the wall, which included Rinah and Havok, cringed back to avoid getting burned. The smoke engulfed the crowd and everyone coughed, trying to clear the smoke from their throats, and rubbed their eyes. When the smoke cleared, and the flames disappeared, there stood a man where the flames had appeared. He was neither old nor young, but had glossy short black hair slicked back. His skin was pale, but not transparent, and he was thin, but not skeletal. He had a devious, cruel smile on his thin lips, which did not reach his emotionless black eyes. He was dressed all in black, right down to his shoes. When he cleared his throat, it was like thunder during a tornado. When he was sure he had gotten everyone’s attention, he spoke.
“Attention, ye mortals,” he cried, his silky suave voice carrying to the edges of the crowd. “My name is Lucifer, Dark Angel, also known as Satan.” He bowed, a fluid elegant motion. “I call those who wish to follow me, to live in my domain, forever. Now, those who wish to follow, step forward!” He opened his arms wide.
To Rinah’s horror, Havok let go of her hand and started pushing through the crowd to join Satan. She grabbed his hand to try to stop him.
“Havok!” she hissed. “What are you doing?”
He looked at her, his eyes full of love as always. But he just shook his head and pulled his hand out of her grasp and kept walking. Rinah followed him, wondering what on earth he was doing.
When Havok reached Satan, he knelt at his feet. Rinah had stopped at the edge of the crowd. Satan smiled his cruel, cruel smile. He laid his hand just above Havok’s shoulder, not touching him, and laughed. His laugh chilled Rinah to the bone, and sent goose bumps of fear running up and down her arms, the hair on the back of her neck rose.
Satan said, “Arise, Havok Nyland, my new minion. Now come, walk with me. Those who also wish to join me, follow.”
Havok, willingly followed Satan as he walked along the wall of gems. Rinah joined the small crowd following Satan. A little ways along the wall, Satan stopped. He pointed to a clear, light blue gem on the wall, an aquamarine. Under the gem, carved into the stone of the wall, was the name Havok Nyland.
“You see this?” Satan asked Havok. His finger was less than an inch from the aquamarine.
“Yes,” Havok whispered.
“Each gem represents each person’s soul.” Satan’s words hung in the air. “Are you willing to give your soul to me?”
Havok looked straight into Rinah’s eyes. “I am,” he said without breaking the eye contact. Rinah’s eyes filled with tears. Why? She mouthed. Why? Havok minutely shrugged.
Satan lightly touched his finger to Havok’s gem. The gem shimmered and disappeared. Havok gasped, and then shuddered. He convulsed and fell to the ground, shaking. Rinah cried out and ran to him. She dropped to her knees next to him. Gradually, his shaking subsided and he lay still. Rinah looked up at Satan, and she saw that Satan was spinning Havok’s gem between his fingers.
“Rise, Havok.” Satan commanded.
To Rinah’s horror, Havok rose. Satan walked over to him and gently touched Havok’s forehead. When he took his hand away, in big black numbers, was the number 666 on Havok’s forehead. Rinah scrambled to her feet as Satan tucked Havok’s gem into a black velvet bag hanging at his side.
Satan moved his finger to the gem next to where Havok’s had been. Rinah saw that the name under the gem, a moonstone, said Rinah Watterson. Just as Satan was about to touch his finger to Rinah’s gem, she cried out.
“NO!” she cried. “Don’t do it!”
Satan dropped his hand, and turned to Rinah. “I thought you would want to be with your fiancé.”
“No,” she said firmly, and turned to Havok. “Havok, I hate to do this, but… I’m going to have to break up with you.”
Havok seemed to wake from a dream. “What?”
“I’m breaking up with you.”
His eyes filled with tears. “Why, Rinah? Why?”
“I can’t go with you, Havok. I can’t give my soul to Satan. I can’t believe you did, but I have to make my own choice.” With one last kiss, Rinah turned and walked back into the main crowd.
Havok watched her go, tears falling from his eyes and trailing down his cheeks. “I’ll get you back, Rinah!” he called after her. “I swear it!”
She didn’t answer, just kept walking away from him.
All of a sudden, a bright light filled the heavens and everyone shut their eyes. When they opened them, another man stood next to Satan. He also was neither old nor young, but he had pure white hair. His skin was pale, but not white and he was muscular and athletic looking. His kind smile revealed perfect white teeth and reached to his twinkling blue eyes. He was clothed in a white, flowing robe, tied at the waist with a golden chord, and he went barefoot. When he spoke, his voice was like a waterfall, strong, powerful, yet musical.
“My children,” he said gently. “I see you have already met Lucifer. As you have probably guessed already, today is Judgment Day. Today, Lucifer and I shall separate you to go with us. My followers to Heaven, his minions to Hell; I see he has already begun. Now, who will follow me?”
A great crowd of people surged forward. But God called one person forward.
“Rinah,” he called. “Come, my child, step forward.”
Rinah, smiling shyly, ran through the crowd and fell into his open arms. He kissed her on the top of the head. Tears of joy fell from her eyes, yet also tears of sorrow. He comforted her, whispering in her ear. “Rinah,” God asked. “Will you give you soul to me?”
“Yes Father,” she answered. “I will.”
She held her head up high as he touched her gem. As her gem shimmered and disappeared, a great light engulfed her and filled her. Havok watched in awe as she was lifted into the air and light emanated from her. She rotated once in the air and touched back down onto the clouds. After he had put her gem in a white silk bag hanging from his belt, God walked over to her and lightly touched her on the head. When he took his hand away, there was a circlet of light around her forehead, a halo. She seemed to glow with an inner light and an inner beauty.  She smiled and Havok frowned, knowing that he had lost her.
Havok stayed silently at Satan’s side as he walked up and down the wall, touching gems and tucking them into the black bag at his side. Soon, Havok was in a crowd of willing and unwilling followers, some rejoicing, others crying out to be saved.
Rinah walked side by side with God as he traveled from one end of the wall to the other, touching stones and tucking them into the white bag hanging from his belt. In no time, Rinah was joined by a rejoicing and joyful crowd. They danced after their Heavenly Father as he walked.
Soon, there was none of the main crowd left, all were divided. God led his followers up the path in the clouds to the golden gates. As they passed through the gates, the gatekeeper smiled. As Rinah walked under the arch, she caught sight of the most wonderful sight she had ever seen. A golden city spread out as far as the eye could see. A cheering crowd lined the streets as they paraded through them. Rinah saw familiar faces of family and friends who had gone before. She smiled angelically, and they smiled back happily. She was home.
Satan led his minions down the path that led to the black gates. Havok followed at the back of the crowd. Soon everyone except Havok had either willingly or unwillingly followed Satan through the gates.
Havok slipped away, walking back up the path, then breaking into a run as he reached the end of it. He ran past the empty wall and up the path to Heaven. When he reached the golden gates, they were shut. He tried to open them, but they were locked tight. He pounded on the gates, but to no avail.
“Can I help you?” a voice asked. Havok turned and beheld a great white-bearded man. His eyes were gentle, but stern.
“Um, yes,” Havok replied. “I want to talk to God.”
The gatekeeper, for that’s who he was, gasped when he saw the mark on Havok’s forehead. “Why would a heathen like you want to talk to the Almighty?”
“My fiancé, or she was my fiancé, got sent to Heaven, and I got sent to Hell, and my love for her is so great that I can’t be without her, even in the afterlife.”
The gatekeeper sniffed, but then said sternly, “I’m sorry, I can’t let you do that. Do you even believe in God?”
“Yes.”
“Of course, now that you’ve seen him.”
“I believed in him before too, I’m a Christian. See?” Havok pulled a cross necklace out of his shirt. “I’ll swear on the Bible.”
The gatekeeper pulled out a Bible. “Now swear it.”
“I swear that I believe that Jesus died to forgive my sins.” He held his breath, but nothing happened.
“Then why did you go to Hell?” the gatekeeper finally asked, after seeing that Havok had not been whisked off to Hell on the spot.
“I frankly don’t know. It’s like another person was controlling me. I just… volunteered…”
“It’s a heartbreaking story to be sure, but I still can’t let you in. No minion of Satan’s, willing or not, can enter these gates.”
Havok’s eyes grew dark. “I have to talk to him!”
“I’m sorry, not today, not ever.”
Suddenly with a great clanging, the gates swung open. Out walked a tall, brown haired man. He had gentle brown eyes, and wore a light blue robe with a brown sash. He walked over to Havok and the gatekeeper.
“What’s going on?” he drawled in an easy, but clipped voice. For this was Jesus, Havok realized.
“This man wants to talk to God.” The gatekeeper indignantly explained. “This Satan’s son wants to talk to the Most Holy, Father God Almighty-!”
Jesus cut him off and turned to Havok. “Why?”
Havok explained, and when he finished, started to walk away with a bowed head, sure that help was not possible. But he stopped, lifted and turned his head, when a hand was set on his shoulder.
“There is still hope, son,” Jesus said. “Stand up to the Snake. Challenge him, and fear not, for I will be with you, in spirit.” He smiled gently, and Havok felt a new power overwhelming the hopelessness and helplessness. He held his head up high and stood up straight. Jesus held out his hand to Havok, “Go, and show my love.”
Havok took his hand and shook firmly. “I will, and I’ll be back, to take back Rinah and to live for you forever.” He turned and walked down the path in the clouds with a straight back and head held high.
His strength lasted until he reached the gates of Hell, still wide open, as he had not entered yet. It carried him through the gates, which clanged shut behind with a long, booming, final note. Then, he wilted. His shoulders sagged and he stopped dead in his tracks. Then, he thought of Rinah: her long auburn hair, her lovely grey eyes, and her beautiful tinkling laugh. And he might not ever see her again! He squared his shoulders and marched on.
He walked past slaves lugging boulders over countless hills, never allowed to stop. He passed vats of boiling oil, and slaves loading money to fuel the fires under the vats. As he pressed on, he passed people being whipped on every part of their bodies, their screams filled the air. He hurriedly averted his eyes and snuck past. People were forced into a giant fiery furnace, their screams of pain drowning out those who were being whipped. Everywhere Havok looked, people were in pain, destruction was everywhere, and fire, heat, and pain engulfed everything. The heat was stifling, and he could feel himself sweating, and it was hard to breathe.
After what seemed like forever, Satan’s throne and desk came into view. The desk was plain iron, smoking slightly, but not on fire. Tablets of wax and iron plates were piled in neat piles on it, one pile had a label on it that said “In” and the other pile had the label “Out”. Havok was puzzled for a moment, but then realized that Satan couldn’t use paper because of all the fire.
Satan’s throne was horrifically magnificent. It was made out of black iron, with cruel spikes sticking out of it at intervals. It was encrusted with the jewels of people’s souls, but managed to look foreboding, instead of glitteringly beautiful. It was far from beautiful.
On the throne sat Satan himself. His glossy black hair shone in the firelight, and his black eyes had pinpoints of fire in them. “Ah!” he exclaimed. “Havok Nyland, my minion! Glad to see you!”  He smiled his cold cruel smile.
Havok, however, did not smile back. He stopped right in front of the throne and proclaimed. “In the name of Jesus Christ, Son of God, and for Rinah Watterson, I challenge you, Lucifer, Satan, and Serpent.”
Satan chuckled. “Pray tell, why do you challenge me?”
Havok smiled grimly. “My soul is on the line, I win, I get my freedom, you win, you keep my soul and do what you wish with me.”
“As you wish.”
Havok jumped as a bell rang, a cool, sweet tone, yet grim at the same time.
“Leeeeeeeeet’s get started!” Satan cried in an announcer’s voice. “Now, what contest shall we have…? Ah!” He held out his hand to Havok. “Shall we… Dance?”
“Done.”
Satan rose from his cruel throne and led Havok deeper into Hell. They arrived at a giant arena, with multicolored tiles patterning the floor. Satan left Havok at a small door leading into the arena, and proceeded to a similar door on the opposite side.
A booming voice echoed through the arena, the stands filled with Satan’s slaves and minions. “Now,” the voice boomed. “Welcome to the contest between our own Satan-” There was a smattering of cheering from the crowd. “And his very own minion, Havok Nyland!” There was silence from the crowd. Havok heard a ping, which he assumed was a pin dropping. He shrugged, he didn’t care, he wasn’t here for popularity, he was here for Rinah. He was never one for being popular in life, so it was no different in the afterlife. The voice continued, “Now keep it clean, keep it safe, and dance the night away!”
Both doors in the wall of the arena opened, and both Satan and Havok stepped into the arena. “White and Nerdy” by Weird Al Yankovic started playing. Satan nodded to Havok, but Havok just slightly bowed his head.
Satan began. He spun on his heel and moon-walked to the middle of the arena. The voice boomed out again, “Satan is starting out slow, waiting for Mr. Nyland’s move.”
Havok took spinning leaps into the middle of the arena, next to Satan. “Starting out with a bang, he’s saying ‘I’m not afraid of you, do your worst.’”
Satan took his hands, closed them into fists, and started rolling them over one another, thrusting them into the air, while sliding his feet together and apart, over and over again. “A classic, that is.”
Havok thrust his elbows out to the sides, knocking his knees together. “A little unorthodox, perhaps, yet effective.”
Satan did the traditional disco move, with his hand on his hip, and the other, with its pointer finger extended moving it diagonally to his body. “Going traditional, nice, very nice.”
Havok started doing Russian kicks all the way down to the ground. “Taking it all the way to the ground, very good now.”
Then the timer went off, a great buzzing. “Now,” the voice said. “Clap for the one you like, whoever gets the most clapping wins.” A spotlight moved onto Satan. “Now who likes Satan?” A smattering of clapping scattered across the stands. “And, I give you, Havok Nyland!” Clapping spread across the stands, drowning out Satan’s cries of rage. Havok took a bow, again and again. When the clapping died down, Havok walked over to Satan.
“Our bargain?”
Satan scowled, but nodded. They both walked out of the arena, side by side this time. When they reached Satan’s throne, he did not sit down. He started looking through the gems on his throne; he found Havok’s on his left armrest, he picked up the aquamarine, and handed it to Havok. Havok gingerly took it, and held it in his hand. As he took the gem, he felt a tingling on his forehead, and assumed that the number was gone. He turned and marched his way out of Hell. When he reached the cruel iron gates, they were shut.
“Open,” he cried. The gates swung open, creaking ominously. He walked proudly through them, and they clanged shut behind him. He walked up the path, until he reached the empty wall. He stopped next to it, where Rinah’s gem had been. He traced his finger over her name. “Rinah,” he whispered. “I’m coming.”
He turned and ran up the path leading to Heaven. When he reached the golden gates, he stopped, panting. He hadn’t run like that since the time he was brought to the afterlife.
The gatekeeper frowned. “Back again?” he sighed. “And how did you get out of Hell?”
“Yes I’m back.” Havok grinned. “And I brought something for God.” He held out his hand and opened it. The aquamarine of his soul sparkled.
“Oh, right.” The gatekeeper winked. “Go on in. The throne’s straight on in.” He pulled a lever, and the golden gates swung open with a musical sound.
Havok walked proudly through the gates. He attracted many looks, since he was dressed all in black, he stood out against the white robed angels. Ignoring the curious looks, he walked down the golden paved streets. He reached God’s throne. The throne was gold and was encrusted with all the gems of his followers’ souls. It was beautiful and magnificent. He knelt and bowed his head. He jumped when a hand was laid on his head.
“Rise, my son,” a deep voice said.
Havok rose to his feet, keeping his eyes down.
“Look at me,” the voice commanded.
Havok timidly looked up, and stared straight into the face of God. God smiled. Havok held out his hand, and tipped his soul gem into the waiting hand of God.
Out of nowhere, a voice cried, “Havok!” He turned around, right into the arms of Rinah. “What are you doing here?” she asked.
“I challenged Satan for my soul, so I could come here to be with you.” He enclosed her in his embrace.
“Really?”
“Yes.” Havok leaned forward and kissed her, right on the lips. He took her hand and knelt down in front of her. “Rinah, will you marry me?”
She gasped, and tears filled her eyes. “Yes,” she said. “Yes I will.”
Havok stood and enfolded her in his arms. “Now,” he said, “I’m in heaven. Literally.”

Description
                                                The Devil’s Dance

                                                       By Alias

Rinah Watterson’s long auburn hair, pulled up in a ponytail, streamed behind her as she ran down the street. Her companion and fiancé, Havok Nyland, ran beside her, keeping pace, breathing heavily. Their feet pounded on the pavement, and cars rushed by on the street.
Havok brushed his tousled blonde hair out of his emerald green eyes. “Rinah, darling, don’t you think we should take a break?”
Rinah laughed. “If you like, honey.”
They stopped and sat down next to each other, Havok’s arm comfortably around Rinah’s waist. The slight summer breeze whispered through the treetops, and cooled their faces, which were hot and sweaty after their run.
“Havok? What do you suppose the afterlife is like?” Rinah asked, her grey eyes thoughtful.
“I’m not entirely sure,” Havok answered. “I guess we’ll just have to find out for ourselves. But one thing is sure, whatever happens after we die, we’ll be together.” He planted a kiss lightly on her cheek for good measure, getting a smile from her.
“Ready?” Rinah asked.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.” They both rose, and fell into a brisk walk, then a jog. Her diminutive size was contrasted to his towering form.
Suddenly, flames appeared around their feet and started creeping up their legs. Wherever the flames touched, that part of the body started to smoke. Rinah looked over at Havok, and saw the same thing was happening to him too. Havok looked down at his legs, then at Rinah. All around them, the same thing was happening to all the people, even the animals.  Soon the flames made their way up their bodies and engulfed them entirely. Then, they all blinked out of existence.

The last thing Rinah saw before smoke and fire obscured her vision was Havok’s puzzled face. Then, she blinked and when she opened her eyes, she was somewhere else. Gone was the city street she had been running on. Instead there was a sea of clouds. She looked to her right and saw an ornate, golden gate, with the words “Enter here ye who believe” inscribed on it. She looked to her left and saw an imposing, ominous black gate with “Enter here ye who be damned” inscribed on it. In front of her was the most breathtaking sight of all. A plain stone wall stretched on forever, it seemed. And in the wall was set, in orderly rows, gems upon gems. She squinted to look closer and saw that a name was inscribed under each precious gem. She jumped nearly ten feet in the air as something grabbed her hand. But no, it was only Havok, reassuring her. All of a sudden, they were in a great crowd of people. There were millions upon millions of them! The air was filled with a great chattering as every single person in the crowd turned to his or her neighbor and started talking.
“Havok?” Rinah asked in a quavering voice, “Where are we?”
“I don’t know,” he answered. “But this can’t be real…”
Rinah pinched his arm. “OW!” he cried. “OK, this has to be real now… And using our surroundings, we can figure out where we are.” He looked to his left, and pointed at the golden gate. “Judging by the stories I’ve read, that must be the gate to…” He inhaled sharply. “It must be the gate to Heaven.”
Rinah’s eyes widened. “And if that’s the gate to Heaven, the other gate must be to Hell…” she whispered. “Havok! This is Judgment Day, and we’re in between Heaven and Hell ready to be sorted, just like in the Bible!”
Suddenly, there was a great puff of smoke and flames shot up into the air from a point right in front of the wall. The people closest to the wall, which included Rinah and Havok, cringed back to avoid getting burned. The smoke engulfed the crowd and everyone coughed, trying to clear the smoke from their throats, and rubbed their eyes. When the smoke cleared, and the flames disappeared, there stood a man where the flames had appeared. He was neither old nor young, but had glossy short black hair slicked back. His skin was pale, but not transparent, and he was thin, but not skeletal. He had a devious, cruel smile on his thin lips, which did not reach his emotionless black eyes. He was dressed all in black, right down to his shoes. When he cleared his throat, it was like thunder during a tornado. When he was sure he had gotten everyone’s attention, he spoke.
“Attention, ye mortals,” he cried, his silky suave voice carrying to the edges of the crowd. “My name is Lucifer, Dark Angel, also known as Satan.” He bowed, a fluid elegant motion. “I call those who wish to follow me, to live in my domain, forever. Now, those who wish to follow, step forward!” He opened his arms wide.
To Rinah’s horror, Havok let go of her hand and started pushing through the crowd to join Satan. She grabbed his hand to try to stop him.
“Havok!” she hissed. “What are you doing?”
He looked at her, his eyes full of love as always. But he just shook his head and pulled his hand out of her grasp and kept walking. Rinah followed him, wondering what on earth he was doing.
When Havok reached Satan, he knelt at his feet. Rinah had stopped at the edge of the crowd. Satan smiled his cruel, cruel smile. He laid his hand just above Havok’s shoulder, not touching him, and laughed. His laugh chilled Rinah to the bone, and sent goose bumps of fear running up and down her arms, the hair on the back of her neck rose.
Satan said, “Arise, Havok Nyland, my new minion. Now come, walk with me. Those who also wish to join me, follow.”
Havok, willingly followed Satan as he walked along the wall of gems. Rinah joined the small crowd following Satan. A little ways along the wall, Satan stopped. He pointed to a clear, light blue gem on the wall, an aquamarine. Under the gem, carved into the stone of the wall, was the name Havok Nyland.
“You see this?” Satan asked Havok. His finger was less than an inch from the aquamarine.
“Yes,” Havok whispered.
“Each gem represents each person’s soul.” Satan’s words hung in the air. “Are you willing to give your soul to me?”
Havok looked straight into Rinah’s eyes. “I am,” he said without breaking the eye contact. Rinah’s eyes filled with tears. Why? She mouthed. Why? Havok minutely shrugged.
Satan lightly touched his finger to Havok’s gem. The gem shimmered and disappeared. Havok gasped, and then shuddered. He convulsed and fell to the ground, shaking. Rinah cried out and ran to him. She dropped to her knees next to him. Gradually, his shaking subsided and he lay still. Rinah looked up at Satan, and she saw that Satan was spinning Havok’s gem between his fingers.
“Rise, Havok.” Satan commanded.
To Rinah’s horror, Havok rose. Satan walked over to him and gently touched Havok’s forehead. When he took his hand away, in big black numbers, was the number 666 on Havok’s forehead. Rinah scrambled to her feet as Satan tucked Havok’s gem into a black velvet bag hanging at his side.
Satan moved his finger to the gem next to where Havok’s had been. Rinah saw that the name under the gem, a moonstone, said Rinah Watterson. Just as Satan was about to touch his finger to Rinah’s gem, she cried out.
“NO!” she cried. “Don’t do it!”
Satan dropped his hand, and turned to Rinah. “I thought you would want to be with your fiancé.”
“No,” she said firmly, and turned to Havok. “Havok, I hate to do this, but… I’m going to have to break up with you.”
Havok seemed to wake from a dream. “What?”
“I’m breaking up with you.”
His eyes filled with tears. “Why, Rinah? Why?”
“I can’t go with you, Havok. I can’t give my soul to Satan. I can’t believe you did, but I have to make my own choice.” With one last kiss, Rinah turned and walked back into the main crowd.
Havok watched her go, tears falling from his eyes and trailing down his cheeks. “I’ll get you back, Rinah!” he called after her. “I swear it!”
She didn’t answer, just kept walking away from him.
All of a sudden, a bright light filled the heavens and everyone shut their eyes. When they opened them, another man stood next to Satan. He also was neither old nor young, but he had pure white hair. His skin was pale, but not white and he was muscular and athletic looking. His kind smile revealed perfect white teeth and reached to his twinkling blue eyes. He was clothed in a white, flowing robe, tied at the waist with a golden chord, and he went barefoot. When he spoke, his voice was like a waterfall, strong, powerful, yet musical.
“My children,” he said gently. “I see you have already met Lucifer. As you have probably guessed already, today is Judgment Day. Today, Lucifer and I shall separate you to go with us. My followers to Heaven, his minions to Hell; I see he has already begun. Now, who will follow me?”
A great crowd of people surged forward. But God called one person forward.
“Rinah,” he called. “Come, my child, step forward.”
Rinah, smiling shyly, ran through the crowd and fell into his open arms. He kissed her on the top of the head. Tears of joy fell from her eyes, yet also tears of sorrow. He comforted her, whispering in her ear. “Rinah,” God asked. “Will you give you soul to me?”
“Yes Father,” she answered. “I will.”
She held her head up high as he touched her gem. As her gem shimmered and disappeared, a great light engulfed her and filled her. Havok watched in awe as she was lifted into the air and light emanated from her. She rotated once in the air and touched back down onto the clouds. After he had put her gem in a white silk bag hanging from his belt, God walked over to her and lightly touched her on the head. When he took his hand away, there was a circlet of light around her forehead, a halo. She seemed to glow with an inner light and an inner beauty.  She smiled and Havok frowned, knowing that he had lost her.
Havok stayed silently at Satan’s side as he walked up and down the wall, touching gems and tucking them into the black bag at his side. Soon, Havok was in a crowd of willing and unwilling followers, some rejoicing, others crying out to be saved.
Rinah walked side by side with God as he traveled from one end of the wall to the other, touching stones and tucking them into the white bag hanging from his belt. In no time, Rinah was joined by a rejoicing and joyful crowd. They danced after their Heavenly Father as he walked.
Soon, there was none of the main crowd left, all were divided. God led his followers up the path in the clouds to the golden gates. As they passed through the gates, the gatekeeper smiled. As Rinah walked under the arch, she caught sight of the most wonderful sight she had ever seen. A golden city spread out as far as the eye could see. A cheering crowd lined the streets as they paraded through them. Rinah saw familiar faces of family and friends who had gone before. She smiled angelically, and they smiled back happily. She was home.
Satan led his minions down the path that led to the black gates. Havok followed at the back of the crowd. Soon everyone except Havok had either willingly or unwillingly followed Satan through the gates.
Havok slipped away, walking back up the path, then breaking into a run as he reached the end of it. He ran past the empty wall and up the path to Heaven. When he reached the golden gates, they were shut. He tried to open them, but they were locked tight. He pounded on the gates, but to no avail.
“Can I help you?” a voice asked. Havok turned and beheld a great white-bearded man. His eyes were gentle, but stern.
“Um, yes,” Havok replied. “I want to talk to God.”
The gatekeeper, for that’s who he was, gasped when he saw the mark on Havok’s forehead. “Why would a heathen like you want to talk to the Almighty?”
“My fiancé, or she was my fiancé, got sent to Heaven, and I got sent to Hell, and my love for her is so great that I can’t be without her, even in the afterlife.”
The gatekeeper sniffed, but then said sternly, “I’m sorry, I can’t let you do that. Do you even believe in God?”
“Yes.”
“Of course, now that you’ve seen him.”
“I believed in him before too, I’m a Christian. See?” Havok pulled a cross necklace out of his shirt. “I’ll swear on the Bible.”
The gatekeeper pulled out a Bible. “Now swear it.”
“I swear that I believe that Jesus died to forgive my sins.” He held his breath, but nothing happened.
“Then why did you go to Hell?” the gatekeeper finally asked, after seeing that Havok had not been whisked off to Hell on the spot.
“I frankly don’t know. It’s like another person was controlling me. I just… volunteered…”
“It’s a heartbreaking story to be sure, but I still can’t let you in. No minion of Satan’s, willing or not, can enter these gates.”
Havok’s eyes grew dark. “I have to talk to him!”
“I’m sorry, not today, not ever.”
Suddenly with a great clanging, the gates swung open. Out walked a tall, brown haired man. He had gentle brown eyes, and wore a light blue robe with a brown sash. He walked over to Havok and the gatekeeper.
“What’s going on?” he drawled in an easy, but clipped voice. For this was Jesus, Havok realized.
“This man wants to talk to God.” The gatekeeper indignantly explained. “This Satan’s son wants to talk to the Most Holy, Father God Almighty-!”
Jesus cut him off and turned to Havok. “Why?”
Havok explained, and when he finished, started to walk away with a bowed head, sure that help was not possible. But he stopped, lifted and turned his head, when a hand was set on his shoulder.
“There is still hope, son,” Jesus said. “Stand up to the Snake. Challenge him, and fear not, for I will be with you, in spirit.” He smiled gently, and Havok felt a new power overwhelming the hopelessness and helplessness. He held his head up high and stood up straight. Jesus held out his hand to Havok, “Go, and show my love.”
Havok took his hand and shook firmly. “I will, and I’ll be back, to take back Rinah and to live for you forever.” He turned and walked down the path in the clouds with a straight back and head held high.
His strength lasted until he reached the gates of Hell, still wide open, as he had not entered yet. It carried him through the gates, which clanged shut behind with a long, booming, final note. Then, he wilted. His shoulders sagged and he stopped dead in his tracks. Then, he thought of Rinah: her long auburn hair, her lovely grey eyes, and her beautiful tinkling laugh. And he might not ever see her again! He squared his shoulders and marched on.
He walked past slaves lugging boulders over countless hills, never allowed to stop. He passed vats of boiling oil, and slaves loading money to fuel the fires under the vats. As he pressed on, he passed people being whipped on every part of their bodies, their screams filled the air. He hurriedly averted his eyes and snuck past. People were forced into a giant fiery furnace, their screams of pain drowning out those who were being whipped. Everywhere Havok looked, people were in pain, destruction was everywhere, and fire, heat, and pain engulfed everything. The heat was stifling, and he could feel himself sweating, and it was hard to breathe.
After what seemed like forever, Satan’s throne and desk came into view. The desk was plain iron, smoking slightly, but not on fire. Tablets of wax and iron plates were piled in neat piles on it, one pile had a label on it that said “In” and the other pile had the label “Out”. Havok was puzzled for a moment, but then realized that Satan couldn’t use paper because of all the fire.
Satan’s throne was horrifically magnificent. It was made out of black iron, with cruel spikes sticking out of it at intervals. It was encrusted with the jewels of people’s souls, but managed to look foreboding, instead of glitteringly beautiful. It was far from beautiful.
On the throne sat Satan himself. His glossy black hair shone in the firelight, and his black eyes had pinpoints of fire in them. “Ah!” he exclaimed. “Havok Nyland, my minion! Glad to see you!”  He smiled his cold cruel smile.
Havok, however, did not smile back. He stopped right in front of the throne and proclaimed. “In the name of Jesus Christ, Son of God, and for Rinah Watterson, I challenge you, Lucifer, Satan, and Serpent.”
Satan chuckled. “Pray tell, why do you challenge me?”
Havok smiled grimly. “My soul is on the line, I win, I get my freedom, you win, you keep my soul and do what you wish with me.”
“As you wish.”
Havok jumped as a bell rang, a cool, sweet tone, yet grim at the same time.
“Leeeeeeeeet’s get started!” Satan cried in an announcer’s voice. “Now, what contest shall we have…? Ah!” He held out his hand to Havok. “Shall we… Dance?”
“Done.”
Satan rose from his cruel throne and led Havok deeper into Hell. They arrived at a giant arena, with multicolored tiles patterning the floor. Satan left Havok at a small door leading into the arena, and proceeded to a similar door on the opposite side.
A booming voice echoed through the arena, the stands filled with Satan’s slaves and minions. “Now,” the voice boomed. “Welcome to the contest between our own Satan-” There was a smattering of cheering from the crowd. “And his very own minion, Havok Nyland!” There was silence from the crowd. Havok heard a ping, which he assumed was a pin dropping. He shrugged, he didn’t care, he wasn’t here for popularity, he was here for Rinah. He was never one for being popular in life, so it was no different in the afterlife. The voice continued, “Now keep it clean, keep it safe, and dance the night away!”
Both doors in the wall of the arena opened, and both Satan and Havok stepped into the arena. “White and Nerdy” by Weird Al Yankovic started playing. Satan nodded to Havok, but Havok just slightly bowed his head.
Satan began. He spun on his heel and moon-walked to the middle of the arena. The voice boomed out again, “Satan is starting out slow, waiting for Mr. Nyland’s move.”
Havok took spinning leaps into the middle of the arena, next to Satan. “Starting out with a bang, he’s saying ‘I’m not afraid of you, do your worst.’”
Satan took his hands, closed them into fists, and started rolling them over one another, thrusting them into the air, while sliding his feet together and apart, over and over again. “A classic, that is.”
Havok thrust his elbows out to the sides, knocking his knees together. “A little unorthodox, perhaps, yet effective.”
Satan did the traditional disco move, with his hand on his hip, and the other, with its pointer finger extended moving it diagonally to his body. “Going traditional, nice, very nice.”
Havok started doing Russian kicks all the way down to the ground. “Taking it all the way to the ground, very good now.”
Then the timer went off, a great buzzing. “Now,” the voice said. “Clap for the one you like, whoever gets the most clapping wins.” A spotlight moved onto Satan. “Now who likes Satan?” A smattering of clapping scattered across the stands. “And, I give you, Havok Nyland!” Clapping spread across the stands, drowning out Satan’s cries of rage. Havok took a bow, again and again. When the clapping died down, Havok walked over to Satan.
“Our bargain?”
Satan scowled, but nodded. They both walked out of the arena, side by side this time. When they reached Satan’s throne, he did not sit down. He started looking through the gems on his throne; he found Havok’s on his left armrest, he picked up the aquamarine, and handed it to Havok. Havok gingerly took it, and held it in his hand. As he took the gem, he felt a tingling on his forehead, and assumed that the number was gone. He turned and marched his way out of Hell. When he reached the cruel iron gates, they were shut.
“Open,” he cried. The gates swung open, creaking ominously. He walked proudly through them, and they clanged shut behind him. He walked up the path, until he reached the empty wall. He stopped next to it, where Rinah’s gem had been. He traced his finger over her name. “Rinah,” he whispered. “I’m coming.”
He turned and ran up the path leading to Heaven. When he reached the golden gates, he stopped, panting. He hadn’t run like that since the time he was brought to the afterlife.
The gatekeeper frowned. “Back again?” he sighed. “And how did you get out of Hell?”
“Yes I’m back.” Havok grinned. “And I brought something for God.” He held out his hand and opened it. The aquamarine of his soul sparkled.
“Oh, right.” The gatekeeper winked. “Go on in. The throne’s straight on in.” He pulled a lever, and the golden gates swung open with a musical sound.
Havok walked proudly through the gates. He attracted many looks, since he was dressed all in black, he stood out against the white robed angels. Ignoring the curious looks, he walked down the golden paved streets. He reached God’s throne. The throne was gold and was encrusted with all the gems of his followers’ souls. It was beautiful and magnificent. He knelt and bowed his head. He jumped when a hand was laid on his head.
“Rise, my son,” a deep voice said.
Havok rose to his feet, keeping his eyes down.
“Look at me,” the voice commanded.
Havok timidly looked up, and stared straight into the face of God. God smiled. Havok held out his hand, and tipped his soul gem into the waiting hand of God.
Out of nowhere, a voice cried, “Havok!” He turned around, right into the arms of Rinah. “What are you doing here?” she asked.
“I challenged Satan for my soul, so I could come here to be with you.” He enclosed her in his embrace.
“Really?”
“Yes.” Havok leaned forward and kissed her, right on the lips. He took her hand and knelt down in front of her. “Rinah, will you marry me?”
She gasped, and tears filled her eyes. “Yes,” she said. “Yes I will.”
Havok stood and enfolded her in his arms. “Now,” he said, “I’m in heaven. Literally.”